{{Short description|Structural steel standard}} '''A36 steel''' is a common structural steel alloy used in the United States.<ref name="SCM">''Steel Construction Manual'', 8th Edition, second revised edition, American Institute of Steel Construction, 1986, Ch. 1 pp. 1–5.</ref> The A36 (UNS K02600) standard was established by the ASTM International. The standard was published in 1960 and has been updated several times since.<ref>Kurt Gustafson ,[https://www.aisc.org/globalassets/modern-steel/archives/2007/02/2007v02_steelwise.pdf Evaluation of Existing Structures], Steelwise, American Institute of Steel Construction, February 2007.</ref> Prior to 1960, the dominant standards for structural steel in North America were A7 (until 1967<ref>[https://www.astm.org/DATABASE.CART/WITHDRAWN/A7.htm ASTM A7]{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (dead link 27 April 2023)</ref>) and A9 (for buildings, until 1940<ref>[https://www.astm.org/DATABASE.CART/WITHDRAWN/A9.htm ASTM A9]{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} dead link 27 April 2023)</ref>).<ref>[http://dir.cisc-icca.ca/files/technical/techdocs/historical/historicalsteels.pdf Historical Listing of Selected Structural Steels], Canadian Institute of Steel Construction, retrieved Oct. 2021.</ref> Note that SAE/AISI A7 and A9 tool steels are not the same as the obsolete ASTM A7 and A9 structural steels. == Chemical composition == {| class="wikitable" | colspan="7" |Chemical composition (%, ≤) for shapes |- |Standard |C |Si |Mn |P |S |Cu |Fe |- |ASTM A36/A36M |0.26 |0.40 |1.03 |0.04 |0.05 |0.20 |98.0 |} Note: For shapes with a flange thickness more than 3 in (76 mm), 0.85-1.35% manganese content and 0.15-0.40% silicon content are required.
== Properties == As with most steels, A36 has a density of {{convert|7800|kg/m3|lbm/in3 g/cm3|abbr=off|sp=us|order=out}}. Young's modulus for A36 steel is {{convert|200|GPa|ksi|lk=on|abbr=off|order=flip}}.<ref name="MatWeb A36 steel bar">{{cite web|title=MatWeb A36 steel bar | url=http://www.matweb.com/search/DataSheet.aspx?MatGUID=d1844977c5c8440cb9a3a967f8909c3a&ckck=1|publisher=MatWeb|accessdate=21 January 2012}}</ref> A36 steel has a Poisson's ratio of 0.26 and a shear modulus of {{cvt|79.3|GPa|ksi|lk=on|order=flip}}.<ref>{{cite web | title=A36 Steel Properties | date=15 May 2023 | url=https://www.bushwickmetals.com/a36-steel-properties/ }}</ref>
A36 steel in plates, bars, and shapes with a thickness of less than {{convert|8|in|mm|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} has a minimum yield strength of {{cvt|36|ksi|MPa|lk=out}} and ultimate tensile strength of {{cvt|58|–|80|ksi|MPa}}. Plates thicker than 8 inches have a {{cvt|32|ksi|MPa}} yield strength and the same ultimate tensile strength of {{cvt|58|–|80|ksi|MPa}}.<ref name="SCM"/> The electrical resistance of A36 is 0.142 μΩm at {{cvt|20|C|order=flip}}. A36 bars and shapes maintain their ultimate strength up to {{cvt|650|F|C}}. Above that temperature, the minimum strength drops off from {{cvt|58|ksi|MPa}}: {{cvt|54|ksi|MPa}} at {{cvt|700|F|C}}; {{cvt|45|ksi|MPa}} at {{cvt|750|F|C}}; {{cvt|37|ksi|MPa}} at {{cvt|800|F|C}}.
== Fabricated forms == A36 is produced in a wide variety of forms, including: * Plates * Structural Shapes * Bars * Girders * Angle iron * T iron
== Methods of joining == A36 is readily welded by all welding processes. As a result, the most common welding methods for A36 are the cheapest and easiest: shielded metal arc welding (''SMAW'', or ''stick welding''), gas metal arc welding (''GMAW'', or ''MIG welding''), and oxyacetylene welding. A36 steel is also commonly bolted and riveted in structural applications. High-strength bolts have largely replaced structural steel rivets. Indeed, the latest steel construction specifications published by AISC (the 15th Edition) no longer covers their installation.
== See also == * Structural steel
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Structural steel