The Use of High Strength Quenched and Tempered Steel in Structural Applications in Australia

Steel Construction
Journal of the Australian Steel Institute
Volume 49 Number 1 – May 2018
The use of high strength

quenched and tempered
steel in structural
applications in Australia
ISSN 0049-2205 PRINT POST APPROVED PP255003/01614

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STEEL CONSTRUCTION—EDITORIAL
The use of high strength steel for mainstream structural applications such as buildings,
bridges and other infrastructure has gained significant traction over the last 30 years. More
recently, the ability to utilise and the imperative for high strength steel has received
increased focus for a number of reasons:
• Higher performance requirements in building structures, including increased building

size, complexity of connections and expression of steel as a primary architectural
element;
• A recognition that steel offers improved construction scheduling and safety outcomes,
further supported by being able to utilise lighter members and simpler connections;
• The focus on sustainability, including Green Star recognition of higher strength steels
and the benefits in terms of material usage;
• In certain applications, the inherent toughness of high strength steel to help address
potential acts of terrorism.
This issue of Steel Construction focuses on providing engineers and our steel community with
sufficient knowledge to understand when high strength steel is an appropriate solution and
tools and references to facilitate application of high strength steel in predominantly building
structures. Case studies referencing overseas practice, together with local relevant examples
are also provided.
Dr Peter Key
National Technical Development Manager
Australian Steel Institute
AUSTRALIAN STEEL INSTITUTE
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STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 49 NUMBER 1 – MAY, 2018
THE USE OF HIGH STRENGTH QUENCHED AND TEMPERED
STEEL IN STRUCTURAL APPLICATIONS IN AUSTRALIA
by
Justin Suwart, Bisalloy
Justin has professional qualifications in Mechatronic Engineering, a Master’s Degree in

Engineering and an MBA. Justin has over ten years’ experience in the manufacturing sector
ranging from automotive to steel manufacturing. Justin is the Business Development Manager
at Bisalloy Steels, Unanderra, NSW.
SUMMARY
High strength quenched and tempered steels offer the design engineer a number of advantages which
can be exploited in developing solutions to both every day and difficult or unusual engineering problems.
In some cases, mass savings of up to 30 per cent or more are possible for specific types of primary
structural steel work. Longer spans, greater load carrying capacity and nett weight reduction to reduce
foundation loads are all possible through the use of higher strength (up to 690 MPa yield strength and
beyond) steel plate.
To date, Australian engineers have not fully exploited these higher strength materials in structural
applications and there is considerable scope for innovative design involving welded fabrication of these
steels. A number of examples are presented, mainly from overseas experience, of the types of
structures in which high strength quenched and tempered steel plates have been used to distinct
advantage. In some cases, it is likely that the competitive position of a steel solution may be enhanced
by the judicious use of high strength steels in combination with normal strength grades.
The use of high strength steels in Australia over the last 20 years or more has predominantly focused
on the mechanical engineering space, with the recent resources boom providing ample scope for use
in equipment such as dump truck bodies, storage bins, hoppers and chutes, where lighter weight, wear
resistance and impact resistance, combined with straightforward fabrication, has facilitated ready
adoption. These same benefits can extend to certain applications in the structural engineering space.
1. INTRODUCTION
High strength quenched and tempered steel (Q&T) has been produced in Australia by Bisalloy Steels
(formerly Bunge Industrial Steels Pty Limited) since 1979. The increased strength of Bisalloy’s structural
grades means engineers and architects can now design and write specifications for structures, taking
advantage of the benefits that high strength steel can bring.
Quenched and tempered steels are established in the Australian steel plate market, accounting for
approximately 5 per cent of the total structural plate market consumption. Their local availability from
an Australian manufacturing source since around 1980 has encouraged designers, fabricators and end-
users to utilise these steels in a range of applications, recognising potential advantages arising from
lighter structures, greater load carrying capacities, and improved service life, especially in abrasive
environments.
Whilst there has been significant use of high strength steels for structural applications in a number of
international markets, it is fair to say that in the last 20-30 years the predominant use of high strength
steel plate in Australia has been in the mining and resources sector, for equipment such as dump truck
bodies, storage bins, hoppers and chutes, where lighter weight, wear resistance and impact resistance,
combined with straightforward fabrication has facilitated ready adoption. The recent resources boom
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has been instrumental in developing local capacity and capability to manufacture quality high strength
plate.
The intent of this Steel Construction article is to expand awareness of the nature and potential uses
for high strength plate in structural applications, for buildings, bridges and larger structural frames where
the benefits of lighter weight, increased strength and decongestion of critical areas such as connections
may best be realised. The article considers first what high strength steel is, how it is manufactured and
the particular requirements for working with high strength steel in respect of welding and fabrication,
before considering the advantages with a range of case studies illustrating those advantages and
design considerations.
2. WHAT IS HIGH STRENGTH STEEL?
Contemporary high strength Q&T steels are all generally considered low to medium alloy content steels,
exhibiting high strength and hardness coupled with good formability and weldability. They also maintain
exceptionally low temperature notch toughness and crack propagation resistance despite the high
strength levels involved. This unique combination of properties is the result of careful selection of both
chemical composition and heat treatment.
Principal alloying elements in modern Q&T steels are nickel, manganese, chromium, copper and
molybdenum, with additional hardening often being provided by smaller but more precisely controlled
additions of boron (typically 0.002% B). These elements are often used in combination, such that Q&T
steels can be classified as multiple low–medium alloy heat treated steels.
Most Q&T steels also incorporate one or more micro-alloying elements such as aluminium, niobium,
titanium, vanadium or zirconium. Vanadium bearing steels should be avoided if post-weld heat
treatments are to be employed due to the possibility of adverse effects on the heat affected zone (HAZ)
notch toughness (Ref. 21).
Specific composition ranges for each element are adjusted, insofar as steel specifications might allow,
by the steel manufacturer according to strength and other property requirements, and to provide the
necessary hardenability. Comparatively higher alloy contents are required in thicker plates to offset the
retardation in cooling rate which inevitably accompanies quenching of the heavier plate sections.
3. HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The use of steel for structural applications goes back to the second part of the 19th century when steel
became one of the cornerstones of the world’s economy as steel framing quickly replaced iron in
buildings. The use of steel revolutionised the building industry, allowing construction to reach new
heights – the 10-storey Home Insurance Building built in 1895 in Chicago, USA, was the first tall building
to be supported be a steel skeleton of vertical columns and horizontal beams. It rose to a height of just
over 42 metres.
Following the initial discovery and refinement of general steel alloys by Robert Hadfield in 1882 (Ref.
8), the industry continued to find ways to improve key characteristics and properties. Development of
steel accelerated as a result of World War II where the requirement for higher strength and higher
hardness steels came as a result of the ever-increasing requirements of tanks and other armoured
vehicles. Through research, and trial and error, it was found that heating and cooling certain alloys of
steel resulted in significant and beneficial changes in key mechanical properties including hardness,
toughness, tensile strength and weldability.
Today, modern steel manufacturing processes have advanced considerably with cleaner, leaner,
stronger and more workable steels. Whereas previous issues where ductility and weldability may have
come at a cost to strength and toughness, with modern quenched and tempered steel (Q&T), a high
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strength and abrasion resistant steel, enhanced fabrication qualities come without the compromise on
mechanical properties.
Typically, for a structural steel to be classed as high strength steel the yield strength has to be a
minimum of 460 N/mm² (460 MPa). However, these steels are often available in a range of yield
strengths ranging from 460 MPa up to 890 MPa and even higher. For example, Table 1 provides
particular performance characteristics of high strength steel manufactured locally in Australia.
TABLE 1
RANGE OF STRUCTURAL GRADES PRODUCED BY BISALLOY STEELS
Thickness Minimum Tensile

Steel Australian Brinell hardness
range yield strength strength
Grade Standard (HB 3000/10)
(mm) (MPa) (MPa)
AS/NZS 3597
Bisalloy 60 210 5 – 100 500 590 – 730
Grade 500
AS/NZS 3597
Bisalloy 70 230 5 – 100 600 690 – 830
Grade 600
AS/NZS 3597
Bisalloy 80 255 5 – 100 650 750 – 930
Grade 700
AS/NZS 3597
Bisalloy 100 320 5 – 16 890 940 – 1100
Grade 900
The lower hardness and more ductile variants of BISALLOY® Structural grades are ideally suited to
structural applications, especially construction. Importantly, high strength quenched and tempered steel
plate, conforming to the Australian Standard AS/NZS 3597 (Ref. 24), is now included in the recently
revised Australian Standard for steel structures, AS 4100 (Table 2.1, Amendment 1). Bisalloy’s range
of structural grades of steel enables fabrication of columns, beams, trusses and tubular sections that
can potentially save weight and offer other design possibilities.
Applications of high strength quenched and tempered steels in structures continue to demonstrate the
effectiveness of these steels. As part of a spectrum of steels with yield stresses from 345 to 690 MPa,
the high performance Q&T steels make it possible to avoid the use of thick plates in heavy members
and at the same time offer material cost savings compared with lower strength steel (Ref. 14).
However, the benefits of BISALLOY® quenched and tempered steel reach far beyond the construction
site. Equipment such as dump truck bodies, storage bins, hoppers and chutes can now be
manufactured with an overall lighter weight whilst still maintaining the same strength.
4. MANUFACTURE OF Q & T PLATE (IN AUSTRALIA)

Details of the specific processing steps involved in the manufacture of Q&T steel plate in Australia have
been published many times previously (Refs. 9, 10, 11). The steps are illustrated in Fig. 1 and, in
summary, comprise:
• Material sourcing: BlueScope Port Kembla, supplying the majority of Bisalloy’s raw material
requirements, utilises the latest techniques for plate gauge and shape control for the rolling of
all plate products, including the feed plates for subsequent quenching and tempering. These
plates are all cross-rolled to an extent which depends on the initial slab size and finished plate
pattern dimensions, levelled, and when specified, ultrasonically tested prior to cutting to final
plate size.
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• Shot blasting: to clean transient mill scale and any light rust off the received plate product.
• Heating: After shot blasting, the plate enters the austenitising furnace, where it is heated to
around 900°C. The particular Bisalloy facility has a capacity for plates in the thickness range of
4-110 mm to a maximum plate width of 3300 mm and a maximum plate length of 15 m.
• Quenching: the continuous roller quench unit reduces the temperature of the steel in a
controlled manner to around 20°C, during which time a portion of austenite is transformed to
produce martensite which is a brittle and hard metallic crystalline structure.
• Tempering: After the plate has been quenched to a predetermined hardened state, the second
process, tempering, is used to achieve greater toughness and ductility by decreasing the
hardness. Tempering is achieved by heating the plate to a critical point for a set period of time
and then allowing it to cool at a specific managed cooling rate. Both the temperature and
heating time depend on the alloying of the steel and are determined by the amount of the final
hardness required and the overall mechanical properties of the steel required. While harder
steel is highly desirable in a range of applications, especially in mining situations where
abrasion resistance in key, the tempering process means the steel plate is less brittle and more
ductile without sacrificing the hardness.
• Finishing: Following tempering, plates are shot blasted for cleaning, levelled (up to 32.0 mm
thick), sampled for mechanical testing, cut to final length (if required) and prepared for
despatch. Structural grade plates may be ultrasonically tested and primed at this point prior to
being released for despatch.
FIGURE 1 A SCHEMATIC OVERVIEW OF BISALLOY’S Q&T STEEL PLATE PROCESS
It is relevant to note that there are a number of processing options aimed at optimising alloy yields,
internal soundness and cleanness, final mechanical properties and ease of fabrication. These include
hot metal desulphurisation, vacuum degassing, calcium-argon injection for non-metallic including shape
control, and continuous slab casting.
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5. ADVANTAGES OF HIGH STRENGTH STEEL
The advantages that may be derived from the use of high strength Q&T steels are strongly dependent
on the project context and the type and function of the structural component considered. Potential
advantages include:
• Design stresses can be increased by taking advantage of high yield stress and tensile strength.
This may result in a reduction of required plate thickness which can also save in terms of dead
weight.
• If plate thickness reductions are possible, volumes of deposited weld material, and therefore
weld consumables and weld times, can be significantly reduced.
• Simplified structural components and construction techniques are possible, particularly in the
case of larger structures or heavily loaded sections. Therefore, not only is it possible to save
on materials, but also on fabrication, transportation, handling and construction.
• Savings can be made in foundation costs and space requirements due to the reduced dead
weight of a structure and the reduced physical size of its elements.
Conversely, it must be acknowledged that since Young’s Modulus of Elasticity (E) of Q&T steel is the
same as that for conventional structural grades of carbon plate (‘mild steel’ grades such as AS/NZS
3678:2011 250 and AS/NZS 3678:2011 350), buckling and deflection of members limit the use of high
strength grades, particularly in situations where either column or local buckling significantly influence
the design outcomes. These circumstances would include slender columns and the webs of large plate
girders.
While high strength steel has been a relatively new development, and given the acknowledged
limitations as stated above, several countries have been using high strength Q&T steel grades over the
past few decades, including Japan, America, Australia, Europe and the UK. The design examples in
the following sections illustrate the range of uses where high strength Q&T steel grades have benefitted
the project outcomes.
6. INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
6.1 Japan
Japan has a long history of iron and steel manufacturing for a range of industry and applications. The
Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF) was established in November 1948 (Ref. 16) and has been
restructured several times over subsequent decades.
The JISF has a strong focus on ongoing technical development, and the Japanese steel industry is
constantly developing technologies to supply high-grade steel that can meet the diversifying and
exacting requirements of companies that use steel products (Ref. 17).
In Japan, common high strength steel grades start at around 490 MPa (Ref. 20) however research
continues around the use of steel with tensile strengths up to 1,000 MPa. The development of high
strength Q&T steel in Japan began around 1988 with the Japanese Ministry of Construction’s
Comprehensive New Material Project which involved research into 600 MPa tensile strength steel
specifically looking at benefits for earthquake resistance.
Landmark Tower, Yokohama, shown in Fig. 2, was the first Japanese structure to use high strength
Q&T steel elements, where the I-section columns were fabrication from thermo-mechanically controlled
process (TMCP) plates with minimum tensile strength of 600 MPa. This building was completed in 1989.
One advantage of using high strength Q&T steel is the reduction in column section sizes which becomes
especially beneficial in the lower levels of tall buildings. In Japan, aside from the Landmark Tower, other
high-rise buildings have very successfully utilised the properties that high strength Q&T steel can offer,
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including the JR East Japan Headquarters Building and the NTV Tower, Tokyo, shown in Fig. 3 and
Fig. 4 respectively.
FIGURE 2 (left) LANDMARK TOWER, YOKOHAMA (JAPAN) RISES ABOVE SURROUNDING

BUILDINGS. Source: Sunwater2015. Reproduced under CC BY-SA 4.0 International.
FIGURE 3 (centre) JR EAST JAPAN HEAD- QUARTERS IN SHIBUYA-KU, TOKYO. Source: Kure.
Reproduced under CC BY-SA 3.0.
FIGURE 4 (right) NIPPON TELEVISION TOWER HEAD QUARTERS IN MINATO, TOKYO. Source:
Kure. Reproduced under CC BY-SA 3.0.
6.2 America
In the USA, the key high strength Q&T steel grades are 50W, 70W and 100W which have minimum
yield strengths equivalent to 345 MPa, 485 MPa and 690 MPa respectively – these are commonly
referred to as high performance steels (HPS). The 70W grade was created first in 1996 with the other
grades following a few years later (Ref. 15). More commonly the grades are now referred to by their
ASTM designation, with ASTM A514 (700 MPa) perhaps being the most well-known.
The development of high strength Q&T steel for structural applications came about from an American
research program that was commenced around 1994 with the aim of developing a ‘better performing
steel’ in terms of weldability, increased toughness and improved weathering resistance without altering
the strength of the steel.
In 1997 the first test of a HPS, 70W, was undertaken on a single-span road bridge in Nebraska, shown
in Fig. 5. The original design utilized conventional Grade 345 steel. To investigate the fabrication
process utilising High Performance Steel the original Grade 345 steel was replaced with HPS-485W
without modifying the design. The fabricators concluded there were no significant changes required in
the HPS fabrication process (Ref. 6).
A range of different bridges and buildings across the continental USA use various HPS and high
strength Q&T steels, but the most well-known may have been One World Trade Centre, New York. It
was a 104-storey building and, when including the spire, reached to 1,776 metres high which made it
the tallest building in America.
The tower’s structure was designed around a strong steel frame made of beams and columns.
Steelmaker ArcelorMittal Differdange, Luxembourg, supplied approximately 14,000 tonnes of Histar
grade structural steel, while approximately 30,000 tonnes of steel plate was sourced from ArcelorMittal
Coatesville in Pennsylvania. It was estimated that by using high strength steel, the weight of the
columns was reduced by around 32% and beams by around 19% versus normal steel grades.
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FIGURE 5 SNYDER BRIDGE SOUTH IN NEBRASKA. Source: (Azizinamini, Van Ooyen, Jabar, &
Fallaha, 2002). Reproduced with kind permission of Prof. A. Azizinamini.
HPS was developed in the USA specifically for bridge construction, costs savings and protection against
weathering making it possible for structures to be redesigned without compromising strength or ease
of fabrication.
6.3 Europe and the UK

The first use of high strength Q&T steel in Europe was a floating structure used in the Hutton Oil Field,
200 km off the coast of Norway. The tension-leg platform used steel with a minimum yield strength of
795 MPa.
Generally, high strength Q&T use in the UK has been mainly focused around offshore applications
where designers generally specify steel with a strength of around 460 MPa. While higher strength steels
(500 – 700 MPa) are becoming more common (Ref. 20), the advantage for offshore applications is the
potential for reducing sectional weight. Not only can this aid design, but fabrication can become faster
and more economical provided the high strength steel has good weldability and formability.
Other examples across Europe include the bridge across the canal in Zuid Beveland, in the southern
part of the Netherlands. Here, a girder construction made of 460 MPa steel was chosen in order to
reduce the girder depth and to maximise the clearance height for the canal under the bridge (Ref. 21).
A further example of the use of high strength steel in bridge applications comes from Rémoulins in the
south of France. For this continuous twin-girder construction with span lengths of 47, 66 and 51 metres,
a combination of standard 355 MPa steel was used with a 460 MPa high strength steel. The high
strength 450 MPa was especially applied in the highly stressed pier region of the girders to reduce the
maximum thickness, resulting in a reduction of thickness from 120.0 mm using standard 355 MPa steel,
9
to 80.0 mm using the hybrid combination (Ref. 21). Overall, it is estimated that a weight reduction of
more than 8% was achieved using this combination of standard and high strength steels.
In terms of higher strength Q&T steel applications, a pier and pier-girder bridge near Ingolstadt,
Germany, used 690 MPa steel in a medium span application, with span lengths of 24 + 3*30 + 24
meters (Ref. 21). In this instance, 690 MPa material was applied for the connection between the girder
and the piers formed by concrete filled steel tubes of 600 mm diameter where the 70 mm thick 690 MPa
material was welded to the girder to form a bending-stiff connection (Ref. 21).
Across Europe, 460 MPa high strength Q&T steel remains the material of choice for the construction of
bridges. This includes the Rhine Bridge in the north of Dusseldorf, Germany, which was opened for
traffic in mid-2002 (Ref. 22).
The Shard, at 306 metres high, is the tallest building in Western Europe and arguably one of London’s
most ambitious and distinctive buildings. It took over a decade of planning, design and execution to
overcome many design and engineering challenges, all without compromising the architect’s original
vision. Whilst early designs envisaged an all-steel framed building, stiffened by steel outriggers that
FIGURE 6 A COMPARISON OF HIGH STRENGTH STEEL USAGE FOR THE SHARD, LONDON
Source: Dr Mark O’Connor (High-rise & high strength steel), 2012, WSP.
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connected sizeable internal columns with the core, a ‘mixed structure’ was finally settled upon, with
steel in the lower office levels, and concrete for the hotel and residences at the top (Ref. 1).
The steel used in The Shard provided significant benefits – not only did it become possible to build The
Shard in line with the architect’s vision, but high strength steel also delivered significant other benefits
(see Fig. 6), clearly highlighting the versatility and value in using high strength Q&T steel for this type
of application.
According to Dr Mark O’Connor (Ref. 19), the benefits to fabrication and erection costs of using high
strength steel for components of the Shard included:
• Higher strength = lower weight

• Lower weight = lower transport
• Lower weight = easier handling
• Higher strength = reduced thickness
• Reduced thickness = reduced welds
• Reduced welds = reduced time
• Reduced welds = reduced costs
7. HIGH STRENGTH STEEL USE IN AUSTRALIA

Prior to 1980, all quenched and tempered plate used in Australia was imported – primarily from Japan,
but also from Europe and North America (Refs. 15 and 18). Since 1980, high strength quenched and
tempered steel (Q&T) has been produced in Australia by Bisalloy Steels (formerly Bunge Industrial
Steels Pty Limited).
High strength steel research for use in structural applications in Australia began in 1987 when Rosier
and Croll investigated quenched and tempered steel, and the potential benefits for structural
applications such as buildings and bridges. (Ref. 12).
Extensive research and development programs were conducted to facilitate the use of quenched and
tempered (Q&T) steels in structural applications such as bridges and buildings. Initial efforts involved
metallurgical and welding characteristics to ensure general applicability. Theoretical analyses
determined the potential weight and material cost savings that should result from proper use of these
steels (Ref. 14).
The structural steels that are now in use in Australian construction projects can be generally categorised
as follows:
• Structural carbon steels

• High strength, low-alloy steels
• Quenched and tempered low-allow steels
7.1 Use in buildings

Several significant projects using high strength Q&T steel have been completed in intervening years,
including Grosvenor Place, Sydney (1989), Star City Casino Lyric Theatre, Sydney (1997) and Latitude
at World Square, Sydney (2005). All of these projects used steel with a minimum yield strength of 690
MPa in concrete-encased and concrete-filled columns.
The 34-storey Argus Centre commercial development at 300 Latrobe Street, Melbourne (Fig. 7) utilised
690 MPa yield strength material (BISALLOY 80) in fabricated homogeneous three-plate ‘I’ columns.
This enabled reduced overall dimensions, combined with reductions in web and flange thickness,
translating into weight savings of between 28-38% relative to AS/NZS 3678 Grade 350 material.
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The weight savings achieved directly led to savings in the total cost of the fabricated columns of between
12% and 24%. Construction savings were also realised through simplified detailing, fabrication and
erection activities. Additional benefits included a significant reduction in column size compared with
concrete, which meant that car-parking floors were more useful and efficient, and an increase in
workable office space (Ref. 15).
The Central Park building in Perth, Western Australia (Fig. 8), a 52-storey commercial building, featured
composite concrete and 690 MPa yield strength steel. On its completion in 1992, the tower became the
tallest building in Perth and it is currently the equal seventh tallest building in Australia and the tallest
building in the western half of Australia. In this case the designers selected an unusual configuration
for the steel columns to minimise the external dimensions and optimise the high yield strength of the
Q&T steel to reduce the overall weight of the structure.
FIGURE 7 THE ARGUS CENTRE - 300 LATROBE FIGURE 8 CENTRAL PARK BUILDING,
STREET, MELBOURNE, VICTORIA PERTH WA
Source: Nicole 103152. Reproduced under CC BY-SA Source: Brookfield Multiplex
4.0 International.
Latitude World Square transfer truss
The use of high strength steel was critical for large steel outrigger transfer trusses on the Latitude World
Square project in Sydney (Fig. 9). The solution, engineered by Hyder (now Arcadis) in collaboration
with the fabricator Alfasi Steel Constructions, utilised Bisalloy high strength steel for chords and
connection plates of the 7 m deep transfer trusses. The high strength steel helped to decongest the
highly loaded connections, saving on construction costs and fabrication time.
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FIGURE 9 LATITUTE WORLD SQUARE, SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES.
Source: Arcadis Australia
7.2 Use in bridges

The coal loading facility at Newcastle NSW, operated by Port Waratah Coal Services Ltd., is one of the
largest coal exporting ports in the state. The majority of coal tonnage is delivered to the loader by rail
wagon, with the balance being transported by road truck. In 1989 it was recognised that an overpass
on the main rail link was required and a team of consultant engineers was engaged to design a bridge
that could be constructed without obstruction to the main rail link and within a very tight time schedule.
The designers opted for fabricated steel girders and a composite reinforced concrete deck, all supported
on reinforced concrete abutments and central pier.
This bridge consists of two spans, one 18 metres and the other 33 metres. Both spans were fabricated
from ‘hybrid’ steel girders utilising 690 MPa steel in the tension flanges, and the more common AS/NZS
3678 250 and 350 grades in the web and compression flanges respectively. The designers selected
690 MPa steel for this application for the strength to weight ratio of high strength steel, which was able
to provide lighter members, therefore minimising the total dead load of the structure (Ref. 2).
8. CODES AND STANDARDS RELATING TO HIGH STRENGTH STEEL

8.1 AS/NZS 3678:2016
While high strength quenched and tempered steel has its own standard (discussed below), an important
reference is AS/NZS 3678:2016. AS/NZS 3678 is the standard covering ‘Structural steel - Hot-rolled
plates, floorplates and slabs’ and this Standard is particularly relevant as it specifies requirements for
the production and supply of hot-rolled structural steel plates and floorplates for carbon and carbon-
manganese mechanically-tested steels, fully-killed analysis-only steels, and low-alloy (weathering)
mechanically-tested steels (Ref. 25). This Standard also specifies requirements for the production and
supply of wide slabs as fully-killed analysis-only steel.
For general structural and engineering applications, all grades specified in this Standard are suitable
for:
(a) welding in accordance with AS/NZS 1554

(b) riveting and bolting as specified in AS/NZS 4600, AS 3990, AS 4100 and NZS 3404.1
This Standard does not cover the following:
(i) Steel plates for pressure equipment (AS 1548)

(ii) Hot-rolled steel flat products (AS/NZS 1594)
13
(iii) Quenched and tempered plate – structural and pressure vessel steel (AS/NZS 3597)
The above has been taken from AS/NZS 3678:2016 (Ref. 25).
8.2 AS/NZS 3597-2008

AS/NZS 3597 sets out technical requirements for the production and supply of intermediate and high-
strength quenched and tempered low-alloy steel plates (Ref. 24).
These steels are manufactured from feed derived from rolled steels, somewhat similar to those listed
in AS/NZS 3678:2016 above but having enhanced levels of micro-alloys. The steel is then subjected to
a combination of heating and cooling (quenching and tempering). This changes the microstructure of
the steel to raise its strength, hardness and toughness. In Australia, these steels are manufactured only
in plate form by Bisalloy Steels and comply with AS/NZS 3597.
The range of heat-treated alloy steels typically has a yield stress of 500–690 MPa, with the 600 MPa
and above being the most advanced (and most costly) constructional steels of weldable quality currently
available from an Australian manufacturer. Except for significant increases of carbon and manganese
content, the overall chemistry such as Cr, Ni and Mo and method of manufacture are similar to those
above (Ref. 24).
8.3 AS 4100-1998 with Amendment 1, 2012

Prior to high strength steel being included in the AS 4100 standard (Ref. 26) in 2012, the typical practice
was to design to the American Institute of Steel Construction code for such steels. Prior to Amendment
1 being released, the scope of AS 4100 precluded the use of:
• Steel elements less than 3 mm thick. One exception is that hollow sections complying with
AS/NZS 1163 are included irrespective of thickness,
• Cold-formed members (other than hollow sections complying with AS/NZS 1163), which should
be designed to AS/NZS 4600,
• Composite steel–concrete members (these are to be designed to AS 2327 which considers
only simply supported beams), and,
• Steel elements with design yield stresses exceeding 450 MPa.
Structural steels within the scope of AS 4100 are those complying with the requirements of AS/NZS
1163, AS/NZS 1594, AS/NZS 3678 and AS/NZS 3679. Clause 2.2.3 of AS 4100 permits the use of
‘unidentified’ steels under some restrictions, which include limiting the design yield stress, fy , to 170
MPa and the design tensile strength, fu , to 300 MPa (Ref. 26).
Amendment 1
Amendment 1 to AS 4100 was released in February 2012 and included an update to the AS/NZS 3597
plate steel grades which were extended from about 340 MPa yield stress to 690 MPa yield stress. An
extract from Table 2.1 of AS 4100-1998, Amendment 1, 2012 for the plate covered in AS/NZS 3597 is
shown in Table 3:
14
TABLE 3
AS 4100-1998 AMENDMENT 1 (2012) – PART TABLE 2.1
Tensile
Yield stress,
Thickness of strength
Steel material, t
Form Steel grade (fy)
Standard (fu)
mm MPa MPa
AS/NZS 3597 Plate 500 5 ≤ t ≤ 110 500 590
600 5 ≤ t ≤ 110 600 690
700 t≤5 650 750
700 5 < t ≤ 65 690 790
700 65 < t ≤ 110 620 720
9. FABRICATION CONSIDERATIONS
9.1 Welding
The most common fabrication method and the operation that raises the most questions when dealing
with Q&T, is welding. Generally, high strength Q&T steel can be welded provided correct parameters
and procedures are allowed for. As an example, all grades of Bisalloy’s Q&T can be readily welded
using any of the conventional low hydrogen welding processes. The low carbon content and carefully
balanced, but relatively small additions of alloying elements (Mn, Cr, Mo, Ni, B etc.) ensure good
weldability in addition to the advantages of high strength, impact toughness and high hardness.
Following is an overview of various considerations that must be taken into account when welding Q&T
steel. More information is available from a number of sources including the Welding Technology Institute
of Australia (WTIA) and the various welding consumable suppliers.
9.2 Hydrogen control

To ensure adequate welding of high strength Q&T steel, it is necessary to be mindful of the levels of
hydrogen, preheat temperatures and arc energy inputs in order to minimise the hardening and maintain
the properties of the weld Heat Affected Zone (HAZ).
Particular attention must be paid to the control of hydrogen content to minimise the risk of weld and
HAZ cracking. Weld hydrogen content is minimised by careful attention to the cleanliness and dryness
of the joint preparations and the use of hydrogen-controlled welding consumables.
Recommendations on the correct storage and handling of consumables may be obtained from welding
consumable manufacturers, for instance the use of ‘Hot Boxes’ for storage and reconditioning are
required when using manual metal arc welding electrodes. Refer WTIA Technical Note 3 (Ref. 28) for
further guidance.
9.3 Welding procedures

The specific effects of welding on weld joint properties in any practical situation will depend on many
factors including the choice of consumables, total weld heat input, level of restraint, weld geometry and
proximity of adjacent welds. Guidance on weld procedures for specific applications may be sought from
the steel manufacturer technical staff, consumable suppliers or WTIA.
15
9.4 Tack welding
Tack welds require special care due to the abnormal stresses and high cooling rates experienced by
the adjacent material. The same preheat and heat input requirements should be employed and lower
strength welding consumables considered.
9.5 Fillet welding

Good fillet welding techniques are important in welding Q&T steels because often very high stresses
are applied in service. It is essential that welds have good root penetration, be smooth, correctly
contoured and well flared into the legs of the joined pieces. Lower strength consumables are suggested
when design permits. WTIA Technical Note 15 (Ref. 29) provides guidance on correct procedures for
fillet welding.
9.6 Repair work

It is good practice to weld repair with lower strength consumables (low hydrogen type), since plate
materials which have been highly stressed in service may tend to warp or distort slightly during welding
and improved ductility may be required. In some situations, such as joints under restraint, joints
subjected to impact/fatigue stresses etc., special welding consumables may be necessary.
9.7 Welding stresses

It should be emphasised that the recommended values of preheat and heat input are based on low to
moderate levels of restraint. For conditions of high restraint, it is important to minimise the degree to
which free contraction is hampered and it may be necessary to use higher preheats. Proper welding
sequence and small joint configurations would be considered important in high restraint situations and
it is advisable to establish welding parameters with simulated full scale weld tests.
Care should also be exercised at the assembly stage to avoid offset and angular distortion at the plate
edge, undercutting and bad appearance.
9.8 Stress relief

Stress relief may be conducted on high strength steel but is advisable only if absolutely necessary (e.g.
to comply with AS 1210 in the case of road tankers). Stress relief is recommended within a 540 - 570°C
temperature range for one hour per 25 mm of thickness. Thermal cycling is generally performed in
accordance with AS 1210 requirements for Q&T steels. The toes of weld beads should be dressed by
grinding prior to any stress relief treatment in order to prevent stress relief cracking.
When stress relieving BISALLOY® Structural 80 ≤12 mm (typically 0.40 CE(IIW)) and matching strength
across the weld is a requirement, it is recommended to weld with minimum permissible preheat/inter-
pass temperatures and heat input conditions to minimise the degree of softening or any loss of strength
which may occur in the HAZ.
9.9 Post-weld heating

Post-weld heating at 200-250°C may be conducted as an effective hydrogen dissolution treatment
particularly when consumables other than H5 or H10 are used. The following references are relevant
in this regard:
• AS 1554 Part 4 Welding of quenched and tempered steels

• AS 1554 Part 5 Welding of steel structures subject to high levels of fatigue loading
• WTIA Technical Note 1 (Ref. 27)
16
10. DESIGN GUIDANCE
10.1 Design approach

In choosing a steel section for a particular structural application, the designer may need to consider a
wide range of factors including the applicable project loading, strength and serviceability limit states,
possible restrictions on beam depth, column width and member mass (due to transport or cranage
limits) and other practical and construction related aspects. Depending on the circumstances, sections
fabricated from high strength steel plate may provide the ideal solution.
High strength Q&T steel is typically manufactured as a plate product in Australia. This allows the
designer a great deal of flexibility to configure steel section dimensions and shapes to suit a project’s
individual requirements and to optimise outcomes, whether for weight, strength, stiffness or
constructability. The ability to tailor cross section geometry, even along a member, is a point of
differentiation with the supply of standard rolled section shapes, and one that is often forgotten when
the focus is on the strength benefits alone. For example, the section type could be ‘I’ or ‘box’, the section
could be symmetrical or not and the widths and thicknesses of the flange and web elements may be
varied within wide limits.
The numerous possibilities enhance the scope for design refinement, however particularly during the
earlier stages of design, it can be useful to make reference to a list of pre-defined or suggested sections
to assist preliminary selection and assessment. For example, Bisalloy Steels has recently produced a
range of design tables using high strength Q&T grades for the dimensions and properties, and
properties of design, for a range of plate beams and plate columns. However, for final design, designers
are encouraged to proportion their sections to suit their application’s individual requirements.
It has been recognised that high strength steel is most advantageous for highly loaded applications,
where strength tends to govern rather than serviceability. For beams, total deflection may be reduced
by cambering the beam an amount typically equal to the calculated dead load deflection. This would
preferably be achieved by cutting the camber into the web plate prior to welding on flanges.
10.2 Cross section and member design

Cross sections should be proportioned with due regard to local and overall buckling modes, and the
spacing of available member restraints, in order to achieve appropriate member design capacities for
the practical conditions present. For beam sections, lateral bracing locations should be configured to
optimise moment capacity commensurate with deflection limitations.
Unless the loading and restraint arrangement allow a compact section with minimal reduction for
member buckling, there will generally be a desire to proportion the web and flange plates to balance
the steel distribution to avoid excessive strength reductions due to local buckling and member buckling.
For a beam with a particular web plate depth and a certain maximum section mass/m say, the web plate
could be made thick enough to be compact, or thinner to allow some of the steel area to be transferred
to the flanges, although sufficient web plate thickness must be maintained for shear or combined shear
and moment. For bending about the x-axis, the benefits of transferring steel to the flanges may override
the detrimental influence of a non-compact web (although it has been found for efficiency the web
should not in general be much more slender relative to the applicable limits, than the flanges). The total
steel area then available for the flanges could be arranged in a narrow, thick plate, ensuring the flanges
are compact, or arranged in a wider, thinner non-compact or slender plate. The latter may provide higher
member bending capacities for some effective lengths due to the improved lateral stiffness properties.
For columns, it is not necessarily crucial to achieve a Compact section classification for bending; of
more importance is the form factor kf. When web and flange elements are arranged to be fully effective
such that kf = 1, the beneficial influence of αb = -0.5 in AS 4100 Table 6.3.3(1) can be significant for
practical effective lengths (refer Amendment 1, 2012).
17
10.3 Connection design
There are no special considerations regarding design approach for connections utilising high strength
steel, as reflected in Section 9 of AS 4100-1998. The decongestion of connections is a common use-
case for high strength steel, implying the designer is looking for maximum efficiency in configuring both
the size and thickness of plates and the number of bolts or extent of welding in the connection.
Design models for the various failure mechanisms for connection components are identical for high
strength steel, including:
• Axial tension
• Shear
• Moment
• Axial compression instability
• Block shear failure
• End plate tear-out
• Bolts in shear or ply bearing
• Welds
All of these failure modes are described in detail in the ASI Connections Design Guides, both for open
sections (Ref. 3, Ref. 4) and for hollow sections (Ref. 5).
There are two aspects that do require some more detailed consideration when designing connections
with high strength plate:
1. Plate element instability under compression: Buckling of plate elements under compression will
require more attention due to the fact that, with higher strength steels, plate elements may be
thinner and hence more likely for buckling modes to reduce capacity.
2. Weld matching and residual stress: Common design models for weld strength make
assumptions regarding the yield strength of the weld material compared to that of the connected
plates, leading to weld consumable strengths that are ‘matched’ to the plate to be welded.
However, higher strength welds and plates can result in higher residual stresses (because the
weld cools and contracted from its yield strength, which is higher). Therefore, there may be the
need to utilise lower strength consumables to manage residual stress, which in turn may
invalidate the assumptions in the common design models predicated on weld matching.
Reference 5 discusses these aspects in greater detail.
It is also worth mentioning that higher strength Property Class 10.9 bolt assemblies have now been
referenced in the recently revised AS/NZS 1252.1 (Ref. 23) and it is expected that these will also be
referenced in the revision of AS 4100 that is currently in Standards Australia committee process. The
availability and use of higher strength bolts will facilitate further the decongestion of connections and
the use of higher strength steels.
10.4 Design examples

10.4.1 Simply supported beam with uniformly distributed load
Note that these calculations refer to Bisalloy’s ‘Bisalloy Steels Design Tables’ (BSDT) (Ref. 7).
Determine preliminary beam sizes for the following:
Span = 12 m, simply supported, UDL.
The beam can be considered to have full lateral restraint throughout the span.
18
W* (kN)
Span L (m)
Nominal dead load G = 66 kN/m (including allowance for beam self-weight)
Nominal live load Q = 42 kN/m
Total deflection limit for G + 0.7Q = span/250.
Determining design loading W* on span to enable use of tables in Section 2:
W* (strength) = max (1.2 x G + 1.5 x Q, 1.35 x G) x L
W* (strength) = max (1.2 x 66 + 1.5 x 42, 1.35 x 66) x 12 = 1706 kN
W* (serviceability) = (G + 0.7 x Q) x L
W* (serviceability) = (66 + 0.7 x 42) x 12 = 1145 kN.
TABLE 4A
MAXIMUM DESIGN LOADS FOR BEAMS – WITH FULL LATERAL RESTRAINT
BENDING ABOUT X-AXIS
kg/
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
m
11300 8460 6770 5640 4840 4230 3760 3390 2820 2420 2120 1880 1690 1540
840x
300x
195 9260
20x16
11800 8870 6640 4610 3390 2590 2050 1660 1150 846 648 512 415 343
From Table 2.B.2 of the Bisalloy SDT (Ref. 7), for an 840x300x20x16 (195 kg/m) BISALLOY® Structural
80 steel beam and for a span of 12 m, the limiting strength limit state loads are W*L1 = 2820 kN (based
on mid-span moment) and W*L2 = 9260 kN (based on end shear). As these values are greater than
1706 kN, the beam is satisfactory in terms of strength.
Also from Table 2.B.2, the corresponding serviceability load limit W*s is 1150 kN. As this is greater than
1145 kN, the BISALLOY® Structural 80 steel beam is also satisfactory in relation to span/250 total
deflection and first yield checks.
Alternative Welded Beam sections for the same criteria are 900WB257 and 1000WB215 (both Grade
300).
19
The preliminary beam designs may be compared as follows:
Designation kg/m Depth mm
900WB257 257 916
840x300x20x16 195 840
Saving: 62 kg/m = 24 % 76 mm
1000WB215 215 1000
840x300x20x16 195 840
Saving: 20 kg/m = 9 % 160 mm
Even though the BISALLOY® Structural 80 steel beam was governed by serviceability, against a
900WB257 it still provided a significant mass saving as well as a depth reduction of 76 mm. In
comparison to the deeper, lighter Welded Beam option, the BISALLOY® Structural 80 steel beam was
slightly lighter but significantly shallower. This depth reduction may be important in some situations.
By cambering the BISALLOY® Structural 80 steel beam for the calculated dead load deflection, the
total deflection could be reduced, or alternatively a lighter BISALLOY® Structural 80 steel beam may
be possible, offering further savings. The Welded Beam sections are governed by bending strength in
this case, so cambering will not lead to lighter sizes. When cambered beams are considered, rather
than use W*s from the tables in Section 2, it is recommended deflection checks are carried out for each
component of load and the total serviceability load checked against first yield.
The above preliminary sizing does not include a comprehensive range of design checks. In particular,
where bearing loads are applied within the span or at supports, the ability of the beam to resist these
loads must be checked.
10.4.2 Simply supported beam with large uniformly distributed load

Span = 8 m, simply supported, UDL.
The beam can be considered to have full lateral restraint throughout the span.
W* (kN)
Span L (m)
Nominal dead load G = 360 kN/m (including allowance for beam self-weight)
Nominal live load Q = 240 kN/m
Total deflection limit for G + 0.7Q = Span/250.
20
Determining design loading W* on span to enable use of tables in Section 2:
W* (strength) = max (1.2 x G + 1.5 x Q, 1.35 x G) x L
W* (strength) = max (1.2 x 360 + 1.5 x 240, 1.35 x 360) x 8 = 6336 kN
W* (serviceability) = (G + 0.7 x Q) x L
W* (serviceability) = (360 + 0.7 x 240) x 8 = 4224 kN.
TABLE 4B
MAXIMUM DESIGN LOADS FOR BEAMS – WITH FULL LATERAL RESTRAINT
kg/
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
m
18800 14100 11300 9400 8060 7050 6270 5640 4700 4030 3520 3130 2820 2560
950x
400x
270 8290
25x16 20300 15300 12200 8960 6580 5040 3980 3230 2240 1650 1260 996 807 667
13200 10500 8780 7520 6580 5850 5270 4390 3760 3290 2930 2630 2390
1050x
300x
243 7410
25x16 13900 11100 9000 6610 5060 4000 3240 2250 1270 1270 1000 810 669
From Table 2.B.2 (Ref. 4), for a 950x400x25x16 (270 kg/m) BISALLOY® Structural 80 steel beam and
for a span of 8m, the limiting strength limit state loads are W*L1 = 7050 kN (based on mid-span moment)
and W*L2 = 8260 kN (based on end shear). As these values are greater than 6336 kN, the beam is
satisfactory in terms of strength.
Also from Table 2.B.2, the corresponding serviceability load limit W*s is 5040 kN. As this is greater than
4224 kN, the BISALLOY® Structural 80 steel beam is also satisfactory in relation to span/250 total
deflection and first yield checks.
An alternative size is a 1050x300x25x16 BISALLOY® Structural 80 steel beam (243 kg/m).
The Welded Beam section required for this loading and criteria is a 1200WB342 (Grade 400).
1200WB342 342 1184
950x400x25x16 270 950
21
Saving: 72 kg/m = 21 % 234 mm
1200WB342 342 1184
1050x300x25x16 243 1050
Saving: 99 kg/m = 29 % 134 mm
The BISALLOY® Structural 80 steel beam options provide significant weight and depth savings, even
though the Welded Beam was of the higher grade (400). This demonstrates the advantage BISALLOY®
Structural 80 steel beams can provide, particularly when loads are large.
The loading in this example required one of the largest Welded Beams in the higher grade option. If the
loading was a little larger again, the structural requirements may be outside the range of Welded Beams.
However, the BISALLOY® Structural 80 steel beams may be fabricated to suit cases with much larger
loading, illustrated by the extensive range tabulated.
As before, other checks such as the ability of the beam to resist bearing loads must be carried out and
stiffeners or other design details introduced as appropriate.
10.4.3 Simply supported beam with large point load at mid-span

Span = 8 m, simply supported, point load at mid-span.
The beam can be considered to have full lateral restraint at the end supports and at the mid-span.
Nominal dead load G = 1500 kN (assume this includes sufficient allowance for beam self-weight)
Nominal live load Q = 1050 kN/m.
Total deflection limit for G + 0.7Q = span/250.
Determining design loading P*:
P* (strength) = max (1.2 x G + 1.5 x Q, 1.35 x G)
P* (strength) = max (1.2 x 1500 + 1.5 x 1050, 1.35 x 1500) = 3375 kN.
P* (serviceability) = (G + 0.7 x Q)
P* (serviceability) = (1500 + 0.7 x 1050) = 2235 kN.
M* = P* x L / 4 = 3375 x 8 / 4 = 6750 kN.m
22
V* = P* / 2 = 1688 kN.
TABLE 5
DESIGN MOMENT CAPACITIES FOR MEMBERS - WITHOUT FULL LATERAL RESTRAINT
kg/m 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
950x400x25
270 7050 7050 6810 6220 5510 4770 4060 3430 2900 2470 2130 1620 1290 1060 898 776 683
x16
From Table 3.B.2 (Ref. 7), for a 950x400x25x16 (270 kg/m) BISALLOY® Structural 80 steel beam and
for an effective length for bending about the x-axis of 4 m, the design member moment capacity is 5510
kN.m. However, the shape of the bending moment diagram is triangular, such that αm = 1.75 from AS
4100 Table 5.6.1. Therefore, the design moment is compared to the minimum of 1.75 x 5510 and the
design section moment capacity of 7050 kN.m
i.e. ensure M* = 6750 kN.m ≤ min(1.75 x 5510, 7050) = 7050 kN.m, OK.
Design shear V* = 1688 kN ≤ φVv = 4130 kN (refer Table 1.B.2 (b)), OK.
As V* < 0.6 φVv , moment and shear interaction is OK (AS 4100 Cl 5.12.3).
Check serviceability: Use Table 1.B.2 (a) to obtain Ix = 5250 x 106 mm4 and Zx = 11100 x 103 mm3.
Mid-span deflection = 2235 x 1000 x 83 / (48 x E x 5250) = 22.7 mm (OK, less than span/250 limit = 32
mm).
Mid-span maximum flange stress = 2235 x 8 / 4 / Zx = 403 MPa (OK, less than yield stress of 690 MPa).
Using a similar procedure, a 1200WB455 (Grade 300) satisfies the strength and serviceability criteria.
1200WB455 455 1200
950x400x25x16 270 950
Saving: 185 kg/m = 40 % 250 mm
The BISALLOY® Structural 80 steel beam option provides significant weight and depth savings, even
though the effective length was significant at 4 m.
Similar to the previous beam examples, other checks such as the ability of the beam to resist bearing
loads must be carried out and stiffeners or other design details introduced as appropriate.
10.4.4 Columns in high-rise buildings

Determine preliminary column sizes for the lower levels of a high-rise building.
23
Assume:
Level 1 to 2, Height = 4 m,
Level G to 1, Height = 6 m,
N* (kN)
Strength limit state design loading applied per level is 800 kN.
3 cases of (i) 10 levels, (ii) 20 levels and (iii) 50 levels of load applied above level 2.
The lateral loads on the structure are assumed to be carried by other elements such as a core or
bracing. Floor framing and the slab may be assumed to provide lateral stability to the columns at each
level such that the columns can be considered braced. The beams are connected to columns with
‘simple’ connections.
For simplicity, assume axial loads for each case are the same throughout levels G to 2.
The detailed design of such columns is best carried out using commercially available software, to cater
for and determine the following:
• A range of load cases involving axial load and bending moment or eccentric load applied at
each level. (Varying combinations of axial and bending design actions may result for example
from pattern loading at a particular floor level, or various combinations of dead, live, wind,
earthquake loading etc.)
• The effective lengths for axial compression applicable to each level and in each direction
(buckling at x-axis and y-axis); established for example using a buckling analysis.
• The effective lengths for bending considering buckling at the x-axis.
• The moment amplification effects generally best established using a non-linear analysis.
• The check of member capacity considering axial compression and typically bi-axial bending for
each combination.
However, for preliminary design of I-section columns, an approach traditionally employed is to provide
sufficient design capacity in axial compression (including a suitable buffer of approx. 10%), for buckling
at the y-axis, adopting an effective length Le equal to the floor-to-floor distance. This simplified approach
is used for the following comparisons. The following BISALLOY® Structural 80 steel column sizes have
been determined via reference to Section 4 tables (Ref. 7).
The results are presented below.
24
Case (i) 10 levels supported
Preliminary column design:
Note, a buffer of 15% was applied above as the effects of bending moment tend to be more significant
for relatively light columns.
The results tabulated may be illustrated in graphical form:
Steel column solutions that are shallower and/or lighter are generally favoured. Solutions located
towards the lower left side of the charts therefore offer benefits in terms of both size and mass/m. For
this case of 10 levels of load supported, the results show BISALLOY® Structural 80 steel columns can
provide significant size and mass/m reductions compared to the Welded Column alternatives.
25
Case (ii) 20 levels supported
For this loading and effective length, no Welded Column sections have sufficient capacity.
The results tabulated above may be illustrated in a graphical form:
BISALLOY® Structural 80 steel columns of moderate dimensions and mass/m are capable of
supporting the 20 levels of load, for the column heights considered of 4 and 6 m.
The advantages demonstrated for BISALLOY® Structural 80 steel as columns should similarly apply to
truss chord and web members for heavily loaded trusses (e.g. transfer trusses).
26
Case (iii) 50 levels supported
The results tabulated above may be illustrated in a graphical form:
BISALLOY® Structural 80 steel column solutions can be developed to support high loads such as those
developed near the base of tall buildings.
27
11. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
The benefits of using high strength steel in steel structures are demonstrable. In comparison to standard
strength steel (i.e. carbon plate, Grade 250 etc.) the size of cross sections can generally be reduced,
resulting in:
• A decrease of the dead weight of a structure, from which the substructure and the erection
profit.
• Reduced cross-section and congestion of welded joints by which fabrication and inspection
costs can be reduced (Ref. 21).
• The most economical and efficient use of high strength Q&T steels is in members stressed in
tension where the high strength of the steel can be fully exploited. They are similarly very
economical when the dead weight of the members themselves makes up the predominant load
as in the case of long span bridges.
• In compression, they are the most effective in heavily loaded stock columns or in stiffened
compression elements where bucking is not the controlling criterion. Q&T steels are also used
extensively in mobile equipment, such as telescopic boom cranes, where weight saving is a
prime consideration.
High strength Q&T steels may also be combined in the same member as lower strength grades – hybrid
beams consisting of high strength flanges and lower strength webs are a good example.
12. REFERENCES
1. Agrawal, R., Parker, J. and Slade, R., ‘The Shard at London Bridge’, The Structural Engineer,
volume 92, number 7, July 2014, pp. 18-30.
2. Australian Institute of Steel Construction, ‘Q&T steel for bridge’, Construct in Steel, volume 1,
number 4, 1988.
3. Australian Steel Institute, ‘Structural steel connections - Open sections series – Simple
connections’, 2007.
4. Australian Steel Institute, ‘Structural steel connections - Open sections series – Rigid connections’,
2009.
5. Australian Steel Institute, ‘Structural steel tubular connections series’, 2014.
6. Azizinamini, A., Van Ooyen, K., Jabar, F. and Fallaha, S., ‘High performance steel bridges:
Evolution in Nebraska’, Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research
Board Washington, D.C., 2002.
7. Bisalloy Steels Group, ‘AS4100 Design tables for beams and columns fabricated from Bisalloy®
Structural 80 steel’, 2016.
8. Bramfitt, B. L. and Benscoter, A. O., ‘Metallographer's guide: Practice and procedures for irons and
steels’, ASM International, 2001.
9. Croll, J. E., ‘Production and usage of Q&T steel plate in Australia’. Paper presented at the HSLA
Steels Conference, Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 1984.
10. Croll, J. E., ‘The production of quenched and tempered steels in Australia’, Metals Australasia,
volume 13, number 10, 1981.
11. Croll, J. E., ‘The use of high strength and abrasion resistant Q&T steel plates’. Paper presented at
the AIM NZ Branch Metals and Materials Symposium, Lower Hutt, New Zealand, 1983.
28
12. Croll, J. E. and Rosier, G. A., ‘High strength quenched and tempered steels in structures’, Steel
Construction, Australian Institute of Steel Construction, volume 21, number 3, pp. 2-13, 1987.
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The Use of High Strength Quenched and Tempered Steel in Structural Applications in Australia

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The Use of High Strength Quenched and Tempered Steel in Structural Applications in Australia

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Steel Construction

Journal of the Australian Steel Institute

Volume 49 Number 1 – May 2018

The use of high strength

ISSN 0049-2205 PRINT POST APPROVED PP255003/01614

Head Office Queensland & NT Western Australia

20 Bridge Street Brisbane Technology Park Willeton WA 6953

Email: enquiries@steel.org.au Eight Miles Plains QLD 4113

Website: http://steel.org.au Telephone: (07) 3853 5320

Mobile: 0418 788 870 Victoria & Tasmania

Phil Casey – State Manager Redmon on York

Level 3, Building 3, 20 Bridge Street Neil Creek 68−72 York Street

Email: philc@steel.org.au Email: neilc@steel.org.au Email: ianc@steel.org.au

• Higher performance requirements in building structures, including increased building

Justin Suwart, Bisalloy

Justin has professional qualifications in Mechatronic Engineering, a Master’s Degree in

2. WHAT IS HIGH STRENGTH STEEL?

RANGE OF STRUCTURAL GRADES PRODUCED BY BISALLOY STEELS

Thickness Minimum Tensile

4. MANUFACTURE OF Q & T PLATE (IN AUSTRALIA)

FIGURE 1 A SCHEMATIC OVERVIEW OF BISALLOY’S Q&T STEEL PLATE PROCESS

FIGURE 2 (left) LANDMARK TOWER, YOKOHAMA (JAPAN) RISES ABOVE SURROUNDING

6.3 Europe and the UK

• Higher strength = lower weight

7. HIGH STRENGTH STEEL USE IN AUSTRALIA

• Structural carbon steels

7.1 Use in buildings

Latitude World Square transfer truss

7.2 Use in bridges

8. CODES AND STANDARDS RELATING TO HIGH STRENGTH STEEL

(a) welding in accordance with AS/NZS 1554

This Standard does not cover the following:

(i) Steel plates for pressure equipment (AS 1548)

8.2 AS/NZS 3597-2008

8.3 AS 4100-1998 with Amendment 1, 2012

AS 4100-1998 AMENDMENT 1 (2012) – PART TABLE 2.1

AS/NZS 3597 Plate 500 5 ≤ t ≤ 110 500 590

600 5 ≤ t ≤ 110 600 690

700 t≤5 650 750

700 5 < t ≤ 65 690 790

700 65 < t ≤ 110 620 720

9.2 Hydrogen control

9.3 Welding procedures

9.5 Fillet welding

9.6 Repair work

9.7 Welding stresses

9.8 Stress relief

9.9 Post-weld heating

• AS 1554 Part 4 Welding of quenched and tempered steels

10.1 Design approach

10.2 Cross section and member design

Reference 5 discusses these aspects in greater detail.

10.4 Design examples

Determine preliminary beam sizes for the following:

Span = 12 m, simply supported, UDL.

Nominal dead load G = 66 kN/m (including allowance for beam self-weight)

Nominal live load Q = 42 kN/m

Total deflection limit for G + 0.7Q = span/250.

Determining design loading W* on span to enable use of tables in Section 2:

W* (strength) = max (1.2 x G + 1.5 x Q, 1.35 x G) x L

W* (strength) = max (1.2 x 66 + 1.5 x 42, 1.35 x 66) x 12 = 1706 kN

W* (serviceability) = (66 + 0.7 x 42) x 12 = 1145 kN.

MAXIMUM DESIGN LOADS FOR BEAMS – WITH FULL LATERAL RESTRAINT