shapes that are not round, square or rectangular are to be
agreed upon in advance between the producer and purchaser.
10.2 For welded structural tubing, a test specimen at least 4
in. [100 mm] in length shall be flattened cold between parallel
plates in three steps, with the weld located 90° from the line of
direction of force. During the first step, which is a test for
ductility of the weld, no cracks or breaks on the inside or
outside surfaces of the test specimen shall be present until the
distance between the plates is less than two-thirds of the
specified outside diameter of the tubing. For the second step,
no cracks or breaks on the inside or outside parent metal
surfaces of the test specimen, except as provided for in 10.5,
shall be present until the distance between the plates is less
than one-half of the specified outside diameter of the tubing.
During the third step, which is a test for soundness, the
flattening shall be continued until the test specimen breaks or
the opposite walls of the test specimen meet. Evidence of
laminated or unsound material or of incomplete weld that is
revealed during the entire flattening test shall be cause for
rejection.
10.3 For seamless round structural tubing 2
3
⁄
8
in. [60 mm]
specified outside diameter and larger, a specimen not less than
2
1
⁄
2
in. [65 mm] in length shall be flattened cold between
parallel plates in two steps. During the first step, which is a test
for ductility, no cracks or breaks on the inside or outside
surfaces, except as provided for in 10.5, shall occur until the
distance between the plates is less than the value of “H”
calculated by the following equation:
H5
~
11e
!
t/
~
e1t/D
!
(1)
where:
H= distance between flattening plates, in. [mm],
e= deformation per unit length (constant for a given grade
of steel, 0.07 for Grade B, and 0.06 for Grade C),
t= specified wall thickness of tubing, in. [mm], and
D= specified outside diameter of tubing, in. [mm].
During the second step, which is a test for soundness, the
flattening shall be continued until the specimen breaks or the
opposite walls of the specimen meet. Evidence of laminated or
unsound material that is revealed during the entire flattening
test shall be cause for rejection.
10.4 Surface imperfections not found in the test specimen
before flattening, but revealed during the first step of the
flattening test, shall be judged in accordance with Section 15.
10.5 When low D-to-tratio tubulars are tested, because the
strain imposed due to geometry is unreasonably high on the
inside surface at the 6 and 12 o’clock locations, cracks at these
locations shall not be cause for rejection if the D-to-tratio is
less than 10.
10.6 Flaring Test—A section of tube shall stand being flared
with a tool having a 60° included angle until the weld area has
been expanded a minimum of 15 % of the inside dimension for
rounds and squares without any cracking in the weld area. For
rectangles, the side containing the weld area and the side
opposite the weld area shall be expanded a minimum of 15 %
based on the average of the smallest and largest inside
dimensions without any cracking in the weld area. The cone
tool shall not have a weld relief groove. Cracking in the corners
of square, rectangular, or other tubular shapes after flaring is
not grounds for rejection.
10.7 Wedge Crush Test—A test specimen at least 4 in. [100
mm] in length shall be placed under the hydraulic press ram
with the weld directly underneath the tapered ram wedge. The
tapered ram wedge shall be tapered at 30° and rounded at the
contact point to a
1
⁄
2
in. radius. No cracks or breaks on the
inside or outside surfaces of the test specimen shall be present
until the tube has collapsed to at least one half its specified
dimension.
10.8 Other destructive weld tests may be requested in lieu of
or in addition to the tests listed. The purchaser should contact
the producer to determine their availability.
11. Permissible Variations in Dimensions
11.1 Outside Dimensions:
11.1.1 Round Structural Tubing—The outside diameter shall
not vary more than 60.5 %, rounded to the nearest 0.005 in.
[0.1 mm], from the specified outside diameter for specified
outside diameters 1.900 in. [48 mm] and smaller, and
60.75 %, rounded to the nearest 0.005 in. [0.1 mm], from the
specified outside diameter for specified outside diameters 2.00
in. [5 cm] and larger. The outside diameter measurements shall
be made at positions at least 2 in. [5 cm] from the ends of the
tubing.
11.1.2 Square and Rectangular Structural Tubing—The out-
side dimensions, measured across the flats at positions at least
2 in. [5 cm] from the ends of the tubing, shall not vary from the
specified outside dimensions by more than the applicable
amount given in Table 3, which includes an allowance for
convexity or concavity.
11.2 Wall Thickness—The minimum wall thickness exclud-
ing the weld seam of welded tubing if supplied with the inside
flash not being removed shall be not more than 10 % less than
the specified wall thickness. If the welded tubing is supplied
with the inside flash removed, then the weld seam shall be
included in the wall thickness measurement and shall be not
TABLE 3 Permissible Variations in Outside Flat Dimensions for
Square and Rectangular Structural Tubing
Specified Outside Large Flat Dimension,
in. [mm]
Permissible Variations
Over and Under Specified
Outside Flat Dimensions,
A
in. [mm]
2
1
⁄
2
[65] or under 0.020 [0.5]
Over 2
1
⁄
2
to 3
1
⁄
2
[65 to 90], incl 0.025 [0.6]
Over 3
1
⁄
2
to 5
1
⁄
2
[90 to 140], incl 0.030 [0.8]
Over 5
1
⁄
2
[140] 0.01 times large flat
dimension
A
The permissible variations include allowances for convexity and concavity. For
rectangular tubing having a ratio of outside large to small flat dimension less than
1.5, and for square tubing, the permissible variations in small flat dimension shall
be identical to the permissible variations in large flat dimension. For rectangular
tubing having a ratio of outside large to small flat dimension in the range of 1.5 to
3.0 inclusive, the permissible variations in small flat dimension shall be 1.5 times
the permissible variations in large flat dimension. For rectangular tubing having a
ratio of outside large to small flat dimension greater than 3.0, the permissible
variations in small flat dimension shall be 2.0 times the permissible variations in
large flat dimension.
A500/A500M − 23
3