TESTING OF STRUCTURAL STEEL

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING BRANCH ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT December 2008 (Revised)

Structural Engineering Branch, ArchSD Testing of Structural Steel Issue No./Revision No. : 1/1

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File code : EN10002.doc CYK/MKL/ Issue/Revision Date : December 2008

CONTENTS Content Page 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Background . 3 Definitions 4 Tensile Test Requirements of Different Standards . 6 Tensile Testing under GS 2007 .. 7 References 7

Structural Engineering Branch, ArchSD Testing of Structural Steel Issue No./Revision No. : 1/1

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File code : EN10002.doc CYK/MKL/ Issue/Revision Date : December 2008

1. 1.1

Background In 2004, Division 1 SEB conducted a study on testing of structural steel in particular hollow sections, and the subsequent paper was discussed in the Senior Structural Engineers Meeting 6/2004 (the Meeting), which concluded that structural steel would be tested to comply with testing procedures in BS 18. The study also noted that most structural steel had been manufactured to the Euro Standards; but at the time of that study the laboratories in Hong Kong had not yet been accredited to testing in compliance with the Euro standards, and hence the Meeting had decided to specify structural steel to BS 4360: 1986 and accepted equivalent materials as an interim measure. Then, in 2006 during the review of our General Specifications, we noted the market trend that structural steel had usually been manufactured to Euro standards. The then AD/SE therefore wrote to CEDD in 2006 on the possibility of using Euro standards as the material and testing standards. CEDD replied that the PW Laboratories were accredited to BS 18 only because their UTMs and extensometers were not able to carrying out testing to BS EN 10002-1; but that a new 2000kN-UTM would be installed by the end of year 2006. CEDD advised that tests could then be carried out to BS EN 10002-1 using the new machine, and that they would try to get accreditation to Euro standards then. With the information given by CEDD, the General Specification 2007 Edition (GS 2007) changed the material specification for structural steel from British standards to Euro standards. GS 2007 Cl. 15.02 specifies that all structural steel shall be hot-rolled or hot-finished structural steel complying with BS EN 10025 or BS EN 10210 respectively, or for cold-formed structural hollow sections, GS 2007 Cl. 15.05 specifies that they shall comply with BS EN 10219. The General Notes issued under SE Instruction no. 1/2008 were also amended and worded as: Except specified otherwise, all structural steel shall be hot-rolled or hotfinished structural steel complying with BS EN 10025 or BS EN 10210 respectively. All structural steel shall be Grade *S275/S355JR, except that hot-finished hollow sections shall be Grade *S275J0H/S275J2H/ S355J0H /S355J2H complying with BS EN 10210-1. SE Instruction no. 1/2008 also notes that small-sized hot finished hollow sections may not be available in the market, and advises PSEs to base their design on cold-formed sections for minor steel structures,1 and in such case, the General Notes was amended and worded as:

1.2

1.3

The design of cold-formed hollow sections shall follow BS 5950-1: 2000. Reference may also be made to Section 8 of The Code of Practice for the Structural Use of Steel 2005 issued by the Buildings Department, which is essentially the same as BS 5950-1: 2000. Although BS 5950-5: 1998 is a design standard for cold-formed thin gauge sections which may be either open or closed, it primarily intended to be used for sections with a thickness of not more than 8mm, e.g. purlins, floor decking. BS5950-5: 1998 specifically states that it shall not be used for the design of welded cold-formed hollow sections complying with BS EN 10219. Section 11 of The Code of Practice for the Structural Use of Steel 2005 on the design of cold-formed steel sections and sheet profiles also states explicitly that this section shall only be sued for the design of cold-formed open sections and sheet profiles.
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Hollow sections shall be cold formed *Grade S275J2H/S355J2H complying with BS EN 10219. 1.4 Before the promulgation of GS 2007, CSE/1 informed CEDD again in 2007 that structural steel specified under GS 2007 would be tested in accordance with BS EN 10002-1, and CEDD confirmed that such testing services would be available, although CSE/1 had hesitation on whether the testing procedures had obtained the HOKLAS accreditation. The following paragraphs will discuss the difference in the testing of structural steel according to British standards and Euro standards, and will then advise how to request the PW Laboratories to carry out tensile tests to structural steel with Euro standards. Definitions2 The following definitions are extracted from BS EN 10002-1: a) b) Tensile Strength (Rm) The stress corresponding to the maximum force (see Figure 2). Upper Yield Strength (ReH) The value of stress at the moment when the first decrease in force at yield is observed (see Figure 1). Upper yield point is commonly found in low carbon steel at room temperature. Carbon atoms diffuse preferentially to dislocation cores pinning the dislocations (called Cottrell atmospheres) until the upper yield point is reached. Once the upper yield point is reached, there is a load drop and then a sudden burst of plastic straining at a constant externally applied load, as cascades of dislocations are able escape their Cottrell atmospheres. Lower Yield Strength (ReL) The lowest value of stress during plastic yielding, ignoring any transient effects (see Figure 1). Proof Strength (Non-proportional Extension) (Rp) The stress at which a non-proportional extension (plastic extension only) is equal to a specified percentage of the extensometer gauge length (Le) (see Figure 3(a)). The symbol used is followed by a suffix giving the prescribed percentage of the extensometer gauge length, for example Rp0.2. Proof Strength (Total Extension) (Rt) The stress at which the total extension (elastic extension plus plastic extension) is equal to a specified percentage of the extensometer gauge length (Le) (see Figure 3(b)). The symbol used is followed by a suffix giving the prescribed percentage of the extensometer gauge length, for example Rt0.5.

1.5

2.

c)

d)

e)

Definitions are in accordance with BS EN 10002-1 and they are in general agreement with those in BS 18. Page 4 of 12 File code : EN10002.doc CYK/MKL/ Issue/Revision Date : December 2008

Structural Engineering Branch, ArchSD Testing of Structural Steel Issue No./Revision No. : 1/1

Figure 1 Force/extension diagrams illustrating upper and lower yields

Figure 2 Force/extension diagram illustrating tensile strength

Figure 3 Force/extension diagrams illustrating proof strength extension values

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3 3.1

Tensile Test Requirements of Different Standards Table 1 summarises the minimum yield strength and tensile strength requirements of structural steel in BS 4360: 1986, BS 4360: 1990, BS EN 10210-1: 1994 and BS EN 10025-1: 2004. BS 4360: 1986 a) b) c) The tensile test shall be carried out in accordance with BS 18. It is permissible for the manufacturer to determine either the upper yield stress, ReH, or the 0.5 % proof stress (total extension), Rt0.5, as the yield strength. If the result is in doubt or dispute, the yield strength shall be deemed not to be reached until the total extension under load as determined by the extensometer or dividers, is observed to be 0.5% of the gauge length (Rt0.5).

3.2

3.3

BS 4360: 1990 a) When originally promulgated, BS 4360: 1990 followed the same as BS 4360: 1986 , i.e. it is permissible for the manufacturer to determine either the upper yield stress, ReH, or the 0.5% proof stress (total extension), Rt0.5, as the yield strength. If the result is in doubt or dispute, the yield strength shall be deemed not to be reached until the total extension under load as determined by the extensometer or dividers, is observed to be 0.5% of the gauge length (Rt0.5). BS 4360: 1990 was, however amended in October 1991 (AMD 6835), and the requirements on tensile test remain the same except that the testing procedures shall follow BS EN 10002:1 instead of BS 18.

b)

3.4

BS EN 10210-1: 1994 (for hot-finished hollow sections), BS EN 100251:2004 (for hot-rolled rolled structural steel) and BS EN 10219 (for coldformed structural hollow sections) a) b) The tensile test shall be carried out in accordance with BS EN 10002-1. However, unlike BS 4360, Euro standards specify that the upper yield stress (ReH) shall be determined as the yield strength. Only, if a yield phenomenon is not present, the 0.2% proof strength (Rp0.2) or the 0.5% total extension (Rt0.5) shall be determined. In the latter case, the 0.2% proof strength (Rp0.2) shall apply when there is a dispute.

3.5

The main difference between BS 4360 and Euro standards (i.e. BS EN 10210-1, BS EN 10025 and BS EN 10219) is that Euro standards specify that the upper yield stress shall be taken as the yield strength unless such yield phenomenon is not present. Nethercot (1991) notes that a typical ratio of upper yield strength to lower yield strength is about 1.05 1.10, and that Rt0.5 can be considered as the lower yield strength. Nethercot (1991) further notes that if the rate of straining is high, the upper yield strength may not be detected. From the test results of our projects, the ratio is about 1.06. It is further noted that the yield strength of high-grade British steel, e.g. Grade 50, the margin in excess of the minimum strength is only a few percents. Thus, if only the lower yield strength or 0.2%
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Structural Engineering Branch, ArchSD Testing of Structural Steel Issue No./Revision No. : 1/1

proof strength or the 0.5% total extension rather than the upper yield strength are used, there will be a risk of rejecting an acceptable material unnecessarily. PSE should therefore ensure that the upper yield stress is reported in the test certificate. 4 4.1 Tensile Testing under GS 2007 After the confirmation of the availability of testing services by CEDD in 2007, we then promulgated GS 2007 with specifying structural steel to Euro standards. In June 2008, when batches of structural steel specifying under GS 2007 began to be delivered to sites, we have made enquiries to CEDD on their testing procedures to structural steel, and their replies are summarised as follows: The contract laboratories of CEDD are only accredited to provide testing services of structural steel to the old version of BS 4360: 1990 without AMD 6825 (i.e. the testing procedure still follows BS 18 rather than BS EN 10002-1). The PW Laboratories can provide testing services of structural steel to BS EN 10002-1. However, such testing services have not yet been accredited.

4.2

GS 2007 Cl. 15.02 specifies that all structural steel shall be hot-rolled or hotfinished structural steel complying with BS EN 10025 or BS EN 10210 respectively. For cold-formed structural hollow sections, GS 2007 Cl. 15.05 specifies that they shall comply with BS EN 10219. These Euro standards specify that the tensile test shall be carried out in accordance with BS EN 10002-1. As the contract laboratories of CEDD can at present only follow the testing procedure to BS 18 rather than BS EN 10002-1, as an interim measure CEDD had agreed in July 2008 that structural steel specified under GS 2007 would be tested by the PW Laboratories rather than by the contract laboratories. CEDD further assured us in July 2008 that the testing services by the PW Laboratories were at a high quality, even though the testing procedures had not yet been accredited. In October 2008, CEDD informed us that they would apply for accreditation of their testing services, and they expected that the accreditation process would take about six to 12 months. To ensure that the correct testing standard would be followed, CEDD further requested PSE and/or site staff to specify BS EN 10025, BS EN 10210 and BS EN 10219 for hotrolled structural steel, hot-finished hollow section and cold-formed hollow section respectively in the Testing Request for Other Construction Material Samples (sample copy at Annex) form sent to the PW Laboratories. References British Standard Institution (1987), BS 18 Tensile Testing of Metals (London, BSI). British Standard Institution (1986), BS 4360 Weldable Structural Steels (London, BSI).

4.3

5.

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British Standard Institution (1990), BS 4360 Weldable Structural Steels (London, BSI). British Standard Institution (2001), BS EN 10002-1 Metallic Materials Tensile Testing - Part 1: Method of Test at Ambient Temperature (London, BSI). British Standard Institution (2004), BS EN 10025 Hot rolled products of structural steels (London, BSI). British Standard Institution (2006), BS EN 10210 Hot finished structural hollow sections of non-alloy and fine grain steels (London, BSI). British Standard Institution (2006), BS EN 10219 Cold formed welded structural hollow sections of non-alloy and fine grain steels (London, BSI). Higgins, R A (1994), The properties of engineering materials, 2nd ed. (New York: Industrial Press). Nethercot, D A (1991), Limit states design of structural steelwork, 2nd ed. (London: Chapman & Hall).

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Table 1. Minimum Yield Strength and Tensile Strength Minimum yield Strength (N/mm2) Nominal thickness in mm 16 BS 4360: 1986 BS 4360: 1990 BS 4360: 1990 (with AMD 6825) EN 10210-1: 1994 EN 10025-1: 1993 EN 10219-1: 2006 43 50 43 50 43 50 S275J0H/S275J2H S355J0H/S355J2H S275 S355JR S275J2H S355J2H 275 355 275 355 275 275 275 355 275 355 275 355 > 16 40 265 345 265 345 265 265 265 345 265 345 265 345 > 40 63 265 345 265 345 265 265 255 335 255 335 / / Tensile Strength (N/mm2) Nominal thickness in mm <3 3 63 430/580 430/580 490/640 490/640 430/580 430/580 490/640 490/640 430/580 430/580 430/580 430/580 430/580 410/560 510/680 490/630 430/580 410/560 510/680 490/630 430/580 410/560 510/680 470/630

Standard

Grade

Tensile Test Standard

BS 18 BS 18 EN 10002-1 EN 10002-1 EN 10002-1 EN 10002-1 EN 10002-1 EN 10002-1

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Annex Sample Testing Request for Other Construction Material Samples form

Public Works Laboratories

Geotechnical Engineering Office, Hong Kong

For laboratory use only Collection Request No. (CRN) Test Request No. (TRN)

TESTING REQUEST FOR OTHER CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL SAMPLES

(Except steel reinforcement bar)

Account No. (if available)

(Please provide the following project information if account no. is not available)

Client Test Request Ref. No. Contract No. Job No.

Client (Works Dept/Office) Architectural Services Department Job Title Work/Site Location

Please test the accompanying samples of

for tests(s) in accordance with. BS/ GS* BS EN 10025:2004 (for hot-rolled structural steel) / BS EN 10210:2006 (for hot-finished hollow section) / BS EN 10219:2006 (for cold-formed hollow section)* with corrigendum / amendment . Client Sample Ref. No. Sample description Original Grade of product size sample (mm) Number of specimen Manufacturer Remarks

Note:-

(1) (2)

To be completed by a project works supervisor grade officer or above. To be completed by a project inspectorate grade officer or above (or his delegate).

Remarks :
Sample(s) delivery supervised by(1) Signature Name Post Tel./Fax No. Date : : : : : Test(s) requested by(2) Signature Name Post Tel./Fax No. Date : : : : :

Fill in the box below the name, mailing and e-mail address to which the test certificate(s) should be sent or else mark be collected if the client requests to collect the certificate(s) from the laboratory in person.

To

C Eng D (GEO) 2404 Oct 2007