Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weightThermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources6 documents: American Institute of Steel Construction, Carpenter Technology, U.S. Department of Defense, bauforumstahl (ArcelorMittal), Ovako
Steel
Generic structural steel, cited as ASTM A992 (the current US structural grade): ASTM A992 W-shapes; Fy/Fu specified minimums from AISC publications (AISC 360-16 Commentary; Modern Steel Construction); elastic constants AISC 360; physical constants from the bauforumstahl structural-steel EPD, which names A992 among covered product standards.
Updating Standard Shape Material Properties Database for Design and ReliabilityAmerican Institute of Steel Constructionarchived copySteel · Yield strength: typical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey), as reported by AISCSteel · Ultimate tensile strength: typical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey)Steel · Elongation at break: typical: mean of 24,847 A992 mill-test elongations, web and flange (1998 SSPC mill data), as reported by AISC
ANSI/AISC 360-16 Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, with CommentaryAmerican Institute of Steel Constructionarchived copySteel · Young's modulus (stiffness): design value (AISC 360-16)Steel · Poisson's ratio: design value (AISC 360-16 Commentary)
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MIL-HDBK-5J, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures (2003)U.S. Department of DefenseSteel AISI 4340 · Young's modulus (stiffness): MIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered)Steel AISI 4340 · Poisson's ratio: MIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered)
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Environmental Product Declaration: Structural Steel Sections and Merchant Bars (2023)bauforumstahl (ArcelorMittal)archived copySteel · Density: nominal (constructional data)Steel · Thermal conductivity: nominal at 20 °CSteel · Thermal expansion: nominal (constructional data, no temperature range stated)
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S275JR Steel GradeOvakoSteel · Specific heat: base material: EN S275JR unalloyed structural steel (the EN counterpart of A36), typical, 50/100 °C
Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
Questions
Mechanical
Is Steel stronger than Steel AISI 4340?
Steel AISI 4340 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,035 MPa against 385 MPa for Steel (2.69x).
Which is lighter, Steel or Steel AISI 4340?
Steel AISI 4340 is lighter: 7,840 kg/m³ against 7,850 kg/m³ for Steel.
Which is stiffer, Steel or Steel AISI 4340?
Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 200 GPa for Steel AISI 4340, so the same part in Steel deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Steel or Steel AISI 4340?
For the same stiffness or strength: Steel AISI 4340 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Steel
Steel AISI 4340
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
about equal
about equal
Stiff beam (bending)
about equal
about equal
Stiff panel or plate
about equal
about equal
Strong rod or tie
2.69x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
1.94x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
1.64x heavier
lighter
For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).
Which is more ductile, Steel or Steel AISI 4340?
Steel stretches further before it breaks: 24.2% elongation at break against 18% for Steel AISI 4340.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Steel or Steel AISI 4340?
Steel conducts heat better: 48 W/m·K against 37.5 W/m·K for Steel AISI 4340.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel AISI 4340 expands less: 11.3 µm/m·K against 12 µm/m·K for Steel.