This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: A572/A572M − 15 American Association State

Highway and Transportation
Officals Standard
AASHTO No.: M223

Standard Specification for

High-Strength Low-Alloy Columbium-Vanadium Structural
Steel1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A572/A572M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.

1. Scope* system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system is to

be used independently of the other, without combining values
1.1 This specification covers five grades of high-strength
in any way.
low-alloy structural steel shapes, plates, sheet piling, and bars.
Grades 42 [290], 50 [345], and 55 [380] are intended for 1.8 The text of this specification contains notes or footnotes,
riveted, bolted, or welded structures. Grades 60 [415] and 65 or both, that provide explanatory material. Such notes and
[450] are intended for riveted or bolted construction of bridges, footnotes, excluding those in tables and figures, do not contain
or for riveted, bolted, or welded construction in other applica- any mandatory requirements.
tions. 1.9 For structural products produced from coil and fur-
1.2 For applications, such as welded bridge construction, nished without heat treatment or with stress relieving only, the
where notch toughness is important, notch toughness require- additional requirements, including additional testing require-
ments are to be negotiated between the purchaser and the ments and the reporting of additional tests, of Specification
producer. A6/A6M apply.
1.3 Specification A588/A588M shall not be substituted for 2. Referenced Documents
Specification A572/A572M without agreement between the
2.1 ASTM Standards:2
purchaser and the supplier.
A6/A6M Specification for General Requirements for Rolled
1.4 The use of columbium, vanadium, titanium, nitrogen, or Structural Steel Bars, Plates, Shapes, and Sheet Piling
combinations thereof, within the limitations noted in Section 5, A36/A36M Specification for Carbon Structural Steel
is required; the selection of type (1, 2, 3, or 5) is at the option A514/A514M Specification for High-Yield-Strength,
of the producer, unless otherwise specified by the purchaser. Quenched and Tempered Alloy Steel Plate, Suitable for
(See Supplementary Requirement S90.) Welding
A588/A588M Specification for High-Strength Low-Alloy
1.5 The maximum thicknesses available in the grades and
Structural Steel, up to 50 ksi [345 MPa] Minimum Yield
products covered by this specification are shown in Table 1.
Point, with Atmospheric Corrosion Resistance
1.6 When the steel is to be welded, a welding procedure
suitable for the grade of steel and intended use or service is to 3. General Requirements for Delivery
be utilized. See Appendix X3 of Specification A6/A6M for 3.1 Structural products furnished under this specification
information on weldability. shall conform to the requirements of the current edition of
1.7 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units Specification A6/A6M, for the specific structural product
are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the ordered, unless a conflict exists in which case this specification
SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each shall prevail.
3.2 Coils are excluded from qualification to this specifica-
tion until they are processed into a finished structural product.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel,
Stainless Steel and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
2
A01.02 on Structural Steel for Bridges, Buildings, Rolling Stock and Ships. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved March 1, 2015. Published March 2015. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1966. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as A572/A572M – 13a. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
DOI: 10.1520/A0572_A0572M-15. the ASTM website.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard

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 A572/A572M − 15
TABLE 1 Maximum Product Thickness or Size
Yield Point, min Maximum Thickness or Size
Structural Shape
Zees and Rolled
Grade Plates and Bars Flange or Leg
ksi [MPa] Sheet Piling Tees
Thickness
in. [mm] in. [mm]
42 [290]A 42 [290] 6 [150] all all all all
50 [345]A 50 [345] 4B [100]B all all all all
55 [380] 55 [380] 2 [50] all all all all
60 [415]A 60 [415] 11⁄4 C [32]C 2 [50] all all
65 [450] 65 [450] 11⁄4 [32] 2 [50] not available all
A
In the above tabulation, Grades 42, 50, and 60 [290, 345, and 415], are the yield point levels most closely approximating a geometric progression pattern between 36
ksi [250 MPa], min, yield point steels covered by Specification A36/A36M and 100 ksi [690 MPa], min, yield strength steels covered by Specification A514/A514M.
B
Round bars up to and including 11 in. [275 mm] in diameter are permitted.
C
Round bars up to and including 31⁄2 in. [90 mm] in diameter are permitted.

TABLE 2 Chemical RequirementsA

(Heat Analysis)
Silicon
Plates to 11⁄2 in.
[40 mm] Thick,
Structural Plates Over 11⁄2 in.
Diameter, Thickness, Shapes with
Shape [40 mm] Thick and
or Distance Sulfur, I Flange or Leg
Between Parallel
Flange or
Grade
Carbon, Manganese,B Phosphorus,I
max, Thickness to 3 in.
Shapes with Flange
Leg max, % max, % max, % Thickness
Faces, in. [mm] % [75 mm] inclusive,
Thickness, Over 3 in.
Plates and Bars Sheet Piling,
in. [mm] [75 mm]
Bars, Zees, and
Rolled TeesC
max, % range, %
6 [150] all 42 [290] 0.21 1.35D 0.030 0.030 0.40 0.15–0.40
4 [100]E all 50 [345] 0.23 1.35D 0.030 0.030 0.40 0.15–0.40
2 [50]F all 55 [380] 0.25 1.35D 0.030 0.030 0.40 0.15-0.40
11⁄4 [32]F #2 [50] 60 [415] 0.26 1.35D 0.030 0.030 0.40 G
G
>1⁄2 – 11⁄4 [13–32] >1–2 65 [450] 0.23 1.65 0.030 0.030 0.40
[25–50]
#1⁄2 [13]H #1 65 [450] 0.26 1.35 0.030 0.030 0.40 G

A
Copper when specified shall have a minimum content of 0.20 % by heat analysis (0.18 % by product analysis).
B
Manganese, minimum, by heat analysis of 0.80 % (0.75 % by product analysis) shall be required for all plates over 3⁄8 in. [10 mm] in thickness; a minimum of 0.50 %
(0.45 % by product analysis) shall be required for plates 3⁄8 in. [10 mm] and less in thickness, and for all other products. The manganese to carbon ratio shall not be less
than 2 to 1.
C
Bars over 11⁄2 in. [40 mm] in diameter, thickness, or distance between parallel faces shall be made by a killed steel practice.
D
For each reduction of 0.01 percentage point below the specified carbon maximum, an increase of 0.06 percentage point manganese above the specified maximum is
permitted, up to a maximum of 1.60 %.
E
Round bars up to and including 11 in. [275 mm] in diameter are permitted.
F
Round bars up to and including 31⁄2 in. [90 mm] in diameter are permitted.
G
The size and grade is not described in this specification.
H
An alternative chemical requirement with a maximum carbon of 0.21 % and a maximum manganese of 1.65 % is permitted, with the balance of the elements as shown
in Table 2.
I
A maximum phosphorus content of 0.04 % and a maximum sulfur content of 0.05 % are permitted for the following materials:
· Structural shapes
· Sheet piling
· Bars
· Plates with widths up to and including 15 in. [380 mm]

TABLE 3 Alloy Content

Structural products produced from coil means structural prod- TypeA Elements Heat Analysis, %

ucts that have been cut to individual lengths from a coil. The 1 Columbium 0.005–0.05B
2 Vanadium 0.01–0.15C
processor directly controls, or is responsible for, the operations 3 Columbium 0.005-0.05B
involved in the processing of a coil into a finished structural Vanadium 0.01–0.15C
Columbium plus vanadium 0.02–0.15D
product. Such operations include decoiling, leveling or
5 Titanium 0.006-0.04
straightening, hot-forming or cold-forming (if applicable), Nitrogen 0.003–0.015
cutting to length, testing, inspection, conditioning, heat treat- Vanadium 0.06 max
ment (if applicable), packaging, marking, loading for shipment, A
Alloy content shall be in accordance with Type 1, 2, 3, or 5 and the contents of
and certification. the applicable elements shall be reported on the test report.
B
Product analysis limits = 0.004 to 0.06 %.
C
NOTE 1—For structural products produced from coil and furnished Product analysis limits = 0.005 to 0.17%
D
without heat treatment or with stress relieving only, two test results are to Product analysis limits = 0.01 to 0.16 %.
be reported for each qualifying coil. Additional requirements regarding

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 A572/A572M − 15
TABLE 4 Tensile RequirementsA 5. Chemical Composition
Minimum Elonga-
Yield Point, min Tensile Strength, min
tion, % B, C, D
5.1 The heat analysis shall conform to the requirements
Grade
in 8 in. in 2 in.
prescribed in Table 2 and Table 3.
ksi [MPa] ksi [MPa]
[200 mm] [50 mm] 5.2 The steel shall conform on product analysis to the
42 [290] 42 [290] 60 [415] 20 24 requirements prescribed in Table 2 and Table 3, subject to the
50 [345] 50 [345] 65 [450] 18 21
55 [380] 55 [380] 70 [485] 17 20
product analysis tolerances in Specification A6/A6M.
60 [415] 60 [415] 75 [520] 16 18
65 [450] 65 [450] 80 [550] 15 17 6. Mechanical Properties
A
See specimen Orientation under the Tension Tests section of Specification 6.1 Tensile Properties:
A6/A6M.
B
6.1.1 The material as represented by the test specimens shall
Elongation not required to be determined for floor plate.
C
For wide flange shapes over 426 lb/ft [634 kg/m], elongation in 2 in. [50 mm] of
conform to the tensile properties given in Table 4.
19 % minimum applies.
D
For plates wider than 24 in. [600 mm], the elongation requirement is reduced two
7. Test Reports
percentage points for Grades 42, 50, and 55 [290, 345, and 380], and three 7.1 In addition to the Test Reports requirements in Specifi-
percentage points for Grades 60 and 65 [415 and 450]. See elongation require-
ment adjustments in the Tension Tests section of Specification A6/A6M. cation A6/A6M, when Specification A588/A588M is substi-
tuted for Specification A572/A572M, the test report shall
include the statement “Specification A588/A588M substi-
tuted.”

structural products produced from coil are described in Specification 8. Keywords

A6/A6M. 8.1 bars; bolted construction; bridges; buildings;
columbium-vanadium; high-strength; low-alloy; plates; riveted
4. Materials and Manufacture construction; shapes; sheet piling; steel; structural steel;
4.1 The steel shall be killed welded construction

SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

Supplementary requirements shall not apply unless specified in the order or contract. Standardized
supplementary requirements for use at the option of the purchaser are listed in Specification A6/A6M.
Those that are considered suitable for use with this specification are listed by title:

S5. Charpy V-Notch Impact Test.

S18. Maximum Tensile Strength

S30. Charpy V-Notch Impact Test for Structural Shapes: Alternate Core Location

S32. Single Heat Bundles.

In addition, the following supplementary requirements are suitable for use:

S81. Tensile Strength S99. Interlock Strength

S81.1 For Grade 50 [345] steel of thicknesses ⁄ in. [20 34
S99.1 The minimum strength of the interlocked joint re-
mm] and less, the tensile strength shall be a minimum of 70 ksi quired for certain services may be specified for straight web
[485 MPa]. (PS type) and arched web (PSA type) sheet piling sections
S90. Type subject to specific agreement between the material purchaser
and the manufacturer.
S90.1 The specific type of steel shall be as specified by the
purchaser in the order or contract.

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 A572/A572M − 15
SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee A01 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue
(A572/A572M – 13a) that may impact the use of this standard. (Approved March 1, 2015.)

(1) Revised phosphorus and sulfur levels for wide plates in

Table 2.

Committee A01 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue
(A572/A572M – 13) that may impact the use of this standard. (Approved Nov. 1, 2013.)

(1) Revised S99.1 to add type of sheet piling sections where

interlock strength supplement would apply.

Committee A01 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue
(A572/A572M – 12a) that may impact the use of this standard. (Approved Oct. 1, 2013.)

(1) Added Supplementary Requirement S99. (2) Revised Table 3.

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