ASTM A3-01

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Designation: A 3 – 01
Standard Specification for
Steel Joint Bars, Low, Medium, and High Carbon (Non-Heat-
1
Treated)
This standard is issued under the fixed designationA3; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope 3.1.3 Grade—in accordance with 1.2 and Table 1 and Table
2,
1.1 This specification covers steel joint bars for connecting
3.1.4 Dimension—overall length,
steel rails in mine, industrial, and standard railroad track.
3.1.5 Punching—type (elliptical, oval, round, or combina-
1.2 Three grades of joint bars are defined for applications
tions), size, number, location, spacing, and elevation of
where non-heat treated bars are suitable:
punched holes, with dimensional drawing if necessary,
1.2.1 Grade 1, low-carbon, primarily for industrial and mine
3.1.6 Special Requirements—notching, shearing, bundling,
use.
etc., including details, and
1.2.2 Grade 2, medium-carbon, primarily for industrial and
3.1.7 Certification and Test Report Requirements—(Section
mine use.
11).
1.2.3 Grade 3, high-carbon, for general use in standard
railroad track. They may be used in the production of insulated
4. Manufacture
track joints.
4.1 The steel shall be made by one or both of the following
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
processes: basic-oxygen or electric-furnace.
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for
4.1.1 The steel may be cast by a continuous process, or in
information only.
ingots.
2. Referenced Documents 4.2 Grade 2, medium-carbon, joint bars may be punched,
slotted, and shaped in the case of special designs, either hot or
2.1 ASTM Standards:
cold. Joint bars that are punched, slotted, or shaped cold shall
A 370 Test Methods and Definitions for MechanicalTesting
2 be subsequently annealed.
of Steel Products
4.3 Grade 3, high-carbon, joint bars shall be uniformly
A 700 Practices for Packaging, Marking, and Loading
3 heated for punching, slotting, and shaping.
Methods for Steel Products for Domestic Shipment
5. Chemical Requirements
3. Ordering Information
5.1 The steel shall conform to the requirements as to
3.1 Orders for joint bars under this specification shall
chemical composition prescribed in Table 1.
include the following information as appropriate:
5.2 Heat or Cast Analysis—An analysis of each heat or cast
3.1.1 Quantity—number of pairs of bars,
shall be made by the manufacturer to determine the percent-
3.1.2 Type—design or type bar along with section designa-
ages of carbon, manganese, phosphorus, and sulfur. The
tion and weight of rails being joined,
analysis shall be made from a test sample taken preferably
during the pouring of the heat or cast. The chemical composi-
1 tion thus determined shall conform to the requirement in Table
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel,
1. Manganese and sulfur determinations are for information
Stainless Steel and RelatedAlloys, and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A01.01 on Steel Rails and Accessories.
only.
Current edition approved April 10, 2001. Published May 2001. Originally
5.3 Product Analysis—When ladle tests are not available,
published as A3 – 1901. Last previous edition A3 – 87 (1995).
2
finished material representing the heat may be product tested.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.03.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.05. The product analysis allowance beyond the limits of the
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A 3–01
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
7.2 The joint bars shall be either sheared or sawed to length,
punched to the dimensions specified by the purchaser and
Elements Composition, %
alignment adjusted, all subject to the permissible variations
Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3
prescribed in 7.3, 7.4, and Table 4.
Carbon, min . 0.30 0.45
7.3 Any variation from a straight line in a vertical plane
Phosphorus, max 0.05 0.05 0.04
shall be such as will make the bars high in the center.
7.4 For girder rail applications only, any variation from a
straight line in a horizontal plane shall be such as will make the
TABLE 2 Product Analysis
bars convex towards the web of the rail.
Allowance Beyond Limits of Specified Chemical
8. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance
Analysis
Percent under Percent over 8.1 The joint bars shall be straight, subject to the variations
min limit max limit
prescribed in 7.3, 7.4, and Table 4.
Carbon 0.04 0.04
8
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