ASME SA-516/SA-516M

SA516 Grade 70 Pressure Vessel Steel Plate

Technical Datasheet

Carbon-manganese-silicon pressure vessel steel plate, supplied in hot-rolled or normalized condition, with excellent notch toughness and weldability. Suitable for welded pressure vessels, boilers, and storage tanks in moderate to low temperature service (-46°C to +538°C).

1. SA516 Grade 70 Material Identification & ASTM ASME Standards

Standards

  • ASTM A516 / ASME SA516
  • ASTM A20/A20M (General Requirements)
  • ASME BPVC Section II Part A

UNS Number

K02700

Grade Classification

  • Grade 55 (380 MPa)
  • Grade 60 (415 MPa)
  • Grade 65 (450 MPa)
  • Grade 70 (485 MPa) ← This Spec

2. SA516 Gr70 Chemical Composition & Ladle Analysis Requirements

2.1 SA516 Grade 70 Chemical Composition Limits by Thickness

Table 2.1: SA516 Gr70 Chemical Composition Requirements (ASTM A516/ASME SA516 Mass Percent)
Element Analysis Type <=12.5mm >12.5-50mm >50-100mm >100-200mm >200mm
C1/2 Ladle <=0.27 <=0.28 <=0.30 <=0.31 <=0.31
Product <=0.29 <=0.30 <=0.32 <=0.33 <=0.33
Mn2 Ladle 0.85-1.20
Product 0.79-1.30
P* Ladle/Product <=0.025
S* Ladle/Product <=0.025
Si Ladle 0.15-0.40
Product 0.13-0.45

Carbon Equivalent (CE)

CE = C + Mn/6 + (Cr+Mo+V)/5 + (Ni+Cu)/15

Typical value: 0.40-0.50 (depending on actual composition)

Note: Good weldability when CE <=0.43; preheating required for CE 0.43-0.50

  • 1 For each reduction of 0.01% C below the maximum, an increase of 0.06% Mn above the maximum is permitted, up to a maximum of 1.35%
  • 2 For plates <=12.5mm thick, minimum Mn of 0.70% may be specified by agreement
  • * P and S limits revised to <=0.025 in 2017 edition (previously <=0.035)

3. SA516 Grade 70 Mechanical Properties & Tensile Strength Specification

3.1 SA516 Grade 70 Tensile Properties at Room Temperature

Property Standard Value Test Method Remarks
Tensile Strength Rm 485-620 MPa (70-90 ksi) ASTM A370 Transverse specimen
Yield Strength ReL or Rp0.2 >=260 MPa (38 ksi) 0.2% Offset Method Or 0.5% Extension
Elongation A >=17% (200mm GL)
>=21% (50mm GL)		 ASTM A370 Per A20/A20M
Reduction of Area Z — — Not mandatory

3.2 Charpy Impact Test Temperature Requirements for SA516 Gr70

Standard Grade (Non-Low Temp)

Impact testing not required

General Service

Low Temperature Grade (Grade 70N)

  • Test Temp: -46°C, -40°C, -29°C
  • Absorbed Energy: >=20J (Transverse)
  • Lateral Expansion: >=0.38mm (Optional)
By Agreement

3.3 SA516 Gr70 Hardness & Brinell Hardness Limits

  • As-supplied condition: <=200 HBW (Typical 150-180 HBW)
  • NACE service environment: Weld & HAZ <=250 HV10

4. SA516 Gr70 Normalized vs As Rolled: Heat Treatment Guide

1

As-Rolled (AR)

Thermo-Mechanical Control Process (TMCP)

Applicable: <=40mm (by agreement)

→
2

Normalized (N)

Heating: 900-930°C

Holding: 1-2 min/mm

Cooling: Air (Accelerated cooling requires tempering)

→
3

Simulated PWHT (SPWHT)

595-620°C × 2-4h

For property verification

Critical Control Points:
  • Plate thickness >40mm: Normalizing mandatory (per standard)
  • Accelerated cooling (air blast/spray): Must be tempered above 1200°F (649°C)
  • Grain size after normalizing: >=ASTM 5 (fine grain steel)
  • Thickness >50mm: Normalizing recommended regardless of standard requirements

5. SA516 Gr70 Welding Procedure Specification (WPS/PQR)

5.1 SA516 Gr70 Welding Procedure Specification WPS

SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc) SAW (Submerged Arc) GMAW (Gas Metal Arc) FCAW (Flux Cored) GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc) ESW (Electroslag)

5.2 SA516 Gr70 Preheat & Interpass Temperature Chart

Thickness Range Min Preheat Temp Recommended Preheat Max Interpass Temp
<=13mm 10°C (Ambient) 50-100°C 250-315°C
>13-38mm 65°C 100-150°C
>38mm 110°C 150-200°C

5.3 Recommended Welding Consumables for SA516 Grade 70

Process AWS Classification Strength Match Hydrogen Control
SMAW E7018-1, E7018-H4R 70 ksi Low Hydrogen (H4)
GMAW ER70S-6 70 ksi Shielding: Ar+CO2
FCAW E71T-1C, E71T-12C 70 ksi Self/ Gas Shielded
SAW F7A2-EM12K, F7A0-EH14 70 ksi Flux bake 300°C*2h

5.4 SA516 Gr70 PWHT Requirements & Post Weld Heat Treatment

Temperature Range 593-649°C (1100-1200°F)
Holding Time 1h/25mm thickness (min 15min)
Heating Rate <=220°C/h (<=300mm thick)
Cooling Rate <=260°C/h (Air cool)
PWHT Exemption Conditions (ASME VIII-1 UCS-79):
  • Base metal thickness <=38mm and preheat >=95°C
  • Weld thickness <=32mm (fillet weld throat <=28mm)
  • Temper bead technique qualified by PQR

6. SA516 Gr70 HIC NACE MR0175 & Low Temperature Service Requirements

6.1 SA516 Gr70 HIC Test NACE TM0284 Solution A for Wet H2S Service

HIC Test (Hydrogen Induced Cracking)

  • Test Standard: NACE TM0284 Solution A
  • Acceptance Criteria:
    • CLR (Crack Length Ratio) <=5%
    • CTR (Crack Thickness Ratio) <=1.5%
    • CSR (Crack Sensitivity Ratio) <=0.5%
  • Sampling: 1/4T and 1/2T of plate thickness

SSC Test (Sulfide Stress Cracking)

  • Test Standard: NACE TM0177 Method A
  • Stress Level: 80% AYS (Actual Yield Strength)
  • Test Duration: 720 hours
  • Acceptance: No cracking

6.2 SA516 Gr70 SSC Test NACE TM0177 Method A Requirements

For equipment with design temperature below -29°C:

  • Low temperature impact testing mandatory (-46°C, -60°C, etc.)
  • Consider thickness effect: As thickness increases, toughness requirement temperature shifts upward
  • Furnace cooling normalization recommended (vs. air cooling) for better toughness

7. SA516 Grade 70 Inspection & NDT Testing Methods

7.1 Non-Destructive Testing

UT ASTM A578/A578M Level C (Most Strict)
MT ASTM A275/A275M Surface Crack Detection
PT ASTM A165 Surface Open Defects
RT ASME V Article 2 Weld Internal Quality

7.2 Specimen Orientation & Location

Transverse (T)

Preferred for tensile & impact

Reflects transverse properties

Longitudinal (L)

Only when width insufficient

Higher strength, lower toughness

Thickness Position

1/4T or 1/2T

Represents worst location

7.3 Retest Procedures

  • Tensile failure: Double retest from same plate; plate acceptable if both pass
  • Impact failure: Additional 3 sets (9 specimens) from same plate; average must meet requirement with individual values >=70% of specified
  • UT failure: Defect removal and re-inspection or rejection

8. SA516 Gr70 Physical Properties & Thermal Conductivity

Density

7.85

g/cm3 (20°C)

Melting Point

~1510

°C

Thermal Conductivity

46-50

W/(m*K) (20-100°C)

Linear Expansion

11.5

*10-6/°C (20-300°C)

Specific Heat

460-500

J/(kg*K) (20°C)

Elastic Modulus

200-210

GPa (20°C)

9. SA516 Grade 70 Dimensions & Thickness Tolerance ASTM A20

9.1 Available Dimensions

Thickness 6-400 mm (Standard 6-200mm)
Width 1500-4350 mm
Length 3000-27000 mm
Unit Weight Max 60 MT

9.2 Thickness Tolerances (ASTM A20)

Nominal Thickness Class A (Unrestricted) Class B (Restricted)
6-25mm +1.20mm, -0.30mm +/-0.60mm
>25-50mm +1.50mm, -0.30mm +/-0.80mm
>50-100mm +2.40mm, -0.30mm +/-1.20mm

10. SA516 Gr70 Mill Test Certificate & EN 10204 3.2 Documentation

EN 10204 3.1

Manufacturer Test Certificate

Based on non-specific inspection

EN 10204 3.2

Third Party Inspection Certificate

Witnessed by customer or third party

ASME Data Report

Form CM-1

For ASME stamped equipment

Mill Test Certificate must include:

  • ✓Heat number, plate number, batch traceability
  • ✓Chemical composition (ladle + product analysis)
  • ✓Mechanical properties (tensile, impact)
  • ✓Heat treatment records (temperature-time curves)
  • ✓NDT reports (UT/MT etc.)
  • ✓Dimensional inspection records
  • ✓HIC/SSC test reports (if applicable)

11. SA516 Grade 70 Equivalent Grades: P355GH Q345R Comparison

Grade Standard Country Yield
MPa		 Tensile
MPa		 Impact
J / °C		 Key Differences
SA516 Gr70 ASME USA >=260 485-620 >=20 @ -46°C
(t>13mm)		 ASME BPVC, excellent low temp toughness
SA516 Gr70 ASTM USA >=260 485-620 >=20 @ -46°C
(By agreement)		 Same composition as SA516, ASTM material standard
P355GH EN 10028-2 Europe >=355 490-630 >=27 @ 0°C
(Standard)		 CE max 0.47, stricter toughness, 36% higher yield
Q345R GB/T 713 China >=345
(t<=16mm)		 510-640 >=34 @ 0°C
(Mandatory)		 Chinese pressure vessel standard, higher impact but only 0°C
SB480M JIS G 3103 Japan >=275 480-620 By agreement Japanese boiler standard, similar composition
P355GH ISO 9328-2 International >=355 490-630 >=27 @ 0°C Consistent with EN standard, international use
224-490A/B BS 1501 UK >=255 490-600 — Obsolete British standard
Impact Test Notes:
  • SA516 Gr70: Impact testing not mandatory by standard, but >=20J @ -46°C can be specified by agreement (for t>13mm)
  • P355GH: Mandatory >=27J @ 0°C, optional -20°C or lower
  • Q345R: Chinese standard mandatory >=34J @ 0°C, higher than European standard
  • Longitudinal (L) specimens typically require 30-50% higher energy than transverse (T)

Warning: Equivalent grades are approximate. Project-specific Gap Analysis and PQR qualification required. Yield strength and impact energy are critical for pressure vessel design.

12. SA516 Gr70 Design Considerations & Fabrication Guidelines

Design Considerations

  • High temperature creep: SA516 Gr70 limited to <=538°C (1000°F) for long-term service
  • Low temperature brittle fracture: For materials without impact testing, design temperature should not be below -29°C (ASME UCS-66 Curve B)
  • Thickness effect: As plate thickness increases, strength and toughness decrease; allowable design stress must be interpolated per ASME II-D Table 1A

Fabrication Considerations

  • Cold forming: Bend radius recommended >=3t (t=plate thickness) to avoid surface cracking
  • Hot forming: Forming temperature 900-1100°C, re-normalization required after forming
  • Grinding: Defect removal depth not to exceed 7% of plate thickness, PT/MT verification required

Common Failure Mode Prevention

  • Reheat cracking: Avoid prolonged PWHT in 550-600°C range
  • Hydrogen-induced cold cracking: Strict low-hydrogen practice, control diffusible hydrogen <=5 mL/100g
  • Temper embrittlement: Step cooling test verification (for 343-538°C service)

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