CCS AH500 (A500) Steel Plate – Properties & Equivalents

CCS AH500 (also written CCS A500, CCS/A500, CCS Grade A500 or AH500 steel plate) is a high-strength steel for welded marine and offshore structures certified by the China Classification Society (CCS) to CCS Rules for Materials and Welding (2024), Part 1, Chapter 3, Section 4 (High Strength Steels for Welded Structures). The number 500 is the minimum yield strength in MPa (up to 50 mm), tensile strength is 590–770 MPa, and the letter A sets the Charpy V-notch test temperature of 0°C. It is delivered thermo-mechanically rolled (TM) or quenched and tempered (QT) and corresponds to grade AH500 in IACS UR W16.

Gangsteel, a steel plate exporter, supplies CCS AH500 plate with CCS class certificates; the requirements below are taken directly from the current CCS rules.

Related CCS grades: CCS DH500 steel plate, CCS EH500 steel plate, CCS FH500 steel plate, CCS AH460 steel plate, CCS AH550 steel plate.

CCS AH500 chemical composition

CCS AH500 chemical composition, heat (ladle) analysis, % max unless stated, by delivery condition

Element	Heat analysis, TM	Heat analysis, QT
C	≤ 0.16	≤ 0.18
Mn	1.00–1.70	≤ 1.70
Si	≤ 0.60	≤ 0.80
P	≤ 0.025	≤ 0.025
S	≤ 0.015	≤ 0.015
Al (total)	≥ 0.02	≥ 0.018
Nb	≤ 0.05	≤ 0.06
V	≤ 0.12	≤ 0.12
Ti	≤ 0.05	≤ 0.05
Ni	≤ 2.00	≤ 2.00
Cu	≤ 0.55	≤ 0.50
Cr	≤ 0.50	≤ 1.50
Mo	≤ 0.50	≤ 0.70
N	≤ 0.025	≤ 0.015

 

Source: CCS Rules for Materials and Welding (2024), Part 1, Chapter 3, Table 3.4.3.2 (same values as IACS UR W16 Rev.3). Notes: Nb+V+Ti ≤ 0.26% and Mo+Cr ≤ 0.65% (not applicable to QT); total Al/N ≥ 2:1 unless other nitrogen-binding elements are used; Ni above 2.00% may be approved by CCS; boron, if added, ≤ 0.005%. CCS specifies the chemical composition as a heat (ladle) analysis only; the Rules give no product (check) analysis tolerances for these plates, so no product-analysis column is shown. If a product analysis is required, agree the tolerances in the order.

CCS AH500 mechanical properties and impact test

CCS AH500 tensile and Charpy V-notch requirements

Thickness (mm)	Yield ReH min (MPa)	Tensile Rm (MPa)
3 ≤ t ≤ 50	500	590–770
50 < t ≤ 100	480	590–770
100 < t ≤ 250	440	540–720

CCS AH500 elongation and impact energy

Elongation A5 min, T (%)	Elongation A5 min, L (%)	Charpy test temp.	KV avg min, T (J)	KV avg min, L (J)
17	19	0°C	33	50

Source: CCS Rules for Materials and Welding (2024), Part 1, Chapter 3, Table 3.4.7.4. Plates over 600 mm wide are impact tested transversely (T value applies). For N/NR and TM plates one impact test is taken from each piece; for QT plates from each individually heat-treated piece. Above 50 mm, impact specimens are taken at t/4 and t/2.

CCS AH500 maximum carbon equivalent (plates)

Delivery condition	Ceq t ≤ 50 mm	Ceq 50 < t ≤ 100 mm	Ceq 100 < t ≤ 250 mm	CET	Pcm
TM	0.46	0.48	0.50	0.32	0.24
QT	0.48	0.50	0.54	0.34	0.25

Table 3.4.3.4. Ceq = C + Mn/6 + (Cr + Mo + V)/5 + (Ni + Cu)/15; CET = C + (Mn + Mo)/10 + (Cr + Cu)/20 + Ni/40 (H460 and above, at the mill’s option); Pcm may be used for TM and QT steels with C ≤ 0.12%. n/a = not applicable.

CCS AH500 thickness range and delivery condition

CCS AH500 maximum plate thickness by delivery condition

Delivery condition	Max plate thickness (mm)
TM	150
QT	150

Table 3.4.6.2. Thicker plates (N over 250 mm, QT over 150 mm) need special consideration by CCS. Yield and tensile requirements fall in steps above 50 mm and 100 mm, as shown in the table above.

CCS AH500 equivalent grades

CCS AH500 equivalent grades of other classification societies

Standard / society	Equivalent grade
IACS UR W16	AH500
ABS	AB/AQ51
DNV	VL A500
LR	LR AH50
ASTM A131	no equivalent (A131 stops at the 40 strength level)

The IACS member societies use the same unified requirements, so these grades match in chemistry and properties. A plate still needs the certificate of the vessel’s own class society; one plate can carry dual or multiple class certification only when each society’s surveyor witnesses the tests.

CCS AH500 FAQ

Is CCS A500 the same as CCS AH500?

Yes. CCS lists the grade as AH500; A500 is a common shorthand for the same steel.

What is the yield strength of CCS AH500?

Minimum 500 MPa up to 50 mm, 480 MPa for 50–100 mm and 440 MPa for 100–250 mm. Tensile strength is 590–770 MPa (up to 100 mm).

What is the impact test temperature of CCS AH500?

0°C, with a minimum average of 33 J transverse or 50 J longitudinal.

What is CCS AH500 equivalent to?

AH500 in IACS UR W16, ABS AB/AQ51, DNV VL A500 and LR AH50. ASTM A131 has no grade at this strength.

How is CCS AH500 supplied?

TM (including TM with accelerated cooling or direct quenching and tempering) or QT. The chemistry and carbon-equivalent limits depend on the delivery condition.

What is the maximum thickness of CCS AH500 plate?

Up to 150 mm in TM or QT condition; thicker plates need special consideration by CCS.

What is the CEV of CCS AH500?

Ceq maximum for plates up to 50 mm is 0.46% (TM), 0.48% (QT). Higher limits apply to thicker plates.

What is the difference between CCS AH500 and the A, D, E and F grades of the same strength?

The strength requirements are identical; only the Charpy test temperature changes (0, −20, −40 or −60°C), and E/F grades have tighter P and S limits.

Equivalent steel grade of  CCSA500
DNV	GL	LR	BV	ABS	NK	KR	RINA
NV A500	GL-A500	LR/AH50	BV/A500	ABS/AQ51	K A51	R A51	RI/A500

If you need more stock steel plates in shipbuilding steel plate, please click warehouse sizes.

Related steel grades: CCS/DH32, CCS/DH36, CCS/AH32,CCS/EH32

 

CCS Steel Plate Grade
General Strength	CCS/A	CCS/B	CCS/D	CCS/E
High Strength	CCS/A32	CCS/D32	CCS/E32	CCS/F32
	CCS/A36	CCS/D36	CCS/E36	CCS/F36
	CCS/A40	CCS/D40	CCS/E40	CCS/F40
Extra Strength	CCS/A420	CCS/D420	CCS/E420	CCS/F420
	CCS/A460	CCS/D460	CCS/E460	CCS/F460
	CCS/A500	CCS/D500	CCS/E500	CCS/F500
	CCS/A550	CCS/D550	CCS/E550	CCS/F550
	CCS/A620	CCS/D620	CCS/E620	CCS/F620
	CCS/A690	CCS/D690	CCS/E690	CCS/F690