ASTM A131 AH36 steel equivalent

Some regard Q345B, A572 Gr.50, S355JR, ST52-3 etc. high strength low alloy steel as ASTM A131 AH36 steel equivalent. Is that reliable? Let us make a comparion in those steel materials.

ASTM A131 AH36 steel and so called ASTM A131 AH36 steel equivalent chemical composition:

Grade	Chemical composition %
Grade	C (t≤16mm)	Si	Mn	P	S	Nb	V	Ti	Cr	Ni	Cu	N	Mo	Other
Q345B	0.20 max	0.50 max	1.70 max	0.035 max	0.035 max	0.07 max	0.15 max	0.20 max	0.30 max	0.50 max	0.30 max	0.012 max	0.1 max	-
A572 Gr.50	0.23 max	0.40 max	1.35 max	0.04 max	0.05 max	0.005-0.05	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
						-	0.01-0.15	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
						0.005-0.05	0.01-0.15	-	-	-	-	-	-	Nb+V 0.02-0.15
						-	0.06 max	0.006-0.04	-	-	-	0.003-0.015	-	-
S355JR	0.27 max	0.6	1.70 max	0.045 max	0.045 max	-	-	-	-	-	0.60 max	0.014 max	-	-
ST52-3	0.22 max			0.50 max	0.50 max	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
A131 AH36	≤0.18	≤0.50	0.90-1.60	≤0.030	≤0.030	0.02-0.05	0.05-0.10	≤0.02	≤0.20	≤0.40	≤0.30		≤0.08	Als ≥0.015

ASTM A131 AH36 steel and so called ASTM A131 AH36 steel equivalent mechanical property:

Grade	Yield strength ReH/(N/mm2) (t≤16mm) min	Tensile strength Rm/(N/mm2) (3mm≤t≤16mm)	Elongation A/%(3mm≤t≤40mm) min	Charpy V test
Grade	Yield strength ReH/(N/mm2) (t≤16mm) min	Tensile strength Rm/(N/mm2) (3mm≤t≤16mm)	Elongation A/%(3mm≤t≤40mm) min	Temperature/℃	Impact energy (Longitudinal)/J min
Q345B	345	470-630	20	20	34
A572 Gr.50	345	450	18	-	-
S355JR	355	470-630	22	20	27
ST52-3	355	490-630	22	0	27
A131 AH36	≥355	490-620	≥21	0	34

From the comparion, we find that though ASTM A131 AH36 steel and so called ASTM A131 AH36 steel equivalent materials have much in common. But they are not totally the same. Some even have different impact test requirements. As we know the ASTM A131 AH36 steel is shipbuilding steel, the ship needs to understand waves and corrossion of sea water. It is not safe to use the so called ASTM A131 AH36 steel equivalent to build ships. They can only be used in some not so important parts on the ships.

The commonly used shipbuilding steel materials are marine grade A, B, D, E, AH32, DH32, EH32, FH32, AH36, DH36, EH36, FH36, AH40, DH40, EH40, FH40, etc. BBN steel cooperated classification societies are ABS, LR, BV, VL (DNV GL), RMRS, RINA, KR, NK, CCS.

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