ISO 6819:2023

Steel wire rod for bridge cable wire

This document specifies requirements for wire rod for bridge cable wire, which is widely used in parallel wire cables or semi-parallel wire cables for suspension bridges, stay bridges or other structures involving the use of parallel wires. ISO 16120-4 provides additional wire rod materials and their technical and qualitative requirements for their possible application as bridge cable wire.

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General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 04-Oct-2023
• ICS: 77.140.65 - Steel wire, wire ropes and link chains
• ICS: 93.040 - Bridge construction
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 17/SC 17 - Steel wire rod and wire products
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 17/SC 17 - Steel wire rod and wire products
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 05-Oct-2023
• Due Date: 12-May-2024
• Completion Date: 05-Oct-2023

Overview

ISO 6819:2023 - Steel wire rod for bridge cable wire specifies technical and quality requirements for steel wire rod intended for conversion into bridge cable wire used in parallel or semi-parallel wire cables for suspension bridges, stay bridges and similar structures. It covers designation, ordering data, production methods, dimensional and chemical requirements, delivery condition, inspection and testing protocols. The document cross‑references related ISO test methods and wire-rod series requirements.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Designation: Grades use a format like 82DB-3, where the number indicates midpoint carbon content (e.g., 82 = 0.80–0.85 % C), D = for wire drawing, B = bridge wire, and final digit = steel grade serial number.
• Dimensions & tolerances: Nominal rod diameters 11 mm to 16 mm; tolerances and out‑of‑roundness follow ISO 16124:2015 (T2) unless otherwise agreed.
• Chemical composition: Defined grade families from ~0.80 % to 1.00 % carbon with specified ranges for Si, Mn and limits for P, S, Cr, Cu and N. Product analysis deviations are tightly limited (example guidance: C ±0.04 %, Si ±0.04 %, Mn ±0.06 %; P and S subject to small over‑limit allowances). Boron addition (0.0005–0.0040 %) is permitted by agreement.
• Mechanical properties & delivery: Wire rod may be supplied hot‑rolled or heat‑treated; guaranteed mechanical properties can be agreed at order (informative guidance in Annex A). Patenting or special heat treatment may be required to meet property/microstructure objectives.
• Surface/internal quality: No detrimental internal or surface discontinuities; specific surface discontinuity limits (0.10 mm radial depth and 0.15 mm actual length) apply unless otherwise agreed.
• Microstructure & defects: Decarburization controlled to Class B (ISO 16120‑4); non‑metallic inclusions and core segregation assessed per referenced ISO methods; optional limits on resolvable pearlite (≤15 % for some grades, ≤10 % for others) and restrictions on martensite/bainite depending on alloying.
• Production & inspection: Steelmaking by BOF or EAF with ladle refining (supplier discretion unless specified). Inspection and test methods reference ISO standards such as ISO 16120‑1/4, ISO 16124, ISO 16574, ISO 6892‑1, ISO 4967 and others.

Applications and users

ISO 6819:2023 is used by:

• Steelmakers and wire‑rod producers producing rod for bridge cables
• Cable manufacturers and wire‑drawing plants converting rod into prestressing/bridge wires
• Bridge designers, structural engineers and procurement/specification authors writing material requirements
• Inspection labs and conformity assessors performing chemical, mechanical and metallographic testing

Practical benefits include consistent material performance for long‑span bridge cables, clearer procurement specs, and harmonized test/inspection routines to reduce risk in critical structural applications.

Related standards

• ISO 16120‑1, ISO 16120‑4 (wire rod general and special requirements)
• ISO 16124 (dimensions & tolerances)
• ISO 16574 (resolvable pearlite)
• ISO 6892‑1, ISO 4967, ISO 3887, ISO 377, ISO 10474 (test and sampling methods)

Keywords: ISO 6819:2023, steel wire rod, bridge cable wire, suspension bridges, stay bridges, wire rod dimensions, chemical composition, decarburization, non‑metallic inclusions, resolvable pearlite.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 6819
First edition
2023-10
Steel wire rod for bridge cable wire
Fil machine en acier pour câbles de ponts
Reference number
© ISO 2023
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
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CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Designation . 2
5 Ordering information . 2
6 Production process . 2
7 Requirements . 2
7.1 General . 2
7.2 Dimensions and tolerances . . . 3
7.3 Coil weight . 3
7.4 Chemical composition . 3
7.5 Mechanical properties . 4
7.6 Delivery condition . 4
7.7 Internal soundness and surface quality . 4
7.8 Surface discontinuities . 4
7.9 Decarburization . . 4
7.10 Non-metallic inclusions . 4
7.11 Microstructure . 4
7.11.1 Resolvable pearlite . 4
7.11.2 Cementite network . 5
7.12 Core segregation . 5
8 Inspection . 5
9 Test methods . 5
9.1 General . 5
9.2 Tolerances in diameter and out-of-roundness . 5
9.3 Chemical composition . 5
9.4 Tensile strength . 5
9.5 Decarburization . . 5
9.6 Non-metallic inclusions . 5
9.7 Core segregation . 6
10 Retests . 6
11 Marking . . 6
12 Disputes . 6
Annex A (informative) Mechanical properties . 7
Bibliography . 8
iii
Foreword
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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 17, Steel, Subcommittee SC 17, Steel wire
rod and wire products.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 6819:2023(E)
Steel wire rod for bridge cable wire
1 Scope
This document specifies requirements for wire rod for bridge cable wire, which is widely used in
parallel wire cables or semi-parallel wire cables for suspension bridges, stay bridges or other structures
involving the use of parallel wires.
ISO 16120-4 provides additional wire rod materials and their technical and qualitative requirements
for their possible application as bridge cable wire.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 377, Steel and steel products — Location and preparation of samples and test pieces for mechanical
testing
ISO 404:2013, Steel and steel products — General technical delivery requirements
ISO 3887, Steels — Determination of the depth of decarburization
ISO 4967, Steel — Determination of c
...