S355J0 construction steel hot rolled plates are used from the ground up; particularly in civil engineering and large-scale industrial projects. Pilings and baffles are used to lay the groundwork and establish a strong foundational anchor for tall structures like skyscrapers. A multitude of beams and angles are utilised to construct the framework of single- and multi-storey buildings. Plates are also often used as a roofing or cladding solution.
There are countless potential applications of construction steel, but four key properties underlie the importance of structural steel grades for construction applications. In this blog post, Masteel will explore these properties in more depth.
Ultimate Tensile StrengthA construction steel’s ultimate tensile strength (UTS) refers to the maximum level of applied stress the component can withstand before failure. It typically refers to longitudinal forces that threaten to pull structural beams apart in a lengthwise direction. This is a critical factor in determining the potential structural load of construction steels.
Yield StrengthYield strength is a sub-definition of tensile strength. While the construction steel’s UTS refers to its maximum possible resistance to longitudinal stress before breaking; yield strength is a measure of the material’s resistance to deformation due to stress. This is typically measured as a function of the levels of pressure required to cause a permanent deformation of around 0.2%.
This is dependent upon the dimensional tolerances of the end-product application. Construction steel S355J0 plates generally have low tolerances, demanding high yield strength construction steel grades.
Charpy DesignationsThe Charpy impact test is a standard method for determining the impact notch toughness of materials. It is a common method of measuring the toughness of construction steels, which is crucial for mitigating the potential for failure due to inherent imperfections in the material.
S355J0 construction steel is prescribed Charpy designations based on the amount of energy they can absorb before succumbing to fracture. This property is temperature-dependent, and grades are typically displayed as a function of n Joules at either room temperature or across a range of -60 – 20°C.
Elemental CompositionThe elemental composition of steel grades underpins the three previous key properties, yet this property offers more than just mechanical benefits to construction steels. Carbon (C) concentration, the presence of nitrogen (N) or other non-corrosives such as molybdenum (Mo), the addition of stabilisers and additives; these are critical factors in determining the chemical-compatibility of construction steel grades to specific applications.
Shipbuilding and maritime civil projects demand construction steel grade S355J0 with increased resistance to oxygenation and salt water corrosion. Urban steel cladding may demand a steel grade with improved inertness in the presence of common airborne pollutants and acid rain. Construction steel S355J0 must subsequently be employed on a holistic basis.
