RINA Grade E620 Shipbuilding Steel Plate

RINA Grade E620 Shipbuilding Steel Plate

RINA Grade E620 Shipbuilding Steel Plate - 620 MPa Yield, Quenched & Tempered

Comprehensive data for RINA Grade E620: chemical composition, mechanical and thermal properties, international equivalent grades, and application guidance for this high-strength quenched and tempered ship plate.

Cutting, welding (SMAW, SAW, GMAW), cold forming (minimum bend radius recommendations apply), hot forming with subsequent heat treatment

RINA Grade E620 Shipbuilding Steel Plate Introduction

RINA Grade E620 is a high-strength quenched and tempered shipbuilding steel with a specified minimum yield strength of 620 MPa, certified by the Italian classification society RINA. Designed for critical structural components in ships and offshore platforms, E620 offers excellent strength, toughness, and weldability in low-temperature marine environments. The steel is typically supplied in plate form, normalized or thermo-mechanically rolled before quenching and tempering. Its fine-grain microstructure and controlled chemistry (low carbon equivalent) ensure good crack arrest properties and resistance to brittle fracture, even at -40°C. Stringent limits on phosphorus and sulfur enhance surface quality and fatigue resistance.

  • High yield/tensile ratio for weight-optimized structures
  • Excellent notch toughness at sub-zero temperatures
  • Compliant with IACS unified requirements for ship steels

This grade is widely adopted in regions following RINA rules or accepting class equivalents.

RINA Grade E620 Shipbuilding Steel Plate Chemical Composition

Chemical composition as per RINA Rules for E620 grade. Limits ensure good weldability and mechanical properties. Carbon equivalent (CEV) is controlled to avoid cold cracking. Fine-grain elements (Nb, V, Ti, Al) are added to refine the microstructure.

  • Carbon: up to 0.20%
  • Mn: contributes to strength and hardenability
  • Ni and Cr: improve toughness and resistance to temper embrittlement

Actual values may be tighter depending on plate thickness; the table reflects maximum permissible values unless a range is given.

ElementStandard Value (%)Remarks
Carbon (C)≤ 0.20Ladle analysis
Silicon (Si)≤ 0.55Deoxidation and strength
Manganese (Mn)≤ 1.70Increases hardenability
Phosphorus (P)≤ 0.025Low P for ductility
Sulfur (S)≤ 0.025Low S for lamellar tearing resistance
Aluminum (Alt)≥ 0.015Minimum total Al for grain refinement
Nitrogen (N)≤ 0.012Control of precipitate size
Niobium (Nb)≤ 0.05Microalloying element
Vanadium (V)≤ 0.10Precipitation hardening
Titanium (Ti)≤ 0.05Grain refinement and toughness
Chromium (Cr)≤ 0.80Optional alloying for thick plates
Nickel (Ni)≤ 2.00Improves low-temperature toughness
Molybdenum (Mo)≤ 0.50Enhances hardenability in thick sections
Copper (Cu)≤ 0.50Atmospheric corrosion resistance, limited to avoid hot shortness
Boron (B)≤ 0.004Used in some heats to boost hardenability
Carbon Equivalent (CEV)≤ 0.52 (typically)Based on product thickness; formula: C+Mn/6+(Cr+Mo+V)/5+(Ni+Cu)/15

RINA Grade E620 Shipbuilding Steel Plate Thermal and Electrical Physical Properties

Physical properties are typical for quenched and tempered low-carbon alloy steel. These values are applicable for preliminary design and finite element analysis. Actual properties may vary slightly with chemical composition and heat treatment.

  • Density: ~7850 kg/m³
  • Thermal expansion: linear coefficient ~12 × 10⁻⁶ /K up to 100°C
  • Thermal conductivity decreases with increasing temperature

Electrical resistivity is given for direct current applications.

PropertyTypical ValueUnitTest Condition / Remarks
Density (ρ)7850kg/m³Room temperature
Elastic modulus (E)210GPaTension, ambient temperature
Shear modulus (G)~80GPaCalculated from E and ν
Poisson's ratio (ν)0.3Typical for steel
Coefficient of thermal expansion (α)12.0 × 10⁻⁶K⁻¹20–100 °C range
Thermal conductivity (λ)45W/(m·K)At 20 °C
Specific heat capacity (cp)460J/(kg·K)Ambient to moderate temperature
Electrical resistivity (ρe)0.20 × 10⁻⁶Ω·mAt 20 °C, typical for carbon steel

RINA Grade E620 Shipbuilding Steel Plate Mechanical Properties

Mechanical properties are verified on transverse test pieces unless otherwise specified. Minimum requirements apply for plate thicknesses up to 100 mm; for thicker plates, values may be slightly reduced per RINA rules. Impact tests at -40°C ensure suitability for polar and harsh environments.

  • Yield and tensile specimens taken from base material
  • Charpy V-notch impact test: minimum average value 50 J, single value 35 J
  • Bend test: 180° over former diameter 3t (t = plate thickness), no cracks allowed
PropertyStandard Requirement ValueUnitTest Condition
Yield strength (ReH)≥ 620MPaAmbient temperature, transverse
Tensile strength (Rm)720 – 890MPaAmbient temperature, transverse
Elongation (A5)≥ 14%Gauge length 5.65√So
Charpy V-notch impact (KV)≥ 50 (average) / ≥ 35 (single)JTransverse, -40 °C
Bend test (180°)No cracks or defectsFormer diameter = 3 × plate thickness (t)

RINA Grade E620 Shipbuilding Steel Plate Full Equivalent Grades – Identical Yield Strength and Impact Class

Country / RegionStandardGrade DesignationRemarks
ItalyRINA RulesE620Original classification; -40°C impact
USA / InternationalABS RulesEQ70ABS equivalent; 620 MPa minimum yield, -40°C
Norway / GermanyDNV RulesE690DNV equivalent; identical strength and impact class
UKLloyd's Register RulesEH620LR designation; also classed as EH620
FranceBureau Veritas RulesE620BV adopts same grade name
ChinaCCS RulesE620China Classification Society equivalent
JapanClassNK RulesKE620Nippon Kaiji Kyokai equivalent
KoreaKR RulesRE620Korean Register equivalent

RINA Grade E620 Shipbuilding Steel Plate Application Introduction

RINA Grade E620 steel is engineered for demanding marine and offshore applications where high specific strength and excellent low-temperature toughness are critical. Ideal for weight-sensitive, dynamically loaded structures.

  • Suitable for fatigue-critical joints when correctly designed and welded.
  • Can be processed by all common cutting and welding methods; preheating may be required for thick sections (consult manufacturer's recommendations).
  • Corrosion protection is typically achieved via coating systems, as the steel has limited atmospheric corrosion resistance.

When substituting an equivalent grade, ensure the certification scope matches the required class society and product thickness range.

Product Applications: Hull plates and stiffeners for large container ships, bulk carriers, and LNG carriers, Deck and bottom plates for offshore drilling units, Reinforced panels for blast walls, Leg sections of self-elevating platforms (jack-up legs), Girder webs and flanges in crane structures

Processed into products: Longitudinal and transverse hull frames, Main and weather deck plates, Hatch coamings and bulwark plating, Load-bearing brackets and stiffeners, Shear plates and cruciform joints in high-stress zones, Lifting lugs and pad-eyes (when approved by design), Transition pieces in topside-to-jacket connections

Application industries: Shipbuilding and ship repair (merchant vessels, naval ships, icebreakers), Offshore oil and gas (jack-up rigs, floating production units, platform decks), Renewable energy (offshore wind turbine foundations, substation topsides), Heavy lifting and transport (crane booms, heavy-lift vessel frames), Mining and earthmoving equipment (machinery cabins, booms)

RINA Grade E620 Shipbuilding Steel Plate Similar/Neighboring Grades – Close Performance Alternatives

Country / RegionStandardGrade DesignationRemarks
MultipleEN 10025-6S620Q / S620QL / S620QL1Structural quenched & tempered steel, min 620 MPa yield (t≤50 mm), different toughness classes (QL: -40°C, QL1: -60°C)
MultipleASTM A514/A514MASTM A514 Grade B/H/F/QQuenched & tempered alloy steel plates with yield 690 MPa; similar applications, but higher strength and CEV may require careful welding
ItalyRINAE690Higher strength variant (≥690 MPa); same toughness at -40°C; suitable where weight savings justify increased cost
ItalyRINAE550Lower yield strength (≥550 MPa); often used where higher ductility or forming is needed
Norway/GermanyDNVE690DNV grade with 690 MPa yield; direct substitute if design allows slight over-strength
UKLREH690EH690 directly replaces E620 when approved by classification; check welding procedures

Notes:

Welding considerations: Consumables should match or slightly overmatch the base metal strength (e.g., AWS E11018-M or equivalent). Preheating to 100–150°C is recommended for plates thicker than 30 mm. Post-weld heat treatment is generally not needed unless specified by the construction code. Forming: Hot forming should be followed by re-heat treatment to restore properties. Certification: Each plate is stamped with the RINA mark, steel grade, heat number, and thickness. Third-party inspection is mandatory for class-approved structures. For further details, refer to the latest edition of the RINA Rules for Materials and Welding.

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