Heat-Treated Carbon Steel Joint Bars, Microalloyed Joint Bars, and Forged Carbon Steel Compromise Joint Bars
Heat-Treated Carbon Steel Joint Bars, Microalloyed Joint Bars, and Forged Carbon Steel Compromise Joint Bars
Heat-Treated Carbon Steel Joint Bars, Microalloyed Joint Bars, and Forged Carbon Steel Compromise Joint Bars
for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements 6.2 Test Specimens—The tension test specimen shall be
Element Composition, % taken from the middle of the head at the center of a finished
Carbon 0.35–0.60 joint bar, and shall be machined to the form and dimensions for
Manganese, max 1.20 a standard round tension test specimen with 2-in., or 50-mm
Phosphorus, max 0.04
Sulfur, max 0.050 gage length as described in Test Methods and Definitions
A370.
6.3 Number of Tests—One tension test shall be made from
TABLE 2 Product Analyses each lot of 1000 bars or less, but not less than one test from
Allowance Beyond Limits of Specified Chemical Analysis each heat or cast on each day in which bars are heated and
Percent under Percent over quenched. For microalloyed bars, one tension test shall be
min limit max limit
Carbon 0.04 0.04 made from each heat or cast.
Manganese 0.06 0.06 6.4 Retests:
Phosphorus ... 0.008
Sulfur ... 0.008 6.4.1 If the results of the tension test of any test lot for
quenched bars do not conform to the specified requirements,
the manufacturer may retreat such lot not more than twice, in
TABLE 3 Tensile Requirements which case two additional tension tests shall be made from
ksi MPa such lot, and both shall conform to the requirements specified
Tensile strength, min 100 690 in Table 3.
Yield point or yield strength, minimumA 70 485 6.4.2 If the results of the tension test for microalloyed bars
Elongation in 2 in. or 50 mm, min, % 12
Reduction in area, min, % 25
do not conform to the specified requirements, a retest may be
A
made on two random samples from the heat or cast, and both
Determination by either the 0.2 % offset method or the 0.5 % extension-under-
load method. shall conform to the requirements specified in Table 3.
6.4.3 If any test specimen fails because of mechanical
reasons such as failure of testing equipment or improper
specimen preparation, it may be discarded and another speci-
meeting the chemical analysis requirements of Table 1 may be men taken.
applied. The first heat analysis shall be recorded as the official
heat analysis, but the purchaser shall have access to all ladle 7. Bending Requirements
analyses. Additionally, any material meeting the product analy-
7.1 Properties:
sis limits shown in Table 2 may be applied after testing such
7.1.1 The material as represented by a bend test specimen
material in accordance with Specification A29/A29M.
shall conform to the bend properties prescribed below.
5.4 Product Analysis—When ladle tests are not available, 7.1.2 The bend test shall stand being bent cold through 90
finished material representing the heat may be product tested. degrees without cracking on the outside of the bent portion
The product analysis allowance beyond the limits of the around a pin the diameter of which is not greater than three
specified ladle analysis shall be within the limits for product times the thickness of the specimen. If preferred the manufac-
analyses specified in Table 2. turer may get approval by the purchaser to substitute a full
5.4.1 An analysis may be made by the purchaser from a section bar. It shall stand being bent cold through 45 degrees
sample taken from a finished joint bar representing each heat or without cracking on the outside of the bent portion around a pin
cast. The chemical composition thus determined shall conform the diameter of which is not greater than three times the
to the requirements in Table 2. greatest thickness of the section. The test fixture used shall
bend the bar laterally about its center, with the outside surface
6. Tensile Requirements of the bar being placed on the opposite side from the bending
6.1 Properties: pin.
6.1.1 The material as represented by a tension test specimen 7.2 Test Specimens—The bend test specimen shall be taken
shall conform to the tensile properties prescribed in Table 3. from the middle of the head at the center of a finished joint bar,
6.1.2 The yield point prescribed in Table 3 may be deter- and shall be machined to 1⁄2 in. square in section or rectangular
mined by the drop of the beam or halt of the gage of the testing in section with two parallel faces as rolled and with corners
machine, or by use of dividers. Where a definite yield point is rounded to a radius not over 1⁄16 in.
not exhibited, the yield strength method defined in 6.1.3 shall
be used. 7.3 Number of Tests—One bend test shall be made from
6.1.3 The yield strength prescribed in Table 3 shall be each lot of 1000 bars or fraction thereof, but not less than one
determined by a strain gage or extensometer reading to 0.0002 test for each heat on each day on which quenched carbon steel
in. (0.005 mm). Yield strength may be defined as the stress at bars are heated and quenched, or on which micro alloyed joint
0.5 % total strain under load or as the stress at 0.2 % offset. The bars are sheared or sawed.
method described in Test Methods and Definitions A370 shall 7.4 Retests—If a bend test fails a retest shall be permitted on
be followed. After the yield point has been passed, the two random specimens from the same lot. If the results of both
extensometer may then be removed and the test continued to test specimens meet the specified requirements, the lot shall be
determine the tensile strength. accepted.
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7.4.1 If the results of the bend test of any test lot for 12. Certification and Test Report
quenched bars do not conform to the specified requirements, 12.1 When specified in the purchaser order or contract, a
the manufacturer may retreat such lot not more than twice, in manufacturer’s certification shall be furnished to the purchaser
which case two additional bend tests shall be made from such that the material was produced and tested in accordance with
lot, and both shall conform to the requirements specified in this specification and has been found to meet the requirements.
Table 3.
7.4.2 If a bend test fails for mechanical reasons; such as 12.2 When specified in the purchaser order or contract, a
failure of testing equipment or improper specimen preparation, report of the chemical and mechanical test results shall be
or flaws in the specimen it may be discarded and another furnished.
specimen taken. 12.3 A Material Test Report, Certificate of Inspection, or
similar document printed from or used in electronic form from
8. Dimensions and Permissible Variations an electronic data interchange (EDI) transmission shall be
8.1 The joint bars shall be true to template and shall regarded as having the same validity as a counterpart printed in
accurately fit the rails for which they are intended. the certifier’s facility. The content of the EDI transmitted
8.2 The joint bars shall be either sheared or sawed to length, document must meet the requirements of the invoked ASTM
punched to the dimensions specified by the purchaser and standard(s) and conform to any existing EDI agreement be-
alignment adjusted, all subject to the permissible variations tween the purchaser and the supplier.
prescribed in 8.3 and Table 4. 12.4 Notwithstanding the absence of a signature, the orga-
8.3 Any variation from a straight line in a vertical plane nization submitting either a printed document (Material Test
shall be such as will make the bars high in the center. Report, Certificate of Inspection or similar document) or an
EDI transmission is responsible for the content of the report.
9. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance
9.1 The joint bars shall be straight subject to the variation 13. Product Marking
prescribed in 8.3 and Table 4. 13.1 The name or brand of the manufacturer, the section
9.2 The general appearance with respect to soundness and designation, and the year of manufacture shall be either rolled
surface finish shall be consistent with good commercial prac- in raised letters and figures on the side of the rolled bars, and
tice as determined by ordinary visual inspection. a portion of this marking shall appear on each finished joint bar
or hot stamped.
10. Inspection
13.2 For quenched bars, a serial number representing the
10.1 The manufacturer shall afford the purchaser’s inspector heat or cast shall be hot stamped on the outside of the web of
all reasonable facilities necessary to satisfy that the material is each bar, near one end.
being produced and furnished in accordance with the specifi-
13.3 Each compromise joint bar shall also have the rail
cation. Mill inspection by the purchaser shall not interfere
sections shown at each end along with the word “gage” or
unnecessarily with the manufacturer’s operations. All tests and
“out” to indicate on which side of the rail the bar is to be used.
inspections shall be made at the place of manufacture, unless
(If the compromise joint bars are interchangeable, the words
otherwise agreed upon.
“gage” and “out” shall be omitted.)
11. Rejection and Rehearing 13.4 Bar Coding:
11.1 Material that fails to conform to the requirements of 13.4.1 The Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) Bar
this specification may be rejected. Rejections shall be reported Code Standard for Primary Metals for Steel Products may be
to the manufacturer or supplier promptly and in writing. In case considered as a possible auxiliary method of identification. Use
of dissatisfaction with the test results, the manufacturer or of this method shall be by agreement between purchaser and
supplier may make claim for a rehearing. supplier.
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