CORROSION ENGINEERING (MCB 4423)

SEMESTER SEPT, 2015

ASSIGNMENT 1
CARBON STEEL USAGE IN OFFSHORE STRUCTURES & PROPERTIES
STUDENT:
THIBANKUMAR A/L ARUMUGAM
15956
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
DATE OF SUMMISSION:
TUESDAY, 29th OCTOBER 2013

Carbon Steel
Carbon steel is the most common type of steel used in the industry. The properties of a certain carbon
steel depend on the amount of carbon present in it. There are 3 types of carbon steels which are low
carbon steel, medium carbon steel, and high carbon steel, and as their name suggest all these types
of plain carbon steel differ in their carbon content.
Low Carbon Steel
Also known as mild steel. Contains carbon content up to 0.25%. Heat treatment improves the ductility
but has no effect in respect of its strength properties.
Medium Carbon Steel
Contains carbon content ranging from 0.25% to 0.70%. Heat treatment improves the machinability.
This steel is made machined and forged where surface hardness is desirable.
High Carbon Steel
Contains carbon content ranging from 0.70% to 1.05%. When fully treated, it improves hardness with
the ability to withstand high shear and wear, and will thus be subjected to little deformation.
Relationship Between Carbon Content, Toughness, and Hardness
Hardness is defined as the ability of a solid matter to resist permanent change. Toughness is defined
as the ability of a material to absorb energy and plastically deform without fracturing or cracking. In
carbon steel, the increase in carbon content increases its hardness while reduces toughness. A
decrease in carbon content sees an opposite mechanical property wear hardness decreases while
toughness increases.

Figure 1: Inverse properties of Toughness to Hardness mechanical properties.

Mechanical Properties of Carbon Steel

Thermal
Density
Conductivit
Material
(x103 kgm-3)
y
(Jm-1K-1s-1)
0.2%
Carbon
7.86
50
Steel
0.4%
Carbon
7.85
48
Steel
0.8%
Carbon
7.84
46
Steel

Thermal
Expansion
(10-6K-1)

Youngs
Modulus
(GPa)

Tensile
Strength
(MPa)

Elongation
(%)

11.7

210

350

30

11.3

210

600

20

10.8

210

800

The tensile strength and yield strength of carbon steel typically decreases with an increase in
temperature. This is not always true as some carbon steel might see a decrease in actual tensile
strength, and then increase due to strain aging.
Mechanical Properties of AISI 1018 Mid/Low Carbon Steel
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Knoop (Converted from Brinell hardness)
Hardness, Rockwell B (Converted from Brinell hardness)
Hardness, Vickers (Converted from Brinell hardness)
Tensile Strength, Ultimate
Tensile Strength, Yield
Elongation at Break (In 50 mm)
Reduction of Area
Modulus of Elasticity (Typical for steel)
Bulk Modulus (Typical for steel)
Poissons Ratio (Typical For Steel)
Machinability (Based on AISI 1212 steel. as 100% machinability)
Shear Modulus (Typical for steel)

Metric
126
145
71
131
440 MPa
370 MPa
15.0 %
40.0 %
205 GPa
140 GPa
0.290
70 %
80.0 GPa

Creep Properties of Carbon Steel

Creep can be defined simply as time-dependent strain occurring under constant stress. There are
basically three stages of creep identified primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary creep is the initial
instantaneous elastic strain from the applied load, followed by a region of increasing inelastic strain at
a decreasing strain rate. Secondary creep occurs when the creep rate is nominally constant at a
minimum rate. Tertiary creep is characterized by a drastically increased strain rate with rapid
extension to fracture.
For carbon steels, these time-dependent properties dominate the allowable stress above about 750F
(400C), although creep begins to occur in carbon steels at about 700F (370C). Because the creep
rupture strength is heavily influenced by temperature, the allowable stress drops off rapidly above that
temperature.
Using the Larson-Miller Parameter (LMP) the life expectancy of carbon steel can be estimated.

LMP=( +460)(C +log 10 t)(103 )

Where C is a constant assumed to be 20 for carbon and low alloy steels, and t is the time to failure in
hours.

Chemical Properties of Carbon Steel

Carbon. Carbon is the most important alloying element in steel and can be present up to 2% (although
most welded steels have less than 0.5%). The carbon can exist either dissolved in the iron or in a
combined form, such as iron carbide (Fe3C). Increased amounts of carbon increase hardness and
tensile strength as well as response to heat treatment (hardenability). On the other hand, increased
amounts of carbon reduce weldability.
Manganese. Steels usually contain at least 0.3% manganese, which acts in a three-fold manner: it
assists in de-oxidation of the steel, prevents the formation of iron sulfide inclusions, and promotes
greater strength by increasing the hardenability of the steel. Amounts up to 1.5% are commonly found
in carbon steels.
Silicon. Usually, only small amounts (0.2%, for example) are present in rolled steel when silicon is
used as a deoxidizer. However, in steel castings, 0.351.0% is common. Silicon dissolves in iron and
tends to strengthen it. Weld metal usually contains approximately 0.5% silicon as a deoxidizer. Some
filler metals can contain up to 1.0% to provide enhanced cleaning and de-oxidation for welding on
contaminated surfaces. When these filler metals are used for welding of clean surfaces, the resulting
weld metal strength will be markedly increased. The resulting decrease in ductility could present
cracking problems in some situations.
Sulfur. This is an undesirable impurity in steel rather than an alloying element. Special effort is made
to eliminate or minimize sulphur during steelmaking. In amounts exceeding 0.05%, it tends to cause
brittleness and reduce weldability. Additions of sulfur in amounts from 0.1% to 0.3% will tend to
improve the machinability of steel but impair weldability. These types of steel can be referred to as
free machining.
Phosphorus. Phosphorus is also considered to be an undesirable impurity in steels. It is normally
found in amounts up to 0.04% in most carbon steels. In hardened steels, it tends to cause
embrittlement. In low-alloy, high-strength steels, phosphorus can be added in amounts up to 0.10% to
improve both strength and corrosion resistance, although it is not generally added for this reason in
carbon steels.
Chromium. Chromium is a powerful alloying element in steel. It is added for two principal reasons:
first, it greatly increases the hardenability of steel; second, it markedly improves the corrosion
resistance of iron and steel in oxidizing types of media. Its presence in some steels could cause
excessive hardness and cracking in and adjacent to the weld. Stainless steels contain chromium in
amounts exceeding 12%.
Molybdenum. This element is a strong carbide former and is usually present in alloy steels in amounts
less than 1.0%. It is added to increase hardenability and to elevate temperature strength.
Nickel. Nickel is added to steels to increase their hardenability. It performs well in this function
because it often improves the toughness and ductility of the steel, even with the increased strength
and hardness. Nickel is frequently used to improve steel toughness at low temperatures.
Vanadium. The addition of vanadium will result in an increase in the hardenability of steel. It is very
effective in this role, so it is generally added in minute amounts. In amounts greater than 0.05%, there
can be a tendency for the steel to become embrittled during thermal stress relief treatments.
Columbium. Columbium (also called niobium), like vanadium, is generally considered to increase the
hardenability of steel. However, due to its strong affinity for carbon, it can combine with carbon in the
steel to result in an overall decrease in hardenability.

Other alloying elements. Some carbon steel specifications allow additions of certain other elements,
but they are not deliberately added. Other specifications might list these elements as a specified
addition to the steel, but the addition would be minor in carbon steels.
Carbon Equivalent of Carbon Steel
Carbon equivalent is used to understand how the different alloying elements effect the hardness of
the steel. Higher concentrations of carbon and other alloying elements tend to increase the hardness
of the steel. Each of these elements tend to influence the hardness of the steel to different
magnitudes. The formula to determine the carbon equivalent of carbon steel is as below.

CE=C+

( Mn+ Si) (Cr+ Mo +V ) (+ Cu)

+
+
6
5
15

A 106 Grade B Pipe

A 106 Grade B Pipe conforms to American Society for Testing and Materials standards and
specifications.
Applications
A 106 Grade B pipes are used in power plants, boilers, petrochemical plants, oil and gas refineries,
and ships where the piping must transport fluids and gases that exhibit high pressures and
temperatures.

Figure 1: Example of an ASTM A 106 Grade B pipe.

Mechanical Properties for A 106 Grade B Pipe
Value (MPa)
415
240
Longitudinal (%)
Transverse (%)

Tensile Strength, min

Yield Strength, min
Elongation in 50mm, min
Basic minimum elongation transverse strip tests,
and for all small sizes tested in full section
When standard round 50mm gage length test
specimen is used
For longitudinal strip tests
For transverse strip tests, a deduction for each
0.8mm decrease in wall thickness below 7.9mm
from the basic minimum elongation of the following
percentage shall be made

30

16.5

22

12

a
1.00

Footnote:
a.

A0.2
e=1940 0.9
U
where

minimum elongation in 50.8mm in percentage, rounded to the nearest

0.5%

cross-sectional area of the tension test specimen in mm 2

specified tensile strength in MPa

Chemical Requirements by Composition Percentage for A 106 Grade B Pipe

Composition (%)
0.30
0.29-1.06
0.035
0.035
0.10
0.40
0.15
0.15
0.40
0.08

Carbon, maxa
Manganese
Phosphorus, max
Sulfur, max
Silicon, min
Chrome, maxb
Copper, maxb
Molybdenum, maxb
Nickel, maxb
Vanadium, maxb

Footnotes:
a. For each reduction of 0.01% below the specified carbon maximum, an increase of 0.06%
manganese above the specified maximum will be permitted up to a maximum of 1.35%.
b. The five elements combined shall not exceed 1%.
It is to be noted that there are several grades for this pipe, which are Grade A and Grade C with their
own mechanical and chemical properties as tabulated in the table below.
Mechanical Properties for A 106 Grade A & A 106 Grade C Pipe
Grade A: Value (MPa)
Tensile Strength, min
330
Yield Strength, min
240
Longitudinal
Transverse
(%)
(%)
Elongation in 50mm, min
Basic minimum elongation
35
25
transverse strip tests, and
for all small sizes tested in
full section
28
20
When standard round
50mm gage length test
specimen is used
a
For longitudinal strip tests
1.00
For transverse strip tests,
a deduction for each
0.8mm decrease in wall
thickness below 7.9mm
from the basic minimum
elongation of the following
percentage shall be made
Footnote:
b.

e=1940

Grade C: Value (MPa)

485
275
Longitudinal
Transverse
(%)
(%)
30

16.5

20

12

a
1.00

A0.2
U 0.9

where

minimum elongation in 50.8mm in percentage, rounded to the nearest

0.5%

cross-sectional area of the tension test specimen in mm 2

specified tensile strength in MPa

Chemical Requirements by Composition Percentage for A 106 Grade A & A 106 Grade C Pipe
Grade A: Composition (%)
Grade C: Composition (%)

Carbon, maxa
Manganese
Phosphorus, max
Sulfur, max
Silicon, min
Chrome, maxb
Copper, maxb
Molybdenum, maxb
Nickel, maxb
Vanadium, maxb

0.25
0.27-0.93
0.035
0.035
0.10
0.40
0.15
0.15
0.40
0.08

0.35
0.29-1.06
0.035
0.035
0.10
0.40
0.15
0.15
0.40
0.08

Footnotes:
c. For each reduction of 0.01% below the specified carbon maximum, an increase of 0.06%
manganese above the specified maximum will be permitted up to a maximum of 1.35%.
d. The five elements combined shall not exceed 1%.
API 5L X65
The API stands for American Petroleum Institute, while API 5L addresses seamless and welded steel
line pipe for pipeline transmissions in the petroleum and natural gas industries. The two digits after the
X indicates the minimum yield strength in thousands psi (000 psi). In comparison to ASTM A 106
graded pipes, the API 5L graded pipes have stricter requirements where rolled grades are not
acceptable, and reworks are not allowed.
In addition to that, API 5L graded pipes is further segregated into two specific groups which are PSL 1,
and PSL 2. PSL 1 and PSL 2 are standards that are placed to help with the even more stricter
requirements of each grade of pipes. In general terms, PSL 1 is a loose standard quality for line pipes
while PSL 2 contains additional testing and requirements such as chemical and physical
requirements, different upper limits for the mechanical properties, requires specific Charpy Impact
Test conditions.
Applications
Used for conveying gas, water and oil in the natural gas and oil industries. It is preferred in long
pipelines due to inexpensiveness, and resistance to crack propagations. In addition to that, it is also
used especially for sour pipelines.
Mechanical Requirements for API 5L X65 PSL 1
Grade

Yield Strength,
Minimum (MPa)

X65

448

Ultimate Tensile
Strength, Minimum
(MPa)
531

Elongation in 50.8mm,
Minimum (%)
a

Mechanical Requirements for API 5L X65 PSL 2

Grade

Yield
Strength,
Minimum
(MPa)

Yield
Strength,
Maximum
(MPa)

X65

448

600

Ultimate
Tensile
Strength,
Minimum
(MPa)
531

Footnote:
c.

e=1944

A 0.2
0.9
U

where

minimum elongation in 50.8mm in percentage

Ultimate
Tensile
Strength,
Maximum
(MPa)
758

Elongation in
50.8mm,
Minimum (%)
a

applicable tensile test specimen area

specified minimum ultimate tensile strength in MPa

During Bend Test, API 5L X65 should not have any cracks in any portion of the pipe. In addition to
that, no opening should occur at weld areas.
Chemical Composition by Percentage of Weight for API 5L X65 PSL 1
For seamless pipes, the chemical requirements are:
Manganese
Carbon,
Phosphorus
Sulfur,
Titanium,
Grade
,
Maximum
, Maximum
Maximum
Maximum
Maximum
X65
0.28
1.40
0.030
0.030
0.04
For welded pipes, the chemical requirements are:
Manganese
Carbon,
Phosphorus
Grade
,
Maximum
, Maximum
Maximum
X65
0.22
1.45
0.025

a,b

Sulfur,
Maximum

Titanium,
Maximum

Other

0.015

0.06

a,b

Chemical Composition by Percentage of Weight for API 5L X65 PSL 2

For seamless pipes, the chemical requirements are:
Manganese
Carbon,
Phosphorus
Sulfur,
Titanium,
Grade
,
Maximum
, Maximum
Maximum
Maximum
Maximum
X65
0.24
1.40
0.025
0.015
0.06
For welded pipes, the chemical requirements are:
Manganese
Carbon,
Phosphorus
Grade
,
Maximum
, Maximum
Maximum
X65
0.22
1.45
0.025

Other

Other
a,b

Sulfur,
Maximum

Titanium,
Maximum

Other

0.15

0.06

a,b

Footnotes:
a. Columbium/Niobium, Vanadium, or any other combinations of contents may be used with prior
consent of the purchaser.
b. The sum of Columbium/Niobium, Vanadium, or any other combinations of contents should not
exceed 0.15%

API 2H 50
Also known as normalized carbon-manganese structural steel plate. Considered one of the work
horse grade in offshore applications, API 2H 50 is an intermediate strength, normalized, structural
steel plate used in the welded construction of offshore structures. It has a very low sulfur content and
has excellent welding characteristics because of the low carbon content, which is at a maximum of
0.18%.
Applications
Primarily used in critical portions in offshore structures, thus must exhibit excellent impact toughness
and resistance to plastic fatigue loading and lamellar tearing. Example of use of API 2H 50 is in
tubular joints, stiffened plate constructions, and other intersections where portions of the plates will be
subjected to tension in the through-thickness (z-axis) direction.

Figure 1: Example of a tubular structure that would be used in constructions of offshore structures.

Mechanical Properties
Thickness, t
0.2% Yield
(mm)
Strength (MPa)

Ultimate Tensile
Strength (MPa)

Elongation in 50
mm, min. %

Elongation in 200
mm, min. %

Less than 63.5

345

483 to 620

21

16

Greater than 63.5

324

483 to 620

21

16

Chemical Composition by Heat Analysis

C
Mn
P
S
1.15%
0.18
0.030
0.010
1.60

Si
0.050.40

Al
0.020.06

Cb
0.010.04

Ti

0.020

0.012

API 2W 50
Also known as TMCP steel plate. API 2W 50 is an intermediate strength, structural steel plate,
produced by means of thermo-mechanical control processing (TMCP), that is commonly used in the
welded construction of offshore structures. TMCP yields a fine-grained steel with high strength
combined with high toughness and excellent formability. API 2W 50s low carbon content and carbon
equivalence allows for better weldability.
Applications (Similar to API 2H 50)
Primarily used in critical portions in offshore structures, thus must exhibit excellent impact toughness
and resistance to plastic fatigue loading and lamellar tearing. Example of use of API 2W 50 is in
tubular joints, stiffened plate constructions, and other intersections where portions of the plates will be
subjected to tension in the through-thickness (z-axis) direction.

Figure 2: Example of a stiffened panel.

Mechanical Properties

Thickness, t
(mm)

0.2% Yield
Strength (MPa)

Ultimate Tensile
Strength (MPa)

Elongation in 50
mm, min. %

Elongation in 200
mm, min. %

Less than 25.4

345 - 517

448

23

18

Greater than 25.4

345 - 483

448

23

18

Chemical Composition by Heat Analysis

C
Mn
P
S
1.15%
0.16
0.030
0.010
1.60

Ti
0.0070.02

Si
0.050.40

Al
0.020.06

Ni

Cr

Mo

Cu

0.75

0.25

0.08

0.35

Cb

0.03

0.012

0.0005