ASTM Structural Steel Standards

ASTM Standard A36

ASTM International works with industry leaders worldwide to ensure the safety and reliability of all types of materials. They maintain over 12,000 standards for all varieties of industry, including steel components used in construction applications.

The ASTM A36 designation covers a carbon structural steel alloy. This steel is essential for applications ranging from bridges, oil rigs, and parking garages to boat ramps and simple walkways. A36 steel is used for some of the industry’s toughest applications and conditions, produced in forms that include:

Structural Steel Channels
Steel Plates
Wide Flange Beams
I-Beams
Structural Angles

Essential for Structural Applications

A36 steel is a very frequently used mild- or hot-rolled steel. It maintains a somewhat rough surface and can be machined and manipulated using a variety of processes. These include multiple types of welding, as well as grinding, drilling, punching, and riveting.

Its flexibility and strength make A36 steel suitable for a full variety of applications, including fixtures, rings, forming tanks, bearing plates, cams, and gears, among many others.

Strength and Flexibility

With a tensile yield strength of 36,300 psi and an ultimate tensile strength that ranges from 58,000 to 80,000 psi, A36 steel combines strength with flexibility. A36 steel can maintain its strength at temperatures ranging up to 650°F. This metal is excellent for welding and produces high quality welded joints. While A36 is a strong material, it is more easily bent than materials such as C1018 steel, as it has less yield strength.

Composition

The following elements generally compose A36 grade steel:

• 98% Iron
• 0.25% – 0.290% Carbon
• 0.20% Copper
• 1.03% Manganese
• 0.280% Silicon
• 0.040% Phosphorous
• 0.050% Sulfur

Delta Steel is one of the largest distributors of structural steel in the United States. To learn how we can support your specific applications and projects with ASTM 36 steel, please contact us today.

ASTM Standard A500

Standard specification for cold-formed welded and seamless carbon steel structural tubing in rounds and shapes. This specification covers cold-formed steel round, square, rectangular, or special shape structural tubing for welded, riveted, or bolted construction of bridges and buildings, and for general structural purposes. Four grades are produced each having different chemistry and tensile requirement.

Grades B and C, being the most common stock available, can be subjected to most of the usual fabricating operations. Ductility is good. Bends well, flattens, cuts, punches, flares, flanges, and welds easily.

ASTM Standard A572

ASTM A572 Structural Steel

Delta Steel is one of the largest providers of structural beams, angles, channels and more. Our company produces the industry’s best quality steel for construction purposes.

We specialize in providing ASTM products, meeting internationally recognized quality and consistency standards. One of the most frequently-used materials we offer is ASTM A572 steel.

A572 steel is available in five different grades: 42, 50, 55, 60, and 65. Each grade number indicates the yield strength of this high strength, low alloy steel. Its multiple favorable properties make it a staple for construction applications.

Strength, Weldability, and Machinability

One of the most commonly used A572 grades is A572-50. This grade has an ultimate tensile strength of 65,300 psi and a high tensile yield strength of 50,000 psi. It is used in a broad array of structural applications, some of which include buildings, transmission towers, bridges, construction equipment, and truck frames.

In addition to its strength, A572 maintains excellent ductility, allowing it to be machined by multiple techniques and easily welded. It has been measured as having machinability at 66% of B1112 steel, with average cutting speeds available up to 110 ft/min. The metal’s properties also support weldability that can produce strong, high-quality joints.

Structural steel components composed of A572 steel include:

Wide Flange Beams
I-Beams
Structural Angles
Structural Steel Channels
Steel Plates

It is an essential element for applications that require high strength-to-weight ratios. When compared to carbon steel, A572 can meet the same strength requirements with smaller quantities of steel, offering excellent strength tolerances with lower weight levels.

Composition

While strength levels of A572 can vary slightly depending on the exact composition of the material, general composition is usually broken down as follows:

• 98% Iron
• 0.23% – 0.209% Carbon
• 1.35% Manganese
• 0.040% Phosphorous
• 0.40% Silicon
• 0.050% Sulfur

Our extensive inventory at Delta Steel covers A572 in multiple different forms and all grades. To find out more about how we can assist with your specific application, please contact us today.

ASTM Standard A588

ASTM A588 Structural Steel

The construction industry relies on high-strength, low alloy steels for architectural projects that must endure the harshest outdoor environmental conditions.

To ensure the highest level of quality and consistency across the board, ASTM International holds more than 12,000 different standards that are adhered to by companies worldwide, ensuring the highest level of quality and consistency across industries, manufacturers, and suppliers. These standards are essential for suppliers who are choosing structural steel, ensuring they receive premium quality metals and alloys such as ASTM A588 steel.

A highly sought-after element in construction, A588 maintains some of the best levels of performance for outdoor applications.

Four Times the Corrosion Resistance

A588 steel is well known for its weathering ability. When exposed to external conditions, its corrosion-resistant properties become stronger, even when unpainted. A588 steel has four times as much corrosion resistance as carbon steel.

It is heavily used in a broad range of applications that include transmission and phone towers, freight cars, bridge and gusset plates, and housing enclosures. This steel also maintains an excellent strength-to-weight ratio, meeting the strength requirements of carbon steel while weighing much less.

Composition that Maximizes Strength

The strength of A588 contributes to its long lifespan, even when subjected to the harshest elements. It has a tensile yield strength greater than 46,000 psi and a tensile strength equal to or greater than 65,700 psi at break. This metal is also highly weldable, producing high-quality welded joints that remain strong throughout the lifetime of the structure.

The composition of A588 steel is made up of a mix of certain elements, commonly including:

• 97% – 98.2% Iron
• 0.40% – 0.65% Chromium
• 0.25% – 0.40% Copper
• 0.90% – 1.25% Manganese
• < 0.040% Phosphorous
• 0.15% – 0.30% Silicon
• < 0.050% Sulfur
• 00.020% – 0.10% Vanadium

We offer a full variety of ASTM standard materials in a variety of different forms including:

Structural Angles
Steel Plates
I-Beams
Wide Flange Beams
Structural Steel Channels
To find out more about our services and steel products we offer, contact us directly today.

ASTM Standard A709

ASTM A709 Structural Steel

At Delta Steel, we lead the industry with our selection of high-quality, ASTM certified structural steels for the construction industry. ASTM International plays an essential role in ensuring that metals for construction applications meet the highest standards of consistency and quality. ASTM A709 steels are among the most sought-after materials for outdoor infrastructure. The composition of A709 ensures strength, long lifespans, and resistance to the harshest outdoor conditions.

An Ideal Strength-to-Weight Ratio

The A709 alloy, which is composed of iron, manganese, carbon, and other elements, maintains an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. This means that smaller quantities of steel are required in order to meet our customer’s varying strength requirements, improving efficiency and cutting down on excess weight.

A709 alloy also maintains excellent corrosion resistance, allowing it to maintain long lifespans–even during the most harsh atmospheric conditions. These properties make A709 ideal for applications such as bridges, and is a standard material employed by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation.

Properties that Combine Strength and Weldability

A709 steel maintains a tensile yield strength of 50,000 psi and an ultimate tensile strength of 65,300 psi. It is also highly weldable and can produce excellent quality welded joints. The high-strength, low alloy steel can be used in:

I-Beams
Structural Angles
Wide Flange Beams
Steel Plates
Structural Steel Channels

Composition Breakdown

The composition of A709 can vary somewhat, but generally stays within the following parameters:

• 98% Iron
• 0.23% Carbon
• 1.35% Manganese
• < 0.040% Phosphorous
• < 0.050% Sulfur

As one of the largest service centers for structural steel in the U.S., A709 is just one of the many materials Delta Steel offers. Contact us today to learn more about this alloy or the many additional options we have available.

ASTM Standard A992

ASTM A992 Structural Steel

The standards defined and set by ASTM International are essential for the construction industry. These standards help achieve consensus and maximize performance for a complete array of construction materials, including all types of steel alloys.

The ASTM A992 standard specification is employed most frequently in building framing components such as I-beams and wide-flange shapes. In addition to building frames, A992 steel is frequently found in bridge construction and other public infrastructure. This steel is defined by a mixture of elements that includes copper, vanadium, chrome, nickel, and molybdenum.

Excellent Strength and Weldability

The composition of A992 lends itself to improved weldability, adding to its utility for all types of construction projects. This steel maintains a tensile yield strength of 50,000 psi and ultimate tensile strength of 65,000 psi. A992 steel is used to fabricate structural steel components with high corrosion resistance, essential for construction projects that are exposed to harsh weather conditions.

Some of the forms we offer include the following:

I-Beams
Structural Steel Channels
Steel Plates
Structural Angles
Wide Flange Beams

Composition Especially Suited for Transportation Projects

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials relies on A992 for many of its construction projects. It is available in a full variety of grades to suit all different applications, with the grade indicating the core strength of the material. A992 steel is generally composed of the following elements:

• Carbon — < 0.23 %
• Columbium — < 0.05 %
• Copper — < 0.60 %
• Manganese — 0.50 % to 1.50 %
• Molybdenum — < 0.15 %
• Nickel — < 0.45 %
• Phosphorous — < 0.035 %
• Silicon — < 0.40 %
• Sulfur — < 0.045 %
• Vanadium — < 0.11 %
• Iron — remainder

We maintain a complete range of ASTM-A992 products for all of our customers’ construction requirements. To place an order, receive a quote, or find out further information, please contact us today.

ASTM Standard A285

Standard specification for pressure vessel plates, carbon steel, low-and-intermediate-tensile strength. This application covers carbon steel plates of low and intermediate tensile strength and is intended for fusion-welded pressure vessels. The plates are available in three grades having different strength levels.

ASTM Standard A514

Standard specification for high-yield-strength, quenched, and tempered alloy steel plate, suitable for welding. This specification covers quenched and tempered alloy steel plates of structural quality intended primarily for use in welded bridge construction and other structures.

ASTM Standard A516

Standard specification for pressure vessel plates, carbon steel, for moderate-and-lower-temperature service. This specification covers carbon steel plates intended primarily for service in welded pressure vessels where improved notch toughness is important. The plates are available in four grades each having different strength levels.