ASTM A514 plate

Specification identity and ordering

SSAB's A514 Grade Q plate gives 100 ksi minimum yield through 2.50 in in its published range starting at 0.185 in. At 3 in, the 2.51–6.00 in row gives 90 ksi minimum yield, 100–130 ksi tensile and 14% minimum elongation in 2 in. The table uses transverse ASTM A6 tests. SSAB Grade Q property table

ASTM A514/A514M-22 covers quenched-and-tempered structural alloy steel plate up to 6 in [150 mm], principally for welded and other structures. ASTM expressly notes that not every grade is available to that maximum thickness. It also presupposes a welding procedure suited to the grade and intended service. “Suitable for welding” is not an unrestricted approval of a joint or procedure. ASTM official scope

A514 is a specification with multiple grades, not one chemistry or a producer brand. SSAB's product overview lists separate grade offerings; for example, its Grade B range ends at 1.250 in, while Grade S extends to 2.00 in. These are producer supply ranges, distinct from the standard's general scope. SSAB A514 product family

Specify the full designation and grade letter, standard edition, thickness, dimensions, delivery condition, inspection certificate and supplementary requirements. A trade description or “100 ksi plate” cannot replace that description. Keep heat/plate identity when nesting and cutting parts so the certificate can be linked to the finished fabrication.

ASTM states that inch-pound and SI systems are separately standard and must not be combined as if every bracketed value were an exact conversion. Use the unit system required by the order and design basis consistently. ASTM unit-system provision

Thickness changes the property requirement

SSAB's Grade Q product data provide this bounded example, based on transverse tensile testing under ASTM A6:

The page separately describes the yield transition as up to 2.5 in versus greater than 2.5 in. Resolve fractional or metric thickness boundaries through the governing standard rather than interpolating rounded webpage bands. SSAB Grade Q mechanical properties

The same Grade Q table lists 235–293 HBW only in its thinnest band. Its footnote permits hardness substitution for certain plates ≤0.375 in not tensile tested in a 15-ton lot. Do not extend either the hardness band or that testing provision to every A514 plate. SSAB Grade Q table and footnotes

Chemistry, toughness and substitutions

SSAB's Grade S sheet says its phosphorus and sulfur limits are more restrictive than ASTM's Grade S requirements. It also identifies carbon-equivalent values as typical historical averages, varying with thickness. Such averages are useful for preliminary comparisons but must not be substituted for the actual heat analysis in a welding assessment. SSAB Grade S chemistry and carbon equivalents

Before substituting, check grade chemistry, thickness, toughness and welding requirements.

SSAB states that Charpy V-notch toughness can be ordered as a supplementary requirement for Grade S; its Grade Q description likewise identifies supplementary impact testing. Define test temperature, orientation, specimen basis, acceptance energy and sampling where toughness matters. Do not infer a guaranteed impact energy or minimum service temperature from the word “toughness” in an application description. SSAB Grade S toughness scope, SSAB Grade Q description

Preserve the quenched-and-tempered condition

For Grade B, SSAB requires welding under the applicable welding code, strongly recommends low-hydrogen practice and moisture removal, and warns that special procedures or consumables may be needed to avoid harming base-metal properties. It also warns of heat-affected-zone reheat cracking during stress relief or postweld heat treatment. SSAB Grade B welding guidance

Prepare a procedure for the actual grade, thickness combination, joint, restraint, consumable and service requirement. Establish preheat, heat input, interpass limits, hydrogen controls and inspection through the applicable qualification route. A minimum preheat table is not a complete procedure, and heating more is not automatically better for a quenched-and-tempered plate.

Resolve any hot forming, thermal straightening, stress relief, repair welding or later heat treatment before fabrication. The supplied plate certificate describes the delivered condition; it does not certify properties after an arbitrary thermal cycle. Include attachments and temporary welds in the process review, since they can affect local properties even if removed later.

Cold forming and cut edges

SSAB's Grade B guidance calls for removing shear burrs, relevant thermal-cut heat-affected edges and sharp features near the bend axis before cold forming. Its bend recommendations distinguish bend-axis orientation relative to rolling direction. For 0.1875–0.75 in plate, it lists minimum inside radius 1.75t perpendicular or 2.625t parallel to rolling direction, with corresponding minimum die openings 7t and 9t. These are that producer/grade/thickness recommendations, not universal A514 bend rules. SSAB Grade B forming table

Original bounded example: for 0.5 in Grade B stock in that band, the corresponding radii are 0.875 in and 1.3125 in, and die openings are 3.5 in and 4.5 in. This arithmetic illustrates the direction effect; it does not establish press capacity, springback compensation, finished angle or acceptance for an unqualified bend.

Qualify critical bends on representative stock. Record rolling direction before cutting, inspect prepared edges, and assess the finished bend for cracking and dimensions. Plan the process so that a drawing's final radius is not confused with a nominal tooling dimension.

Inspection and source control

Specify plate tolerances, surface acceptance, any ultrasonic testing and heat traceability on the plate order. Define weld examination separately in the fabrication specification.

ASTM's official page identifies A514/A514M-22, marked active and last updated 29 September 2022. The inspected SSAB live product pages give no explicit technical revision dates; their site copyright is not an edition. This draft uses the cited producer scopes as reviewed, while the contract and applicable construction requirements determine the required standards and acceptance evidence.

Grades, tempers and conditions