ASME SA-516/SA-516M

SA516 Grade 60 Pressure Vessel Steel Plate Product-Performance

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.

SA516 Gr60 offers medium tensile strength for pressure vessel applications. It balances toughness and strength, widely selected for low & medium pressure heat exchangers and ordinary reactor shells. This grade is cost-effective and popular for general petrochemical and municipal tank projects. 

1. SA516 Grade 60 Material Identification & ASTM ASME Standards

Standards

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

UNS Number

K02100

Grade Classification

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

2. SA516 Gr60 Chemical Composition & Ladle Analysis Requirements

2.1 SA516 Grade 60 Chemical Composition Limits by Thickness

Table 2.1: SA516 Gr60 Chemical Composition Requirements (ASTM A516/ASME SA516 Mass Percent)
Element Analysis Type ≤12.5mm (≤1/2in.) >12.5-50mm (>1/2-2in.) >50-100mm (>2-4in.) >100-200mm (>4-8in.) >200mm (>8in.)
C1,2 Ladle ≤0.21 ≤0.23 ≤0.25 ≤0.27 ≤0.27
Product ≤0.23 ≤0.25 ≤0.27 ≤0.29 ≤0.29
Mn2,3 Ladle 0.60-0.903 0.85-1.20
Product 0.55-0.983 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: 0.36-0.45 (depending on actual composition)

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

  • 1 Both smelting analysis and finished product analysis are applicable.
  • 2 For every 0.01% decrease below the specified maximum carbon content, the upper limit of the specified maximum manganese content can be increased by 0.06%, with a maximum allowable limit of 1.50% for smelting analysis and 1.60% for finished product analysis.
  • 3 For grade 60 steel plates with a thickness not exceeding 1/2 in. (12.5 mm), the manganese content can be 0.85%-1.20% according to smelting analysis and 0.79%-1.30% according to finished product analysis.
  • * The content of P and S was changed from ≤0.035 to ≤0.025 in the 2017 version.

3. SA516 Grade 60 Mechanical Properties & Tensile Strength Specification

3.1 SA516 Grade 60 Tensile Properties at Room Temperature

Property Standard Value Test Method Remarks
Tensile Strength Rm 415-550 MPa ASTM A370 Transverse specimen
Yield Strength ReL or Rp0.2 ≥220 MPa 0.2% Offset Method Or 0.5% Extension
Elongation A (200mm GL) ≥21% ASTM A370 Per A20/A20M
Elongation A (50mm GL) ≥25% ASTM A370 Per A20/A20M
Reduction of Area Z — — Not mandatory

3.2 Charpy Impact Test Temperature Requirements for SA516 Gr60

Standard Grade (Non-Low Temp)

Impact testing not required by standard

General Service

Low Temperature Grade (By Agreement)

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

3.3 SA516 Gr60 Hardness & Brinell Hardness Limits

  • As-supplied condition: ≤200 HBW (Typical 130-170 HBW)
  • NACE service environment: Weld & HAZ ≤250 HV10

4. SA516 Gr60 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

→
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

5. SA516 Gr60 Welding Procedure Specification (WPS/PQR)

5.1 SA516 Gr60 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 Gr60 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 60

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 Gr60 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
Cooling Rate ≤260°C/h
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 Gr60 HIC NACE MR0175 & Low Temperature Service Requirements

6.1 SA516 Gr60 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 Gr60 Low Temperature Service

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 60 Inspection & NDT Testing Methods

7.1 Non-Destructive Testing

UT ASTM A578/A578M Level C
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 Gr60 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 60 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 Gr60 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 60 Equivalent Grades: P265GH Q245R Comparison

Grade Standard Country Yield MPa Tensile MPa Impact J/°C Key Differences
SA516 Gr60 ASME USA ≥220 415-550 Not required (by agreement) ASME BPVC, excellent weldability
P265GH EN 10028-2 Europe ≥265 410-530 ≥27 @ 0°C (standard) Higher yield, stricter toughness
Q245R GB/T 713 China ≥245 400-520 ≥31 @ 0°C (mandatory) Chinese pressure vessel standard

Warning: Equivalent grades are approximate. Project-specific Gap Analysis and PQR qualification required.

12. SA516 Gr60 Design Considerations & Fabrication Guidelines

Design Considerations

  • High temperature creep: SA516 Gr60 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)