SA-516/SA-516M

SPECIFICATION FOR PRESSURE VESSEL PLATES,

CARBON STEEL, FOR MODERATE- AND
LOWER-TEMPERATURE SERVICE

SA-516/SA-516M

(Identical with ASTM Specification A516/A516M-06.)

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SA-516/SA-516M 2013 SECTION II, PART A

SPECIFICATION FOR PRESSURE VESSEL PLATES,

CARBON STEEL, FOR MODERATE- AND LOWER-
TEMPERATURE SERVICE

SA-516/SA-516M

(Identical with ASTM Specification A 516/A 516M-06)

1. Scope values from the two systems may result in nonconformance

1.1 This specification covers carbon steel plates with the specification.
intended primarily for service in welded pressure vessels
where improved notch toughness is important.
2. Referenced Documents
1.2 Plates under this specification are available in four 2.1 ASTM Standards:
grades having different strength levels as follows: A 20/A 20M Specification for General Requirements for
Tensile Strength, Steel Plates for Pressure Vessels
Grade U.S. [SI] ksi [MPa]
A 435/A 435M Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic
55 [380] 55–75 [380–515] Examination of Steel Plates
60 [415] 60–80 [415–550] A 577/A 577M Specification for Ultrasonic Angle-Beam
65 [450] 65–85 [450–585]
Examination of Steel Plates
70 [485] 70–90 [485–620]
A 578/A 578M Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic
1.3 The maximum thickness of plates is limited only Examination of Plain and Clad Steel Plates for Special
by the capacity of the composition to meet the specified Applications
mechanical property requirements; however, current prac-
tice normally limits the maximum thickness of plates fur-
3. General Requirements and Ordering
nished under this specification as follows:
Information
Maximum Thickness,
Grade U.S. [SI] in. [mm]
3.1 Plates supplied to this product specification shall
conform to Specification A 20/A 20M, which outlines the
55 [380] 12 [305] testing and retesting methods and procedures, permissible
60 [415] 8 [205]
65 [450] 8 [205]
variations in dimensions and mass, quality and repair of
70 [485] 8 [205] defects, marking, loading, and so forth.
3.2 Specification A 20/A 20M also establishes the rules
1.4 For plates produced from coil and furnished without
for ordering information that should be complied with when
heat treatment or with stress relieving only, the additional
purchasing plates to this specification.
requirements, including additional testing requirements
and the reporting of additional test results of Specification 3.3 In addition to the basic requirements of this specifi-
A 20/A 20M apply. cation, certain supplementary requirements are available
where additional control, testing, or examination is
1.5 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI
required to meet end use requirements.
units are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the
text, the SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated 3.4 The purchaser is referred to the listed supplemen-
in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each tary requirements in this specification and to the detailed
system must be used independently of the other. Combining requirements in Specification A 20/A 20M.

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 2013 SECTION II, PART A SA-516/SA-516M

3.5 Coils are excluded from qualification to this speci- 5.2 Plates over 1.50 in. [40 mm] in thickness shall be
fication until they are processed into finished plates. Plates normalized.
produced from coil means plates that have been cut to
5.3 When notch-toughness tests are required on plates
individual lengths from coil. The processor directly con-
11⁄2 in. [40 mm] and under in thickness, the plates shall be
trols, or is responsible for, the operations involved in the
normalized unless otherwise specified by the purchaser.
processing of coils into finished plates. Such operations
include decoiling, leveling, cutting to length, testing, 5.4 If approved by the purchaser, cooling rates faster
inspection, conditioning, heat treatment (if applicable), than those obtained by cooling in air are permissible for
packaging, marking, loading for shipment, and certifi- improvement of the toughness, provided the plates are
cation. subsequently tempered in the temperature range 1100 to
1300°F [595 to 705°C].
NOTE 1: For plates produced from coil and furnished without heat
treatment or with stress relieving only, three test results are reported for
each qualifying coil. Additional requirements regarding plate produced
from coil are described in Specification A 20/A 20M. 6. Chemical Composition
3.6 If the requirements of this specification are in con- 6.1 The steel shall conform to the chemical require-
flict with the requirements of Specification A 20/A 20M, ments given in Table 1 unless otherwise modified in accor-
the requirements of this specification shall prevail. dance with Supplementary Requirement S17, Vacuum
Carbon-Deoxidized Steel, in Specification A 20/A 20M.

4. Materials and Manufacture

4.1 Steelmaking Practice—The steel shall be killed and 7. Mechanical Properties
shall conform to the fine austenitic grain size requirement 7.1 Tension Test—The plates, as represented by the
of Specification A 20/A 20M. tension test specimens, shall conform to the requirements
given in Table 2.

5. Heat Treatment
5.1 Plates 1.50 in. [40 mm] and under in thickness are 8. Keywords
normally supplied in the as-rolled condition. The plates 8.1 carbon steel; carbon steel plate; pressure containing
may be ordered normalized or stress relieved, or both. parts; pressure vessel steels; steel plates for pressure vessels

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SA-516/SA-516M 2013 SECTION II, PART A

TABLE 1
CHEMICAL REQUIREMENTS
Composition, %
Grade 60 Grade 65 Grade 70
Grade 55 [Grade 415] [Grade [Grade 485]
Elements [Grade 380] 450]

Carbon, max(A), (B):

1
⁄2 in. [12.5 mm] and under 0.18 0.21 0.24 0.27
Over 1⁄2 in. to 2 in. [12.5 to 50 mm], incl 0.20 0.23 0.26 0.28
Over 2 in. to 4 in. [50 to 100 mm], incl 0.22 0.25 0.28 0.30
Over 4 to 8 in. [100 to 200 mm], incl 0.24 0.27 0.29 0.31
Over 8 in. [200 mm] 0.26 0.27 0.29 0.31

Manganese(B):
1
⁄2 in. [12.5] and under:
Heat analysis 0.60–0.90 0.60–0.90 (C) 0.85–1.20 0.85–1.20
Product analysis 0.55–0.98 0.55–0.98 (C) 0.79–1.30 0.79–1.30
Over 1⁄2 in. [12.5 mm]:
Heat analysis 0.60–1.20 0.85–1.20 0.85–1.20 0.85–1.20
Product analysis 0.55–1.30 0.79–1.30 0.79–1.30 0.79–1.30

Phosphorus, max(A) 0.035 0.035 0.035 0.035

Sulfur, max(A) 0.035 0.035 0.035 0.035
Silicon:
Heat analysis 0.15–0.40 0.15–0.40 0.15–0.40 0.15–0.40
Product analysis 0.13–0.45 0.13–0.45 0.13–0.45 0.13–0.45

NOTES:
(A) Applies to both heat and product analyses.
(B) For each reduction of 0.01 percentage point below the specified maximum for carbon, an increase of 0.06 percentage point above the specified
maximum for manganese is permitted, up to a maximum of 1.50% by heat analysis and 1.60% by product analysis.
(C) Grade 60 plates 1⁄2 in. [12.5 mm] and under in thickness may have 0.85–1.20% manganese on heat analysis, and 0.79–1.30% manganese
on product analysis.

TABLE 2
TENSILE REQUIREMENTS
Grade

55 [380] 60 [415] 65 [450] 70 [485]

Tensile strength, ksi [MPa] 55–75 [380–515] 60–80 [415–550] 65–85 [450–585] 70–90 [485–620]
Yield strength, min, ksi [MPa](A) 30 [205] 32 [220] 35 [240] 38 [260]
Elongation in 8 in. [200 mm], min, % (B) 23 21 19 17
Elongation in 2 in. [50 mm], min, % (B) 27 25 23 21

NOTES:
(A) Determined by either the 0.2% offset method or the 0.5% extension-under-load method.
(B) See Specification A 20/A 20M for elongation adjustment.

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 2013 SECTION II, PART A SA-516/SA-516M

SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

Supplementary requirements shall not apply unless specified in the purchase order.
A list of standardized supplementary requirements for use at the option of the purchaser
is included in ASTM Specification A 20/A 20M. Those that are considered suitable for
use with this specification are listed below by title.

S1. Vacuum Treatment, S7. High-Temperature Tension Test,

S2. Product Analysis, S8. Ultrasonic Examination in accordance with
Specification A 435/A 435M,
S3. Simulated Post-Weld Heat Treatment of
Mechanical Test Coupons, S9. Magnetic Particle Examination,
S4.1 Additional Tension Test,
S11. Ultrasonic Examination in accordance with
Specification A 577/A 577M,
S5. Charpy V-Notch Impact Test, S12. Ultrasonic Examination in accordance with
Specification A 578/A 578M, and
S6. Drop Weight Test (for Material 0.625 in.
[16 mm] and over in Thickness), S17. Vacuum Carbon-Deoxidized Steel.

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SA-516/SA-516M 2013 SECTION II, PART A

ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

In addition, the following supplementary requirement is suitable for this application.

S54. Requirements for Carbon Steel Plate for Maximum niobium p 0.02%
Hydrofluoric Acid Alkylation Service
S54.1 Plates shall be provided in the normalized heat- Maximum vanadium plus niobium p 0.03%
treated condition.
(Note: niobium p columbium)
S54.2 The maximum carbon equivalent shall be as
follows: S54.5 The maximum composition based on heat analy-
sis of Ni + Cu shall be 0.15%.
Plate thickness less than or equal to 1 in. [25 mm]: CE
maximum p 0.43 S54.6 The minimum C content based on heat analysis
shall be 0.18%. The maximum C content shall be as speci-
Plate thickness greater than 1 in. [25 mm]: CE maxi- fied for the ordered grade.
mum p 0.45
S54.7 Welding consumables for repair welds shall be
S54.3 Determine the carbon equivalent (CE) as follows: of the low-hydrogen type. E60XX electrodes shall not be
used and the resulting weld chemistry shall meet the same
CE p C + Mn/6 + (Cr + Mo + V)/5 + (Ni + Cu)/15
chemistry requirements as the base metal.

S54.4 Vanadium and niobium maximum content based S54.8 In addition to the requirements for product mark-
on heat analysis shall be: ing in the specification, an “HF-N” stamp or marking shall
be provided on each plate to identify that the plate complies
Maximum vanadium p 0.02% with this supplementary requirement.

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 2013 SECTION II, PART A SA-516/SA-516M

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

The Committee has identified the location of selected (1) Footnote C was added to Table 1.
changes to this standard that may impact the use of this
standard.

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