Factors affecting the mechanical properties of mechanical steel tubes

Overview of mechanical properties of mechanical steel tubes:

Mechanical steel pipes & tubes are widely used in the manufacture of precision mechanical parts and engineering structures, and also play an important role in the hydraulic system of engineering machinery. Their mechanical properties are an important criterion for measuring their quality. Common mechanical properties of mechanical steel tubes include tensile strength, yield strength, hardness, etc.

1. Tensile strength
Tensile strength refers to the maximum tensile force that a mechanical steel tube can withstand under tension. Usually expressed as σb, in MPa (megapascals). The higher the tensile strength, the more the steel pipe can withstand tension and the stronger it is.

2. Yield strength
Yield strength refers to the maximum stress at which a mechanical steel tube begins to undergo plastic deformation and exceeds the elastic stage under tension. Usually expressed as σs, in MPa. Yield strength is an important parameter for describing the durability of steel pipes.

3. Hardness
Hardness is an important parameter for measuring the compressive strength of mechanical steel tubes, which can be determined by various test methods. Commonly used hardness test methods include Rockwell hardness (HRC), Brinell hardness (HB) and Vickers hardness (HV).

Factors affecting the mechanical properties of mechanical steel tubes:

1. Steel pipe material
The material of mechanical steel tubes is a key factor affecting their mechanical properties. Different materials have different mechanical properties. For example, carbon steel is harder than stainless steel and has higher tensile strength and yield strength.

In addition, the purity and uniformity of the processed materials have an important influence on the processing accuracy and quality. High-purity and uniform materials show more stable physical and chemical properties during processing. Different metal materials and alloys have different strength, hardness and wear resistance, which directly affect the durability and load-bearing capacity of pipe fittings. Moreover, different processing technologies have different requirements for materials, and materials and processing technologies must be well matched.

2. Steel pipe manufacturing process
Every link in the manufacturing process will affect the mechanical properties of the steel pipe. The heat treatment, cold processing, welding, rolling and stretching of mechanical steel pipes have a significant impact on the structural integrity and performance of mechanical pipes.

3. Shape and size of steel pipes
The shape and size of mechanical steel pipes are also one of the factors that affect their mechanical properties, including the wall thickness and outer diameter of the steel pipe. Generally speaking, the thicker the wall, the higher the strength of the steel pipe.

In the field of precision machining, accuracy and quality are the core elements to measure whether the product meets the standards. High-precision machine tools are the basis of precision machining. Modern CNC machine tools have extremely high positioning accuracy and repeated positioning accuracy, and can control the machining error within a very small range.

In order to ensure machining accuracy, precision measuring instruments are indispensable. The three-dimensional coordinate measuring machine can accurately measure the three-dimensional dimensions of parts, and its measurement accuracy can reach the micron level. During the machining process, by regularly using measuring instruments to detect parts, machining errors can be discovered in time and adjusted.

4. Professional knowledge and skills

The production operators of mechanical tubes need to have solid professional knowledge and rich machining experience. They should be familiar with the principles, characteristics and application scope of various machining processes, and be able to choose appropriate machining methods according to the requirements of the parts.

Factors affecting the use of mechanical steel tubes:

1. Use environment ‌
The use environment of mechanical pipes has an important impact on their life. Environmental factors such as temperature, pressure, humidity, and corrosive media may cause pipe failure. For example, excessively high temperatures can cause changes in the molecular structure of the material, affecting the service life of the pipe fittings. ‌

‌2. Stress analysis ‌
During operation, mechanical pipes are subject to various stresses, such as internal pressure stress, thermal stress, and mechanical stress. If these stresses exceed the material's bearing capacity, they may cause pipe failure. ‌

‌3. Historical data ‌
In-depth analysis of the historical operation data of mechanical tubes can reveal the laws and trends of pipe failure. This includes pipeline maintenance records, leakage accident records, pressure fluctuation records, etc. Through data mining and analysis, the main factors leading to pipeline failure can be found. ‌

‌4. Human factors ‌
Improper operation, untimely maintenance, and poor management may all lead to safety accidents. Therefore, when conducting pipeline failure analysis, the influence of human factors must be fully considered. ‌

How to improve the mechanical properties of mechanical steel tubes? ‌

1. Choose the right material
Different occasions and environments require different mechanical tube materials. If you need to improve the mechanical properties of the steel pipe, you need to choose a material with higher tensile strength and yield strength.

2. Optimize the manufacturing process
Optimizing the heat treatment, cold treatment, rolling and stretching processes of mechanical steel tubes can enhance their mechanical properties by improving the crystal structure of the steel pipe material.

3. Control the shape and size of the steel pipe
The shape and size of the mechanical steel tube can also be controlled to improve its mechanical properties. For example, increasing the wall thickness of the steel pipe can increase its strength, and reducing the outer diameter of the steel pipe can increase its hardness.

4. Improve the professional knowledge and skills of operators
Operators need to have solid professional knowledge and rich processing experience. They should be familiar with the principles, characteristics and application scope of various processing technologies, and be able to choose the appropriate processing method according to the requirements of the parts. For example, when processing precision parts with complex shapes, operators need to master the principles of multi-axis linkage processing technology in order to compile a reasonable processing program to ensure the processing accuracy of the parts.

5. Responsibility and quality awareness
The operator's sense of responsibility and quality awareness are also key factors. They must strictly abide by the operating procedures during the processing and pay attention to every processing detail. For example, when performing fine grinding processes, operators need to take every grinding action seriously to ensure the uniformity of the grinding amount in order to achieve the ideal processing surface quality.

In short, as an important material in the field of engineering machinery, mechanical steel pipes and tubes need to have higher mechanical properties during use to ensure their safety and reliability. Improving the mechanical properties of steel pipes requires selecting suitable materials, optimizing manufacturing processes, controlling the shape and size of steel pipes, and improving the knowledge and skills of operators.

Read more: ASTM A519 Seamless Mechanical Tube or Mechanical Precision Tubes Application