Properties Of Structural Steel

The properties of structural steel, as per clause 2.2.4 of IS 800:2007, for use in design, may be taken as given in clauses 2.2.4.1 and 2.2.4.2 of the code.

 

1. Physical properties

 

Physical properties of structural steel, as detailed by cl.2.2.4.1 of IS 800:2007, irrespective of its grade may be taken as: a) Unit mass of steel, p = 7850 kg/m3 b) Modulus of elasticity, E = 2.0x105 N/mm2 (MPa) c) Poisson ratio, p = 0.3 d) Modulus of rigidity, G = 0.769x105 N/mm2 (MPa) e) Coefficient of thermal expansion cx.=12x10 -6/0C

 

 

2. Mechanical properties

 

The principal mechanical properties of the structural steel important in design, as detailed by the code IS 800:2007 in cl. 2.2.4.2, are the yield stress, f y; the tensile or ultimate stress, fu; the maximum percent elongation on a standard gauge length and notch toughness. Except for notch toughness, the other properties are determined by conducting tensile tests on samples cut from the plates, sections, etc, in accordance with IS 1608. Commonly used properties for the common steel products of different specifications are summarized in Table 1 of IS 800:2007. Highlights of the table are reproduced for ready reference as Table 1.

 

                        Table 1. Tensile Properties of Structural Steel Products           

                       

                       

IS Code                                              Grade            Yield stress (Mpa) min    Ultimate tensile            Elongation Percent

                                                            (for d or t)                stress (MPa)           min

                                                            <20     20 - 40           >40     min    

                                   

E 165 (Fe 290)                    165     165     165                 290                 23

E250(Fe410W)A                250     240     230                 410                 23

E250(Fe 410 W)B               250     240     230                 410                 23

E250(Fe 410 W)C               250     240     230                 410                 23

IS 2062         

E 300 (Fe 440)                    300     290     280                 440                 22

E 350 (Fe 490)                    350     330     320                 490                 22

E 410 (Fe 540)                    410     390     380                 540                 20

E 450 (Fe 570) D                450     430     420                 570                 20

E 450 (Fe 590) E                 450     430     420                 590                 20

 

2.1. Stress - strain behaviour: tensile test

 

The stress-strain curve for steel is generally obtained from tensile test on standard specimens as

 

given in Figure 1. The details of the specimen and the method of testing is elaborated in IS: 1608

 

(1995). The important parameters are the gauge length 'Lc' and the initial cross section area So. The loads are applied through the threaded or shouldered ends. The initial gauge length is taken as 5.65?So in the case of rectangular specimen and it is five times the diameter in the case of circular specimen. A typical stress-strain curve of the tensile test coupon is shown in Figure 2 in which a sharp change in yield point followed by plastic strain is observed. After a certain amount of the plastic deformation of the material, due to reorientation of the crystal structure an increase in load is observed with increase in strain. This range is called the strain hardening range. After a little increase in load, the specimen eventually fractures. After the failure it is seen that the fractured surface of the two pieces form a cup

 

and cone arrangement. This cup and cone fracture is considered to be an indication of ductile fracture.

 

It is seen from Figure 2 that the elastic strain is up to ?y followed by a yield plateau between strains ?y and ?sh and a strain hardening range start at ?sh and the specimen fail at ?ult where ?y, ?sh and ?ult are the

 

strains at onset of yielding, strain hardening and failure respectively.

 

Depending on the steel used, ?sh generally varies between 5 and 15 ?y, with an average value of 10

 

?y typically used in many applications. For all structural steels, the modulus of elasticity can be taken as 205,000 MPa and the tangent modus at the onset of strain hardening is roughly 1/30th of that value or approximately 6700 MPa. High strength steels, due to their specific microstructure, do not show a sharp yield point but rather they yield continuously as shown in Figure 2. For such steels the yield stress is always taken as the stress at which a line at 0.2% strain, parallel to the elastic portion, intercepts the stress strain curve.


The nominal stress or the engineering stress is given by the load divided by the original area. Similarly, the engineering strain is taken as the ratio of the change in length to original length.

 

2.2. Hardness

 

Hardness is regarded as the resistance of a material to indentations and scratching. This is generally determined by forcing an indentor on to the surface. The resultant deformation in steel is both elastic and plastic. There are several methods using which the hardness of a metal could be found out. They basically differ in the form of the indentor, which is used on to the surface. Brinell hardness usually uses steel balls where as Vickers hardness uses square based diamond pyramid with 1350 and Rockwell hardness uses diamond cone with 1200 angle. In all the above cases, hardness number is related to the ratio of the applied load to the surface area of the indentation formed. The testing procedure involves forcing the indentor on to the surface at a particular road. On removal, the size of indentation is measured.

 

2.3. Notch Toughness

 

There is always a possibility of microscopic cracks in a material or the material may develop such cracks as a result of several cycles of loading. Such cracks may grow rapidly without detection and lead to sudden collapse of the structure. To ensure that this does not happen, materials in which the cracks grow slowly are preferred. Such steels are known as notch-tough steels and the amount of energy they absorb is measured by impacting a notched specimen with a heavy pendulum as in Izod or Charpy tests.