This European Standard specifies through thickness properties and associated test methods for steel plate, strip, wide flats and sections.
This European Standard may be applied as a supplement to all product standards for plate, strip, wide flats and sections made from killed steels, except for stainless steel. It covers products having a thickness between 15 mm and 250 mm inclusive, made from steel with a specified minimum upper yield strength, ReH , or proof strength, Rp0.2≤500 N/mm2 for which improved through thickness properties are required.
The application of this European Standard to other thicknesses and other steel types shall be the subject of agreement at the time of ordering.
Steel plate, strip, wide flats and sections normally have deformation properties perpendicular to the surface ('through thickness', for short) which are different from those parallel to the surface. This anisotropy may lead to difficulties (e.g. lamellar tearing) in welded structures.
It is, however, possible to improve the through thickness properties by means of additional procedures during steelmaking.
Through thickness properties are characterized in this standard by specified minimum values for reduction of area, established during tensile testing.
There is no direct relationship between these values and the integrity of structures, because the risk of lamellar tearing is also affected by the type of structure, weld design and welding procedure. The minimum values for reduction of area specified in this standard cannot therefore by themselves be regarded as ensuring safety against occurrence of lamellar tearing.
However, the reduction of area is a good general guide to lamellar tear resistance, i.e. the risk of lamellar tearing decreases with increased reduction of area during tensile testing.
