Designation: A 881/A881M – 02
Standard Specification for
Steel Wire, Deformed, Stress-Relieved or Low-Relaxation for
Prestressed Concrete Railroad Ties1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 881/A881M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 3.1.2 low-relaxation wire, n—indented cold-drawn wire,
1.1 This specification covers uncoated, deformed, stress- straightened, that receives a suitable continuous thermo-
relieved, and stress-relieved low-relaxation wire for use as mechanical treatment as the last operation to produce the
prestressed tendons in concrete railroad ties. properties listed.
1.2 The values stated in either-inch-pound units or SI units 3.1.3 stress-relieved wire, n—indented cold-drawn wire,
are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the straightened, that receives a suitable continuous thermal treat-
inch-pound units are shown in parentheses. The values stated ment as a last operation to produce the properties listed.
in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each 4. Ordering Information
system must be used independently of the other. Combining
values for the two systems may result in non-conformance with 4.1 Orders for deformed wire under this specification should
the specification. include the following information:
4.1.1 Quantity (mass [weight]),
2. Referenced Documents 4.1.2 Name of material (deformed steel stress-relieved or
2.1 ASTM Standards: low-relaxation wire for prestressed concrete railroad ties),
A 370 Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing 4.1.3 Grade (see Table 1),
of Steel Products2 4.1.4 Nominal diameter,
A 421/A 421M Specification for Uncoated Stress-Relieved 4.1.5 Packaging,
Steel Wire for Prestressed Concrete3 4.1.6 Stress-relieved or low relaxation,
2.2 U.S. Military Standards: 4.1.7 ASTM designation and year of issue, and
MIL-STD-129 Marking for Shipment and Storage4 4.1.8 Special requirements, if any.
MIL-STD-163 Steel Mill Products, Preparation for Ship- NOTE 1—A typical ordering description is as follows: 23 000 kg (50
ment and Storage4 000 lb) Grade 235, deformed stress-relieved steel wire for prestressed
2.3 U.S. Federal Standard: concrete railroad ties. 5.03-mm (0.198-in.) diameter wire in approximately
Fed. Std. No. 123 Marking for Shipment (Civil Agencies)4 550-kg (1200-lb) coils, ASTM A 881/A 881M-________.
3. Terminology 5. Materials and Manufacture
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: 5.1 The steel shall be made by the basic-oxygen, open-
3.1.1 deformed steel wire for railroad ties, n—a deformed, hearth, or electric-furnace process.
uncoated steel stress-relieved or low-relaxation wire intended 5.2 The base metal shall be carbon steel of such quality that
for use as reinforcement in prestressed concrete railroad ties, when drawn and stress relieved, or thermo-mechanically
the wire surface having deformations that reduce longitudinal treated at a suitable wire size, shall have the properties and
movement of the wire in such construction, and conform to the characteristics prescribed in the specification.
provisions of Section 7. 6. Mechanical Property Requirements
6.1 General—Deformed wire shall be supplied in coils to
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel, the specified mechanical properties in Table 1. Nominal
Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee diameters of wire not specifically itemized in this specification
A01.05 on Steel Reinforcement.
Current edition approved Sept. 10, 2002. Published June 2003. Originally
may be employed providing that the strength is defined and
approved in 1990 . Last previous edition approved in 1999 as A 881/A 881M – 99. they conform otherwise to the requirements of this specifica-
2
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.03. tion.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.04.
4
Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk, Bldg. 4 Section D, 700
Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
A 881/A881M – 02
TABLE 1 Breaking Strength Requirements
Nominal Mass
Wire Nominal Breaking Nominal (Weight), g/m
Grade Diameter Strength AreaA (lb/1000 ft)
mm (in.) kN (lbf) mm2 (in.2)
1550 (225) 5.03 (0.198) 30.8 (6920) 19.86 (0.0308) 155.9 (104.8)
1620 (235) 5.03 (0.198) 32.2 (7230) 19.86 (0.0308) 155.9 (104.8)
1720 (250) 5.03 (0.198) 34.3 (7700) 19.86 (0.0308) 155.9 (104.8)
1790 (260) 5.5 (0.216) 42.6 (9570) 23.7 (0.0368) 187.4 (126.0)
A
The nominal cross-sectional area is based on the nominal diameter. The actual
area in mm2 (in.2) may be calculated by dividing the mass (weight) per linear
millimetre (in.) of the specimen in kg (lb) by 7.850 3 10–6 kg/mm3 (mass of 1 mm3
of steel) (0.2836 (weight of 1 in.3 of steel)). The amount of variation is dependent
on the shape and character of the deformations.
6.2 Breaking Strength—The minimum breaking strength of FIG. 1 Acceptable Type of Deformed Wire
the deformed wire shall conform to the requirements of Table
1. Other values of breaking strength and nominal diameters can TABLE 3 Dimensions of Deformations
be specified if shown by test that the strength exceeds that NOTE 1—Depth of indent shall be the average depth of six or more
specified. The tension test shall be made in accordance with random indents measured at maximum depth.
Test Methods A 370. Nominal Nominal Nominal
6.3 Load at 1 % Extension—The load at 1 % extension shall Wire Diameter, Depth, A, mm (in.) Length, L, Pitch, P,
mm (in.) mm (in.) mm (in.)
be at least 85 % of the minimum specified breaking strength for
stress relieved and 90 % for stress-relieved low-relaxation wire 5.03 (0.198) 0.13 + 0.02, –0.05 3.5 (0.138) 5.5 (0.217)
(0.005 + 0.001, –0.002)
when tested in accordance with Test Methods A 370. 5.5 (0.216) 0.13 + 0.02, –0.05 3.5 (0.138) 5.5 (0.217)
6.4 Elongation—The percent elongation after fracture on a (0.005 + 0.001, –0.002)
250-mm (10-in.) gage length shall be 3.0 % minimum.
6.5 Bend Test—The deformed wire shall withstand being
bent through 90° without cracking on the outside of the bent
portion when bent around a pin, the diameter of which is two 8. Permissible Variation in Dimensions
times the nominal diameter of the specified wire size. 8.1 The diameter of the deformed wire shall not vary from
6.6 Relaxation—If required, relaxation evidence shall be the nominal diameter by more than 60.08 mm (60.003 in.).
provided from records of tests on similar dimensioned wire of 8.2 The deformed wire shall not be out-of-round by more
the same grade. Tests to satisfy this requirement shall comply than 0.08 mm (0.003 in.). (Measured at maximum indent.)
with the conditions of Supplementary Requirement S6 of
Specification A 421/A 421M. The relaxation losses are not to 9. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance
exceed the limits specified in Table 2.
9.1 The wire shall be free of kinks.
7. Requirements for Deformations 9.2 The wire shall be furnished in firmly tied coils. Each coil
7.1 Deformations—Deformations shall be in two or more shall be of one continuous length.
lines spaced uniformly around the wire and one line of 9.3 There shall be no welds or joints in the finished wire.
deformations may be inclined in the opposite direction to the Any welds or joints made during manufacture to promote
other(s). The deformations shall be placed in respect to the axis continuity of operations shall be removed.
of the wire so that the included angle is not less than 45°, as 9.4 Cast (Curvature)—The curvature of the wire shall be
shown in Fig. 1. Pitch and shape shall be as consistent as large enough to suit the purchaser but shall normally be 75 mm
possible, with not more than 10 % being malformed in any 600 (3 in.) maximum offset on a chord 1.8 m (6 ft) long.
mm (2 ft) length of wire, judged visually. 9.5 The wire shall not be oiled or greased and must be
7.2 Type—Two acceptable types of deformed wire are essentially free of residual wire-drawing lubricants. Slight
shown in Fig. 1(a) and (b), with dimensions in Table 3. rusting, providing it is not sufficient to cause pits visible to the
7.3 Options—Other types of deformed wire are permitted unaided eye, shall not be cause for rejection.
by agreement, provided the wire is comparable with the
accepted types in mechanical properties and bond with con- 10. Sampling
crete.
10.1 Unless otherwise agreed upon between the manufac-
TABLE 2 Limits of Relaxation A turer and the purchaser, one test specimen shall be taken from
each ten coils or less in a lot (see Note 2) and tested to
Maximum Percentage Relaxation of 1000 h
from a Minimum Initial Stress of determine compliance with 6.2 to 6.5 and deformation dimen-
70 % of Minimum 80 % of Minimum sions.
Tensile Strength Tensile Strength
Normal stress-relieved wire 6.5 8.5 NOTE 2—The term “lot” means all the coils of wire of the same nominal
Low-relaxation stress-relieved wire 2.5 3.5 wire diameter contained in an individual shipping release or shipping
A
The relaxation losses are not to exceed the limits specified in Table 2. order.
2
A 881/A881M – 02
11. Inspection been manufactured, tested, and inspected in accordance with
11.1 The purchaser shall state, at the time of order, whether this specification and the requirements have been met. The
outside inspection is required or waived. If outside inspection certification shall include the specification number, year-date
is required, the manufacturer shall afford the inspector repre- of issue, and revision letter, if any. When specified in the
senting the purchaser all reasonable facilities to satisfy him that purchase order or contract, a report of the test results shall be
the material is being furnished in accordance with this speci- furnished.
fication. All tests and inspections shall be made at the place of 13.2 A material test report, certificate of inspection, or
manufacture prior to shipment, unless otherwise agreed upon at similar document printed from or used in electronic form from
the time of purchase, and shall be so conducted as not to an electronic data interchange (EDI) transmission shall be
interfere unnecessarily with the operation of the works. regarded as having the same validity as a counterpart printed in
the certifier’s facility. The content of the EDI transmitted
12. Rejection document must meet the requirements of the invoked ASTM
12.1 In case a test specimen fails to meet any requirement of standard(s) and conform to any existing EDI agreement be-
this specification, two additional tests shall be made on tween the purchaser and the supplier. Notwithstanding the
samples of wire from the same coil and if failure occurs in absence of a signature, the organization submitting the EDI
either of these tests, the coil shall be rejected. transmission is responsible for the content of the report.
12.2 Unless otherwise specified, any rejection based on tests NOTE 4—The industry definition as invoked here is: EDI is the
made in accordance with this specification shall be reported to computer-to-computer exchange of business information in a standard
the manufacturer within a reasonable length of time. format such as ANSI ASC X12.
12.3 A material test report, certificate of inspection, or
similar document printed from or used in electronic form from 14. Packaging and Package Marking
an electronic data interchange (EDI) transmission shall be 14.1 The nominal diameter of the deformed wire, ASTM
regarded as having the same validity as a counterpart printed in specification designation, and name or mark of the manufac-
the certifier’s facility. The content of the EDI transmitted turer shall be marked on a tag securely attached to each bundle
document must meet the requirements of the invoked ASTM of wire.
standard(s) and conform to any existing EDI agreement be- 14.2 For Government Procurement Only— When specified
tween the purchaser and the supplier. Notwithstanding the in the contract or order, and for direct procurement by or direct
absence of a signature, the organization submitting the EDI shipment to the U.S. Government, material shall be preserved,
transmission is responsible for the content of the report. packaged, and packed in accordance with the requirements of
MIL-STD-163. The applicable levels shall be as specified in
NOTE 3—The industry definition as invoked here is: EDI is the
computer-to-computer exchange of business information in a standard
the contract. Marking for shipment of such material shall be in
format such as ANSI ASC X12. accordance with Fed. Std. No. 123 for civil agencies and
MIL-STD-129 for military agencies.
13. Certification
13.1 When specified in the purchase order or contract, the 15. Keywords
manufacturer’s or supplier’s certification shall be furnished to 15.1 concrete railroad ties; deformed wire; prestressed con-
the purchaser stating that samples representing each lot have crete; steel wire (tendon)
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
Committee A01 has identified the location of the following changes to this standard since A 881/A 881M-99
that may impact the use of this standard.
(1) Added Section 12.3 and Note 5.
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