This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what

changes have been made to the previous version. Because

it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.

Designation: A131/A131M − 14 A131/A131M − 19

Standard Specification for

Structural Steel for Ships1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A131/A131M; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.

1. Scope*
1.1 This specification covers structural steel plates, shapes, bars, and rivetsbars intended primarily for use in ship construction.
1.2 Material under this specification is available in the following categories:
1.2.1 Ordinary Strength—Grades A, B, D, and E with a specified minimum yield point of 34 ksi [235 MPa], and
1.2.2 Higher Strength—Grades AH, DH, EH, and FH with a specified minimum yield point of 46 ksi [315 MPa], 51 ksi [350
MPa], or 57 ksi [390 MPa].
1.3 Shapes and bars are normally available as Grades A, B, AH32, and AH36. Other grades may be furnished by agreement
between the purchaser and the manufacturer.
1.4 The maximum thickness of products furnished under this specification is 4 in. [100 mm] for plates and 2 in. [50 mm] for
shapes and bars.
1.5 When the steel is to be welded, it is presupposed that a welding procedure suitable for the grade of steel and intended use
iTeh Standards
or service will be utilized. See Appendix X3 of Specification A6/A6M for information on weldability.
1.6 Units—This specification is expressed in both inch-pound units and in SI units; however, unless the purchase order or
(https://standards.iteh.ai)
contract specifies the applicable M specification designation (SI units), the inch-pound units shall apply. The values stated in either
inch-pound units or SI units are to be regarded separately as the standard. Within the text, the SI units are shown in brackets. The

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values stated in each system aremay not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system mustshall be used independently of the other.
Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with this specification.the standard.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers ASTM A131/A131M-19
to Trade (TBT) Committee.
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2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:2
A6/A6M Specification for General Requirements for Rolled Structural Steel Bars, Plates, Shapes, and Sheet Piling
A370 Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing of Steel Products
E112 Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size

3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 control rolling (controlled rolling), n—a hot deformation process intended to provide austenite (and hence ferrite) grain
refinement by careful control of the pass-by-pass temperature/reduction schedule at high temperature regime where austenite
recrystallizes after each rolling pass or at lower temperatures where the deformed austenite does not recrystallize between rolling
passes, or both. In some cases, rolling may extend below the temperature (Ar3) at which the transformation from austenite to ferrite
begins, so the final rolling passes may involve deformation in the two-phase (austenite + ferrite) region.

1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel, Stainless Steel and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee A01.02
on Structural Steel for Bridges, Buildings, Rolling Stock and Ships.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2014May 1, 2019. Published October 2014May 2019. Originally approved in 1931. Last previous edition approved in 20132014 as
A131/A131M – 13.A131/A131M – 14. DOI: 10.1520/A0131_A0131M-14.10.1520/A0131_A0131M-19.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.

*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
 A131/A131M − 19
3.1.2 thermo-mechanical controlled processing, n—a steel treatment that consists of strict control of the steel temperature and
the rolling reduction. A high proportion of the rolling reduction is to be carried out close to or below the Ar3 transformation
temperature and may involve rolling towards the lower end of the temperature range of the intercritical dual-phase region, thus
permitting little if any recrystallization of the austenite. The process may involve accelerated cooling on completion of rolling.

4. Ordering Information
4.1 Specification A6/A6M establishes the rules for the ordering information that should be complied with when purchasing
material to this specification.
4.2 Additional ordering considerations specific to this specification are:
4.2.1 Condition (control rolled or thermo-mechanical control processed, if applicable).

5. Materials and Manufacture

5.1 The steel shall be killed.
5.2 Grades D, E, AH32, AH36, AH40, DH32, DH36, DH40, EH32, EH36, EH40, FH32, FH36, and FH40 shall be made using
a fine grain practice. For ordinary-strength grades, aluminum shall be used to obtain grain refinement. For higher-strength grades,
aluminum, vanadium, or columbium (niobium) may be used for grain refinement.
5.3 Plates in all thicknesses ordered to Grade E shall be normalized, or thermo-mechanical control processed. Plates over 13⁄8
in. [35 mm] in thickness ordered to Grade D shall be normalized, control rolled, or thermo-mechanical control processed. See Table
1.
5.4 Plates in all thicknesses ordered to Grades EH32 and EH36 shall be normalized, or thermo-mechanical control processed.
Plates in all thicknesses ordered to Grade EH40, FH32, FH36, and FH40 shall be normalized, thermo-mechanical control
processed, or quenched and tempered. Plates ordered to Grades AH32, AH36, AH40, DH32, DH36, and DH40 shall be normalized,
control rolled, thermo-mechanical control processed, or quenched and tempered when so specified. See Table 2.
iTeh Standards
5.5 In the case of shapes, the thicknesses referred to are those of the flange. Heat treatment and rolling requirements for shapes
and bars are given in Table 1 and Table 2.
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6. Chemical RequirementsComposition

Document
on product analysisPreview
6.1 The heat analysis shall conform to the requirements for chemical composition given in Table 3 and Table 4.
6.1.1 When specified, the steel shall conform to the requirements given in Table 3 and Table 4, subject to
the product analysis tolerances in Specification A6/A6M.
ASTM
6.2 For thermo-mechanical control process steel, A131/A131M-19
the carbon equivalent shall be determined from the heat analysis and shall
conform to the requirements given in Table 5.
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7. Metallurgical StructureRequirements
7.1 The steel grades indicated in 5.2 shall be made to fine grain practice, and the requirements for fine austenitic grain size in
Specification A6/A6M shall be met.

TABLE 1 Condition of Supply and Frequency of Impact Tests for Ordinary-Strength Structural Steel
Condition of SupplyB (Frequency of Impact TestC )
A Thickness (t ), in. [mm]
Grade Deoxidation Product
t > 0.25 [6.4] t > 1.0 [25] t > 1.375 [35] t > 2.0 [50]
t# 1.0 [25] t # 1.375 [35] t # 2.0 [50] t # 4.0 [100]

P N (–),E TM (–), CR (50 [45]),

A Killed A (–) AR (50 [45])
S NAD
N (50 [45]), TM (50 [45]),
P
B Killed A (–) A (50 [45]) CR (25 [23]), AR (25 [23])
S NAD
N (50 [45]), N (50 [45]), TM (50 [45]),
P
D Killed, Fine Grain Practice A (50 [45]), N (50 [45]) TM (50 [45]), CR (25 [23])
S CR (50 [45]) NAD
P N (P), TM (P) N (P), TM (P)
E Killed, Fine Grain Practice
S N (25 [23]), TM (25 [23]), CR (15 [14]) NAD
A
Product: P = plate; S = shapes and bars.
B
Condition of Supply: A = any condition; AR = as-rolled; N = normalized; CR = control rolled; TM = thermo-mechanical controlled processing.
C
Frequency of Impact Test: (impact test lot size in tons [Mg] from each heat); (–) = no impact test required; (P) = each plate-as-rolled.
D
Condition of supply is not applicable.
E
Impact tests for Grade A are not required if material is produced using a fine grain practice and normalized.

2
 A131/A131M − 19
TABLE 2 Condition of Supply and Frequency of Impact Tests for Higher-Strength Structural Steel
Condition of SupplyB (Frequency of Impact TestC )
Thickness (t ), in. [mm]
Grain
Grade Deoxidation Refining ProductA t > 0.5
t > 1.0 [25]
Element t > 0.25 [6.4] [12.5] t > 0.80 [20] t > 1.375 [35] t > 2.0 [50]
t # 1.375
t# 0.5 [12.5] t # 0.80 t # 1.0 [25] t # 2.0 [50] t # 4.0 [100]
[35]
[20]
Cb N (50 [45]), TM (50
P A (50 [45]) N (50 [45]), TM (50 [45]), CR (50 [45])
V [45]), CR (25 [23])
Cb N (50 [45]), TM (50
(Nb)E A (50 [45]) N (50 [45]), TM (50 [45]), CR (50 [45])
[45]), CR (25 [23])
P
AH32
V NAD
AH36 A (50 [45]) N (50 [45]), TM (50 [45]), CR (50 [45]), AR (25 [23])
S
AR (25 [23]), N N (50 [45]), TM (50
AH32
(50 [45]) , TM [45]), N (50 [45],) TM (50
AH36 Al P A (50 [45])
(50 [45]), CR (50 CR (50 [45]) [45]), CR (25 [23])
[45])
AR (25 [23]), N N (50 [45]), TM (50 [45]), CR (50 NAD
(50 [45]), TM (50 [45]), AR (25 [23])
Al + Ti S A (50 [45])
[45]), CR (50
[45])
N (50 [45]), TM (50
Cb (Nb)E P A (50 [45]) N (50 [45]), TM (50 [45]), CR (50 [45])
[45]), CR (25 [23])
V S A (50 [45]) N (50 [45]), TM (50 [45]), CR (50 [45]) NAD
AR (25 [23]), N
Killed, Fine (50 [45]), TM (50 N (50 [45]), TM (50 [45]), N (50 [45]), TM (50
DH32 Al P A (50 [45])
Grain [45]), CR (50 CR (50 [45]) [45]), CR (25 [23])
DH36 Killed, Fine
Practice [45])
Grain AR (25 [23]), N NAD
Practice (50 [45]), TM (50 N (50 [45]), TM (50 [45]),
Al + Ti S A (50 [45])
[45]), CR (50 CR (50 [45])

EH32
EH36
Any iTeh Standards
P
S
[45])
N (P), TM (P)
N (25 [23]), TM (25 [23]), CR (15 [14])
N (P), TM (P)
NAD
FH32
FH36
FH32
FH36
Any
Any (https://standards.iteh.ai)
P
P
S
N (P), TM (P), QT (P)
N (P), TM (P), QT (P)
N (25 [23]), TM (25 [23]), QT (25 [23])
N (P), TM (P), QT
N (P), TM (P)
NAD

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N (50 [45]), TM (50
P A (50 [45]) N (50 [45]), TM (50 [45]), CR (50 [45])
AH40 Any [45]), QT (P)
S A (50 [45]) N (50 [45]), TM (50 [45]), CR (50 [45]) NAD
P N (50 [45]), TM (50 [45]), CR (50 [45]) N (50 [45]), TM (50
DH40 Any [45]), QT (P)
S
P
ASTM A131/A131M-19
N (50 [45]), TM (50 [45]), CR (50 [45])
N (P), TM (P), QT (P)
NAD
N (P), TM (P),
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EH40 Any
QT (P)
P N (P), TM (P), CR (P) N (P), TM (P),
EH40 Any QT (P)
S N (25 [23]), TM (25 [23]), CR (25 [23]) NAD
P N (P), TM (P),
N (P), TM (P), QQT (P)
QT (P)
FH40 Any
P N (P), TM (P),
N (P), TM (P), QT (P)
FH40 Any QT (P)
S N (25 [23]), TM (25), CR (25 [23]) NAD
A
Product: P = plate; S = shapes and bars.
B
Condition of Supply: A = any condition; AR = as-rolled; TM = thermo-mechanical controlled processing; CR = control rolled; QT = quenched and tempered; N =
normalized.
C
Frequency of Impact Test: (impact test lot size in tons [Mg] from each heat); (P) = each plate-as-rolled.
D
Condition of supply is not applicable.
E
Columbium and niobium are considered interchangeable names for the same element and both names are acceptable for use in A01 standards.

7.2 Where the use of fine grain practice using columbium, columbium (niobium), vanadium, or combinations is permitted in
5.2, one or more of the following shall be met:
7.2.1 Minimum columbium (niobium) content of 0.020 % or minimum vanadium content of 0.050 % for each heat, or
7.2.2 When vanadium and aluminum are used in combi-nation,combination, minimum vanadium content of 0.030 % and
minimum acid-soluble aluminum content of 0.010 %, or minimum total aluminum content of 0.015 %.
7.2.3 When columbium (niobium) and aluminum are used in combination, minimum columbium (niobium) content of 0.010 %
and minimum acid-soluble aluminum content of 0.010 %, or minimum total aluminum content of 0.015 %.
7.2.4 A McQuaid-Ehn austenitic grain size of 5 or finer in accordance with Test Methods E112 for each ladle of each heat.
8. Mechanical RequirementsProperties
8.1 Tension Test:

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 A131/A131M − 19
TABLE 3 Chemical Requirements for Ordinary-Strength Structural Steel
Chemical Composition (heat analysis), % max unless otherwise specifiedA
Grade A Grade B Grade D Grade E
Deoxidation and Thickness (t ), in. [mm]
Element Killed or Semi-Killed Killed or Semi-Killed
t # 2.0 in. [50 mm] t # 2.0 in. [50 mm] Killed, Fine Killed, Fine
Killed Killed Grain PracticeB Grain PracticeB
t > 2.0 in. [50 mm] t > 2.0 in. [50 mm]
C 0.21C 0.21 0.21 0.18
Mn, min 2.5 × C 0.60 0.60 0.70
Si 0.50 0.35 0.10–0.35D 0.10–0.35D
P 0.035 0.035 0.035 0.035
S 0.035 0.035 0.035 0.035
E E E E
Ni
E E E E
Cr
E E E E
Mo
E E E E
Cu
C + Mn/6 0.40 0.40 0.40 0.40
A
Intentionally added elements are to be determined and reported.
B
Grade D steel over 1.0 in. [25 mm] and Grade E steel are to contain at least one of the grain refining elements in sufficient amount to meet the fine grain practice
requirements (see Section 7).
C
A maximum carbon content of 0.23 % is acceptable for Grade A shapes and bars.
D
Where the content of acid soluble aluminum is not less than 0.015 %, the minimum required silicon content does not apply.
E
The contents of nickel, chromium, molybdenum, and copper are to be determined and reported. When the amount does not exceed 0.02 %, these elements may be
reported as #0.02 %.

TABLE 4 Chemical Requirements for Higher-Strength Structural Steel

NOTE 1—Where “…” appears in the table, there is no requirement.
Chemical CompositionA (heat analysis), % max unless otherwise specified

Element iTeh Standards Grades AH/DH/EH32, AH/DH/EH36,

and AH/DH/EH40
Deoxidation
Grades FH32/36/40

C
Mn
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0.18
0.90–1.60C
Killed, Fine Grain PracticeB
0.16
0.90–1.60

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Si 0.10–0.50D 0.10–0.50D
P 0.035 0.025
S 0.035 0.025
Al (acid soluble), minE,F 0.015 0.015
Al (acid soluble), minE,G 0.015 0.015
Cb (Nb)F, G
VF
ASTM A131/A131M-19 0.02–0.05
0.05–0.10
0.02–0.05
0.05–0.10
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VG 0.05–0.10 0.05–0.10
Ti 0.02 0.02
Cu 0.35 0.35
Cr 0.20 0.20
Ni 0.40 0.40
Ni 0.40 0.80
Mo 0.08 0.08
CaI 0.005 0.005
N ... 0.009G
N ... 0.009H
A
The contents of any other element intentionally added is to be determined and reported.
B
The steel is to contain at least one of the grain refining elements in sufficient amount to meet the fine grain practice requirement (see Section 7).
C
Grade AH 0.5 in. [12.5 mm] and under in thickness may have a minimum manganese content of 0.70 %.
D
If the content of soluble aluminum is not less than 0.015 %, the minimum required silicon content does not apply.
E
The total aluminum content may be used instead of acid soluble content, in accordance with 7.1.
F
Columbium and niobium are considered interchangeable names for the same element and both names are acceptable for use in A01 standards.
G
The indicated amount of aluminum, columbium, columbium (niobium),F and vanadium applies if any such element is used singly. If used in combination, the minimum
content in 7.2.2 and 7.2.3, as appropriate, will apply.
H
0.012 if aluminum is present.
I
This element need not be reported on the mill sheet unless intentionally added.

8.1.1 Except as specified in the following paragraphs, the material as represented by the test specimens shall conform to the
tensile requirements prescribed in Table 6.
8.1.1.1 Shapes less than 1 in.2 [645 mm2] in cross section, and bars, other than flats, less than 1⁄2 in. [12.5 mm] in thickness or
diameter need not be subjected to tension tests by the manufacturer, but chemistry consistent with the required tensile properties
must be applied.
8.1.1.2 The elongation requirement of Table 6 does not apply to floor plates with a raised pattern. However, for floor plates over
1⁄2 in. [12.5 mm] in thickness, test specimens shall be bent cold with the raised pattern on the inside of the specimen through an