ASTM A3-01(2012)
(Specification)Standard Specification for Steel Joint Bars, Low, Medium, and High Carbon (Non-Heat-Treated)
Standard Specification for Steel Joint Bars, Low, Medium, and High Carbon (Non-Heat-Treated)
ABSTRACT
This specification covers steel joint bars of low-carbon, medium-carbon, and high-carbon grades (Grades 1, 2, and 3) for railway applications. Steel shall be made through basic-oxygen or electric-furnace processes and cast through continuous process or in ingots. An analysis of each heat or cast shall be made to determine the percentage compositions of carbon, manganese, phosphorus, and sulfur. Tension test shall also be made to conform to specified tensile strength and elongation values. Guidelines on the dimensions and physical variations of joint bars are given. Inspection, rejection, rehearing, certification, and product marking procedures are cited.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers steel joint bars for connecting steel rails in mine, industrial, and standard railroad track.
1.2 Three grades of joint bars are defined for applications where non-heat treated bars are suitable:
1.2.1 Grade 1, low-carbon, primarily for industrial and mine use.
1.2.2 Grade 2, medium-carbon, primarily for industrial and mine use.
1.2.3 Grade 3, high-carbon, for general use in standard railroad track. They may be used in the production of insulated track joints.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:A3 −01 (Reapproved 2012)
Standard Specification for
Steel Joint Bars, Low, Medium, and High Carbon (Non-Heat-
Treated)
This standard is issued under the fixed designationA3; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) 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 3.1.3 Grade—in accordance with 1.2 and Table 1 and Table
2,
1.1 This specification covers steel joint bars for connecting
3.1.4 Dimension—overall length,
steel rails in mine, industrial, and standard railroad track.
3.1.5 Punching—type (elliptical, oval, round, or
1.2 Three grades of joint bars are defined for applications
combinations), size, number, location, spacing, and elevation
where non-heat treated bars are suitable:
of punched holes, with dimensional drawing if necessary,
1.2.1 Grade 1, low-carbon, primarily for industrial and mine
3.1.6 Special Requirements—notching, shearing, bundling,
use.
etc., including details, and
1.2.2 Grade 2, medium-carbon, primarily for industrial and
3.1.7 Certification and Test Report Requirements—(Section
mine use.
11).
1.2.3 Grade 3, high-carbon, for general use in standard
railroad track. They may be used in the production of insulated
4. Manufacture
track joints.
4.1 The steel shall be made by one or both of the following
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
processes: basic-oxygen or electric-furnace.
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
4.1.1 The steel may be cast by a continuous process, or in
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
ingots.
and are not considered standard.
4.2 Grade 2, medium-carbon, joint bars may be punched,
2. Referenced Documents
slotted, and shaped in the case of special designs, either hot or
cold. Joint bars that are punched, slotted, or shaped cold shall
2.1 ASTM Standards:
be subsequently annealed.
A370 Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing
of Steel Products
4.3 Grade 3, high-carbon, joint bars shall be uniformly
A700 Practices for Packaging, Marking, and Loading Meth-
heated for punching, slotting, and shaping.
ods for Steel Products for Shipment
5. Chemical Requirements
3. Ordering Information
5.1 The steel shall conform to the requirements as to
3.1 Orders for joint bars under this specification shall
chemical composition prescribed in Table 1.
include the following information as appropriate:
5.2 Heat or Cast Analysis—An analysis of each heat or cast
3.1.1 Quantity—number of pairs of bars,
shall be made by the manufacturer to determine the percent-
3.1.2 Type—design or type bar along with section designa-
ages of carbon, manganese, phosphorus, and sulfur. The
tion and weight of rails being joined,
analysis shall be made from a test sample taken preferably
during the pouring of the heat or cast. The chemical composi-
tion thus determined shall conform to the requirement in Table
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel,
1. Manganese and sulfur determinations are for information
Stainless Steel and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A01.01 on Steel Rails and Accessories.
only.
Current edition approved March 1, 2012. Published March 2012. Originally
5.3 Product Analysis—When ladle tests are not available,
approved in 1901. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as A3 – 01 (2006). DOI:
10.1520/A0003-01R12.
finished material representing the heat may be product tested.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
The product analysis allowance beyond the limits of the
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
specified ladle analysis shall be within the limits for product
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. analyses specified in Table 2.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
A3−01 (2012)
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements TABLE 3 Tensile Requirements
Elements Composition, % Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3
Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 ksi MPa ksi MPa ksi MPa
Carbon, min . 0.30 0.45 Tensile strength, 55 380 68 470 85 585
Phosphorus, max 0.05 0.05 0.04 min
Elongation in 2 in. 22 20 15
or 50 mm, min
TABLE 2 Product Analysis
Allowance Beyond Limits of Specified Chemical
Analysis
8.2 The general appearance with respect to soundness and
Percent under Percent over
surface finish shall be consistent with good commercial prac-
min limit max limit
tice as determined by visual inspection.
Carbon 0.04 0.04
Phosphorus . . . 0.008
9. Inspection
9.1 The manufacturer shall afford the purchaser’s inspector
5.3.1 An analysis may be made by the purchaser from a
all reasonable facilities necessary to satisfy that the material is
sampletakenfromafinishedjointbarrepresentingeachheator
being produced and furnished in accordance with this specifi-
cast. The chemical composition thus determined shall conform
cation. Mill inspection by the purchaser shall not interfere
to the requirements in Table 1.
unnecessarily with the manufacturer’s operations.All tests and
inspections shall be made at the place of manufacture, unless
6. Tensile Requirements
otherwise agreed upon.
6.1 Properties—The material as represented by a tension
test specimen shall conform to the tensile properties prescribed 10. Rejection and Rehearing
in Table 3.
10.1 Material that fails to conform to the requirements of
6.2 Test Specimen—Thetensiontestspecimenshallbetaken this specification may be rejected. Rejections shall be reported
from the middle of the head at th
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.