ASTM A242/A242M-00a

Standard Specification for High-Strength Low-Alloy Structural Steel

SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers high-strength low-alloy structural steel shapes, plates, and bars for welded, riveted, or bolted construction intended primarily for use as structural members where savings in weight [mass] or added durability are important. The atmospheric corrosion resistance of the steel in most environments is substantially better than that of carbon structural steels with or without copper addition. When properly exposed to the atmosphere, this steel can be used bare (unpainted) for many applications (see Note 1). This specification is limited to material up to 4 in. [100 mm], inclusive, in thickness.
Note 1—For methods of estimating the atmospheric corrosion resistance of low-alloy steels, see Guide G101.
1.2 When the steel is to be welded, it is presupposed that a welding procedure suitable for the grade of steel and intended use or service will be utilized. See Appendix X3 of Specification A6/A6M for information on weldability.
1.3 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units are to be regarded as standard. Within the text, the SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the specification.
1.4 For structural products produced from coil, the additional requirements, including additional testing requirements and the reporting of additional test results, of Specification A6/A6M apply.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Sep-2001
• ICS: 77.140.10 - Heat-treatable steels
• Technical Committee: A01 - Steel, Stainless Steel and Related Alloys
• Drafting Committee: A01.02 - Structural Steel for Bridges, Buildings, Rolling Stock and Ships

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM A242/A242M-01 - Standard Specification for High-Strength Low-Alloy Structural Steel
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F1155-10(2019) - Standard Practice for Selection and Application of Piping System Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2001
• Referred By: ASTM A786/A786M-15(2021) - Standard Specification for Hot-Rolled Carbon, Low-Alloy, High-Strength Low-Alloy, and Alloy Steel Floor Plates
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2001
• Referred By: ASTM C1802-23 - Standard Specification for Design, Testing, Manufacture, Selection, and Installation of Horizontal Fabricated Metal Access Hatches for Utility, Water, and Wastewater Structures
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2001
• Referred By: ASTM G101-04(2020) - Standard Guide for Estimating the Atmospheric Corrosion Resistance of Low-Alloy Steels
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2001
• Referred By: ASTM A1065/A1065M-18 - Standard Specification for Cold-Formed Electric-Fusion (Arc) Welded High-Strength Low–Alloy Structural Tubing in Shapes, with 50 ksi [345 MPa] Minimum Yield Point
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2001

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: A 242/A 242M – 00a American Association State
Highway and Transportation Officials
Standard AASHTO No.: M 161
Standard Specification for
1
High-Strength Low-Alloy Structural Steel
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 242/A 242M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope 3. General Requirements for Delivery
1.1 This specification covers high-strength low-alloy struc- 3.1 Material furnished under this specification shall con-
tural steel shapes, plates, and bars for welded, riveted, or bolted form to the requirements of the current edition of Specification
construction intended primarily for use as structural members A 6/A 6M, for the ordered material, unless a conflict exists in
where savings in weight [mass] or added durability are which case this specification shall prevail.
important. The atmospheric corrosion resistance of the steel in 3.1.1 Coiled product is excluded from qualification to this
most environments is substantially better than that of carbon specification until it is decoiled, leveled, and cut to length.
structural steels with or without copper addition. When prop- Structural products produced from coil means structural prod-
erly exposed to the atmosphere, this steel can be used bare ucts that have been cut to individual lengths from a coiled
(unpainted) for many applications (see Note 1). This specifi- product and are furnished without heat treatment. The proces-
cation is limited to material up to 4 in. [100 mm], inclusive, in sor decoils, levels, cuts to length, and marks the product. The
thickness. processor is responsible for performing and certifying all tests,
examinations, repairs, inspections, or opertions not intended to
NOTE 1—For methods of estimating the atmospheric corrosion resis-
affect the properties of the material. For structural products
tance of low-alloy steels, see Guide G 101.
produced from coils, two test results shall be reported for each
1.2 When the steel is to be welded, it is presupposed that a
qualifying coil.
welding procedure suitable for the grade of steel and intended
NOTE 2—Additional requirements regarding structural products pro-
use or service will be utilized. See Appendix X3 of Specifica-
duced from coil are described in Specification A 6/A 6M.
tion A 6/A 6M for information on weldability.
1.3 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units
4. Materials and Manufacture
are to be regarded as standard. Within the text, the SI units are
4.1 The steel shall be semi-killed or killed.
shown in brackets. The values stated in each system are not
exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used inde-
5. Chemical Composition
pendently of the other. Combining values from the two systems
5.1 The heat analysis shall conform to the requirements
may result in nonconformance with the specification.
prescribed in Table 1.
1.4 For structural products produced from coil, the addi-
5.2 The steel shall conform on product analysis to the
tional requirements, including additional testing requirements
requirements prescribed in Table 1, subject to the product
and the reporting of additional test results, of Specification
analysis tolerances in Specification A 6/A 6M.
A 6/A 6M apply.
5.3 Choice and use of alloying elements, combined with
carbon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, and copper within the
2. Referenced Documents
limits prescribed in 5.1 to give the mechanical properties
2.1 ASTM Standards:
prescribed in Section 6 and to provide the atmospheric corro-
A 6/A 6M Specification for General Requirements for
sion resistance of 1.1, shall be made by the manufacturer and
Rolled Structural Steel Bars, Plates, Shapes, and Sheet
included and reported in the heat analysis to identify the type
2
Piling
of steel applied. Elements commonly added include: chro-
G 101 Guide for Estimating the Atmospheric Corrosion
mium, nickel, silicon, vanadium, titanium, and zirconium.
3
Resistance of Low-Alloy Steels
5.4 The atmospheric corrosion-resistance index, calculated
on the basis of the heat analysis of the steel, as described in
1
Guide G 101, shall be 6.0 or higher.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel,
Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys, and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
NOTE 3—The user is cautioned that the Guide G 101 predictive
A01.02 on Structural Steel for Bridges, Buildings, Rolling Stock, and Ships.
equation for calculation of an atmospheric corrosion-resistance index has
Current edition
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