ASTM - A556/A556M
SPECIFICATION FOR SEAMLESS COLD-DRAWN
CARBON STEEL FEEDWATER HEATER TUBES
This specification covers minimum-wall-thickness, seamless cold-drawn carbon steel tubes including bending
into the form of U-tubes, if specified, for use in tubular feedwater heaters.
The tubing sizes covered shall be 5⁄8 to 11⁄4 in. [15.9 to 31.8 mm] outside diameter, inclusive, with minimum
wall thicknesses equal to or greater than 0.045 in. [1.1 mm].
Heat Treatment :-
1. Cold-drawn tubes shall be heat treated after the final cold-draw pass at a temperature of 1200°F
[640°C] or higher to ensure ductility satisfactory for rolling into tube sheets and to meet mechanical
properties as specified.
2. If stress-relief anneal of the U-bends is specified, the anneal shall consist of heating the bent portion
within a range of 1100 to 1200°F [585 to 640°C].
Chemical Composition :-
The steel shall conform to one of the requirements as to chemical composition as prescribed in Table 1.
Table 1
Element Grade A2 Grade B2 Grade C2
Carbon, max 0.18 0.27 0.3
Manganese 0.27–0.63 0.29–0.93 0.29–1.06
Phosphorus, max 0.035 0.035 0.035
Sulfur, max 0.035 0.035 0.035
Silicon, max ... 0.1 0.1
Permissible Variations in Dimensions (Fig. 1) :-
1. Permissible variations from the specified outside diameter shall not exceed ±0.004 in. [0.10 mm] for
tubing under 1.0 in. [25.4 mm] outside diameter nor ±0.006 in. [0.15 mm] for tubing 1.0 in. [25.4 mm]
to 1.25 in. [31.7 mm] inclusive. These tolerances do not apply to the bent portion of the U-tubes.
2. At the bent portion of a U-tube, for R = 2×D, neither the major nor minor diameter of the tube shall
deviate from nominal by more than 10%. If 1(1⁄2) D is specified, tolerances could be greater.
3. Permissible variations from the specified minimum wall thickness shall not exceed + 20% or − 0 for
the straight tubing. The wall thickness of the U-tube in the bent section shall be not less than the value
determined by: tf = T(2R)/(2R+D)
where: tf = wall thickness after bending, in. [mm],
T = specified minimum tube wall thickness, in.
[mm], R = center line bend radius, in. [mm], and D =
nominal outside tube diameter, in. [mm].
4. In the case of U-tubes, the length of the tube legs, as measured from the point of tangency of the bend
and the tube leg to the end of the tube leg, shall not be less than specified, but may exceed the
specified values by the amount given in Table 2. The difference in lengths of the tube legs shall not be
greater than 1⁄8 in. [3 mm] unless otherwise specified.
5. The end of any tube may depart from the square by not more than the amount given in Table 3.
6. The bent portion of the U-tube shall be substantially uniform in curvature and not exceed ±1⁄16 in.
[±1.5 mm] of the normal center line radius.
Table 2
Leg Length, ft [m] Plus Tolerance, in. Leg Length, ft [m] [mm]
Up to 20 [6], incl 1⁄8 [3.2]
Over 20 to 30 [6 to 9], incl 5⁄32 [4.0]
Over 30 to 40 [9 to 12.2], incl 3⁄16 [4.8]
Table 3
Tube OD, in. [mm] Tolerance in. [mm]
5⁄8 [15.9] 0.010 [0.25]
Over 5⁄8 to 11⁄4 [15.9 to 31.7], incl 0.016 [0.4]
Mechanical Properties :-
1. Tensile Properties — The material shall conform to the requirements as to tensile properties
prescribed in Table 4.
2. Hardness Requirements — The tubes shall not exceed the Rockwell Hardness shown in Table 5.
Table 4
Grade A2 Grade B2 Grade C2
Tensile strength, min, ksi [MPa] 47[320] 60[410] 70[480]
Yield strength, min, ksi [MPa] 26[180] 37[260] 40[280]
Elongation in 2 in. or 50 mm, min, % (longitudinal) 35 30 30
Table 5
Grade A2 HR B72
Grade B2 HR B79
Grade C2 HR B89
Mechanical Tests Required :- 1. Tension Test.
2. Flattening Test.
3. Flaring Test.
4. Hardness Test — Brinell or Rockwell hardness tests shall be made on specimens from two tubes from
each lot.
5. Hydrostatic Test—Each U-tube shall be subjected to a hydrostatic test, using a noncorrosive fluid, or
when agreed upon between the purchaser and manufacturer, they may be tested at 1(1⁄2) times the
specified design working pressure.
Non-destructive Test (Electric Test) :-
Each tube shall be tested after the finish heat treatment following the final cold-drawn pass by passing through
a non-destructive tester capable of detecting defects on the entire cross section of the tube.
1. Ultrasonic examination :-
The ultrasonic examination referred to in this specification is intended to detect longitudinal
discontinuities having a reflective area similar to or larger than the calibration reference notches
For examination by the ultrasonic method, the minimum nominal transducer frequency shall be 2.0
MHz, and the maximum transducer size shall be 1.5 in. (38 mm).
2. Eddy current examination :-
The eddy current examination referenced in this specification has the capability of detecting
significant discontinuities, especially of the short abrupt type.
For eddy current testing, the excitation coil frequency shall be chosen to ensure adequate
penetration, yet provide good signal-to-noise ratio. The maximum coil frequency shall be:
Specified Wall Thickness Maximum Frequency
<0.050 in. 100 KHz
0.050 to 0.150 50 KHz
>0.150 10 KHz
3. Flux leakage examination :-
The flux leakage examination referred to in this specification is capable of detecting the presence and
location of significant longitudinally or transversely oriented discontinuities.
For eddy current testing, the reference standard shall contain, at the option of the manufacturer, any
one of the following discontinuities:
i. Drilled Hole
ii. Transverse Tangential Notch
iii. Longitudinal Notch
4. Hydrostatic test :-
This test has the capability of finding defects of a size permitting the test fluid to leak through the tube
wall and may be either visually seen or detected by a loss of pressure.
FIG. 1 BENT PORTION OF U-TUBE
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