Grades of Steel for Ship Building by Capt Ajay

Puri

Property Grade A Grade B Grade D Grade E

% of Carbon 0.21 max 0.21 max 0.21 max 0.18 max
2.5 times %C 0.8 times %C 0.6 times %C 0.7 times %C
% of Manganese min min min min
% of Silicon 0.5 max 0.35 max 0.1 – 0.35 0.1 – 0.35
% of Phosphorous 0.035 max 0.035 max 0.035 max 0.035 max
% of Sulphur 0.035 max 0.035 max 0.035 max 0.035 max
% of Aluminum – – 0.015 min –
Ultimate Tensile
Strength (N/mm2) 400-520
Yield Strength (N/mm2) 235
% Elongation 22
Temperature at which
Impact test is done (deg
Cel) NA 0 -20 -40
High Tensile Steels (HTS)

 HTS can be used effectively in highly stressed areas of the ship.

 They have less thickness for same strength compared to normal steel.
 Strength is increased by adding grain refining elements such as (% Al: 0.015 min, % Nb: 0.02 –
0.05, % V: 0.05 – 0.10, % Ti: 0.02)
 High tensile steels are expressed as AH 36, BH 40, etc.
 AH stands for High tensile steel of Grade A
 The number represents minimum yield strength in N/mm2 (32 means minimum
315 N/mm2, 36 means minimum 355 N/mm2, 40 means minimum 390 N/mm2)
 Ultimate Tensile Strength for the above three numbers are: 32 —-> 440 – 590 N/mm2, 36 —->
490 – 620 N/mm2 and 40 —-> 510 – 650 N/mm2
 It should be noted that for Grade A steel temperature for impact test is not applicable. At the
same time for Grade AH steel impact test to be carried out at zero degree Celsius.