Properties of A36 Steel at -40¦C Ambient 2

[bseymore24]

Hi all,

Could anyone provide me with some insight about how A36 structural steel would behave at -40°C ambient?

To provide some background, our goal is to lift a piece of machinery weighing 5 tons using three strategically placed lifting lugs. So my main concern is, if we were to have these lugs fabricated from A36 steel, would the strength of the steel be compromised at all at such a low temperature? And if so, could you provide any suggestions of what material the lugs should be machined from?

 

[metengr]

ASTM A 36 can have a wide variability of notch toughness or impact energy. If you are concerned about notch toughness at -40 deg C, I would consider fabricating the lugs out of A 516 material.

 

[bseymore24]

Thanks for your reply metengr.

Follow-up question. If we were to fillet weld two pieces of A516 plates together at a 90° angle, would the low ambient temperature have any effect on the integrity of the weld? We are trying to decide whether we want to use this approach or just have the lugs machined from a piece of A516 bar stock, depending on if we can find a supplier of A516 bar stock.

 

[metengr]

You can use a filler metal qualified for low temperature by impact testing. Anytime lifting is involved, cover your bases and impact qualify the WPS.

 

[weldstan]

A-516 is plate by definition. You may, of course, cut it to size.