ASTM A516 Standard Specification for Pressure Vessel Plates, Carbon Steel, for Moderate- and Lower-Temperature Service

Get Certified ASTM A516 Testing for Pressure Vessel Plates, Carbon Steel

ASTM A516 testing aids pressure-vessel manufacturers, steel producers, fabricators, engineers, buyers, and quality-control personnel in comparing carbon-steel plates to applicable requirements in the specification. Representative chemical, mechanical, dimensional, and metallurgical tests are conducted by technicians. Testing furnishes factual data concerning the chemical composition, strength, ductility, and other properties of the steel that are relevant to the qualification of pressure-vessel plates. Proper evaluation can help with production quality control, material acceptance, supplier qualification, fabrication, and engineering documentation.

• Material Type: Carbon-steel pressure-vessel plate.
• Primary Application: Welded pressure vessels.
• Service: Moderate- and lower-temperature service where improved notch toughness is important.
• Grades: Grade 55, Grade 60, Grade 65, and Grade 70.
• Mechanical Properties: Yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation.
• Chemical Requirements: Specified chemical composition for the applicable grade.
• Metallurgical Requirements: Killed steel and fine austenitic grain-size requirements.
• Thickness: Maximum plate thickness is limited by the ability of the steel composition to meet the specified mechanical-property requirements.
• Coil Products: Additional requirements apply to plates produced from coil and furnished without heat treatment or with stress relieving only.
• Units: Inch-pound and SI units are specified separately and should not be combined.

What are the uses of ASTM A516 testing?

ASTM A516 is the specification used to assess the properties of carbon-steel plates for pressure-vessel purposes. The specification is used by manufacturers to guide the steelmaking process, and the test results are used by purchasers and engineers to ensure that the material has the required properties for the intended application. The testing gives details of the chemical composition and mechanical properties and serves to confirm that the given plate conforms to the required specification. These evaluations are helpful for material acceptance, quality control, fabrication planning, and pressure-vessel manufacturing.

• Pressure-Vessel Plate Quality Control: Checks the production against the requirements. 
• Material Acceptance: Supplies a plate with documented test results. 
• Grade Verification: Verifies that the content meets the criteria and requirements for the designated grade level. Yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation are determined. 
• Chemical Composition Verification: Reviews the requirements for different elements that are applicable. 
•  Notch-Toughness-Related Evaluation: To facilitate the evaluation of a material to be used in service where notch toughness is a significant factor. 
• Supplier Qualification: Supplies material-performance data for supplier qualification. 
• Fabrication Control: Assists in selection and verification of plate prior to welding & forming. 
• Inspection and testing: Supplies data for inspection and testing of parts.

Which Materials Can Be Tested According to ASTM A516?

ASTM A516 is used for the carbon steel plates produced for pressure vessel applications. The four strength grades of covered plates provide manufacturers and purchasers with the option to select the specific strength grade based on the application. Materials and products covered include:

• Grade 55 carbon-steel plate
• Grade 60 carbon-steel plate
• Grade 65 carbon-steel plate
• Grade 70 carbon-steel plate
• Carbon-steel pressure-vessel plate
• Plate intended for welded pressure vessels
• Plate produced from coil, when the applicable additional requirements are satisfied
• Fine-grain carbon-steel pressure-vessel plate

Why is ASTM A516 Testing Important?

ASTM A516 testing is significant because pressure-vessel plates are used in applications where the strength, ductility, and toughness characteristics of the material should be controlled. Chemical and mechanical tests are conducted to prove that the carbon-steel plate supplied complies with the required grade. The specification covers a particular subset of welded pressure-vessel service in which notch toughness is of particular importance. The information on the steel grade, chemical composition, tensile strength, elongation, etc. can therefore be used as important material information before fabrication and service.

ASTM A516 Testing Process and Data Collection

Representative pressure-vessel plate samples are selected based on the required grade, heat, plate thickness, product form, and manufacturing information. Prior to specimens being prepared for the appropriate chemical and mechanical examinations, the plate is inspected for surface conditions, and thickness is measured. Chemical analysis is carried out to look at the proper elemental composition. Tensile specimens are evaluated while being loaded to assess their response to load, tensile strength, and elongation. Metallurgical examination is carried out when necessary to determine the specified grain structure and condition of the material. The chemical and mechanical data measured are reviewed by the analyst and compared with the requirements of the ASTM A516 grade specified.

Common Challenges and Troubleshooting

Be aware of some common challenges and troubleshooting tips: Some problems with ASTM A516 testing may be caused by incorrect grade or heat identification, inaccurate thickness measurements, specimen preparation problems, equipment calibration issues, or tensile-test alignment issues. It is important to record the thickness and the orientation of the plate as they may influence the specimen preparation and mechanical results. The results of a chemical analysis can be influenced by contamination or by inappropriate sample preparation. The tensile results are variable due to specimen size, specimen machining, gripping, specimen alignment, and specimen deformation measurement.

• Chemical-analysis results are reported for the applicable elements, while mechanical results include yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation according to the specified grade. Yield and tensile strength are generally reported in MPa when SI units are used, while elongation is reported as a percentage (%).
• The technician logs specimen identification, plate grade, heat information, plate thickness (in mm), dimensions of the specimen (in mm), test conditions, applied force, deformation and equipment information. The analyst records the data from the chemical composition, yield strength, tensile strength, elongation, grain-size observations, dimensional measurements, and other data necessary to evaluate the product. 
• The report includes plate identification, manufacturer/heat identification (if applicable), grade, product form, thickness, specimen properties, chemical-analysis test results, tensile test, elongation, metallurgical properties, dimensional test properties, and applicable test conditions. 
• Consistent, reliable, and comparable ASTM A516 results can be obtained by technicians and analysts when the specimen is prepared according to a standardized procedure, the dimensions are measured accurately, the equipment used is properly calibrated, the tensile testing is controlled, the specimen is chemically analyzed, the metal is metallurgically evaluated, and the data are interpreted by qualified personnel.

Link to ASTM A516