ASTM A616/A616M-96a PDF

Full title and description

ASTM A616/A616M-96a — Standard Specification for Rail‑Steel Deformed and Plain Bars for Concrete Reinforcement. A short ASTM specification that defined the sizes, mechanical requirements, and optional supplementary requirements for rail‑steel deformed and plain reinforcement bars supplied in either inch‑pound (A616) or SI (A616M) units.

Abstract

This withdrawn ASTM specification (A616/A616M-96a) covered rail‑steel deformed and plain bars intended for use as concrete reinforcement. It specified standard sizes and number designations, two minimum yield levels (Grade 50 [350 MPa] and Grade 60 [420 MPa]), basic mechanical test requirements and an optional Supplementary Requirement S1. The specification excluded weldability requirements and permitted orders in either inch‑pound or SI units.

General information

• Status: Withdrawn (1999); later superseded in practice by ASTM A996/A996M (replacement history recorded by ASTM).
• Publication date: January 1, 1996 (designation A616/A616M-96a).
• Publisher: ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials).
• ICS / categories: 77.140.15 (Steels for reinforcement of concrete) and related civil/structural materials categories.
• Edition / version: A616/A616M‑96a (1996, revision A).
• Number of pages: 4 (concise specification).

Scope

The specification applied to deformed and plain rail‑steel bars used for concrete reinforcement. It set out the standard sizes and number designations (referenced as Table 1 in the text), minimum yield levels (Grade 50 and Grade 60), requirements for plain rounds (up to 2 in / 50.8 mm when specified for dowels, spirals and ties), and provided an optional supplementary requirement (S1). The standard did not address weldability and made clear that inch‑pound and SI values are to be used independently.

Key topics and requirements

• Designation and scope: rail‑steel deformed and plain bars for concrete reinforcement.
• Mechanical property requirements: minimum yield strengths of 50 000 psi (350 MPa) and 60 000 psi (420 MPa) for Grade 50 and Grade 60 respectively; associated tensile and elongation requirements as applicable by bar size.
• Sizes and number designations: standard bar sizes and deformation geometry defined by the referenced table(s) in the specification.
• Plain round provisions: allowances for plain rounds up to 2 in (50.8 mm) diameter for specific uses (dowels, spirals, ties) with alternate bending test provisions.
• Optional Supplementary Requirement S1: purchaser‑specified additional requirement(s) when required.
• Units and tolerances: separate inch‑pound and SI (A616M) systems — values are not exact equivalents and must be used independently.
• Excluded topics: weldability and some modern performance requirements were not addressed by this short specification.

Typical use and users

This specification was used by material specifiers, structural and civil engineers, reinforcement suppliers, precast concrete manufacturers, transportation agencies and procurement officers when rail‑steel reinforcement was selected. Because A616/A616M-96a has been withdrawn, designers and procurement specialists now generally reference successor or broader reinforcing‑steel specifications (for example ASTM A615/A615M, A996/A996M or other current ASTM/AASHTO/ACI documents) for current projects.

Related standards

Relevant and related ASTM standards include (but are not limited to): ASTM A615/A615M (deformed and plain carbon‑steel bars for concrete reinforcement), ASTM A617/A617M (axle‑steel deformed and plain bars — also withdrawn), ASTM A996/A996M (rail‑steel and axle‑steel deformed bars for concrete reinforcement — recorded as the later replacement), and other reinforcement standards such as A934/A934M, A955, A706 and applicable ACI/transportation agency specifications. Users should consult the current editions of these documents for up‑to‑date requirements.

Keywords

ASTM A616, A616M, rail‑steel, reinforcement, deformed bars, plain bars, rebar, Grade 50, Grade 60, concrete reinforcement, supplementary requirement S1, withdrawn standard.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM A616/A616M-96a is a short ASTM specification titled "Standard Specification for Rail‑Steel Deformed and Plain Bars for Concrete Reinforcement," published January 1, 1996.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covered deformed and plain rail‑steel bars used for concrete reinforcement, defining standard sizes/number designations, minimum yield levels (Grade 50 and Grade 60), test and mechanical requirements for bars (and plain rounds up to 2 in for certain uses), and an optional Supplementary Requirement S1. The specification did not address weldability.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Material specifiers, structural/civil engineers, reinforcement manufacturers and suppliers, precast concrete producers and contracting agencies historically used it when specifying rail‑steel reinforcement. Today those users normally refer to current ASTM and agency standards that supersede or replace it.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The designation A616/A616M‑96a is withdrawn (withdrawal recorded in 1999). ASTM records indicate it was subsequently superseded in practice by ASTM A996/A996M (and related reinforcement standards). For any active project you should reference the current ASTM or agency document rather than A616/A616M‑96a.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It formed part of the suite of ASTM reinforcement and steel bar specifications (alongside A615/A615M, A617/A617M, A996/A996M, etc.). Those documents together cover deformed/plain bars from various steel sources (billet, rail, axle, low‑alloy, stainless, etc.).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: rail‑steel, deformed bars, plain bars, reinforcement, ASTM A616, A616M, Grade 50, Grade 60, S1 supplementary requirement, withdrawn.