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ASME STP-PT-087-2018 — Yield Strength Values Up to Maximum Temperature Design
📊 ASME STP-PT-087-2018 is a technical report funded by ASME Standards Technology, LLC (ASME ST-LLC) and prepared by Wolfgang Hoffelner (RWH consult GmbH). Under the title “Yield Strength Values Up to Maximum Temperature Design,” the report systematically compiles and organizes yield strength (Sy) data for a defined family of metallic materials — principally stainless steels, copper-based alloys, and nickel-based alloys — over the full range up to the maximum design temperatures allowed by the applicable specifications. This kind of data directly supports yield-strength-based design rules in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) and piping codes, and serves as an important basis for code revisions and data verification.
💡 The reason for compiling yield strength “at maximum design temperature” separately is that yield strength falls steeply in the high-temperature range, while many yield-based design rules — such as limits against excessive plastic deformation, and support and hanger calculations — are most sensitive to that very high-temperature value.
1. Subject and Scope 📌
The title states the object precisely: “Yield Strength Values Up to Maximum Temperature Design” — covering yield strength data from ambient temperature up to the maximum design/allowable temperature each material is permitted to reach. From the material list extracted from the report body, the data set is organized in three main families, each further subdivided into UNS numbers or SA/SB standard grades, with the maximum temperature coverage (in degrees Fahrenheit) given for each grade.
| Material Family | Representative Grades | Temperature Ceiling (approx.) | Typical Application Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferritic/martensitic and austenitic stainless steels | SA-182 F1, F11 (13Cr-1Ni-5Mo), SA-240 304/304L/304H, 18Cr-8Ni, 18Cr-12Ni-2Mo, 23Cr-12Ni, 25Cr-20Ni | 1200 °F ~ 1500 °F | High-temperature piping, heat exchangers, pressure parts |
| Special and duplex stainless steels | SA-240 S31603/S316, S30908, S31008, S31700, S31703, SA-182 F316Ti | 1200 °F ~ 1500 °F | Corrosive high-temperature media, petrochemical plant |
| Copper and copper alloys | C23000/Cu, C28000, C36500, C44300, C46400, C64200, C65000, C68700, C70600 | ~500 °F | Heat-exchanger tubes, seawater piping, low- and medium-temperature service |
| Nickel and nickel alloys | SB-162 N02201/Ni201, SB-160 N02200, SB-575 N06022/N10276 | 1200 °F ~ 1650 °F | Corrosion-resistant equipment, high-temperature furnace parts, chemical vessels |
⚠️ Temperature ceilings differ dramatically between families: copper alloys are typically limited to about 500 °F (about 260 °C), while nickel alloys extend to 1650 °F (about 900 °C) and beyond. Always stay within the actual maximum tabulated for each grade.
2. Data Organization and Engineering Meaning 🔧
The materials are not listed randomly; they are arranged grade by grade under the code specification numbering system (SA/SB series), each entry pairing a grade with its maximum covered temperature. This layout lets code engineers and materials engineers directly cross-reference the yield-strength values in the ASME Section II material property tables, confirming that reliable Sy data are still available near the upper temperature bound.
The report matters for two reasons:
- Data completeness check: confirming that yield-strength-based design formulas remain supported when a material reaches its maximum design temperature, avoiding code gaps where “the ceiling is reached but yield data are missing.”
- Code harmonization support: offering a consolidated result for adopting or adjusting high-temperature yield limits in future code revisions, reducing inconsistencies between sections that arise from differing data sources.
🚨 When using yield strength at the maximum design temperature, remember that high-temperature yield is highly sensitive to test method, specimen orientation, and heat-treatment condition. Before quoting a value, verify it corresponds to the same heat treatment and product form as the component in question.
3. Key Material-Family Data at a Glance 🔬
Representative “grade — temperature ceiling” pairings extracted from the report body are summarized below for quick orientation:
| Family | Representative Grade | Coverage up to (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Low-alloy Cr-Mo steel | SA-182 F1 (1.25Cr-0.5Mo) | 1200 °F (650 °C) |
| Martensitic stainless steel | SA-182 F11 (13Cr-1Ni-5Mo) | 1200 °F (650 °C) |
| Austenitic stainless steel | SA-240 304/304H, 18Cr-8Ni, 18Cr-12Ni-2Mo | 1500 °F (815 °C) |
| High-Cr-Ni heat-resistant steels | 23Cr-12Ni, 25Cr-20Ni | 1500 °F (815 °C) |
| Copper alloys | C23000, C28000, C44300, C46400, C70600 | 500 °F (260 °C) |
| Nickel and nickel alloys | N02200, N02201, N06022, N10276 | 1200 °F ~ 1650 °F (650 ~ 900 °C) |
4. Principal Conclusions and Contribution to the Code 🛠️
- ✅ Consolidated Sy data at the high-temperature ceiling: scattered high-temperature yield data from material standards and property tables are brought together by grade for easy use and verification.
- ✅ Clear temperature boundaries per family: the report distinguishes the coverage ceilings of copper (~500 °F), stainless steels (1200–1500 °F), and nickel-based alloys (up to 1650 °F), reducing misuse.
- ✅ Support for yield-based design rules: provides the data foundation for rules such as protection against excessive plastic deformation and support/hanger design that rely on high-temperature Sy.
- 📋 Service to code harmonization: offers a unified reference for data consistency near temperature ceilings across ASME sections.
5. Engineering Practice Recommendations 🏭
- 🔍 Confirm the temperature boundary first: after selecting a material, first verify the ceiling given in the report for that grade, ensuring the design temperature lies within a range supported by Sy data.
- 🔧 Do not extrapolate high-temperature yield: beyond the ceiling given in the report/code, never extrapolate yield strength; switch to creep/rupture data or lower allowable-stress values instead.
- 📊 Use with Section II: this report is an index/consolidation of code material data; formal calculations must still use the values in ASME BPVC Section II, Part D at the corresponding temperature.
- 📋 Match heat-treatment state: record the heat treatment and product form when quoting values, to avoid mixing data from different conditions.
6. Frequently Asked Questions ❓
❓ Q: How does this report relate to the ASME Section II material tables?
A: It organizes and indexes yield-strength data near the “maximum design temperature” for a set of materials, letting engineers quickly confirm that Sy data are still available at the upper bound; the formal allowable values remain those in Section II, Part D.
A: It organizes and indexes yield-strength data near the “maximum design temperature” for a set of materials, letting engineers quickly confirm that Sy data are still available at the upper bound; the formal allowable values remain those in Section II, Part D.
❓ Q: Why is the temperature ceiling for copper alloys so much lower than for stainless steels?
A: Copper and its alloys lose strength and creep resistance rapidly at elevated temperature; codes typically restrict them to about 500 °F (about 260 °C), whereas austenitic stainless steels and nickel alloys have far superior high-temperature capability.
A: Copper and its alloys lose strength and creep resistance rapidly at elevated temperature; codes typically restrict them to about 500 °F (about 260 °C), whereas austenitic stainless steels and nickel alloys have far superior high-temperature capability.
❓ Q: Can the ceiling-temperature yield strength be used for creep-regime design?
A: No. The high-temperature Sy only applies to yield-based design below the creep range; once the design temperature enters the creep regime, you must use the code’s creep-rupture values.
A: No. The high-temperature Sy only applies to yield-based design below the creep range; once the design temperature enters the creep regime, you must use the code’s creep-rupture values.
🔍 Q: What do the SA/SB prefixes in the report denote?
A: SA and SB are prefixes in the ASME material specification system (SA generally for carbon/low-alloy ferrous, SB for nonferrous and certain specifications). The report carries these prefixes grade by grade so each entry maps directly onto the ASME material specifications.
A: SA and SB are prefixes in the ASME material specification system (SA generally for carbon/low-alloy ferrous, SB for nonferrous and certain specifications). The report carries these prefixes grade by grade so each entry maps directly onto the ASME material specifications.
