CONTENTS

4.

12 ADVANTAGES
OF
VANADIUM
STEEL FOR
REINFORCING
BARS

5.

PRACTICAL
FACTORS IN
MAKING AND ROLLING
VANADIUM
STEELS

6.

SPECIFICATIONS
FOR
VANADIUM
REBAR STEELS

7.

PROPERTIES OF
VANADIUM
STEELS

8.

USES OF VANADIUM
REINFORCING

STEEL
BARS

Westgate House,
9 Holborn,
London,EC1N 2NE.
Telephone: 01-3531545.
Telex: 25816.

Vanadium

High-Strength

Reinforcing

Bars.

Are easy to produce all vanadium

alloying

additions

dissolve quickly

and evenly and do not

segregate.
.

Can be made by all steelmaking

processes -

vanadium steel reinforcing bars are strong and ductile when made by any
established steelmaking process. High residual nitrogen contents have no
effect on ductility.
.

Can be continuously
cast or ingot cast
with no problems of hot cracking.
Can be reheated for rolling without
even if operational

cracking -

variables lead to several reheating and rolling cycles.

Can be rolled to close tolerances and do not require low temperature

control rolling they can be rolled without
of finishing temperatures.

surface irregularities

over a wide range

Can be produced with yield strengths of 550 N/mm2 (80,000

and possibly higher strengths if required in the future.

Are made in sizes up to at least 56 mm diameter vanadium additions can be adjusted so that a constant
maintained over the full range of bar diameters.

Have good ductility

vanadium

high strength can be

and can be bent round tight radii without

cracking -

steels pass bend and rebend tests of all national specifications.

Do not require aluminium

treatment

they can therefore be continuously

with viscous slags in the tundish.
.

Ib/in2

cast without

the problems associated

Can be made in qualities suitable for shop or site welding vanadium steel reinforcing bars are very suitable for prefabricated
structures and for site joints where high stresses have to be carried,

Do not lose strength when welded even in the heat affected zone, their strength is maintained.

Resist fire damage

their strength depends

resistance to softening
compositions.

on precipitation
and hence they have a greater
at high temperatures
than some alternative

Vanadium
steel is widely used throughout
the world for high-strength
reinforcing
bars although the amount of vanadium added and the level of
other elements vary with conditions from one country to another .

STEELMAKING

~~
,

ROLLING

"

the furnace or to the ladle, and if

added as a last addition to a killed

steel, recoveries of over 90% can be

obtained.
Vanadium
does
not
segregate so that specifications can
be
achieved
with
minimum
alloying
additions
and maximum
control.

Vanadium
steels can be cast into
ingots, for subsequent rolling into
billets or continuously
cast directly
into billets. Any continuous casting
machine
can in fact
be used,
regardless
of
design.
Even
in
machines in which the radius of the
apron
is small, vanadium
highstrength steels can be cast without
the risk of cracks occuring .in the
billet.
I n some other steels the precipitation
of compounds on which
their strength depends takes place
during the hot bending stage of the
continuous
casting process. This
precipitation
can lead to hardening

of the austenite which then resists

deformation
and can give rise to
surface or subsurface cracks. These
cracks may be detected
in the
billets or, if they occur beneath the
surface, they may not be found
until the billet is rolled. In either
case, the material is scrapped and
production
lost. In vanadium steels,
however, the precipitates
form at
lower temperatures
and the steels
do not harden during the continuous
casting
process;
therefore,
vanadium
steel billets
are
not subject to this type of cracking
and expensive loss of production
is
avoided.

When a vanadium steel is reheated

to normal rolling temperatures
of
1200-1250C
(2190-2280F)
the particles of vanadium carbonitrides which precipitate in the billet
during the later stage of cooling are
completely
dissolved and the steel
becomes soft. Reprecipitation
of
these vanadium compounds
takes
place at relatively low temperatures
and after
the rolling
has been
completed.
The precipitation
does
not therefore strengthen the steel
while it is being rolled and no extra
strain is put on the mill; as a
consequence the steels behave like
carbon steels and can be rolled in
mills designed for ordinary qualities
of reinforcing
bars. I n other types
of steel, in which the precipitation
strengthening
compounds form at
higher temperatures,
the steel can
increase in strength during rolling
and this can give rise to excessive

mill loading especially in the final

passes. These loads can exceed
those
for which
the mill
was
designed and extra passes may have
to
be used or the
minimum
diameter of the product increased.
The
fact that
the vanadium
strengthening
compounds
completely redissolve at the reheating
temperatures
also
means that
vanadium
steels can
withstand
thermal cycling. Thus, when, due to
mill
breakdowns
or
other
operational
irregularities,
billets
have to be cooled and subsequently
reheated, vanadium steels are unaffected and can be rolled without
danger of cracking. When alternative elements
are used the precipitates
may
not
completely
redissolve and they may be unable
to withstand
the thermal stresses
produced
in the billets with the
result that cracks occur.

When
added
to
liquid
steel,
vanadium,
in any form of alloy
" or compound, dissolves quickly and
;;;;;;.. disperses rapidly. It can beadded to

Europe
Euronorm

E80-69

and

E81-69

Rebend Test:(bl
A sample bar is
bent 90 at room temperature
round a pin of the appropriate
diameter, heated at 100 C for
30 min, and straightened
at
R.T. through at least 20.

Grade

112-18 mmI18-25mmI25-32mmI32.40

(a)

United

I<ingdom

Specification

BS

FeB 40

392

56.9

FeB 50

490

71.1

On bars up to 12 mm diameter

71.1 I
82.~eI

490
569

only;

(b)

14
12

3d
4d

On bars over 12 mm diameter

only;

mm

6d

8d

IOd

12d

Bd

10d

12d

14d

d ~ nominal

bar diameter

4449-1969

(a)

when specified

1.15 x Yield

an order

strength

as measured

d = nominal

diameter

of bar;

Germany
DIN

488,

April,

1972

The specification

also includes

a fatigue

test

d = nominal

bar diameter

USA

ASTMA615-72

1.41,
75

517

75.0

690

14 18
(a) .90" only for 1.41 in (35.8 mm) diameter bars

Japan
J I S G 3117,

1969

d = nominal bar diameter

35.8

42.9, 57.3

100.0

1.693, 2.257

d = nominal diameter of bar

8d(a)

The optimum
composition
of vanadium high-strength
steel used for
reinforcing bars is controlled bya number of factors. The most important
are: the type and design of the steel plant and rolling mill, the bar diameter
and the local cost of other raw materials. In addition, the civil engineers,
depending on their design philosophy,
may require other properties apart
from strength, and this will influence the c~~position.
Design ph.ilosophies
vary from one country to another and this IS one of the most Important
reasons why different specifications have been developed for reinforcing
bars used for similar purposes in different parts of the world.

t,:;
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f~j tXl;c"!

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QUALITIES

(NON-WELDABLE)

'I',

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n:

!~1~ ,;t;i
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tM~A " ~C

!
*
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,'$

ing temperatures
which is sometimes
required
when
rolling
carbon-manganese steels.
Never-the-less rolling conditions
which
affect
cooling
rates and
transformation
products
can be
used
together
with
vanadium
additions
and control
of other
elements,
particularly
manganese
and silicon, to achieve the combination of properties
required by a
specification.
The
exact
composition of the vanadium steels will
vary from one works to another

which
would
give rise to steelmaking and rolling problems, would
otherwise will
be required.
usemill
of
vanadium
depend onThe
local

and examples of different types of

high-strength
vanadium
steels are'
given
in Table
Steel
used inI. the manufacture of

-;I(
IX
\i ,i!X;f:,
\V
\ ~ :' /

conditions

reinforcing

and

specification

re-

bars

is

often

made

quirements.
The low temperature
of the
carbonitride
precipitation
in
vanadium steels (below 700 C) on
which
their
enhanced
strength
depends, means that they do not

partly or completely
from scrap
purchased on the open market. This
scrap
invariably
contains
chromium, copper or molybdenum,
whic~ are not oxidised ?uri~g steelmaking.
They
remain
In the

usua Ily
conditions

finished steel and add further to its

strength;
up to 0.6% of these

require
special
rolling
such as control of finish-

' r;,

,,"'

"!"'1

t'!!1

.CI

!J:..;;

~!1

The strength of ordinary

quality
reinforcing bars can be increased by
additions
of vanadium.
In these
qualities the vanadium enhances the
strength achieved with the cheaper
common
elements, carbon, manganese and silicon and the residual
elements, chromium, copper and to
a lesser extent molybdenum
and
nickel. Additions
of vanadium also
enable adequate strength
to be
maintained in large diameter bars of
ordinary
qualities where excessive
levels of carbon and manganese,

1f"'

~~~

i~V
V

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:!I{
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II

1/1

'~
410

59.6

,1. t

0.35
0:25

0.02

> 25

410

54.5

1.3

0.35

0.05

<

490

71.1

1.3

0.40

1.2

A615

-72,

0.25

<

0.03

gauge is based on number

25

25

30

of eighths

<8

10.

~~

~~,;j (
,,~~
'i;;:

Composition and Properties of some

Typical High-strength Reinforcing Bar Steels
(non-weldable Grades}

* ASTM

"-"'-

4"

TABLEI

0.32

"

~,

0.35
0.28

'i'~JI

-~--"

STANDARD

Ii

;ir~;:

Ij

"'

!~!~ 11~

'\,f1

'

,~

1ii..;:I!!+
I~~~;;i

,,"v,

72.5

500

of an inch included

in nominal

~
\1

To increase
maximum
diameter
To improve
strength
To improve
strength

bar diameter.

approximately

,;{~
,

!:&i
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.}:i
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;:'j
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Vanadium steel reinforcing bars in foundations

of pump house of CEGB power statiol1-on
'sle of Grain
(Photograph courtesy John Laing and Son Ltd.

Erection of prestressed concrete bridge on

London's East Cross Highway where vanadium
high-strength reinforcing bars have been
extensive/y used in the foundations
(Photograph courtesy 8a/four 8eatty & Co. Ltd.
a 8/CC company)

Construction of the second Dartford Tunnel

U.K., where vanadium high strength
steel from the neighbouring Sheerness Steel Co
is being used
(Photograph courtesy of the Essex and
Kent County Councils, Mott, Hay & Anderson,
(Consulting Engineers) Balfour Beatty & Co.
Ltd., a BICC Company-Main
Civil Engineering
Contractor.)

Properties of Vanadium Steels (continued)

TABLE

II

Composition
High-strength

and Properties
Reinforcing

of some Typical

Weldable grade

Fig. 1. Effect

of Vanadium

on Yield Strength

Bar Steels
"'
~

* ASTM

A615

-72,

gauge is based on number

of eighths

of an inch included

elements can be present in an allscrap charge and these will contribute about 50 N/mm2 (7,000 Ib/
in2 ). The vanadium addition can be
adjusted to meet the specification
requirements with varying levels of
residual elements.

WELDABLE

in nominal

bar diameter

* approximate

The composition
selected by any
mill will normally be that required
to meet the relevant specification
at lowest cost under the conditions
imposed by the mill characteristics
and the local cost of other raw
materials used in manufactur~.

NE
E
z
I
:1:
t(:J
Z
w
a:
t!/)
O
..1
W
>

~
o
o
o

I
f"
z
w
!I:
fU)
Q
..J
w

0.0

0.05
0.10
VANADIUM,
%

Base Composition,
C
, Mn
Si

%
N

0.24

0.007- 0.01

1.25

0.45

0.15

AI

QUALITIES

Vanadium
is particularly
suitable
for imparting strength to weldable
qualities of re1nforcing bar steels
which
have a lower
maximum
carbon
content
than
ordinary
qualities.
These
steels
usually
contain
about
0.25%C
and
0.03-0.08%
V. Typical
properties
of such steels are indicated in Table
II. The vanadium is added to steels
for bars of all diameters to compensate for the loss in strength
which
results
from
the
lower
carbon
content.
In combination
with higher manganese, or nitrogen
additions, vanadium can be used to
produce even higher strengths.
In
most
building
structures
today, high-tensile reinforcing
bars
are employed,
usually with yield
strengths
of
410-460
N/mm2
(60,000--67,000
Ib/in2).
These
steels contain
0.03
to
0.08%
vanadium
depending
on
the
diameter and mill conditions,
but
even higher strength steels up to
700 N/mm2 ( 100,000 Ib/in2) can
be produced as indicated in Fig. 1.

The
U.T.S.
is also raised
by
vanadium
additions
as shown in
Fig. 2. These figures refer to 18 and
30 m m
bars but
with
larger
vanadium
additions
or a small
modification
to the other elements,
such as manganese and silicon, their
properties can be obtained in bars
of 40 mm diameter and even up to
56 mm.
Nitrogen
increases
the
yield
strength of steels and when added
with vanadium provides a higher
strength than when vanadium
is
added alone. This is indicated in
Fig.3. Alternatively,
nitrogen can
be substituted
for part of the
vanadium.
The choice
between
higher vanadium and vanadium plus
nitrogen
depends on local considerations
including
comparative
cosl of vanadium alloys and the
cost of adding the nitrogen.
As with ordinary
qualities the
strength is affected by the residual
elements and the exact composition
of the steel will be dependent on
the quality of the scrap used.

0
0.05
0.10
VANADIUM,
Base Composition,
%

Mn

Si

AI

0.24

1.25

0.45

0.007

0.01

Fig. 3. Effect of Nitrogen

on Yield Strength

with Vanadium

100
90
80 ~S
~
70

If5O(:J

400:

30

Z
w
f(/)

o
-"
w

20 >=

DUCTI LITY
All specifications
for reinforcing
bars
for
building
construction
contain rigid clauses for ductility,
although
the actual requirements

o
o
o

60 ~

vary from
one specification
to
another. Elongation
in the tensile
test is used as the measure of
ductility,
and minimum
levels are

0.06% V
0.12%
Base Composition,
%
C
0.24

Mn
1.25

Si
0.45

0.17% V

AI
0.01

Properties of Vanadium Steels (continued)

specified to ensure that, in cases of
overstraining
in service, the concrete will crack before the .steel
fails in tension.
As the strength
of the steel
increases, the ductility
tends to
decrease,
but
vanadium-

strengthened
reinforcing
bars
maintain adequate ductility to meet
all specifications,
even in large
diameter bars which are being asked
for increasingly by engineers. The
effect of vanadium on elongation, is
indicated in Fig. 4.

BENDABILITY
Reinforcing
bars used in building
construction
are invariably required
to pass a test to guarantee that they
can be bent on site without cracking. Such tests involve bending the
rolled bar either through an angle
up to 180, or through a smaller
angle followed
by an aging treatment of up to one hour ~t a
temperature
up to 250 c and a
partial straightening
operation
at
room temperature.

The rebend tests are designed to

reveal any susceptibility
to strain
aging which can be caused by the
presence of free nitrogen
which
tends to be at a high level in electric
melted
steels.
Vanadium
steels,
however,
are free
from
this
susceptibility
on account
of the
formation
of vanadium
carbonitrides which remove the harmfj,JI
free nitrogen from solution in the
steel.

WELDABILITY
There is an increasing demand for
reinforcing
bar steels which can be
welded. Many of the bars used for
structures
such as columns
in
bridges, or piles in building foundations, were formerly assembled on
site and tied together; these are
now fabricated in shops by welding
and sent to the site for erection.
Extensive tests have been carried
out on the production
of lap welds
in reinforcing bars made from steels
containing

up

to

0.2%

vanadium

minimum
heat input of 3 kJ/mm
was sufficient
to prevent cracking
in the heat affected
zone when
welding a 30 mm diameter bar.
The demand for weldable reinforcing
bars
for
established
application
is increasing steadily in
Europe and North America,
but
other applications such as their use
in continuous
roadways and runways are also being contemplated.
The change to welding in place of
the

traditional

method

of

by tying
in this application
could
save steel and reduce costs. Greater
use of the weldable
vanadium
steel
qualities
is therefore
expected
in

were

the future.

It was established

that

"

Fig. 4.

f
f
E fact O

d"

ana Ium on

t "l "

uc I It y

Jointing

using the manual metal arc welding

process. I n these tests, in which the
welds were made under conditions
of restraint,
basic coated electrodes
used.

An exampleof a lap-weldjoint between30mm

diameterreinforcingbars

~
z
o
i=
~
~
z
0
.J
w

0.0

0.05

0.15

0;10

VANADIUM,
Base Composition.

Mn

Si

At

0.24

1.25

0.45

0.007

0.01

An example
subjected

of 25mm

diameter

to severe bending

reinforcing

in a power

bars

station

foundation
(Photograph

10

courtesy

of John

Laing

& Son Ltd.

An example of continuous cast concrete which

is being used increasingly in the U.S.A. and
E.urope for roadways and runways for smoother
running and longer life

Laying high strength reinforcing bars for which

the vanadium strengthened steels are suitable

Pouring concrete over high strength reinforcing

bars which will withstand the high internal
stresses produced when the concrete of the long
smooth section of the roadway sets

(Photographs by courtesy of Concrete

Reinforcing Steel Institute Chicago)