UDC 669.14.018.

29
H 40

GB
National Standard of People’s Republic of China
GB 700-88

Carbon Structural Steels

Issue Date: 1998-06-29 Effective Date: 1998-10-01

Issued by National Standard Bureau

 National Standards of People’s Republic of China
UDC 669.14
.018.29
GB 700-88
Carbon Structural Steels supersede: GB 700-79

This standard is prepared by reference to ISO 630 “Structural Steel”

1. Subject and Applicable Scope

This standard specifies the technical specifications for carbon structural steels.
This standard is applicable to general structural steels and engineering hot rolled steel plates and
sheets, steel strips and steel bars. Such products can be used as structural steel for welding,
riveting and bolting generally in delivery state.
The chemical compositions specified in this standard are applicable to ingot (including continuous
casting billet), steel billet and their products.

2.0 Applicable Standards

GB 222 Test Pieces Taking Method for Chemical Analysis of Steel and Tolerance for Chemical
Compositions of Finished Products.
GB 223 Method for Chemical Analysis for Steel, Iron and Alloy
GB 228 Method for Metal Tensile Test
GB 232 Method for Metal Bending Test
GB 247 General Regulations for acceptance, Packaging, Marking and Quality Certificate for
Steel Plates and Sheets and Steel Strips.
GB 2101 General Regulations for Acceptance, Packaging, Marking and Quality Certificate for
Steel Bars
GB 2106 Method for Metal Charpy (V-notch) Impact Test
GB 2975 Test Piece Taking Regulations for Mechanical and Technological Performance Tests of
Steel Material
GB 4159 Method for Metal Charpy Impact Test
GB 6397 Test Pieces for Metal Tensile Test

3. Notation, Code and Symbol of Designation

3.1 Notation of Designations
The designation of steel is composed of four parts in sequence: letter representing yield point,
value of yield point, symbol for quality level and symbol for deoxidation method. For example:
Q235-A.F
3.2 Symbol
Q - the initial letter of Chinese Character for yield point;
A, B, C and D: the quality levels;
F - the initial letter of Chinese Character for rimed steel;
b - the initial letter of Chinese Character for semi-killed steel;
Z - the initial letter of Chinese Character for killed steel
TZ - the initial letter of Chinese Character for special-killed steel
In the notation of designation, symbols “Z” and “TZ” are omitted.

4. Dimension, Shape, Weight and Allowable Deviation

The dimension, shape, weight and allowable deviation of steels shall conform to appropriate
standards.

5. Technical Requirements
5.1 Designation and Chemical compositions
5.1.1 The designation and chemical compositions of steels shall conform to Table 1.
Chemical composition %
Deoxidation
Designation Grade Si S P
C Mu method
Not greater than

Q195 — 0.06-0.12 0.25-0.50 0.30 0.050 0.045 F,b,Z

A 0.050
Q215 0.09-0.15 0.25-0.55 0.30 0.045 F,b,Z
B 0.045

A 0.14-0.22 0.30-0.651) 0.050

0.045 F,b,Z
B 0.12-0.20 0.30-0.701) 0.045
Q235 0.30
C 0.18 0.040 0.040 Z
0.35-0.80
D 0.17 0.035 0.035 TZ

A 0.050
Q255 0.18-0.28 0.40-0.70 0.30 0.045 F,b,Z
B 0.045

Q275 — 0.28-0.38 0.50-0.80 0.35 0.050 0.045 b,Z

Note: 1) The upper limit of Mn content in Q235 Grade A and Grade B rimmed steel is 0.60%.
5.1.1.1 The Si content shall not be greater than 0.07% in rimmed steel; not greater than 0.17% in
semi-killed steel and the lower limit of Si content in killed steel is 0.12%.
5.1.1.2 Grade D steels shall contain sufficient elements for forming fine grain crystal. For
example, the content of aluminum dissolved in acid in steel shall not be less than 0.015% or the
content of pure aluminum shall not be less than 0.020%.
5.1.1.3 The residual elements, such as Cr, Ni and Cu shall not be greeter than 0.30% respectively
and the N in oxygen (blown) converter steel shall not be greater than 0.008%. the analysis can be
omitted provided that the supplier can make guarantee for it.
As agreed by the Buyer, the Cu content in Grade A steels may be not greater than 0.35%. In this
case, the supplier shall make analysis for the content of Cu, with the measured content to be
recorded in quality certificate.
5.1.1.4 The residual As in steels shall not be greater than 0.080%. As for the steel made from ores
containing As, the content of As shall be agreed between the buyer and the supplier. If there is no
As in the raw material, the analysis for As content may be omitted.
5.1.1.5 While guaranteeing that the mechanical properties of steel material can conform to the
stipulations in this standard, The content of C and Mn in Grade A steels of all designations as well
as the lower limit for the content of C and Mn in steels in other grades may be specified as
delivery conditions. However, their contents (smelting analysis) shall be recorded in quality
certificate.
5.1.1.6 While the supplier supplies ingot (including continuous casting billet) and billet, the
supplier shall guarantee that the chemical compositions of Grade A and B steels of various
designations shall conform to stipulations in Table 1. However, in order to guarantee that all
properties of rolled steel can meet the requirements in this standard, the chemical compositions of
Grade A and B steels of all designations may be appropriately adjusted as required by the buyer
and specified in separately agreements.
5.1.2 The allowable deviation for the chemical compositions of steel products and steel
commodities shall conform to Table 1, GB222.
No guarantee will be provided for the deviation of chemical compositions of the rimmed steel
products and billet commodities.
5.2 Smelting Method
The steel will be smelted in oxygen converter, open furnace or electric furnace. Unless otherwise
required by the buyer and specified in contract, the smelting method shall be selected by the
manufacturer.
5.3 Delivery State
Steel material is delivered generally at hot-rolled (including controlled rolled) state. It may be
delivered at normalized state as required by the buyer and agreed by the two parties (except for
Grade A steels).
5.4 Mechanical Properties
5.4.1 the tensile test and impact test of steel shall conform to Table 2 and the bending test shall
conform to Table 3.
 Table 2

Tensile Test Impact Test

Yield point N/ mm² Elongation % V-notch

impact
Thickness (Dia.) of steel mm Tensile Thickness (Dia.) of steel mm Temperature
energy
Designation Grade Strength
(longitudinal)
16 >16-40 >40-60 >60-100 >100-150 >150 N/ mm² 16 >16-40 >40-60 >60-100 >100-150 >150
J

Not less than

Q195 — (195) (185) — — — — 315-390 33 32 — — — — — —

A — —
Q215 215 205 195 185 175 165 335-410 31 30 29 28 27 26
B 20 27

A —
—
B 20
Q235 235 225 215 205 195 185 375-460 26 25 24 23 22 21
C 0
27
D -20

A — —
Q255 255 245 235 225 215 205 410-510 24 23 22 21 20 19
B 20 27

Q275 — 275 265 255 245 235 225 490-610 20 19 18 17 16 15 — —

 Table 3

Cold Bending Test B=2a 180°

Test sample Thickness (Dia.) of steel mm mm

Designation
direction 60 >60-100 >100-200

Mandrel diameter d

longitudinal 0
Q195 — —
transverse 0.5a

longitudinal 0.5a 1.5a 2a

Q215
transverse a 2a 2.5a

longitudinal a 2a 2.5a
Q235
transverse 1.5a 2.5a 3a

Q255 2a 3a 3.5a
Q275 3a 4a 4.5a

Note: B is the width of test sample, a is the thickness (diameter) of steel

5.4.1.1 The yield point of Designation Q195 is only for information and not be taken at delivery
conditions.
5.4.1.2 For tensile test and bending test, transverse test sample shall be taken for steel plates and
sheets as well as steel strips, allowing elongation 1% (absolute value) lower than the data in Table
2; while longitudinal test sample shall be taken for profiled bars.
5.4.1.3 The cold bending test will be taken for all Grade A steels of various designations only as
required by the buyer. In case the cold bending test is acceptable, the upper limit for tensile
strength may be not considered as delivery conditions.
5.4.2 Charpy (V-notch) impact test shall conform to Table 2.
5.4.2.1 Charpy (V-notch) impact energy shall be the arithmetic mean of one group of three test
samples, and it is allowable for one individual value of the three test samples lower than the
specified value, however, not beyond 70% lower than the specified value.
5.4.2.2 While 5mm x 10mm x 55mm small sized test sample will be used for impact test, the test
results shall not be lower than 50% of the specified value.
5.4.3 In generally, the thickness (diameter) of Grade B steel of various designations rolled from
rimmed steel will not greater than 25mm.
5.5 Surface Quality
The surface quality of steels shall conform to the stipulations of appropriate standards.

6. Test Method.
6.1 The inspection items, sample quantity, sampling method and testing method for each lot of
steels shall conform to Table 4.
No. Inspection Item Sample quantity Sampling method Testing method
1 BG223.1-223.5
1 Chemical Analysis GB222
(for each furnace GB223.8-223.12
 No.) GB223.18-223.19
GB223.23-223.24
GB223.31-223.32
GB223.36
2 Tensile GB228, GB6397
3 Cold bending GB232
Impact at room
4 GB2106
temperature
Impact at low
5 GB4159
temperature
6.1.1 While making cold bending test for steels with thickness or diameter greater than 200mm,
the test sample shall be planned at single face to reduce the thickness to 20mm and the mandrel
diameter shall conform to Table 3. while testing, the non-machining surface shall be placed
outside. In case the test sample is not planed, the mandrel diameter shall be the data specified in
Table 3 plus a, the thickness of one test sample.
6.1.2 The longitudinal axis of impact test sample shall be paralleled to the rolling direction.
6.1.3 As for steel plates, steel sheets, steel strip, and profiled bars with thickness not smaller than
12mm and the steel bars with diameter not smaller than 16mm, 10mm x 10mm x 55mm samples
shall be used for impact test; As for steel plates, steel sheets, profiled bars with thickness from
6mm to 12mm and steel bars with diameter from 12mm to 16mm, 5mm x 10mm x 55mm small
sample shall be used. One rolling face can be reserved for impact test sample.

7. Inspection Regulations
7.1 The steels shall be subject to the inspection and acceptance by the technical supervision
department.
7.2 The steels shall be tested and accepted by lot. Each lot shall consist of steels with same
designation, same furnace No., same grad, same kind, same size and same delivery state. The
weight of each lot shall not be greater than 60t.
As for steel with nominal weight not greater than 30t and smelted in smelting furnace, Grade A
and Grade B steels with same designation, same smelting and pouring method, different furnace
No. can be combined as one lot. However, each lot cannot contain more than 6 furnace No. and
the difference of carbon content between various furnace No. shall not be greater than 0.02% and
the difference of Mn content shall not be greater than 0.15%
7.3 If the Charpy (V-notch) compact test results of steels fail to meet the requirement in paragraph
5.4.2, another group of three samples shall be taken from the same lot of steels for testing, the
average of the six samples shall not be lower than the specified value. However, two test samples
are allowed to be lower than the specified value and only one sample are allowed to be 70% lower
than the specified value.
7.4 Packaging, Marking and Quality Certificate
The packaging, marking and quality certificate shall conform to GB 247 and GB2101.
 Appendix A

Cross Reference for New and Old GB 700 Standard Designations

(Only for Reference)

A.1 The notation of designations and the technical requirements specified for the designations of
GB700-88 are different from that of GB700-79, the following is cross reference for the new and
old GB 700 standard designations:
GB700-88 GB700-79
Q195 Irrespective of the grade, the chemical #1
compositions and mechanical steel The chemical compositions of Q195 is
properties (tensile strength, elongation same as B1, the mechanical properties
and cold bending) shall be guaranteed. (tensile strength, elongation and cold
However, the guaranteed mechanical bending) is same as A1 (the tensile test
properties can be otherwise specified in for Al is additional guaranteed
related standards for rolled sheets and conditions), there is no special steel in
panels and strips according to the #1 steel.
features of the products and the
requirements of use
Q215 Grade A A2
Grade B C2
Q235 Grade A (without impact test, V-notch) A3 (Additional guarantee, impact test at
room temperature, V-notch)
Grade B (with impact test at room C3 (Additional guarantee, impact test at
temperature, V-notch) room temperature-20oC, V-notch)
Grade C (used as critical welding --
Grade D structure) --
Q255 Grade A A4
Grade B (with impact test at room C4 (Additional guarantee, impact test,
temperature, V-notch) V-notch)
Q275 Irrespective of the grade, the chemical C5
compositions and mechanical
properties shall be guaranteed.