ERW carbon steel pipe for structural applications

ERW Carbon Steel Pipe, also known as Electric Resistance Welded Carbon Steel Pipe, is a kind of highly efficient welded steel pipe. It is formed by rolling steel coils or steel strips into pipe blanks through a forming machine, heating both ends of the pipe blanks with high-frequency current and welding the edges under pressure. The manufacturing process of ERW carbon steel pipes is mature and the cost is low, so they are widely used in building structure engineering.

The main technical parameters of ERW carbon steel pipes

Nominal diameter (OD) : 1/4 "- 24" (13.7mm-610mm).
Wall thickness range: Schedule 10-160, commonly used Schedule 40 and 80.
Material standards: ASTM A53 Gr.A/B, ASTM A500, API 5L X42 - X70, EN 10217 S235 - S355.
Length: 1 m - 12 m (customizable according to project requirements).
Surface treatment: Generally, hot-dip galvanizing, epoxy powder (FBE), 3PE, black paint and other methods are adopted. These surface treatment methods can significantly improve the corrosion resistance of steel pipes.

Key advantages in structural applications

High cost performance: The production cycle of ERW carbon steel pipes is short, the utilization rate of raw materials is high, and the cost is relatively low, being only 60%-80% of that of seamless pipes. It has a high degree of automation and can produce in large quantities, effectively reducing labor costs.

Excellent mechanical properties: ERW carbon steel pipes have good mechanical properties, with yield strength ranging from 240 MPa to 450 MPa. Tensile strength: 400 MPa - 550 MPa; Elongation: 20% - 30%, meeting the deformation and load-bearing requirements of building structures.

Uniform size and wall thickness: The welds of ERW carbon steel pipes are smooth and the inner and outer walls are smooth, which is conducive to subsequent anti-corrosion construction. The dimensional tolerance is small, and the butt welding, welding and installation are more precise.

Strong detectability: Non-destructive testing of welds can be conducted using ultrasonic waves and X-rays, and hydrostatic tests can also be carried out to verify the pressure resistance performance of steel pipes, which can better ensure the structural safety of steel pipes.

Typical applications of ERW carbon steel pipes in structural engineering

Building structure: It is often used as supporting components such as columns, beams, trusses, and roof trusses.
Bridge engineering: In bridge engineering, ERW steel pipes are mainly used for bridge pier pile foundations, temporary supports, railings and guardrails, etc.
Scaffolding system: Widely used in the vertical rods of light and heavy scaffolding, and can also be used in the horizontal rods.
Storage and equipment support: It can serve as shelf columns, equipment brackets, pipe gallery supports, etc.
Municipal facilities: used for road railings, guardrails, advertising trusses, etc.

Selection suggestions for ERW carbon steel pipes

1. Select based on the load grade
Medium and light load structures: ASTM A53 Gr.A/B or API X42 - X52 is recommended.
Heavy-duty or critical structural components: API X60 - X70.

2. Choose based on the wall thickness
Schedule 40: Suitable for conventional building supports
Schedule 80 or higher: Suitable for heavy-load or anti-corrosion applications.

Compared with seamless pipes, ERW carbon steel pipes are made by high-frequency resistance welding technology, which has a low manufacturing cost and can be mass-produced. They exhibit good strength and dimensional uniformity in medium and low-pressure structural supports. The overall structure of seamless pipes has no welds, offering higher strength and consistency, making them suitable for harsh working conditions such as high pressure and high temperature. However, the production process is rather complicated and the delivery cycle is long.