More information
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Properties of A516 Steel for Pressure Vessel Plate
We hold large stocks of plates certified to ASTM A516 Gr. 70 and ASME SA516 Gr. 70 in our warehouse facilities in the U.K. We also stock a range of specially manufactured hydrogen induced crack resistant steel in SA / A516 Gr. 70 HIC. This material possesses a range of unique properties that make them the preferred material specification for pressure vessel applications, particularly outside of Europe, and it is widely used by designers and engineers in many market sectors.
- Strength: A516 steel offers excellent yield and tensile strength, allowing pressure vessels to withstand high internal pressure.
- Weldability: A516 steel plates are weldable using various techniques, making them ideal for fabricating complex pressure vessel shapes.
- Toughness: A516 Gr. 70 steel exhibits good toughness, essential for pressure vessels operating at moderate and lower temperatures. Notch toughness ensures the steel resists crack propagation in the event of sudden impact or stress.
You may also see the following variations:
ASTM A516 Grade 70N or ASME SA516 Grade 70N (the “N” is added to show that the steel is normalised)
ASTM A516M or ASME SA516M (the “M” indicates that the material is certified in metric units) -
ASME or ASTM?
While both ASME SA516 and ASTM A516 refer to the same mechanical and chemical properties, it is the producer of the standard that is the key difference.
- ASTM, the American Society for Testing and Materials, produces standards that define limits and parameters on a product’s properties and the methods of testing those properties.
- ASME, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, specifies materials to be used in the manufacture and construction of particular items. The relevance of this to pressure vessels is that ASME publishes design codes and standards for the manufacture of vessels and within these a particular material standard will be endorsed.
Despite its wide use and application, A516 / SA516 is a remarkably straightforward standard in its basic form with just five key chemical elements specified along with three mechanical properties. It does not even need to be heat treated in any way.
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Additional Properties – ASME SA20 / ASTM A20
In many cases the stringent requirements of engineers and designers require much greater controls than this. These are in part provided by a specification called ASTM A20 or ASME SA20 (Specification for General Requirements for Steel Plates for Pressure Vessels).
This specification outlines the testing and retesting methods and procedures, permissible variations in dimensions and mass, quality and repair of defects, marking, loading, and ordering information. It also contains a list of supplementary requirements which can be added to the basic A516 / SA516 specification when additional control, testing, or examination is required to meet end use requirements.
The supplementary requirements in A20 / SA20, there are seventeen of them, are designated numbers (S1, S2, S3, and so on) and cover things like ultrasonic testing (S8, S11 or S12 depending on the type of ultrasonic test), charpy v-notch impact tests (S5), and product chemical analysis (S2).
As a matter of course, and in order to provide the best possible service to our customers, Brown McFarlane stocks ASTM A516 Gr. 70 and ASME SA516 Gr. 70 plates with numerous supplementary requirements included and all noted on the material test certificate supplied with each plate.
Applications
- Boilers
- Calorifiers
- Columns
- Dished ends
- Filters
- Heat exchangers
- Pipelines
- Pressure vessels
- Oilfield fabrications
- Flanges
- Valves
- Storage tanks
Properties
| Element | Thickness | Composition (%) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon (Max) | 12.5mm and under | 0.27 | A,B,C |
| over 12.5mm to 50mm | 0.28 | A,B,C | |
| over 50mm to 100mm | 0.30 | A,B,C | |
| over 100mm | 0.31 | A,B,C | |
| Manganese | 0.85 – 1.2 | A,C | |
| 0.79 – 1.3 | B,C | ||
| Phosphurus (max) | 0.025 | A, B | |
| Sulphur (max) | 0.025 | A,B | |
| Silicon | 0.15 – 0.4 | A | |
| 0.13 – 0.45 | B |
Mechanical requirements
| Mechanical property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile Strength, MPa (ksi) | 485-620 (70-90) |
| Yield Strength, min MPa (ksi) | 260 (38) |
| Elongation min, % 200 mm (8 in) | 17 |
| Elongation min, % 50 mm (2 in) | 21 |
