Grade Menu
H-beam(ASTM Standard)
ASTM A36/A36M
As a low-carbon mild steel, ASTM A36 offers excellent weldability and a favourable yield strength, establishing it as a versatile and widely used grade in structural and general engineering. Its optimal balance of relatively low hardness and medium ductility renders it highly suitable for various fabrication processes including grinding, punching, tapping, drilling, and machining. A36 is widely used in bolted, riveted, or welded construction projects, such as bridges and buildings. It also finds broad application in the production of formed tanks and bins, as well as machined components such as bearing plates, jigs, rings, and agricultural machinery parts.
Yield/Tensile Strength
| Metric | Imperial | |
| Tensile Strength, Ultimate | 400 – 500 MPa | 58 – 80 ksi |
| Tensile Strength, Yield | 250 MPa | 36 ksi |
| Elongation at Break (in 2″) | 20% | 23% |
Material Chemistry
| C | SI | MN | P | S | CU |
| 0.26% | 0.40% | 0% | 0.04% | 0.05% | 0.20% |
ASTM A131
ASTM A131/A131M is the most widely recognized specification for structural steel used in ship construction and marine structures. It covers both ordinary-strength grades (A, B, D, CS, E) with a minimum yield strength of 235 MPa (34 ksi) and higher-strength grades (AH32–FH32, AH36–FH36, AH40–FH40) with yield strengths ranging from 315 to 390 MPa. These grades are specifically engineered for welded hull construction, offering excellent notch toughness down to –60°C (Grade FH) and superior weldability even in thick sections. Micro-alloying elements such as Nb, V, and Ti, combined with controlled rolling and normalized delivery conditions, refine the grain structure and enhance both toughness and durability in harsh marine environments. A131 steels are predominantly used in ship hulls, bulkheads, upper decks, hatch covers, offshore platform jackets, and other marine structural applications where guaranteed low-temperature performance and corrosion resistance are critical. As a globally adopted standard, A131-certified material is supplied to major shipbuilders worldwide and remains the de facto benchmark for marine-grade structural steel.
| Grade | Thickness (mm) | Width (mm) | Stock (ton) | Price (USD/ton) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 5–100 | 1500–4500 | 20,000 | 780–880 |
| AH36 | 5–150 | 1800–5500 | 50,000 | 950–1,100 |
| DH36 | 5–200 | 2000–5500 | 60,000 | 1,050–1,200 |
| EH36 | 5–200 | 2200–5500 | 80,000 | 1,150–1,300 |
| FH36 | 10–200 | 2200–5500 | 40,000 | 1,300–1,500 |
ASTM AH36
Steel quality for the domestic shipbuilding sector is governed by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), and materials bearing ABS certification are approved for use in shipbuilding. Metals USA maintains an extensive inventory of AH36, EH36, and DH36 shipbuilding steel across the most widely adopted specifications. AH36 is specifically engineered to endure the aggressive saline conditions characteristic of marine environments, utilizing micro-alloying techniques with elements such as Nb, V, and Ti, paired with controlled rolling to refine the grain structure and enhance toughness. Representing one of the premier steel families manufactured globally, the H series of shipbuilding steels is optimized for virtually all key mechanical properties, and AH36 finds nearly exclusive application in shipbuilding, marine equipment, offshore oil drilling platforms, and related marine engineering.
Yield/Tensile Strength
| Metric | Imperial | |
| Tensile Strength, Ultimate | 490 – 621 MPa | 71 – 90 ksi |
| Tensile Strength, Yield | 352 MPa | 51 ksi |
| Elongation | 20 | 20 |
Material Chemistry
| C | FE | MN | P | S |
| 0.420 – 0.50% | 98.51 – 98.98% | 0.60 – 0.90% | ≤ 0.040% | ≤ 0.050% |
ASTM DH36
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) is a quality assurance organization that certifies steel to its stringent specifications, providing the shipbuilding industry with some of the highest-performance steel available — properties specifically optimized to meet the demanding challenges of shipbuilding and offshore fabrication. Metals USA maintains a comprehensive inventory of H-series shipbuilding steels, including AH36, EH36, and DH36 in the most commonly used formats. DH36 steel is engineered to withstand the corrosive saline conditions of marine environments, and DH36 steel plate is typically used in the fabrication of ship hulls, bulkheads, upper decks, and hatch covers. Through micro-alloying with elements such as Nb, V, and Ti, combined with a controlled rolling process that refines grain structure and enhances durability, the H series of shipbuilding-grade plate delivers some of the highest-performance steel in the world.
Yield/Tensile Strength
| Metric | Imperial | |
| Tensile Strength, Ultimate | 490 – 621 MPa | 71 – 90 ksi |
| Tensile Strength, Yield | 352 MPa | 51 ksi |
| Elongation | 20 | 20 |
Material Chemistry
| C | FE | MN | P | S |
| 0.420 – 0.50% | 98.51 – 98.98% | 0.60 – 0.90% | ≤ 0.040% | ≤ 0.050% |
ASTM A572
A572 Grades 50, 60, and 65 are high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steels extensively utilized in commercial, marine, and bridge/civil construction applications. These grades are valued for their superior strength-to-weight ratio, offering greater structural efficiency by achieving higher strength in thinner profiles relative to standard steel grades. A572-50, in particular, is highly regarded as the go-to grade for numerous heavy-duty applications owing to its optimal combination of density, yield strength, and Brinell hardness of 135.
Yield/Tensile Strength
| Metric | Imperial | |
| Tensile Strength, Ultimate | 450 MPa | 65,300 psi |
| Tensile Strength, Yield | 345 MPa | 50,000 psi |
| Elongation at Break(in 200 mm) | 18.0% | 18.0% |
| Elongation at Break(in 50 mm) | 21.0% | 21.0% |
| Brinell Hardness | 135 | 135 |
| Rockwell Hardness | 74 | 74 |
| Modulus of Elasticity | 200 GPa | 29 ksi |
| Shear Modulus | 80 GPa | 11.6 ksi |
Material Chemistry
| FE | C | MN | P | SI | S |
| 98.0% | 0.23 – 0.290% | 1.35% | 0.040% | 0.40% | 0.050% |
ASTM A992
For the past decade, ASTM A572 Grade 50 has served as the industry standard for structural steel. Today, ASTM A992 Grade 50 has emerged as the next-generation de facto standard. The key advantage of A992 lies in its enhanced material specifications, and like A572 Grade 50, it can also provide cost benefits over A36. Thanks to its widespread adoption, A992 is utilized across an extensive range of applications, including general construction, building frameworks, bridges, and many others. Available in a diverse array of shapes — from wide flange beams to carbon steel I-beams — A992 steel accommodates a broad spectrum of construction needs.
Yield/Tensile Strength
| Imperial | |
| Tensile Strength, Min | 65 ksi |
| Tensile Strength, Yield | 50 – 65 ksi |
| Elongation (in 8″) | 18.0% |
Material Chemistry
| C | NB | CU | MN | NI | P | S | SI | V |
| 0.23% | 0.05% max | 0.60% max | 0.5 – 1.5% | 0.45% max | 0.035% | 0.045% | 0.40% max | 0.11% max |