Jan 29 2013
Structural steel is a construction material produced from specific grades of steel and formed in a range of industry standard cross-sectional shapes. Structural steel grades are manufactured with specific chemical compositions and mechanical properties specifically for particular applications.
The shape, composition, size, strength, and storage of structural steels are regulated in some industrialized countries. The steels used in Europe have to comply with the European standard EN 10025, likewise steels used for building construction in the US use standard alloys specified by ASTM International.
Structural Steel S460
Structural steel 460 is a specially designed steel for use in harsh environments such as offshore structures. Some variations of S460 structural steel plate include S460G1+Q, S460G1+M, S460G2+Q , and S460G2+M. Each structural steel grade has the prefix “S” and is followed by suffixes that denote difference in the specific requirement for that structural application.
S460 structural steel falls within the European standard structural steel of EN 10025: 2001 standard. The steel is available in either quenched (Q) or thermo-mechanically rolled (M) condition. Higher yield, tensile strength provides this steel with good weldability characteristics and can be supplied as heavy carbon steel plates or fabricated sections.
US Equivalent Grades
Chemical Composition of S460 Structural Steel
The chemical composition of structural steel is very important and highly regulated. It is an essential factor which defines the mechanical properties of the steel material. In the following table, the chemical composition of S460 is displayed.
| Element |
Content (%) |
| Manganese, Mn |
1.60max |
| Silicon, Si |
0.50max |
| Phosphorus, P |
0.025max |
| Carbon, C |
0.12max |
Mechanical Properties of S460 Structural Steel
The mechanical properties of structural steel are very important to its classification, and subsequently its application. Structural steel S460 has good tensile and yield strength and they are tabulated below.
| Property |
Definition |
Value |
| Tensile strength |
The point at which permanent deformation occurs when the material is pulled or stretched laterally along its length. |
520-670 MPa (At nominal thickness between 3 and 16mm) |
| Yield strength |
The yield strength of structural steel measures the minimum force required to create a permanent deformation in the steel. |
66.71ksi (460 N/mm2) [at nominal thickness 16mm] |
Typical Structural Steel ‘Sections’ / Cross-Sectional Shapes
Structural steel is available in many grades but is usually sold by manufacturers in a pre-formed state with a defined cross-sectional shape specifically for certain applications. In many cases, structural steels are sold as Z-beams, L-shaped, box lintels, I-beams, hollow structural section, and steel plate.
Applications of Structural Steel S460
Structural steels can be used in a number of ways and their applications are very diverse. Structural steels are highly sought after as they provide a unique combination of good welding properties with high strengths. Today the market has a wide range of structural steels such as offshore steels, wear resistant grades, high-strength steels, boiler and pressure vessel steels, and shipbuilding grades. These steels are very adaptable and can be used in areas requiring maximum strength or structure but less weight.
Typical applications of S460 are in construction of fixed offshore structures such as oil rigs and service platforms.
Sources and Further Reading