ICS 77.140.10; 77.140.

50
H 46


NATIONAL STANDARD OF THE PEOPLES REPPUBLIC OF CHINA

GB/T 1591-2008
Replace GB/T 1591-1994




High Strength Low Alloy Structural Steels




















Issued on December 6, 2008 Implemented on October 1, 2009

Jointly issued by General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and
Quarantine of the People's Republic of China and
Standardization Administration of China


Contents
1. Scope ..................................................................................................................................... 1
2. Normative References ........................................................................................................... 1
3. Terms and Definitions ........................................................................................................... 2
4. Grade Representation ............................................................................................................ 3
5. Dimension, Shape, Weight and Allowable Deviation ........................................................... 3
6. Technical Requirements ........................................................................................................ 3
7. Test Method ......................................................................................................................... 13
8. Test Rules ............................................................................................................................ 13
9. Packaging, Mark and Quality Certificate ............................................................................ 14


I
Foreword
The standard GB/T 1591-1994 "High Strength Low Alloy Structural Steels" is revised in
accordance with EN 10025: 2004 "Structural Steel Hot Rolled Products".
This standard replaces GB/T 1591-1994 "High Strength Low Alloy Structural Steels".
There have been some significant changes in this standard over GB/T 1591-1994 in the
following technical aspects:
application range of the standard is expanded;
graded intensity scales of the Q500, Q550, Q620 and Q690 are added; and graded
intensity scale of Q295 is cancelled;
the requirements of the chemical composition of the steel products are modified;
and such harmful elements as phosphorus and sulfur are controlled more strictly;
calculation formula and requirements of the carbon equivalent and crack sensitivity
coefficient of the steel products are added;
delivery state of the steel products is modified; and the requirements of the
quenched and tempered steel are cancelled;
the requirements for mechanical properties and thickness class width of the steel
products are modified; and lower yield strength is determined to the yield strength;
impact absorption energy value is improved;
requirements for the thickness directional property of all graded steels are added.
This standard is proposed by China Iron & Steel Association.
This standard is under jurisdiction of China Steel Standardization Technical Committee.
Drafting organizations: Angang Steel Co., Ltd.; China Metallurgical Information
Standardization Research Institute; Jigang Group Co., Ltd.; Shougang Group; Jiangsu
Shagang Group Co., Ltd. and Hunan Hualing Lianyuan Steel Co., Ltd.
Chief drafting staff: LIU Xuyuan, PU Zhimin, WANG Xiaohu, GAO Ling, WANG
Liping, HUANG Zhengyu, ZHOU Jian, MA Yupu and CHEN Shuqin.
This standard replaces the previous versions:
GB 1591-1979, GB 1591-1988 and GB/T 1591-1994.

1
High Strength Low Alloy Structural Steels
1. Scope
This standard specifies grade, dimension, shape, weight, allowable deviation, technical
requirements, test methods, test rules, packaging, mark and quality certificate.
This standard is applicable to the steel plate, steel strip, section steel and steel bar of the high
strength low alloy structural steels which are with general structure or is used for the
engineering. 2. Normative References
The following standards contain provisions which, through reference in this text,
constitute provisions of this standard. For date reference, the subsequent amendments to
(excluding amending error in the text) or revisions of, any of these publications do not apply.
And parties to agreements based on this standard are encouraged to investigate the possibility
of applying the most recent editions of the standards indicated below. For undated references,
its latest edition referred to applies.
GB/T 222 Allowable Deviation of Steel Product Analysis
GB/T 223.5 Iron and steel: reduced silicate spectrophotometric method for the
determination of the acid soluble silicon and all silicon content
GB/T 223.9 Steel and alloy: the chrome azurol S spectrophotometric method for the
determination of aluminum content;
GB/T 223.12 Chemical analysis method for steel and alloy: the sodium carbonate
separation-diphenyl carbazide photometric method for the determination of chromium content
GB/T 223.14 Chemical analysis method for steel and alloy: the
N-benzoy-N-phenylhydroxylamine extraction photometric method for the determination of
vanadium content
GB/T 223.16 Chemical analysis method for steel and alloy: the chromotropic acid
photometric method for the determination of titanium content
GB/T 223.19 Chemical analysis method for steel and alloy: the neocuproine-chloroform
extraction photometric method for the determination of copper content
GB/T 223.23 Steel and alloy: the dimethylglyoxime spectrophotometric method for the
determination of nickel content
GB/T 223.26 Steel and alloy: the thiocyanate spectrophotometric method for the
determination of molybdenum content
GB/T 223. 37 Chemical analysis method for steel and alloy: the indophenol blue
photometric method for the determination of nitrogen content after distillation separation;
GB/T 223. 40 Steel and alloy: the chlorsulphophenol S spectrophotometric method for
the determination of niobium content;
GB/T 223. 62 GB/T 223.62 Chemical analysis method for steel and alloy: phosphorus
quantity measured according to butyl acetate extraction-photometric method;

2
GB/T 223. 63 Chemical analysis method for steel and alloy: the sodium (potassium)
periodate photometric method for the determination of manganese content
GB/T 223. 67 Iron and steel and alloy: the methylene blue spectrophotometric method
for the determination of sulfur content
GB/T 223. 69 Iron and steel and alloy: the gas-volumetric method after combustion in
the pipe furnace for the determination of carbon content
GB/T 223. 78 Chemical analysis method for steel and alloy: curcumin direct photometric
method for the determination of boron content
GB/T 228 Metallic Materials-Tensile Testing at Ambient Temperature (GB/T 228-2002,
eqv ISO 6892:1998)
GB/T 229 Metal material- Charpy pendulum impact test (GB/T 229-2007, ISO 148-1:
2006, MOD)
GB/T 232 Metal materials: bending test method (GB/T 232-1999, eqv ISO 7438:1985)
GB/T 247 General rule of acceptance, package, mark and certification for steel plates
(sheets) and steel strips
GB/T 2101 General Rule of Acceptance, Package, Mark and Certification for Section
Steel
GB/T 2975 Steel and Steel Products-Mechanical Testing for Sampling Location and
Specimen Preparation (GB/T 2975-1998, eqv ISO 377: 1997)
GB/T 4336 Method for Photoelectric Emission Spectroscopic Analysis of Carbon Steel
and Medium and Low Alloy Steel (conventional)
GB/T 5313 Through-thickness property steel plate (GB/T 5313-1985, eqv ISO
7778:1983)
GB/T 17505 Steel and steel products: general technical delivery requirements (GB/T
17505-1998, eqv ISO 404: 1992)
GB/T 20066 Steel and iron-sampling and preparation of samples for the determination of
chemical composition (GB/T 20066-2006, 150 14284:1996, IDT)
GB/T 20125 Low alloy steel-inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer for the
determination of multielement content
YB/T 081 Rule for rounding off of numberical values and judgment of testing values for
technical standards of metallurgy
3. Terms and Definitions
3.1 Thermomechanical rolling
The ultimate deformation is a rolling procedure, which is carried out within a certain
temperature range. This procedure makes the material obtain the special performance which is
not obtained only through heat treatment.
Note 1: If the temperature is increased to 580 after the rolling, the material strength value may be reduced. If it is
necessary to increase the temperature to 580, it shall be supplied by the seller.
Note 2: Thermomechanical rolling delivery state may contain accelerated cooling or accelerated cooling plus tempering
(contain self tempering), but excludes direct quenching or quenching plus tempering.
3.2 Normalizing rolling

3
The ultimate formation is a rolling procedure, which is carried out within a certain
temperature range. This procedure makes the material obtain the performance which is
equivalent to that after the normalizing.
4. Grade Representation
Steel grade is composed of such three parts as Chinese phonetic alphabet and numerical
value of the yield strength and quality classification. For instance, Q345D; thereinto:
Qis the first letter of the Chinese phonetic alphabet of the word "Qu" of the steel
yield strength;
345is the numerical value of the yield strength (MPa);
Dis the quality classification; D grade.
When the steel plate shall be of through-thickness property which is required by the
buyer, the symbol which stands for the grade of the through-thickness (Z direction) property
shall be added based on the aforesaid specified grade; for instance: Q345DZ15.
5. Dimension, Shape, Weight and Allowable Deviation
Dimension, shape, weight and allowable deviation shall meet the requirements of the
corresponding standard.
6. Technical Requirements
6.1 Grade and Chemical Composition
6.1.1 Steel grade and chemical composition (heat analysis) shall meet the requirements of
Table 1.
6.1.2 When the refined grain elements are needed to be added, there shall be at least one of
such four elements as Al, Nb, V and Ti. The content of the added refined grain elements shall
be marked in the quality certificate.
6.1.3 When it is expressed through the all-aluminum (Al
t
) content, Al
t
shall not be less than
0.020%.
6.1.4 The content of nitrogen element in the steel shall meet the requirements of Table 1. If it
is determined by the seller, nitrogen element content may not be analyzed. If such alloy
element (it is of nitrogen fixation) as Al, Nb, V and Ti are added into the steel, the nitrogen
element content is not be restricted. The content of the nitrogen fixation element shall be
marked in the quality certificate.
6.1.5 When Cr, Ni and Cu of each grade are taken as residual elements, their contents are not
larger than 0.03% respectively. If it is determined by the seller, it may not be analyzed; when
it needs to be added, the content shall meet the requirements of Table 1 or shall be agreed by
the buyer and the seller.

4
6.1.6 To improve the performance of the steel, TE element may be added. And its addition
shall be calculated according to 0.02% - 0.02% of the weight of liquid steel.
6.1.7 The mechanical properties of the steel products shall meet the requirements of the
standard. Based on this, the delivered terms may not be done for the chemical composition of
C, Si and Mn of grade A for each grade.
Table 1

5
Grade
Quality
grade
Chemical composition s, b (mass fraction)/%
C Si Mn
P S Nb V Ti Cr Ni Cu N Mo B Als
Not larger than
Not less
than
Q345
A
0.20
0.50 1.70
0.035 0.035
0.07 0.15 0.20 0.30 0.50 0.30 0.012 0.10 -
-
B 0.035 0.035
C 0.030 0.030
0.015 D
0.18
0.030 0.025
E 0.025 0.020
Q390
A
0.20 0.50 1.70
0.035 0.035
0.07 0.20 0.20 0.30 0.50 0.30 0.015 0.10 -
-
B 0.035 0.035
C 0.030 0.030
0.015 D 0.030 0.025
E 0.025 0.020
Q420
A
0.20 0.50 1.70
0.035 0.035
0.07 0.20 0.20 0.30 0.80 0.30 0.015 0.20 -
-
B 0.035 0.035
C 0.030 0.030
0.015 D 0.030 0.025
E 0.025 0.020
Q460
C
0.20 0.60 1.80
0.030 0.030
0.11 0.20 0.20 0.30 0.80 0.55 0.015 0.20 0.004 0.015 D 0.030 0.025
E 0.025 0.020
Q500
C
0.18 0.60 1.80
0.030 0.030
0.11 0.12 0.20 0.60 0.80 0.55 0.015 0.20 0.004 0.015 D 0.030 0.025
E 0.025 0.020

6

(Continued)
Grade
Quality
grade
Chemical composition s, b (Mass fraction)/%
C Si Mn
P S Nb V Ti Cr Ni Cu N Mo B Als
No larger than
No less
than
Q550
C
0.18 0.60 2.00
0.030 0.030
0.11 0.12 0.20 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.015 0.30 0.004 0.015 D 0.030 0.025
E 0.025 0.020
Q620
C
0.18 0.60 2.00
0.030 0.030
0.11 0.12 0.20 1.00 0.80 0.80 0.015 0.30 0.004 0.015 D 0.030 0.025
E 0.025 0.020
Q690
C
0.18 0.60 2.00
0.030 0.030
0.11 0.12 0.20 1.00 0.80 0.80 0.015 0.30 0.004 0.015 D 0.030 0.025
E 0.025 0.020
a The content of P and S of the sectional bar and steel bar may rise by 0.005%; and the upper limit of grade A steel may be 0.045%.
b When the combination of the refined grain element is added, 20 (Nb+V+Ti)0.22%20 (Mo+Cr)0.30%.


7
6.1.8 As for all grades of steels (excluding Grade A steel), when they are delivered at hot
rolling or controlled rolling state, the maximum carbon equivalent value shall meet the
provisions of Table 2; when they are delivered at normalizing, normalizing rolling or
normalizing and tempering state, the maximum carbon equivalent value shall meet the
provisions of Table 3; when they are delivered at thermomechanical rolling (TMCP) or
thermomechanical rolling and tempering state, the maximum carbon equivalent value shall
meet the provisions of Table 4. The carbon equivalent value (CEV) shall be calculated
according to Formula (1) on the basis of heat analysis compositions.
CEV=C+Mn/6+ (Cr +Mo +V)/5+ (Ni +Cu)/15 (1)
Table 2 Carbon Equivalent Value of Steels Delivered at Hot-rolling, Controlled-rolling State
Grade
Carbon equivalent value (CEV)/%
Normal thickness or diameter63 mm Normal thickness or diameter>63 mm-250 mm Normal thickness>250 mm
Q345 0.44 0.47 0.47
Q390 0.45 0.48 0.48
Q420 0.45 0.48 0.48
Q460 0.46 0.49
Table 3 Carbon Equivalent Value of Steels Delivered at Normalizing, Normalizing Rolling or Normalizing +
Tempering State
Grade
Carbon equivalent value (CEV)/%
Normal thickness63 mm Normal thickness or diameter>63 mm - 120 mm
Normal thickness>120mm
- 250 mm
Q345 0.44 0.48 0.48
Q390 0.46 0.48 0.49
Q420 0.48 0.50 0.52
Q460 0.53 0.54 0.55
Table 4 Carbon Equivalent Value of Steels Delivered at Thermomechanical Rolling (TMCP) or
Thermomechanical Rolling + Tempering State
Grade
Carbon equivalent value (CEV)/%
Normal thickness63 mm Normal thickness or diameter>63 mm - 120 mm
Normal thickness>120mm
- 150 mm
Q345 0.44 0.48 0.48
Q390 0.46 0.48 0.49
Q420 0.48 0.50 0.52
Q460 0.53 0.54 0.55
Q500 0.47 0.48 0.48
Q550 0.47 0.48 0.48
Q620 0.48 0.49 0.49
Q690 0.49 0.49 0.49
6.1.9 When the carbon content of steels delivered at thermomechanical rolling (TMCP) or
thermomechanical rolling + tempering state is no bigger than 0.12%, the solderability of
steels may be evaluated by the welding crack sensitivity index (Pcm) in place of carbon
equivalent value. Pcm shall be calculated according to Formula (2) on the basis of the heat
analysis compositions and its value shall meet the provisions of Table 5.
Pcm=C+Si/30+Mn/20+Cu/20+Ni/60+Cr/20+Mo/1S+V/10+5B (2)

8
According to the negotiation between both buyer and seller, the carbon equivalent value
or welding crack sensitivity index may be specified for evaluating the solderability of steel. In
case that it is unspecified, the seller may choose any one of them.
Table 4 Pcm Value of Steels Delivered at Thermomechanical Rolling (TMCP) or Thermomechanical Rolling
+ Tempering State
Grade Pcm/%
Q345 0.20
Q390 0.20
Q420 0.20
Q460 0.20
Q500 0.25
Q550 0.25
Q620 0.25
Q690 0.25
6.1.10 The allowable deviation of chemical composition for the steels and billets shall meet
the provisions of GB/T 222.
6.1.11 If the buyer requires steel plates with through-thickness characteristics, the chemical
composition of the steel plates shall meet the provisions of GB/T 5313.
6.2 Smelting Process
The steel is smelted by converters or electric furnaces, and if necessary, out-of-furnace
refining can be adopted as well.
6.3 Condition of Delivery
The steels shall be delivered at hot rolling/controlled rolling/normalizing/normalizing
rolling/normalizing + tempering/thermomechanical rolling (TMCP) or thermomechanical
rolling + tempering state.
6.4 Mechanical Properties and Processing Properties
6.4.1 Tensile testing
The tensile testing property of steels shall meet the provisions of Table 6.
6.4.2 Charpy (V-type) impact test
6.4.2.1 The test temperature and impact absorbtion energy of the Charpy (V-type) impact test
shall meet the provisions of Table 7.
6.4.2.2 The impact test shall be conducted for steels whose thickness is not less than 6mm or
diameter not less than 12mm. The dimension of impact specimen shall be 10mm10mm
55mm; when there arent enough steels for preparing standard specimen, mini-sized specimen
whose dimension is 10mm 7.5mm 55mmor 10mm 5mm55mm shall be adopted, and the
impact absorbtion energy shall not be less than 75% or 50% of the specified value in Table 7
respectively. Larger-sized specimen shall be adopted in preference.
6.4.2.3 The result of impact test for steels shall be the arithmetic mean value of three
specimens (consisting of a group). It is allowed that one of the test values is lower than the
specified value but it shall not be lower than 70% of the specified value; otherwise, it is
required to test three other specimens from the same sampled steels and the arithmetic mean
value of the six specimens shall not be lower than the specified value. It is allowed that the
test results of any two specimens are lower than the specified value; however, only one test
result is allowed to be lower than 70% of the specified value.

9
6.4.3 The reduction of area of through-thickness of Z-direction steels shall meet the
provisions of GB/T 5313.

10
Table 6 Tensile Property of Steels
Gr
ade
Qua
lity
grad
e
Tensile testing
a, b, c

Yield strength under the following normal thickness (diameter, side length) (ReL)/Mpa
Tensile strength under the following normal thickness (diameter, side
length) (ReL)/Mpa
Post-breaking extensibility(A)/%
Normal thickness (diameter, side length)
16
mm
>16~4
0mm
>40~6
3mm
>63~8
0mm
>80~10
0mm
>100~1
50mm
>150~2
00mm
>200~2
50mm
>250~4
00mm
40
mm
>40~6
3mm
>63~8
0mm
>80~10
0mm
>100~1
50mm
>150~2
50mm
>250~4
00mm
40
mm
>40~6
3mm
>63~10
0mm
>100~1
50mm
>150~2
50mm
>250~4
00mm
Q3
45
A
34
5
335 325 315 305 285 275 265
-
470-
630
470-6
30
470-6
30
470-63
0
450-
600
450-
600
-
20 19 19 18 17
- B
C
21 20 20 19 18 D
265 450-600 17
E
Q3
90
A
39
0
370 350 330 330 310 - - -
490-
650
490-6
50
490-6
50
490-65
0
470-620 - - 20 20 19 18 - -
B
C
D
E
Q4
20
A
42
0
400 380 360 360 340 - - -
520-
680
520-6
80
520-6
80
520-68
0
500-650 - - 19 18 18 18 - -
B
C
D
E
Q4
60
C
46
0
440 420 400 400 380
-



- -
550-
720
550-7
20
550-7
20
550-72
0
530-700 - - 17 16 16 16
D
E

11
Q5
00
C
50
0
480 470 450 440 - - - -
610-
770
600-7
60
590-7
50
540-73
0
- - - 17 17 17 - - - D
E
Q5
50
C
55
0
530 520 500 490 - - - -
670-
830
620-8
10
600-7
90
590-78
0
- - - 16 16 16 - - - D
E
Q6
20
C
62
0
600 590 570
710-
880
690-8
80
670-8
60
- - - - 15 15 15 - - - D
E
Q6
20
C
69
0
670 660 640
770-
940
750-9
20
730-9
00
- - - - 14 14 14 - - - D
E
a
When the yield is not obvious, the Rp0.2 value may be measured in place of the lower yield strength.
b
As for the flat steels whose width is not less than 600mm, transverse specimen shall be adopted for tensile testing; while for flat steels, sections and steel bars whose width is less than 600mm, longitudinal specimen shall be adopted and the minimum
value of post-breaking extensibility (absolute value) shall be increased by 1% correspondingly.



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Table 7 Test Temperature and Impact Absorbtion Energy of the Charpy (V-type) Impact Test
Grade Quality grade Test temperature/
Impact absorbtion energy(KV2)
a
</J
Normal thickness (diameter, side length)
12mm-150mm >150mm-250mm >250mm-400mm
Q345
B 20
34 27
-
C 0
D -20
27
E -40
Q390
B 20
34 - -
C 0
D -20
E -40
Q420
B 20
34 - -
C 0
D -20
E -40
Q460
C 0
34
- -
D -20 - -
E -40 - -
Q500,
Q550,
Q620,
Q690
C 0 55 - -
D -20 47 - -
E -40 31 - -
a
Longitudinal specimen shall be taken for the impact test.
6.4.4 If bend test is required by the buyer, the test shall meet the provisions of Table 8. If the
seller guarantees that its bending is eligible, then the bend test may not be necessary.
Table 8 Bend Test
Grade Specimen direction
180bend test
[d=Diameter of bending core, =Specimen thickness
(diameter)]
Thickness (diameter, side length) of steels
16mm >16mm 100mm
Q345
Q390
Q420
Q460
As for flat steels whose width
is not less than 600mm,
transverse specimen shall be
adopted for the tensile
testing. While for flat steels,
sections and steel bars whose
width is less than 600mm,
longitudinal specimen shall
be adopted.
2 3
6.5 Surface Quality
The surface quality of steels shall meet the provisions of relevant product standards.

13
6.6 Special Requirements
6.6.1 According to the agreement of both the buyer and the seller, nondestructive test may be
carried out for steels and its inspection standard and grade shall be indicated in the agreement
or contract.
6.6.2 According to the agreement of both the buyer and the seller, steel plates with
through-thickness characteristics may be ordered according to this standard.
6.6.3 According to the agreement of both the buyer and the seller, other inspection may also
be adopted for the steels.
7. Test Method
The testing items, sampling quantity, sampling methods and test methods for each test of
the steels shall meet the provisions of Table 9.
Table 9 Testing Items, Sampling Quantity, Sampling Methods and Test Methods for Each Test of the Steels
Serial
Number
Testing items Sampling quantity/pcs Sampling method Test method
1
Chemical composition
(heat analysis)
1/furnace GB/T 20066
GB/T 223, GB/T 4336,
GB/T 20125
2 Tensile testing 1/batch GB/T 2975 GB/T 228
3 Bend test 1/batch GB/T 2975 GB/T 232
4 Impact test 3/batch GB/T 2975 GB/T 229
5
Reduction of area of
through-thickness
Z-direction steels
3/batch GB/T 5313 GB/T 5313
6 Nondestructive test
Sheet by sheet or piece by
piece
According to the
provisions of
nondestructive test
standard
Negotiation
7 Surface quality Sheet by sheet / piece by piece - Visual measurement
8 Dimension and shape Sheet by sheet / piece by piece -
Appropriate measuring
device
8. Test Rules
8.1 Check and Acceptance Inspection
The check and acceptance of steels shall be carried out by the seller, and the buyer is
entitled to check and inspect any of the testing items specified in this standard or contract.
8.2 batch rules
The steels shall be accepted in batches. Each batch of steels are composed of steels of the
same grade, the same quality grade, the same furnace number, the same specification, the
same rolling schedule or the same heat treatment system and the weight of each batch shall be

14
no bigger than 60t. The batch weight of steel strips shall meet the provisions of corresponding
product standard.
As for the Class A steel or Class B steel, they can be batched according to the same grade,
the same quality grade, the same smelting and grouting method but with different furnace
number. However, there shall be no more than six furnace number in each batch, and the
difference of C content of each furnace shall not be greater than 0.02%, while the difference
of Mn content shall not be greater than 0.15%.
The Z-direction steels shall be batched in accordance with the provisions of GB/T 5313.
8.3 Recheck and Decision Rules
8.3.1 Recheck and determination of mechanical properties
When the impact test result of steels doesn't meet the provisions of 6.4.2.3, the sampled
steels shall not be accepted. Take another two products from the remained test part and
sample three new specimens (consisting one group). The test results of the two groups of
specimen shall be eligible both, otherwise the batch of steels shall be rejected. The recheck
and determination of steels' tensile testing shall meet the requirements of GB/T 17505.
8.3.2 Recheck and determination of other testing items
The recheck and determination of steels' other testing items shall meet the requirements
of GB/T 17505.
8.4 Rounding-off of the Test Results of Mechanical Properties and Chemical
Composition
Unless otherwise stated in the contract or order sheet, when it is necessary to evaluate
whether the test result can meet the specified value or not, the given test result of mechanical
properties and chemical composition shall be rounded off in accordance with the specified
value. The rounding-off method shall be carried out according to the provisions of YB/T 081.
The carbon equivalent value shall be rounded off after being calculated according to the
formula.
9. Packaging, Mark and Quality Certificate
The packaging, mark and quality certificate of the steels shall meet the provisions of
GB/T 247 and GB/T 2101.