ASTM A36 Steel
ASTM A36 steel is one of the most widely used carbon structural steels, although the carbon content of A36 material is at most 0.29%, it is considered to be mild steel (carbon content ≤ 0.25%).
A36 carbon steel is often compared to AISI 1018, A36 carbon steel is commonly hot rolled while 1018 steel is commonly cold rolled.
Notes: There are two versions that define low carbon steel, one with a carbon content between 0.04% (0.05%) and 0.25% and the other with a carbon content between 0.04% (0.05%) and 0.29%.
Properties of A36 steel
The following tables show the properties of ASTM A36 steel, such as chemical composition, physical and mechanical properties.
Chemical composition
The following specification provides the chemical composition of A36 carbon steel in different products.
| Chemical Composition (%, ≤) for Forms | ||||||
| Steel | W | Yes | Mn | P | s | Ass |
| ASTM A36 | 0.26 | 0.40 | no requirements | 0.04 | 0.05 | 0.20 |
Note: Forms with flange thickness greater than 75 mm (3 in.) require a manganese content of 0.85 to 1.35% and a silicon content of 0.15 to 0.40%.
| A36 Material Chemical Composition (%, ≤), for Plates, Width > 380 mm (15 in.) | |||||||
| Steel | W | Yes | Mn | P | s | Ass | Thickness (d), mm (in.) |
| ASTM A36 | 0.25 | 0.40 | no requirements | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.20 | d ≤20 (0.75) |
| 0.25 | 0.40 | 0.80-1.20 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.20 | 20 |
|
| 0.26 | 0.15-0.40 | 0.80-1.20 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.20 | 40 |
|
| 0.27 | 0.15-0.40 | 0.85-1.20 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.20 | 65 |
|
| 0.29 | 0.15-0.40 | 0.85-1.20 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.20 | > 100 (4) | |
| A36 Material Chemical Composition (%, ≤), for Plates and Bars, Width ≤ 380 mm (15 in.) | |||||||
| Steel | W | Yes | Mn | P | s | Ass | Thickness (d), mm (in.) |
| ASTM A36 | 0.26 | 0.40 | no requirements | 0.04 | 0.05 | 0.20 | d ≤ 20 (0.75) |
| 0.27 | 0.40 | 0.60-0.90 | 0.04 | 0.05 | 0.20 | 20 |
|
| 0.28 | 0.40 | 0.60-0.90 | 0.04 | 0.05 | 0.20 | 40 |
|
| 0.29 | 0.40 | 0.60-0.90 | 0.04 | 0.05 | 0.20 | > 100 (4) | |
Mechanical properties of A36 steel
The lists below summarize the mechanical properties of A36 grade low carbon steel, such as modulus of elasticity (Young's modulus), shear modulus, ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, Brinell hardness, etc.
| Mechanical properties of A36 steel | Grades | |
| Ultimate tensile strength, MPa (ksi) | 400-550 (58-80) | Plates, Shapes and Bars |
| Yield strength, MPa (ksi), ≥ | 250 (36) | Thickness ≤ 200 mm (8 in.) |
| 220 (32) | Steel plate thickness > 200 mm (8 in.) | |
| Elongation, %, ≥ | 20 | Plates and bars in 200 mm (8 in.) |
| 23 | 50 mm (2 in.) plates and bars | |
| Brinell Hardness, HB | 119-162 | Based on tensile strength conversion |
| Charpy V-Notch Impact Test, J (ft·lbf), ≥ | 27 (20) | Structural forms, alternative core location |
| Modulus of elasticity (Young's modulus), GPa (ksi) | 200 (29×10 3 ) | |
| Shear modulus, GPa (ksi) | 79.3 (11.5×10 3 ) | |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.26 | |
Physical properties
The physical properties of material A36 are given in the lists below:
- Density : 7.85 g/cm3 (0.284 lb/in3)
- Melting point : 1425-1538°C (2600-2800°F)
A36 Material Applications
ASTM A36 structural steel has good weldability, it is generally hot rolled into rectangular steel, square steel, round steel, steel plate, and is also commonly made into all kinds of steel sections, such as H beam, I beam, U channel , angle steel , steel pipe, etc.
ASTM A36 Steel Equivalent Grade
ASTM A36 steel equivalent to ISO, European EN (German DIN, British BSI, French NF…), Japanese JIS and Chinese GB standard. (For reference)
| Equivalent grade ASTM A36 | |||||||||||||
| USA | European | Germany | Japan | China | India | ISO | |||||||
| Standard | Steel | Standard | Grade (steel number) | Standard | Note | Standard | Note | Standard | Note | Standard | Note | Standard | Note |
| ASTM A36/A36M | A36 | EN 10025-2; EN 10025: 1993 |
S235 (S235JR); S235JRG2 | DIN 17100 | RSt 37-2, St 37-2 | JIS G3101; JIS G3106 | SS400; SM400A | GB/T 700 | Q235B | It's 2062 | E250 | ISO 630-2 | S235 (S235B, S235C) |
