STEEL

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES


Ir G.D HENDERIECKX GIETECH BV APRIL 2006 1


STEEL

MECHANICAL
PROPERTIES


TENSILE STRENGHT

HARDNESS






ir G Henderieckx
GIETECH BV


STEEL
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES


Ir G.D HENDERIECKX GIETECH BV APRIL 2006 2



CONTENT

1. TENSILE STENGHT AFTER NORMALISING
2. MAXIMUM HARDNESS AND TENSILE
3. RELATION TENSILE STRENGHT HARDNESS


1. TENSILE STRENGHT AFTER NORMALISING


Which is the strength of steel after normalising?

This can be calculated if the alloying elements, including carbon, are taken in
account. The result is fairly good and can be used as a good indication.

Normalising suppose that the cooling is done in calm air.
The data can be used for carbon and low-alloyed steels.


Tensile = 250 MPa x Ki

Ki: factor indicated in the next table.

Ki factor

Percentage 0,15 0,25 0,50 0,75 1,00 1,50 1,75 2,00
Element
C 1,36 1,60
P 1,15 1,25
Mo 1,12 1,20 1,40 1,56
V 1,20 1,16 1,11
Mn 1,03 1,05 1,11 1,17 1,23 1,41 1,52 1,70
Si 1,02 1,05 1,09 1,13 1,19
Cu 1,00 1,03 1,06 1,10 1,16 1,28 1,34 1,40
Cr 1,01 1,02 1,04 1,07 1,10 1,20 1,28 1,37
Ni 1,00 1,01 1,03 1,05 1,08 1,13 1,16 1,19


Example : C 0,20 % / Si 0,50 % / Mn 0,75 % / P 0,03 %

250 x (1,60 + 1,36)/2 x 1,09 x 1,17 x {1,00 + 0,15x 0,03/0,15} = 486 MPa


STEEL
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES


Ir G.D HENDERIECKX GIETECH BV APRIL 2006 3
2. MAXIMUM HARDNESS AND TENSILE


For all materials without carbides, the maximum hardness (after quenching,
depending on the obtained structure) can be calculated from the carbon content. The
figure is shown next.




STEEL
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES


Ir G.D HENDERIECKX GIETECH BV APRIL 2006 4
This can also be put in a formula with a fairly good accuracy for steels with a carbon
content between 0,10 and 0,50 %. The maximum hardness is:

HRC = 35 + 50 x (% C)

HV = 200 + 1500 x (% C)

HB = HV x 0,95

HB = HRC x 9,6

It is nearly impossible, especially for thick sections, to obtain this maximum hardness
value!









3. RELATION TENSILE STRENGHT HARDNESS


For carbon and low-alloyed steel, the relation between the tensile strength and
hardness can be expressed as:


Tensile strenght (MPa) = HB x 3,34