ASTM A36 Steel Properties, Modulus of Elasticity, Yield Strength, Material Density, Hardness & Equivalent

ASTM A36 Steel

ASTM A36 steel is one of the most widely used carbon structural steels, although the carbon content of A36 material is maximum 0.29%, it is considered to be the mild steel (content of carbon ≤ 0.25%).

A36 mild steel is often compared to AISI 1018, A36 carbon steel is commonly hot rolled, while 1018 steel is commonly cold rolled.

Notes: There are two versions that define low carbon steel, one with a carbon content between 0.04% (0.05%) and 0.25% and the other with between 0.04% (0.05%) and 0.29%.

A36 Steel Properties

The following tables show ASTM A36 steel properties such as chemical composition, physical and mechanical properties.

Chemical Composition

The following specification gives A36 carbon steel chemical composition in different product froms.

	Chemical Composition (%, ≤) for Shapes
Steel	C	Si	Mn	P	S	Cu
ASTM A36	0.26	0.40	no requirement	0.04	0.05	0.20

Note: Shapes with flange thickness greater than 3 in (75 mm) require a manganese content of 0.85-1.35% and a silicon content of 0.15-0.40%.

	A36 Material Chemical Composition (%, ≤), for Plates, Width > 380 mm (15 in.)
Steel	C	Si	Mn	P	S	Cu	Thickness (d), mm (in.)
ASTM A36	0.25	0.40	no requirement	0.03	0.03	0.20	d ≤20 (0.75)
	0.25	0.40	0.80-1.20	0.03	0.03	0.20	20<d≤40 (0.75<d≤ 1.5)
	0.26	0.15-0.40	0.80-1.20	0.03	0.03	0.20	40<d≤65 (1.5<d≤2.5)
	0.27	0.15-0.40	0.85-1.20	0.03	0.03	0.20	65<d≤100 (2.5<d≤ 4)
	0.29	0.15-0.40	0.85-1.20	0.03	0.03	0.20	> 100 (4)

	A36 Material Chemical Composition (%, ≤), for Plates & Bars, Width ≤ 380 mm (15 in.)
Steel	C	Si	Mn	P	S	Cu	Thickness (d), mm (in.)
ASTM A36	0.26	0.40	no requirement	0.04	0.05	0.20	d ≤ 20 (0.75)
	0.27	0.40	0.60-0.90	0.04	0.05	0.20	20< d≤ 40 (0.75< d≤ 1.5)
	0.28	0.40	0.60-0.90	0.04	0.05	0.20	40< d≤ 100 (1.5< d≤ 4)
	0.29	0.40	0.60-0.90	0.04	0.05	0.20	> 100 (4)

A36 Mild Steel Mechanical Properties

The lists below summarizes low carbon steel grade A36 mechanical properties such as modulus of elasticity (Young’s modulus), shear modulus, ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, Brinell hardness, etc.

A36 Steel Mechanical Properties		Notes
Ultimate tensile strength, MPa (ksi)	400-550 (58-80)	Plates, Shapes and Bars
Yield strength, MPa (ksi), ≥	250 (36)	Thickness ≤ 200mm (8 in)
Yield strength, MPa (ksi), ≥	220 (32)	Steel plates thickness > 200mm (8 in.)
Elongation, %, ≥	20	Plates and Bars in 200 mm (8 in.)
Elongation, %, ≥	23	Plates and Bars in 50 mm (2 in.)
Brinell hardness, HB	119-162	Based on the conversion from tensile strength
Charpy V-Notch Impact Test, J ( ft·lbf), ≥	27 (20)	Structural shapes, alternate core location
Modulus of elasticity (Young’s modulus), GPa (ksi)	200 (29×10³)
Shear modulus, GPa (ksi)	79.3 (11.5×10³)
Poissons ratio	0.26

Physical Properties

A36 material physical properties are given in the lists below:

Density: 7.85 g/cm3 (0.284 lb/in3)
Melting point: 1,425-1,538 °C (2,600-2,800 °F)

A36 Material Applications

ASTM A36 structural steel has good weldability, it is usually hot rolled into rectangle steel, square steel, round steel, steel plate, and is also commonly made into all kinds of steel sections such as H beam, I beam, U channel, steel angle, steel tube, etc.

ASTM A36 Steel Equivalent Grade

ASTM A36 steel equivalent to ISO, European EN (German DIN, British BSI, French NF…), Japanese JIS and Chinese GB standard. (For reference)

ASTM A36 equivalent grade

European

Germany

Japan

China

India

ISO

Standard

Steel

Standard

Grade (Steel number)

Standard

Grade

Standard

Grade

Standard

Grade

Standard

Grade

Standard

Grade

ASTM A36 / A36M

A36

EN 10025-2;
EN 10025: 1993

S235 (S235JR); S235JRG2

DIN 17100

RSt 37-2, St 37-2

JIS G3101; JIS G3106

SS400; SM400A

GB/T 700

Q235B

IS 2062

E250

ISO 630-2

S235 (S235B, S235C)

US ASTM A36 vs European S235, Chinese Q235, Japanese SS400 and Indian E250 Steel.

Carbon Steel Structural Steel