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What is HSS Steel Tubing ?

HSS is steel tubing formed into structural shapes, typically square or rectangular. This product represents an amazingly versatile and efficient material widely adopted in construction, architecture, and other structural applications.

Sizes: Alliance Tubular Products can produce all shapes on our capability chart as HSS. 

Grades: ATP produces HSS according to ASTM A-500 specifications. We can also run higher-strength grades or specific steel substrates to meet customer requirements.

Benefits of HSS Steel Tubing:

Superior Strength-to-Weight Ratio:  

 

HSS Tubing has an excellent strength-to-weight ratio due to several factors: 

 

  • Hollow shape is the secret to HSS's excellent strength-to-weight ratio. The material is formed into hollow sections, efficiently resisting transverse and axial loads while maintaining a low weight per foot. Thus, HSS tubes offer significant load-carrying capacities at reduced materials; reduced weight is achieved without necessarily sacrificing strength. 

 

  • Efficient Distribution of Forces: HSS squares and rectangles are optimized to resist loads effectively. The force is distributed outside the section where it experiences the highest stresses. The formed corners allow for increased resistance to deformation. 

 

  • Cross-Sectional Stability: Its geometrical properties, including perfectly symmetrical cross-sections, strengthen it. The hollow structure is inherently stable against bending and torsional forces, changing its general structural performance.  

 

    • Material Properties: HSS is typically made of high-strength steel alloys, which have advanced mechanical properties compared to conventional structural steel. These materials have higher yield strength and higher tensile strength, thus enabling them to bear greater loads with lower weight. 

 

 

  • Enhanced Structural Stability: First, the hollow shape of HSS tubing allows the material to be distributed more effectively by placing it where it does the best in resisting loads while minimizing excess weight. This helps with an increased strength-to-weight ratio and structural efficiency. Lastly, the inherent stability against bending and torsional forces results from the symmetrical cross-sectional shape of HSS tubing. This dramatically reduces the potential for buckling or deformation from loads applied to it. Apart from this, HSS tube manufacturing commonly features high-steel alloys with superior mechanical properties and strength for resisting applied loads. HSS tubes can offer superior structural stability and become highly sought after in various applications. 

 

  • Increased Design Flexibility: The hollow shape and versatile material properties of HSS tubing enable greater design flexibility. A hollow cross-section allows effective use of materials for strength where needed and minimizing weight. This will help innovators and engineers to make complex and novel designs without sacrificing structural integrity. Besides, HSS Tubing is available in various shapes such as square, rectangular, round, and different sizes, providing flexibility in design options specific to particular project needs. Besides, HSS tubing is easily cut, welded, and formed so that customization can be adapted to various architectural and engineering designs. Hollow shapes, multiple shapes and sizes, and ease of fabrication make HSS tubing highly adaptable to different design challenges, allowing more possibilities in construction and engineering projects. 

 

Applications for HSS Steel Tubing:

Automotive and Transportation Industry:

 

HSS tubing, with an excellent strength-to-weight ratio, is used in various automotive applications that enhance vehicle performance, safety, and fuel efficiency. 

 

Automotive applications of HSS steel tubing are for the following: 

 

  • Chassis and Frame Components: Vehicle chassis and frames are also well-built using HSS tubing. It maintains structural integrity with rigidity but with reduced weight. With this, the vehicle's handling and stability could be enhanced, together with improved crash safety.

 

  • Roll Cages: HSS tubing builds roll cages in racing cars and high-performance vehicles. These cages protect the occupants during a rollover or collision, improving safety overall. 

 

  • Suspension Components: HSS tubing can manufacture suspension components such as control arms, sway bars, trailing arms, and axles. Its high strength enables lighter designs without compromising performance or durability.  

 

  • Exhaust Systems: The exhaust system is manufactured from HSS tubing due to its heat—and corrosion-resistant qualities. Moreover, it is resistant to high temperatures and the hard operating conditions seen in automotive exhaust systems, which is essential for longevity and performance. 

 

  • Safety Structures: Besides roll cages, HSS tubing is used for in-car safety structures like side impact beams, roof reinforcements, and door beams. These structures improve the protection of the occupants in the event of collisions. 

 

  • Crush Zones: HSS tubing is sometimes designed right into the vehicle crash zones, enabling effective energy absorption and dissipation in a collision and reducing the impact forces imposed on occupants. 

 

  • Torsion Bars: HSS tubing can also produce torsion bars, which form part of some suspension systems. Torsion bars store energy released during motion to improve riding comfort and stability. 

 

  • Steering Columns: HSS tubing has been employed to construct steering columns due to its high strength and durability. It provides precise and reliable steering. 

Construction and Infrastructure:

 

High-strength steel tubing is widely used in most construction and infrastructural projects due to its excellent strength-to-weight ratio, durability, and versatility. 

 

Typical applications for this material in construction and infrastructure include: 

 

  • Building frames and structures: HSS is widely used in building frames for columns, beams, and trusses of structural parts. Because of the high strength, it allows for more robust and rigid structures with less weight. 

 

  • Bridges and Overpasses: In building these, the reinforcing material customarily used is HSS steel tubing, which may be utilized in structural members like girders, piers, and braces. Its strength and resilience make it perfectly suitable for heavy loads and the stresses put on them by traffic and weather conditions. 

 

  • Architecture Features: HSS tubing is used for architectural applications in canopies, atriums, staircases, and façades. Its aesthetic appeal allows the realization of visually striking and innovative architectural designs since its structural integrity permits it. 

 

  • HSS pipelining and supports: HSS tubing is used for pipes carrying fluids and gases, and pipework supports are used in industry, refineries, and electrical power plants. Its strength and corrosion resistance suit the high internal pressures and harsh external environmental conditions such pipes must endure.

 

  • Solar Panel Mounting Structures: HSS tubing is used to mount solar panels on the ground and rooftop. Its strength and durability ensure the mounting system's stability and longevity.

 

  • Retaining walls and sound barriers: HSS tubing can be used in highway, railway, and urban infrastructure projects to provide structural support and noise mitigation. Its high strength allows for the construction of high and stable barriers that may resist lateral pressures and vibrations. 

 

  • Temporary Structures: HSS Tubing at construction sites is used for constructing scaffolding, shoring systems, and temporary shelters. Being light in weight with strong construction, the structures are assembled and disassembled quickly to be relocated as required during construction. 

 

  • Water and wastewater treatment facilities: HSS tubes also find a place in water and wastewater treatment facilities, where the tubes are used for structural supports, piping systems, and mounting equipment. Resistance to corrosion and degradation caused by environmental factors will ensure long-term performance and reliability for such critical infrastructure projects. 

Agriculture:  

 

The strengths, durability, and flexibility of the HSS tubing make them applicable in many agricultural areas. 

Some general applications of HSS tubing in agriculture include: 

 

  • Farm Equipment: HSS tubing is used to manufacture tractors, harvesters, sprayers, and tillage implements. It is utilized for structural components, chassis, frames, and other load-carrying parts that give the strength and durability required to resist the rigors of agricultural operations. 

 

  • Livestock handling equipment: HSS tubing fabricates cattle chutes, pens, gates, and fences for handling livestock. Because of its strength and resilience, it can be helpful for restraint purposes, containing animals safely and securely, improving efficiency, and ensuring safety while managing livestock. 

 

  • Irrigation System: Irrigation systems using HSS tubing supply water to crops in agricultural fields. HSS is ideal for piping, structural supports, and irrigation equipment, including sprinkler heads and drip irrigation lines. 

 

  • Fencing and Trellising: HSS tubes manufacture the fencing system and trellises to protect and support crops. This also includes posts, rails, and framework parts in a durable and long-lasting manner, for which the material is much more suitable outdoors. 

 

  • Agricultural Trailers and Components: HSS tubing is used for trailers and transportation equipment to haul inputs, equipment, and crops on the farm. This applies to trailer frames, chassis, and structural parts because hauling operations require heavy-duty work.v

Grades of Steel is HSS Steel Tubing:

ASTM A500 Grade B: 

 

For nearly all applications, ASTM A500, a cold-formed, welded carbon steel, is the preferred choice for HSS Steel. 

ASTM A500 Grade B: 

Chemical Composition: 

  • Carbon (C): 0.26% max
  • Manganese (Mn): 1.35% max 
  • Phosphorus (P): 0.035% max 
  • Sulfur (S): 0.035% max  

* Though the actual chemical composition may vary depending on the actual manufacturing process and the requirements for a specific tubing, these are the maximum limits according to the ASTM standard. Other elements may form in trace quantities depending on the source of raw materials and manufacturing process.* 

Mechanical Properties for A-500 Grade B:  

  • Tensile Strength, Min. PSI – 58,000 
  • Yield Strength Min. PSI – 46,000 
  • Elongation in 2" Min. – 23% 

Tolerances:  

ASTM A500has the following tolerances for square and rectangular hollow structural sections (HSS): 

  • Wall thickness: ±10% of the specified nominal wall thickness, excluding the weld area 
  • Straightness: 1/8 in x 5, where 5 is the number of feet of total length 
  • Squareness of sides: Adjacent sides may deviate from 90° by a maximum of ±2° 
  • Outside corner radius: The radius of the outside corner of the section shall not exceed three times the specified wall thickness 

Maximum Twist: 

Per 3 ft of length, the maximum twist is 0.050 in for 1 to 1-1/2 in, 

  • 0.062 in for over 1-1/2 in to 2-1/2 in, 
  • 0.075 in for over 2-1/2 into 4 in, 
  • 0.087 in for over 4 in to 6 in, 
  • 0.100 in for over 6 into 8 in, and 0.112 in for over 8 in 

* It's important to note that these tolerances are typical values and may vary depending on the manufacturer, production method, and specific project requirements. 

 

ASTM A500 Grade C: 

Chemical Composition: 

  • Carbon (C): 0.23% max
  • Manganese (Mn): 1.35% max 
  • Phosphorus (P): 0.04% max 
  • Sulfur (S): 0.04% max 

* Though the actual chemical composition may vary depending on the actual manufacturing process and the requirements for a specific tubing, these are the maximum limits according to the ASTM standard. Other elements may form in trace quantities depending on the source of raw materials and manufacturing process.* 

Mechanical Properties:  

    • Tensile Strength: Minimum PSI 62,000  
    • Yield Strength: Minimum PSI 50,000
    • Elongation: 21% minimum in 2 inches (50.8 mm) 

 

Tolerances:  

  • Wall thickness: ±10% 
  • Straightness: 0.125 times the number of feet in the tube divided by 5, or 1 in for a 40 ft section 
  • Squareness: ±2° 

Maximum Twist:  

  • Twist: 0.050 in for lengths up to 1.5 in
  • 0.062 in for lengths over 1.5 into 2.5 in 
  • 0.075 in for lengths over 2.5 in to 4 in 
  • 0.087 in for lengths over 4 in to 6 in 
  • 0.100 in for lengths over 6 in to 8 in 
  • 0.112 in for lengths over 8 in 

* It's important to note that these tolerances are typical values and may vary depending on the manufacturer, production method, and specific project requirements. 

About Alliance Tubular Products

As an extension of Alliance, Alliance Tubular Products is the only steel tube mill in the country that can produce your specialty sections and metric shapes without the expense and lead times associated with new tooling. 

Alliance Tubular Products offers a range of value-added services for steel tubing that sets us apart from the competition. Our mill is direct from quality, and we ensure that every product meets rigorous standards for performance and reliability. 

Using our universal tooling rolling technology, Alliance Tubular can produce virtually any ERW square between 1.5" - 5.0" (38mm - 127mm) sq and any rectangle between 1.5" x 2.0" - 4.0" x 6.0" (102mm x 152mm). 

From master coil to tubular products, Alliance Tubular Products offers an extensive selection of tubular products crafted to meet each customer's specific needs.