Strength Of Materials
01/17/2008
Standard Strengths
The standard specs of carbon steel pertain to all carbon steel shapes, plates, and bars used in all types of structural purposes. They cover the allowable amounts of different elements that can be in a certain thickness for the material to pass ASTM standards. For every different shape a different maximum tensile strength is required along with a yield point and elongation. Each material is also designated a ASTM grade, type, or number.
When a certain material is made it has to pass tests in order for the metal to be structural ready. These materials are either bolted, welded or a less commonly used practice, riveted. As there are different rules for every thickness and shape most bearing materials have to go through a chemical composition and tension test. In the chemical composition test the materials are subjected to a heat analysis and product analysis. These tests are broken up by shape and thickness and when are done they show the different elemental compositions of the steel. As shown in the standards every metal has to be under a certain percentage in order to pass. In the Tension test the steel is put under a force and has to meet elongation and yield points for the size of the material. Certain sizes being too small don’t have to go through a tensile test if it passes the chemical requirements.
Having these standards is keeping people safe in their day to day activities because these materials are used in bridges, buildings, and all structures around us. Standards are not just limited to the steel sub frames of all our structures. Very strict guidelines are set for every type of material we use for building. Besides steel, concrete is another one of our great inventions to help us build larger, stronger, and faster.
Just like steel our other great building block has to undergo a massive amount of tests and checks to make sure it can withstand the punishment it...
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