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Designation: A 36/A 36M – 00a

Standard Specification for

Carbon Structural Steel1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 36/A 36M; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope A 27/A 27M Specification for Steel Castings, Carbon, for

1.1 This specification2 covers carbon steel shapes, plates, General Application4
and bars of structural quality for use in riveted, bolted, or A 307 Specification for Carbon Steel Bolts and Studs,
welded construction of bridges and buildings, and for general 60 000 psi Tensile Strength5
structural purposes. A 325 Specification for High-Strength Bolts for Structural
1.2 Supplementary requirements are provided for use where Steel Joints5
additional testing or additional restrictions are required by the A 325M Specification for High-Strength Bolts for Struc-
purchaser. Such requirements apply only when specified in the tural Steel Joints [Metric]5
purchase order. A 500 Specification for Cold-Formed Welded and Seamless
1.3 When the steel is to be welded, a welding procedure Carbon Steel Structural Tubing in Rounds and Shapes6
suitable for the grade of steel and intended use or service is to A 501 Specification for Hot-Formed Welded and Seamless
be utilized. See Appendix X3 of Specification A 6/A 6M for Carbon Steel Structural Tubing6
information on weldability. A 502 Specification for Steel Structural Rivets5
1.4 For Group 4 and 5 wide flange shapes for use in tension, A 563 Specification for Carbon and Alloy Steel Nuts5
it is recommended that the purchaser consider specifying A 563M Specification for Carbon and Alloy Steel Nuts
supplementary requirements, such as fine austenitic grain size [Metric]5
and Charpy V-notch impact testing. A 570/A 570M Specification for Steel, Sheet and Strip,
1.5 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units Carbon, Hot-Rolled, Structural Quality7
are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the A 668/A 668M Specification for Steel Forgings, Carbon
SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each and Alloy, for General Industrial Use8
system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system is to F 568M Specification for Carbon and Alloy Steel Externally
be used independently of the other, without combining values Threaded Metric Fasteners5
in any way. 3. Appurtenant Materials
1.6 The text of this specification contains notes or footnotes,
or both, that provide explanatory material. Such notes and 3.1 When components of a steel structure are identified with
footnotes, excluding those in tables and figures, do not contain this ASTM designation but the product form is not listed in the
any mandatory requirements. scope of this specification, the material shall conform to one of
1.7 For plates cut from coiled product, the additional the standards listed in Table 1 unless otherwise specified by the
requirements, including additional testing requirements and the purchaser.
reporting of additional test results, of A 6/A 6M apply. 4. General Requirements for Delivery
2. Referenced Documents 4.1 Material furnished under this specification shall con-
2.1 ASTM Standards: form to the requirements of the current edition of Specification
A 6/A 6M Specification for General Requirements for A 6/A 6M, for the ordered material, unless a conflict exists in
Rolled Structural Steel Bars, Plates, Shapes, and Sheet which case this specification shall prevail.
Piling3 4.1.1 Coiled product is excluded from qualification to this
specification until decoiled, levelled, and cut to length. Plates
produced from coil means plates that have been cut to
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel, individual lengths from a coiled product and are furnished
Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys, and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A01.02 on Structural Steel for Bridges, Buildings, Rolling Stock, and Ships.
4
Current edition approved Sept 10, 2000. Published November 2000. Originally Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.02.
5
published as A 36 – 60 T. Last previous edition A 36/A 36M – 00. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.08.
2 6
For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Applications, see related Specifi- Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.01.
7
cations SA-36 in Section II of that Code. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.03.
3 8
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.04. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.05.

Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 A 36/A 36M
TABLE 1 Appurtenant Material Specifications 5.2 Unless otherwise specified, mechanical tests shall not be
NOTE 1—The specifier should be satisfied of the suitability of these required for plates over 11⁄2 in. [40 mm] in thickness used as
materials for the intended application. Chemical composition and/or bearing plates in structures other than bridges, subject to the
mechanical properties may be different than specified in A 36/A 36M. requirement that they shall contain 0.20 to 0.33 % carbon by
heat analysis, that the chemical composition shall conform to
Material ASTM Designation the requirements of Table 2 in phosphorus and sulfur content,
Steel rivets A 502, Grade 1 and that a sufficient discard shall be made to secure sound
Bolts A 307, Grade A or F 568M, Class 4.6 plates.
High-strength bolts A 325 or A 325M
Steel nuts A 563 or A 563M 6. Materials and Manufacture
Cast steel A 27/A 27M, Grade 65–35 [450–240]
Forgings (carbon steel) A 668, Class D 6.1 The steel for plates and bars over 1⁄2 in. [12.5 mm] in
Hot-rolled sheets and strip A 570/A 570M, Grade 36 thickness and shapes other than Group 1 shall be semi-killed or
Cold-formed tubing A 500, Grade B
Hot-formed tubing A 501 killed.
Anchor bolts F 1554
7. Chemical Composition
7.1 The heat analysis shall conform to the requirements
prescribed in Table 2, except as specified in 5.2.
without heat treatment. The processor decoils, levels, cuts to
7.2 The steel shall conform on product analysis to the
length, and marks the product. The processor is responsible for
requirements prescribed in Table 2, subject to the product
performing and certifying all tests, examinations, repairs,
analysis tolerances in Specification A 6/A 6M.
inspections or operations not intended to affect the properties
of the material. For plates produced from coils, two test results 8. Tension Test
shall be reported for each qualifying coil. See Note 1. 8.1 The material as represented by the test specimen, except
NOTE 1—Additional requirements regarding plate from coil are de- as specified in 5.2 and 8.2, shall conform to the requirements as
scribed in Specification A 6/A 6M. to the tensile properties prescribed in Table 3.
8.2 Shapes less than 1 in.2[645 mm 2] in cross section and
5. Bearing Plates bars, other than flats, less than 1⁄2 in. [12.5 mm] in thickness or
5.1 Unless otherwise specified, plates used as bearing plates diameter need not be subjected to tension tests by the manu-
for bridges shall be subjected to mechanical tests and shall facturer, provided that the chemical composition used is
conform to the tensile requirements of Section 8. appropriate for obtaining the tensile properties in Table 3.

TABLE 2 Chemical Requirements

NOTE 1— Where “. . .’’ appears in this table, there is no requirement. The heat analysis for manganese shall be determined and reported as described
in the heat analysis section of Specification A 6/A 6M.
Product ShapesA PlatesB Bars
Over 3⁄4 Over 11⁄2 Over 21⁄2 Over 3⁄4 Over 11⁄2
To 3⁄4 To 3⁄4
to 11⁄2 to 21⁄2 to 4 Over 4 to 11⁄2 to 4 Over 4
Thickness, in. [mm] All [20], [20],
[20 to 40], [40 to 65], [65 to 100], [100] [20 to 40], [100], [100]
incl incl
incl incl incl incl incl
Carbon, max, % 0.26 0.25 0.25 0.26 0.27 0.29 0.26 0.27 0.28 0.29
Manganese, % ... ... 0.80–1.20 0.80–1.20 0.85–1.20 0.85–1.20 ... 0.60–0.90 0.60–0.90 0.60–0.90
Phosphorus, max, % 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04
Sulfur, max, % 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05
Silicon, % 0.40 max 0.40 max 0.40 max 0.15–0.40 0.15–0.40 0.15–0.40 0.40 max 0.40 max 0.40 max 0.40 max
Copper, min, % when cop- 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20
per steel is specified
A
Manganese content of 0.85–1.35 % and silicon content of 0.15–0.40 % is required for shapes over 426 lb/ft [634 kg/m].
B
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
will be permitted, up to the maximum of 1.35 %.

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 A 36/A 36M
TABLE 3 Tensile RequirementsA

Plates, Shapes,B and Bars:

Tensile strength, ksi [MPa] 58–80 [400–550]
Yield point, min, ksi [MPa] 36 [250]C
Plates and BarsD,E:
Elongation in 8 in. [200 mm], min, % 20
Elongation in 2 in. [50 mm], min, % 23
Shapes:
Elongation in 8 in. [200 mm], min, % 20
Elongation in 2 in. [50 mm], min, % 21B
A
See the Orientation subsection inthe Tension Tests section of Specification
A 6/A 6M.
B
For wide flange shapes over 426 lb/ft [634 kg/m], the 80 ksi [550 MPa]
maximum tensile strength does not apply and a minimum elongation in 2 in. [50
mm] of 19 % applies.
C
Yield point 32 ksi [220 MPa] for plates over 8 in. [200 mm] in thickness.
D
Elongation not required to be determined for floor plate.
E
For plates wider than 24 in. [600 mm], the elongation requirement is reduced
two percentage points. See the Elongation Requirement Adjustments subsection
under the Tension Tests section of Specification A 6/A 6M.

9. Keywords
9.1 bars; bolted construction; bridges; buildings; carbon;
plates; riveted construction; shapes; steel; structural steel;
welded construction

SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

These requirements shall not apply unless specified in the order.

Standardized supplementary requirements for use at the option of the purchaser are listed in
Specification A 6/A 6M. Those that are considered suitable for use with this specification are listed by
title:

S5. Charpy V-Notch Impact Test. S97. Limitation on Rimmed or Capped Steel
In addition, the following optional supplementary require- S97.1 The steel shall be other than rimmed or capped.
ment is also suitable for use with this specification:

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