EUROSTEEL 2017, September 13–15, 2017, Copenhagen, Denmark

Research on low-yield-point steels in Tsinghua University

Gang Shi*,a, Xun Wangb, Yong Zhangb
a
Department of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China
shigang@tsinghua.edu.cn
b
School of Civil Engineering, Beijing JiaoTong University, Beijing 100084, China
14121107@bjtu.edu.cn, zyz3000@126.com

ABSTRACT
For the advantages of low yield strength, high tensile-to-yield strength ratio and
excellent ductility, low-yield-point steels are extremely applicable for energy dissipation in
seismic design of steel structures, so they are more and more used in steel structures in
seismic areas. To get comprehensive understanding on material properties of low-yield-point
steels and give support to the design and engineering application, the research group in
Tsinghua University has conducted the study on the LY100, LY160 and LY255 three grades of
low-yield-point steels in China. The data of mechanical properties such as tensile strength,
yield strength, percentage elongation and impact work from the steel manufacturer have been
collected and analyzed by the mathematical statistics method based on the reliability theory, and
the partial factors for resistance of low-yield-point steels have been proposed. Also low-yield-
point steel coupon specimens were tested by different cyclic loading programs, and the
constitutive models under cyclic loading were proposed and calibrated. Furthermore, the low-
cycle fatigue behavior of low-yield-point steels were studied by tests, and the test results can be
used to predict the cyclic loading safety and life of low-yield-point steel components in steel
structures under earthquakes.
Keywords: Low-Yield-Point Steel, seismic, constitutive model, cyclic loading
1 INTRODUCTION
Energy dissipation technology has become a new developing domain and direction in
seismic design, which depends on the ductility of dampers to consumes the earthquake energy and
achieve the aim of protecting the main structure. To promote the development of energy
dissipation technology, low-yield-point steels are specifically developed with low yield strength,
high tensile-to-yield strength ratio and excellent ductility. In the 1990s, Chinese researchers
successfully created low-yield-point steels with three grades which are LY100, LY160 and
LY225, and the products have been already used in practical engineering works[1]. Low-yield-
point steels are always used in dampers or buckling restrained braces, undergoing low-cyclic
reversed loading during the earthquake. So it is very important to get better understanding of
material inelastic cyclic behaviour of low-yield-point steels.
The group in Tsinghua University has devoted to the study on the material properties of low-
yield-point steels in China. Firstly the mechanical properties of low-yield-point steels such
as tensile strength, yield strength, percentage elongation and impact work were studied
through analysing the data collected from the steel manufacturer, and the statistical parameters
of material uncertainty of LY100, LY160 and LY225 were proposed considering the effect of the
loading rates and test machine flexibility. Also a set of low-yield-point steel coupon specimens
were tested by different cyclic loading programs to study the cyclic performance of low-yield-
point steels and propose an appropriate constitutive models. Furthermore, the low-cycle
fatigue properties, the cyclic-strain response characteristics and the low-cyclic fatigue life of
low-yield-point steels have been evaluated by tests.

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2 STATISTICAL PARAMETERS OF MATERIAL UNCERTAINTY

In Ref. [2], 426 sets of data of mechanical properties of low-yield-point steel were collected
from the steel manufacturer, including yield strength, tensile strength, percentage elongation and
impact work. The data were analysed by the mathematical statistics method based on the reliability
theory and the ratio of mean yield strength to nominal was proposed which can be used to
calculate the material uncertainty of low-yield-point steel.
The material uncertainty reflects the difference between the actual performance of material
and the nominal value, and the effect of testing method should also be considered. All the factors
should be regarded as random variables. can be expressed as:
(1)
where is the conversion factor affected by testing method,
is obtained from Ref. [2].
The influence of testing method is always caused by two factors: testing rate and the
compliance of testing machine. Based on the previous studies[3][4], the measured strength will
increase with the increase of the testing rate. In building structures, the actual loading of members
can be seen as quasi-static process. However, in the mill test, the loading rate cannot be ignored,
which lead to a higher yield strength. So the conversion factor affected by testing rate can be
calculated as[5]:

(2)

In order to quantify , 14 sets of data collected from previous studies[3][4] were analysed,
and the values of statistical parameters of are shown in Table 1.
Another factor is the compliance of the testing machine, which can be expressed by . The
compliance of the test machine can lead to the deformation of the machine, which can further lead
to the difference between the target strain rate and the actual strain rate. The conversion factor
affected by the compliance of testing machine be calculated as[5]:

(3)

Based on the previous research[3][4], the statistical parameters of are determined from the
safety point of view, as shown in Table 1.
The factor can be expressed as:
(4)
The mean value and the coefficient variation of can be calculated as:
(5)
(6)

According to formula (1), the mean value and coefficient variation of can be calculated as:
(7)

(8)

The statistical parameters of the uncertainty of the material properties of low-yield-point steels
are shown in Table 1. And the statistical parameters of material uncertainty will provide basis for
the calculation of partial factors for resistance of low-yield-point steels.

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Table 1 Statistical parameters of material uncertainty of low-yield-point steels

Grade
LY100 0.9658 0.0070 1 0 0.9658 0.0070 1.3250 0.0750 1.2797 0.0753
LY160 0.9658 0.0070 1 0 0.9658 0.0070 1.1428 0.0590 1.1037 0.0594
LY225 0.9658 0.0070 0.9527 0.010 0.9201 0.0122 1.1024 0.0460 1.0143 0.0476

3 CYCLIC CONSTITUTIVE MODEL OF LYP

In order to investigate the mechanical behaviour of low-yield-point steels under cyclic loading
and establish constitutive models of LY100, LY160 and LY225, a series of experiments were
carried out subjected to different cyclic loading programs.
3.1 Experimental study
The dimension of specimen of LY100 and LY160 is shown in Fig 1(a), which is designed
according to Ref. [6]. The specimen of LY225 is designed according to Ref. [7], and the dimension
is shown in Fig 1(b). All the specimens were machined from steel plates. The experiments were
performed in Instron Model 8801. The experiments were strain-controlled using tension and
compression extensometer with a gauge length of 12.5mm. A series of cyclic loading programs
were designed as shown in Fig 2, in which ‘L’ represents LY100, ‘M’ represents LY160,‘H’
represents LY225. Apart from those shown in Fig 4, L-1-1~3(three specimens), M-1-1~3(three
specimens), H-1-1~4(four specimens) were respectively tested under monotonic loading. All the
specimens were stretched to fracture in the end. In the process, the specimens exhibited significant
necking phenomenon as shown in Fig 3, and did not make obvious sound when fracture happened.
R20

 
R25
40

?1
3   引伸计
5

14
R2

60 22,2 14 22,2 60

10 14 10
178,4
14

34
R25

60 20 14 20 60 10
14

174

60 22,2 14 22,2 60
178,4

a) LY100&LY160 b)LY225
Fig. 1. Dimension of specimens

Fig. 2. Cyclic loading schemes

The results of the monotonic tensile experiments are summarized in Table 2, and the
monotonic stress-strain curves of low-yield-point steels together with the curves of Q235B and
Q345B obtained from Ref. [8] are shown in Fig 4. Obvious yield platform can been seen in the
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monotonic stress-strain curves of low-yield-point steels, and after the yielding occurs, the stress of
low-yield-point steels increase evidently. As we can see, the ultimate strain εu of all specimens can
be more than 20%, which can be 2 times of the ordinary steels. When the strain of the specimens up
to 35%, the stress of low-yield-point steels has not yet declined obviously, which reflects the good
ductility of low-yield-point steels.
Table 2 Mechanical properties of specimens under monotonic loading
Grade Type E/MPa fy /MPa fu/MPa εu/%
L-1-1 208000 133 254 25.92
L-1-2 197000 127 253 26.97
LY100
L-1-3 192000 123 250 28.16
Average 199000 128 252 27.02
M-1-1 198000 186 295 24.36
M-1-2 190000 182 295 23.63
LY160
M-1-3 194000 189 292 24.49
Average 194000 186 294 24.16
H-1-1 190000 190 298 21.80
H-1-2 209000 192 294 23.00
LY225 H-1-3 207000 191 296 23.30
H-1-4 204000 192 293 25.19
Average 202500 191 295 23.32

Q235B
Q345B

LY225

LY100 LY160

Fig. 3. Specimens at fracture Fig. 4. Cyclic loading schemes

Fig 5 shows the typical hysteretic curves of LY100, LY160 and LY225 steel under different
cyclic loading programs. It is shown that the hysteretic curves are plump, corresponding to the good
ductility nature and dissipation ability of low-yield-point steel. With the increase of cycles, the
stress of the specimens will increase, which called cyclic hardening characteristics. The hardening
behaviour of low-yield-point steel is a combination of isotropic hardening and kinematics hardening,
and the former is more obvious.

Fig. 5. Typical hysteretic curves

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3.2 Model Validation

In order to prove the reliability of the cyclic constitution models of low-yield-point steel
proposed above, the comparisons of experimental data and the data calculated by software
ABAQUS according to the model proposed are shown in Fig 6 and a good agreement can be found.
True stress(MPa)

True stress(MPa)

True stress(MPa)

True stress(MPa)
L-3 L-4 L-8 L-9

True strain(%) True strain(%) True strain(%)

True strain(%)
True stress(MPa)

True stress(MPa)

True stress(MPa)
True stress(MPa)

M-4 M-5 M-6 M-7

True strain(%) True True

True strain(%)
strain(%) strain(%)

True stress(MPa)
True stress(MPa)
True stress(MPa)
True stress(MPa)

H-10 M-11 M-12 M-13

True strain(%) True strain(%) True strain(%)

True strain(%)

Fig. 6. Comparison between experimental curves and FEA (finite element analysis) curves

4 LOW-CYCLIC FATIGUE BEHAVIOUR OF LYP

The low-cyclic fatigue behaviour of low-yield-point steel was investigated comprehensively
through a series of strain-controlled constant-amplitude low-cyclic fatigue tests. In what follows,
the low-cyclic fatigue behaviour of low-yield-point steels were evaluated and discussed including
the cyclic hardening characteristic, stress-strain response and the low-cyclic fatigue life prediction.
4.1 Experimental study
The experimental equipment is the same with what introduced above, and the dimension of
specimens of LY100, LY160 and LY225 is the same with the specimen shown in Fig 1(a). The
strain amplitude is in the range of 0.5%~6%, while the strain ratio R=-1. All specimens were tested
to complete fracture, and the final cycle times was defined as the life of the specimens.
During the experiments, some specimens were ended in buckling and the fractures of some
specimens were formed outside the range of the gauge. The test results of these specimens
mentioned above should not be adopted. The results of the experiments were summarized in Table
3, in which “×” means the test result is invalid, “-” means the test is not carried out.
Table 3 The fatigue life corresponding to each strain amplitude value
Strain 0.5% 1% 1.5% 2% 2.5% 3% 3.5% 4% 4.5% 5% 5.5% 6%
694 392 192 123 103 68 33 42 ×
LY100 - 512 - 211 126 82 69 46 35 - -
× - - - 119 - × × -
1008 460 251 158 121 92 68 55 40 × ×
LY160 - × × 221 139 - - - - - × -
× - × - - - - - - - -
× 1220 × 260 159 101 95 78 60 46 - ×
LY225
- - - - - - - - - - - -

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4.2 Cyclic hardening

Fig 7 shows the stress amplitude ∆σ/2 which is the average value of the maximum tensile
stress and compressive stress of each cycle throughout the lifetime of each specimen. As can be
seen, at the beginning the stress amplitude is growing rapidly, after several cycles the growth rate of
stress amplitude is going to slow down, but it still kept growth until it reached the peak value, then
the stress amplitude decreased quickly.
LY100 LY160 LY225
4.5% 4% 4.5% 4% 4%
3.5%

The stress amplitude ∆σ/2(MPa)

The stress amplitude ∆σ/2(MPa)

3.5% 5% 3.5%
3%

The stress amplitude ∆σ/2(MPa)

3% 5% 4.5%
2.5% 2.5% 3%
2% 1.5% 2% 2.5%
1.5% 2%
1%
1% 1%

fy fy
fy

Cycles, N Cycles, N Cycles, N

a) LY100 b)LY160 c)LY225

Fig. 7. Cyclic hardening
4.3 Stress-strain responses
Fig 8 shows the stress-strain data of all specimens for each type of steel, in which the initial
hardening and the final descending portions are removed. The cyclic stress-strain curves are
modelled with Ramberg-Osgood model [9] as shown in formula (9):

(9)
The coefficients “ ” and “ ” are obtained by curve fitting, and the results are summarized in
Table 4. As can be seen in Fig 8, the model can be effective in estimating the peaks of the stress
under various strain amplitudes. And there is a big difference between the cyclic and monotonic
stress-strain curves.
LY100 Monotonic Cyclic LY160 Monotonic Cyclic LY225 Cyclic
Monotonic
Stress, σ (MPa)
Stress, σ (MPa)

Stress, σ (MPa)

Axial Strain,ε(%) Axial Strain,ε(%) Axial Strain,ε(%)

a) LY100 b)LY160 c)LY225

Fig. 8. Comparison of cyclic and monotonic stress-strain comparison
4.4 Low-cyclic fatigue life
The strain-life discrete data points obtained from the experiments are shown on a log-log plot
in Fig 9, in which the fatigue life is going to increase along with the decreasing strain amplitude.
The Coffin-Manson model [10][11] described by formula (10) was used to describe the relationship
between strain amplitude and the fatigue life. The values obtained are summarized in Table 4 and
the curves fitted are shown in Fig 9. As shown, the Coffin-Manson model displays close agreement
with the data recorded from experiments.

2 2 (10)
where and b are the coefficient and exponent of fatigue strength,
and c are the coefficient and exponent of fatigue ductility.

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LY100
LY160

Strain Amplitude, ∆ε/2(%)

LY225

Reversals, 2Nf

Fig. 9. Low-cyclic fatigue life of low-yield-point steel

Table 4 The fatigue life corresponding to each strain amplitude value
‘ ‘
Grade E/MPa K’/MPa n’ /MPa b c
LY100 199000 828 0.253 687 -0.134 0.388 -0.505
LY160 194000 684 0.192 573 -0.087 0.524 -0.538
LY225 202500 670 0.244 608 -0.103 0.634 -0.567

5 CONCLUSIONS
A series of work was conducted in this paper to study material properties of low-yield-point
steels. And the main conclusions are drawn as follows:
(1)Test data of mechanical properties of low-yield-point steel were collected and analysed, the
statistical parameters of material uncertainty were obtained. The production quality of the low-
yield-point steel in China is stable. Unlike other steels, there is no explicit relationship between the
thickness of plates and the mechanical properties of low-yield-point steel.
(2)The low-yield-point steel has good ductility and energy dissipation capacity. And low-
yield-point steel shows obvious cyclic hardening characteristic under cyclic loading which lead to a
quite difference from the response under monotonic loading.
(3)Cyclic constitution models of low-yield-point steel were established and verified to be
applicable and accurate, which provide basis for the further research of the low-yield-point steel.
(4)The Coffin-Manson prediction model proposed exhibit good agreement with the
experimental results. It can be used to predict the low-cyclic fatigue life of low-yield-point steel
under different strain amplitudes.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Excellent Young
Scientist Programme of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51522806) and the
National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51478244).

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© Ernst & Sohn Verlag für Architektur und technische Wissenschaften GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin · CE/papers (2017)
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