Introduction of AS 1163
General Introduction
AS/NZS 1163, officially named Cold-formed structural steel hollow sections, is a joint national standard formulated by Australia and New Zealand. This standard specifies the technical requirements for cold-formed electric resistance welded (ERW) structural steel hollow sections, including circular, square and rectangular cross-sections. It is applicable to carbon steel hollow sections used in structural engineering without post-forming heat treatment, covering the whole process from material composition, mechanical properties, dimensional accuracy to production and testing standards. It is one of the core standards for the production and application of structural steel hollow sections in the Australia-New Zealand region.
Key Features
Cold-forming manufacturing process
The steel pipe is formed at room temperature without high-temperature heat treatment, which not only reduces production energy consumption and cost but also ensures high dimensional accuracy of the product.
Grade classification based on yield strength
The steel grades are defined by the minimum yield strength (MPa), which can be flexibly selected according to the load-bearing requirements of the project, balancing performance and cost.
Strict control of chemical composition
The standard limits the content of carbon, manganese, silicon, phosphorus, sulfur and other elements. Phosphorus and sulfur, as harmful impurities, are strictly controlled to avoid brittleness and cracking of the material, while manganese and other alloying elements are adjusted to optimize the weldability and mechanical properties of the steel.
High dimensional precision requirements
The tolerance range of outer dimensions and wall thickness is clearly defined, which is crucial for the assembly and connection of steel structures in engineering, ensuring the overall stability of the structure.
Excellent weldability
The material is compatible with common welding processes such as MIG (Metal Inert Gas) and TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas), which is convenient for on-site processing and connection of steel structures.
Impact resistance requirement
The standard specifies the minimum impact energy at 0°C, which ensures that the material can maintain good toughness in low-temperature environments and avoid brittle failure.
Core points of the Standard
The core content of AS 1163 focuses on the quality and performance assurance of structural steel hollow sections, including three key parts:
Mechanical property specifications
Clarify the minimum yield strength, tensile strength range, minimum elongation and impact energy at low temperature of each steel grade, which are the key indicators to measure the load-bearing capacity of the material.
01
Chemical composition limits
Set the upper and lower limits of each chemical element in the steel, ensuring the stability of the material's performance and avoiding defects such as poor weldability and brittleness caused by excessive or insufficient element content.
02
Dimensional and tolerance standards
Regulate the allowable deviation of outer diameter, side length, wall thickness and cross-sectional shape of steel pipes, which is the basis for the standardization of product production and engineering application.
03
Testing requirements
Specify the testing methods and standards for mechanical properties (tensile test in accordance with AS 1391), low-temperature impact resistance (AS 1544.2) and cold flattening test, to ensure that the product meets the standard requirements through rigorous testing.
04
Significance of the Standard
Standardization of industry production: Unifies the production technical specifications of structural steel hollow sections in Australia and New Zealand, eliminating the differences in product quality caused by different production processes and standards, and promoting the standardized development of the steel industry.
Guarantee of engineering structural safety: As a basic material for construction and infrastructure, the performance of steel hollow sections directly affects the stability and safety of the structure. The standard ensures that the material meets the load-bearing and safety requirements, reducing the risk of engineering accidents.
Cost optimization and efficiency improvement: Cold-forming process and grade-based selection make the material more cost-effective, avoiding the waste of using high-strength steel in low-load projects, and improving the construction efficiency of the project.
Compatibility with regional engineering codes: The standard is consistent with the construction codes and design specifications of Australia and New Zealand, facilitating the selection and application of materials in engineering projects, and improving the approval efficiency of projects.
Applications of AS 1163 Standard Steel Pipes
AS 1163 standard steel pipes are widely used in structural engineering due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, good weldability and stable mechanical properties. The main application fields and specific uses are as follows:
1. Building Construction
- Load-bearing structures: Used as columns, beams, trusses and load-bearing frames of commercial buildings, residential buildings and industrial plants. The high strength of the steel can reduce the section size of the structure, save building space and reduce the self-weight of the building.
- Auxiliary structures: Applied to the support frames of building curtain walls, the brackets of air conditioning and ventilation systems, and the guardrails of stairs and balconies.
2. Infrastructure Engineering
- Bridge engineering: Used as bridge piers, beam supports, guardrails and structural components of pedestrian overpasses. The high load-bearing capacity and impact resistance of the steel meet the safety requirements of bridge structures.
- Highway and traffic engineering: Applied to highway guardrails, traffic sign posts, street light poles and support structures of toll stations, ensuring the stability and durability of traffic facilities.
3. Municipal Engineering
- Municipal facilities: Used for drainage pipe supports, fence supports, and the frame structures of municipal public facilities such as bus shelters and public toilets.
- Landscape engineering: Applied to the support frames of landscape lighting and artistic installations, with good plasticity to meet the needs of special-shaped structure processing.
4. Industrial and Agricultural Applications
- Industrial equipment: Used as the chassis and support structures of mining machinery, conveyor systems, and industrial production equipment, adapting to the harsh working environment of industrial sites.
- Agricultural engineering: Applied to the frames of greenhouses, agricultural machinery supports and irrigation system pipelines, with corrosion resistance and easy processing characteristics suitable for agricultural production.
5. Transportation Industry
Vehicle and ship components: Used as the frame structures of trailers, trucks and rail vehicles, and the support components of ship structures, meeting the load-bearing and vibration resistance requirements of transportation equipment.
Application Methods
On-site processing
The steel pipes can be cut, drilled, bent and welded according to the design dimensions of the project to meet the special structural requirements.
Structural assembly
As the main load-bearing component or secondary support structure, it is connected with other steel components through bolts, welding and other methods to form a complete steel structure system.
Composite structure application
Combined with concrete materials to form a concrete-steel composite structure, giving full play to the high strength of steel and the compressive capacity of concrete, improving the overall performance of the structure.
Steel Grades, Chemical Composition and Mechanical Properties of AS 1163
1. Steel Grades and Their Differences
AS 1163 defines six main steel grades: C250, C250L0, C350, C350L0, C450, C450L0. The numerical value in the grade represents the minimum yield strength (MPa)of the material; the suffix "L0" indicates low carbon content, which is designed to improve the weldability of the steel. The differences between each grade are mainly reflected in strength, weldability and application scenarios:
| Steel Grade | Minimum Yield Strength (MPa) | Minimum Tensile Strength(MPa) | Core Characteristics | Application Scenarios |
| C250 / C250L0 | 250 | 320 | Low strength, excellent weldability, low cost | Low-load structures such as sheds, carports, simple guardrails |
| C350 / C350L0 | 350 | 430 | Balanced strength and weldability, wide application range | General building structures, bridge supports, general industrial equipment supports |
| C450 / C450L0 | 450 | 500 | High strength, light weight, good load-bearing capacity | High-load structures such as large-span buildings, heavy machinery supports, bridge main beams |
2. Chemical Composition
| Table 2 - Chemical composition | |||||||||||
| Grade (Note 1) | Chemical composition (casting or finished product analysis) (Note 2) | ||||||||||
| C | Si | Mn | P | S | Cr | Mo | Al (Note 3) | Ti | Microalloying elements | Carbon equivalent (Note 4) | |
| C250, C250L0 |
0.12 | 0.05 | 0.50 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.15 | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.04 | 0.03 (Note 5) | 0.25 |
| C350, C350L0 |
0.20 | 0.45 | 1.60 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.30 | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.04 | 0.15 (Note 6) | 0.43 |
| C450, C250L0 |
0.20 | 0.45 | 1.70 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.50 | 0.35 | 0.10 | 0.04 | 0.15 (Note 6) | 0.43 |
|
Note:
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3. Mechanical Properties Comparison
| Grade | Minimum Yield Strength (MPa) | Minimum Tensile Strength(MPa) | The minimum elongation ratio to the standard length is 5.65√S | ||||||
| Circular hollow cross-section d0 / t | Rectangular hollow profiles b/t, d/t | ||||||||
| ＜15 | ＞15≤30 | ＞30 | ＜15 | ＞15≤30 | ＞30 | ||||
| C250, C250L0 | 250 | 320 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 14 | 16 | 18 | |
| C350, C350L0 | 350 | 430 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 16 | |
| C450, C450L0 | 450 | 500 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 14 | |
| Note: These restrictions apply to the surfaces undergoing tensile tests. That is to say, for RHS, the use of the b/t or d/t ratio depends on which side the sample is cut from. For SHS, there is only one ratio (because b = d). | |||||||||
Dimensional Tolerances of AS 1163 Standard
The dimensional tolerance of AS 1163 is formulated to ensure the assembly accuracy and structural stability of steel pipes, and the tolerance requirements are divided according to the cross-sectional shape (circular, square, rectangular):
1. Circular Hollow Sections (CHS)
Outer diameter tolerance: ±1% of the nominal outer diameter, with a minimum tolerance of ±0.5 mm and a maximum tolerance of ±10 mm. For small-diameter steel pipes (≤50 mm), the tolerance is strictly controlled at ±0.5 mm to ensure dimensional accuracy.
Wall thickness tolerance: For steel pipes with outer diameter ≤ 406.4 mm, the tolerance is ±10% of the nominal wall thickness; for steel pipes with outer diameter > 406.4 mm, the tolerance is the stricter one between ±0.3 mm and ±10% of the nominal wall thickness. The average wall thickness of the steel pipe must meet the nominal value to ensure the load-bearing capacity.
2. Square/Rectangular Hollow Sections (SHS/RHS)
Side length tolerance: For square/rectangular steel pipes with side length ≤ 400 mm, the tolerance is ±1% of the nominal side length; for steel pipes with side length > 400 mm, the tolerance is ±4 mm.
Wall thickness tolerance: Consistent with the wall thickness tolerance of circular hollow sections, ±10% of the nominal wall thickness (outer diameter ≤ 406.4 mm) or the stricter of ±0.3 mm and ±10% (outer diameter > 406.4 mm).
Corner tolerance: The corner of square steel pipes must be close to 90°, with a deviation of no more than ±1°; the aspect ratio of rectangular steel pipes must meet the nominal design requirements, and the side length deviation of the same section shall not exceed the specified range.
3. Cross-sectional Shape Tolerance
There shall be no obvious distortion, warping or deformation of the cross-section of the steel pipe. For square and rectangular steel pipes, the flatness of the side wall shall not exceed the specified value to ensure the smooth assembly of the structure.
Size Ranges and Common Sizes of AS 1163 Standard Steel Pipes
Production Size Ranges
Steel pipe manufacturers produce products according to the standard size range specified in AS 1163, and the common size ranges of different cross-sectional shapes are as follows:
Circular Hollow Sections (CHS)
Outer diameter 13.5 mm610 mm, wall thickness 1.6 mm16 mm.
Square Hollow Sections (SHS)
Side length 20 mm400 mm, wall thickness 2.3 mm12.7 mm.
Rectangular Hollow Sections (RHS)
Side length 50×25 mm400×300 mm, wall thickness 1.6 mm16 mm.
Common Sizes of Steel Pipe(Also supports customization)
|
Cross-sectional Type |
Specification Model |
Outer Dimension (mm) |
Wall Thickness (mm) |
|
CHS |
CHS 48.3×2.3 |
48.3 |
2.3 |
|
CHS |
CHS 60.3×3.2 |
60.3 |
3.2 |
|
CHS |
CHS 88.9×3.2 |
88.9 |
3.2 |
|
CHS |
CHS 114.3×4.0 |
114.3 |
4.0 |
|
CHS |
CHS 165.1×5.0 |
165.1 |
5.0 |
|
SHS |
SHS 50×50×2.3 |
50×50 |
2.3 |
|
SHS |
SHS 75×75×3.2 |
75×75 |
3.2 |
|
SHS |
SHS 100×100×4.0 |
100×100 |
4.0 |
|
SHS |
SHS 150×150×6.3 |
150×150 |
6.3 |
|
SHS |
SHS 200×200×6.3 |
200×200 |
6.3 |
|
RHS |
RHS 50×25×2.3 |
50×25 |
2.3 |
|
RHS |
RHS 100×50×3.2 |
100×50 |
3.2 |
|
RHS |
RHS 150×75×4.0 |
150×75 |
4.0 |
|
RHS |
RHS 200×100×5.0 |
200×100 |
5.0 |
|
RHS |
RHS 300×150×6.3 |
300×150 |
6.3 |
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