Pushing the limits towards the sky: ArcelorMittal’s largest jumbos are now available in A913 Grade 80

Ten years after the industrial development of A913 Grade 80, ArcelorMittal is pushing the boundaries of structural steel construction, by extending Grade 80 availability to a wider range of jumbo sections. This opens opportunities for taller buildings, more efficient structures and lower carbon-emission construction.

A new range of Grade 80 sections, also in XCarb®

ArcelorMittal has extended its offer in Grade 80 to new ranges, reaching records in strength and dimensions: newly available Grade 80 jumbo beams, from biggest W14x16x730 lbs to the largest W 36x16/5 652-925 lbs, demonstrate ArcelorMittal’s leadership position in the development of high strength hot rolled sections.

Available in XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel – associating the 100% scrap route and 100% renewable electricity – the new Grade 80 jumbo sections combine low-alloy, low-carbon steel with low carbon-emissions production. This development is unique in its kind and opens up opportunities in the construction market for more sustainable and future-oriented construction projects.

A decade of innovation, to ally weldability to strength

ASTM A913 Grade 80, with a specified yield strength of 80 ksi (550 MPa), was first developed by ArcelorMittal in 2016. A decade later, it still represents the world's highest-strength structural steel grade available for hot rolled sections.

The exceptional performance of Grade 80 is enabled by the Quenched and Self-Tempered (QST) manufacturing process. Immediately after rolling, the surface of the section is rapidly cooled while the core remains hot. The residual heat from the core then naturally tempers the cooled outer layer, producing an optimised microstructure that combines high strength, toughness and ductility. This unique metallurgical concept allows Grade 80 to achieve its high mechanical performance while maintaining a low-alloy chemical design and a low carbon content, which significantly facilitates welding operations.

Up to 48% in weld volume and 68% in weight reduction, when switching design from Gr 50 to Gr 80

These properties offer engineers an attractive combination of strength, reliability and constructability. Despite its higher strength, Grade 80 remains easy to integrate into existing fabrication practices. More importantly, Grade 80 sections are supplied within the same delivery framework as standard Grade 50 and Grade 65 sections.

Replacing Grade 50 with Grade 80 can generate steel weight savings of more than 30% depending on the application. Reduced steel tonnage lowers the dead load of structures and can lead to smaller foundations, fewer piles and reduced concrete consumption. These benefits create project savings that extend beyond the steel package itself while simultaneously reducing the overall environmental footprint of a construction project.

The importance of reaching design standards

A913 Grade 80 has been successfully incorporated into United States design and welding standards and remains the only prequalified structural steel with a yield strength of 80 ksi.

Across the UAE and GCC, designers are increasingly adopting higher-strength steels such as S460 and S500 to optimize heavily loaded structures. The introduction of ASTM A913 Grade 80 extends this trend into rolled structural sections.

Proven success in landmark projects

Grade 80 has been selected for numerous projects where strength, efficiency and sustainability have been critical design criteria. By replacing conventional Grade 50 steel, Grade 80 allows designers to significantly reduce steel tonnage while maintaining the required structural performance.

More projects and details here.