Steel Availability 3

[BMart006]

How does one figure out which of the many ASTM shapes (W's, S's, C's, etc.) are regularly available on the market for use? ...especially when the quantities may end up being low, not justifying a special rolling (i.e. between 0-2 tons).

 

[Ingenuity]

Assuming you are in the US:

From MSC 15th Edition:

Also AISC website on 'steel availability': Link

...and this Modern Steel Construction article 'ARE YOU PROPERLY SPECIFYING MATERIALS?': Link

For small quantities when I need to weld/fab something, I usually just call my local steel merchant.

 

[dhengr]

BMart006:
Call a couple local fabricators who might bid the work. First for general info. a bit more locally specific than the AISC tabulation. Then again when you get some idea of some of the sizes involved on the project. A couple tons of fairly std. shapes and plate many fabricators might take out of their own stock.

 

[txeng91]

I've used that AISC availability tool before and called the fabricators they listed and they didn't have available what the website said they had. This was regarding a large hss tube shapes, which are usually hard to find. But it's probably still good to check if a large number of fabricators pop up for particular shapes.

Typically shorter lighter wide flange shapes, and smaller square tubing or pipe (8" or less w/ max 3/8" wall) are easy to get, never really had a problem with channels since there's not that many shapes. Really heavy wide flange shapes and larger tubes can be difficult to get, and a lot of times it's preferable to use multiple members or built up shapes that are more readily available to solve the problem if possible. I've had smaller projects where contractors just want to frame everything w/ W12x26 even if it's way oversized, just because they're used to using it and it's easy to get.

If its a bigger project, I would just spec what you need, within reason, and increase depth when you can to provide a more economical design. If the contractor wants to upsize for availability they will let you know, or they won't and just do it. If your holding someones hand, then you can just call local fabricators as others have mentioned.

 

[JGard1985]

The chart is a big help! Had to educate a potential client that A36 is still the governing grade for channels and angles. He wanted ASTM A572, I couldn't find it anywhere...

Jeff
Pipe Stress Analysis
Finite Element Analysis

http://www.xceed-eng.com

 

[TLHS]

It's weird that A36 still what's used for angles and channels in the states. I'll still spec that sometimes, but 300MPa material is standard here now and the 11th edition of the CISC Handbook of Steel Construction is reporting strengths for channels and angles with 350MPa material now because they've become readily available.

Every piece of structural steel I've specced at 250/260MPa in the past several years and reviewed mill certificates for has been dual certified to at least 300MPa if not higher.

 

[appot]

I find a lot of angles that are dual certified, but we still always assume A36 unless we absolutely need to consider 50ksi to get specific detail to work.

 

[3Fan]

Nucor has a rolling schedule posted on their website that is updated frequently. You can see how often shapes are being rolled. Might be of help also.

http://www.nucoryamato.com/staticdata/RollCastSchedule.pdf?currdate=7/21/2017 7:51:37 AM

 

[thaidavid40]

If you are doing a large project for which an early-stage mill-quantity order will be required, definitely contact Nucor, or Arcelor-Mittal to confirm rolling schedules and availability. For smaller projects, just contact your nearest local steel service center to see what they keep in stock, or can have available on short notice.
Dave

Thaidavid

 

[thaidavid40]

Note that the specification availability for HSS as rolled according to A1085 is increasing. Independence Tube, and others, are now offering a lot more rolled to this specification, as opposed to the old A500-Gr.C specification. This table is a living document, and the fluidity of the HSS listings are especially notable.
Dave

Thaidavid

 

[JStephen]

On some items, you just have to check and see. For example, I think the price per pound is higher for channels than for wide flanges. So you might assume a C6x8.2 is cheaper than W6x9, but it may or may not be. And some of the length availability varies- seems like channels are available mainly in 40' lengths, wide flange in 50' and 60', so you may have a lot more drop with one than the other.