Designation: A586 − 04a (Reapproved 2014)

Standard Specification for

Zinc-Coated Parallel and Helical Steel Wire Structural
Strand1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A586; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
These test methods have been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense to replace Method 1013 of Federal Test
Method Standard 406.

1. Scope 3.2.1 outer wires (of strand), n—those wires in the one
1.1 This specification covers zinc-coated steel wire struc- outer-most layer of the wires composing the strand.
tural strand, for use where a high-strength, high-modulus, 4. Classification
multiple-wire tension member is desired as a component part
of a structure. The strand is available with parallel or helical 4.1 The wire strand is classified as follows.
wire construction. 4.1.1 Breaking Strength is expressed as Grade 1 or Grade 2
1.1.1 The strand is available with several zinc coating for strand having a Class A zinc coating on the outer wires of
classes and with two strength grades, as described in Section 4. the strand. Strand with heavier coating on the outer wires is
available in only one grade.
1.2 The strand is furnished with Class A weight zinc-coated 4.1.2 Coating Weight is expressed as Class A, Class B, or
wires throughout. It can be furnished with Class B weight or Class C, based on the weight of coating on the outer wires in
Class C weight zinc-coated outer wires where additional the strand. All inner wires have a Class A coating.
corrosion protection is required.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded 5. Ordering Information
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical 5.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only the following information:
and are not considered standard. 5.1.1 Description of the product, as helical steel wire strand
or parallel steel wire strand,
2. Referenced Documents 5.1.2 Length of strand,
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 5.1.3 Nominal diameter of strand (Table 1 and Table 2),
A90/A90M Test Method for Weight [Mass] of Coating on 5.1.4 Coating class for outer wires (Table 3),
Iron and Steel Articles with Zinc or Zinc-Alloy Coatings 5.1.5 Grade, for strand with Class A coating on outer wires,
A902 Terminology Relating to Metallic Coated Steel Prod- 5.1.6 For helical strand, whether prestretched or
ucts nonprestretched,
B6 Specification for Zinc 5.1.7 Mechanical tests if required (see 9.5 and 11.1),
5.1.8 Special packaging requirements (14.1),
3. Terminology 5.1.9 Inspection (12.1 and 13.1), and
3.1 See Terminology A902 for definition of terms related to 5.1.10 ASTM Designation and year of issue, as ASTM
metallic-coated steel wire and strand. A586 – .
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: NOTE 1—A typical ordering description is as follows: 2500 ft, 1 in.,
galvanized helical strand, Class A coating, Grade 1, on wooden reels, to
ASTM Specification A586 – .
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A05 on
Metallic-Coated Iron and Steel Productsand is the direct responsibility of Subcom- 6. Material
mittee A05.12 on Wire Specifications.
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2014. Published August 2014. Originally 6.1 Base Metal—The base metal shall be carbon steel made
approved in 1968. Last previous edition approved in 2009 as A586 – 04a (2009)ε1. by the open-hearth, basic-oxygen, or electric-furnace process
DOI: 10.1520/A0586-04AR14.
2
and of such quality that the finished strand and the hard-drawn
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
individual zinc-coated wires coated by the hot-dip or electro-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on lytic process shall have the properties and characteristics as
the ASTM website. prescribed in this specification.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

1
 A586 − 04a (2014)
TABLE 1 Properties of Zinc-Coated Steel Structural Strand
Minimum Breaking Strength in Tons of 2000 lb
Grade 1 Grade 2
Class A Class A Class A Class A
Coating Coating Coating Coating Approx
Approx
Nominal Throughout Inner Inner Throughout Gross
Weight,
Diameter, in. Wires, Wires, Metallic
lb/ft
Class B Class C Area, in.2
Coating Coating
Outer Outer
Wires Wires
12 ⁄ 15.0 14.5 14.2 17.3 0.15 0.52
⁄
9 16 19.0 18.4 18.0 21.9 0.19 0.66
⁄
58 24.0 23.3 22.8 27.6 0.23 0.82
⁄
11 16 29.0 28.1 27.5 33.4 0.28 0.99
3⁄ 4 34.0 33.0 32.3 39.1 0.34 1.2
13⁄16 40.0 38.8 38.0 46.0 0.40 1.4
7⁄ 8 46.0 44.6 43.7 52.9 0.46 1.6
15⁄16 54.0 52.4 51.3 62.1 0.53 1.9
1 61.0 59.2 57.9 70.2 0.60 2.1
11⁄16 69.0 66.9 65.5 79.4 0.68 2.4
1 1⁄ 8 78.0 75.7 74.1 89.7 0.76 2.7
13⁄16 86.0 83.4 81.7 98.9 0.85 3.0
1 1⁄ 4 96.0 94.1 92.2 110 0.94 3.3
15⁄16 106 104 102 122 1.0 3.6
1 3⁄ 8 116 114 111 133 1.1 4.0
17⁄16 126 123 121 145 1.2 4.3
1 1⁄ 2 138 135 132 159 1.4 4.7
19⁄16 150 147 144 173 1.5 5.1
1 5⁄ 8 162 159 155 186 1.6 5.6
111⁄16 176 172 169 202 1.7 6.0
1 3⁄ 4 188 184 180 216 1.8 6.4
113⁄16 202 198 194 232 2.0 6.9
1 7⁄ 8 216 212 207 248 2.1 7.4
115⁄16 230 226 221 265 2.3 7.9
2 245 241 238 282 2.4 8.4
21⁄16 261 257 253 300 2.6 8.9
2 1⁄ 8 277 273 269 319 2.7 9.5
23⁄16 293 289 284 337 2.9 10
2 1⁄ 4 310 305 301 357 3.0 11
25⁄16 327 322 317 376 3.2 11
2 3⁄ 8 344 339 334 396 3.4 12
27⁄16 360 355 349 414 3.6 12
2 1⁄ 2 376 370 365 432 3.8 13
29⁄16 392 386 380 451 3.9 14
2 5⁄ 8 417 411 404 480 4.1 14
211⁄16 432 425 419 497 4.3 15
2 3⁄ 4 452 445 438 520 4.5 16
2 7⁄ 8 494 486 479 568 5.0 17
3 538 530 522 619 5.4 19
3 1⁄ 8 584 575 566 672 5.9 21
3 1⁄ 4 625 616 606 719 6.3 22
3 3⁄ 8 673 663 653 774 6.8 24
3 1⁄ 2 724 714 702 833 7.4 26
3 5⁄ 8 768 757 745 883 7.9 28
3 3⁄ 4 822 810 797 945 8.4 30
3 7⁄ 8 878 865 852 1010 9.0 32
4 925 911 897 1060 9.6 34

6.2 Zinc—The slab zinc when used shall conform to Speci- fabrication. The wire test sample shall be prestretched, at the
fication B6. manufacturer’s option to 55 % of the minimum tensile strength
specified in Table 4 prior to conducting the tests.
7. Physical Requirements for Wire
7.1.3 The tensile strength and the stress at 0.7 % extension
7.1 Tensile Properties: shall be based on the actual cross-sectional area of the finished
7.1.1 The zinc-coated wire used in the parallel wire strand wire, including the zinc coating.
shall, prior to fabrication, conform to the mechanical properties
7.1.4 Test Specimens—The test specimens shall be free of
in Table 4. In this case the prestretching provision of the test
bends or kinks other than the curvature resulting from the usual
sample of 7.1.2 is not permitted.
coiling operation. The hand straightening necessary to permit
7.1.2 The zinc-coated wire used in the helical wire strand
shall conform to the mechanical properties in Table 4 prior to insertion of the specimen in the jaws of the testing machine

2
 A586 − 04a (2014)
TABLE 2 Properties of Zinc-Coated Steel Structural Strand
Approximate Minimum Breaking Strength in Kilonewtons
Grade 1 Grade 2
Class A Class A Approx
Nominal Coating Coating Gross Approx
Diameter, Inner Inner Metallic Weight,
Class A Class A
mm Wires, Wires, Area, kg/m
Coating Coating
Class B Class C mm2
Throughout Throughout
Coating Coating
Outer Outer
Wires Wires
12.7 133 129 126 153 97 0.77
14.3 169 164 160 194 120 0.98
15.9 214 207 203 246 150 1.2
17.5 258 250 245 297 180 1.5
19.1 302 294 287 348 220 1.8
20.6 356 345 338 409 260 2.1
22.2 409 397 389 471 300 2.4
23.8 480 466 456 552 340 2.8
25.4 543 527 515 624 390 3.1
27.0 614 595 583 706 440 3.5
28.6 694 673 659 798 490 4.0
30.2 765 742 727 880 550 4.4
31.8 854 837 820 979 610 4.9
33.3 943 925 907 1090 660 5.4
34.9 1030 1010 988 1180 730 5.9
36.5 1120 1090 1080 1290 800 6.5
38.1 1230 1200 1170 1410 870 7.0
39.7 1330 1310 1280 1540 950 7.6
41.3 1440 1410 1380 1650 1000 8.3
42.9 1570 1530 1500 1800 1100 8.9
44.5 1670 1640 1600 1920 1200 9.6
46.0 1800 1760 1730 2060 1300 10
47.6 1920 1890 1840 2210 1400 11
49.2 2050 2010 1970 2360 1500 12
50.8 2180 2140 2120 2510 1500 13
52.4 2320 2290 2250 2670 1600 13
54.0 2460 2430 2390 2840 1700 14
55.6 2610 2570 2530 3000 1900 15
57.2 2760 2710 2680 3180 2000 16
58.7 2910 2860 2820 3350 2100 17
60.3 3060 3020 2970 3520 2200 18
61.9 3200 3160 3100 3680 2300 19
63.5 3350 3290 3250 3840 2400 20
65.1 3490 3430 3380 4010 2500 21
66.7 3710 3660 3590 4270 2700 22
68.3 3840 3780 3730 4420 2800 23
69.9 4020 3960 3900 4630 2900 24
73.0 4390 4320 4260 5050 3200 26
76.2 4790 4720 4640 5510 3500 28
79.4 5200 5120 5040 5980 3800 31
82.6 5560 5480 5390 6400 4100 33
85.7 5990 5900 5810 6890 4400 36
88.9 6440 6350 6250 7410 4700 38
92.1 6830 6730 6630 7860 5100 41
95.3 7310 7210 7090 8410 5400 44
98.4 7810 7700 7580 8990 5800 47
102 8230 8100 7980 9430 6200 50

shall be performed by drawing between wood blocks or by indicated in Table 5, using the nominal diameter of the
some other equally satisfactory means. specimen. Maintain this load while a 10-in. extensometer is
7.2 Stress at 0.7 % Extension Under Load—The value of attached and adjusted to the initial setting shown in Table 5.
stress at 0.7 % extension under load shall be determined by one Then increase the load uniformly until the extensometer
of the following procedures, depending on the type of exten- indicates an extension of 0.07 in. (1.78 mm) or 0.7 % exten-
someter used: sion. Record the load for this extension. The stress correspond-
7.2.1 Non-Autographic Extensometer—When a non- ing to this load shall meet the requirements for the stress of
autographic extensometer is used to measure the 0.7 % 0.7 % extension specified in Table 4, depending on the class of
extension, it shall have a gage length of 10 in. (254 mm), and coating under consideration. Hold the specimen at 0.7 %
it shall be so graduated that the smallest division corresponds extension under load and remove the extensometer used to
to a strain not larger than 0.0001 in./in. (0.0001 mm/mm) of measure the stress at 0.7 % extension; then replace it with an
gage length. Apply a load corresponding to the tensile stress elongation extensometer. Continue the application of load until

3
 A586 − 04a (2014)
TABLE 3 Minimum Weight of Coating
Weight of Zinc Coating, min
Nominal Diameter of Coated Wire
oz/ft2 of Uncoated Wire Surface g/m2 of Uncoated Wire Surface
in. mm Class A Class B Class C Class A Class B Class C
Coating Coating Coating Coating Coating Coating
0.040 to 0.061, incl 1.016 to 1.549, incl 0.40 0.80 1.20 122 244 366
0.062 to 0.079, incl 1.575 to 2.007, incl 0.50 1.00 1.50 153 305 458
0.080 to 0.092, incl 2.032 to 2.337, incl 0.60 1.20 1.80 183 366 549
0.093 to 0.103, incl 2.362 to 2.616, incl 0.70 1.40 2.10 214 427 641
0.104 to 0.119, incl 2.642 to 3.023, incl 0.80 1.60 2.40 244 488 732
0.120 to 0.142, incl 3.048 to 3.607, incl 0.85 1.70 2.55 259 519 778
0.143 to 0.187, incl 3.632 to 4.750, incl 0.90 1.80 2.70 275 549 824
0.188 and largerA 4.775 and largerA 1.00 2.00 3.00 305 610 915
A
This is not to imply that larger wire will be manufactured to any unlimited diameter. It only implies that the wire sizes chosen by the strand manufacturer must meet the
requirements of this specification.

TABLE 4 Mechanical Requirements

Stress at 0.7 % Total Elonga-
Nominal Diameter Extension Tensile Strength, min tion in 10 in. or
Zinc Coating Under Load, min 250 mm, min,
Class %
in. mm psi MPa psi MPa

A 0.040 to 0.110 1.016 to 2.794 150 000 1030 220 000 1520 2.0
0.111 and largerA 2.820 and largerA 160 000 1100 220 000 1520 4.0
B 0.090 and largerA 2.286 and largerA 150 000 1030 210 000 1450 4.0
C 0.090 and largerA 2.286 and largerA 140 000 970 200 000 1380 4.0
A
This is not to imply that larger wire will be manufactured to any unlimited diameter. It only implies that the wire sizes chosen by the strand manufacturer must meet the
requirements of this specification.

TABLE 5 Initial Settings for Determining Stress at 0.7 % Extension

Nominal Diameter Initial Stress Initial Setting of Extensometer, in./in.
in. mm ksi MPa or mm/mm

0.040 to 0.089, incl 1.070 to 2.26, incl 14 100 0.0005 (0.05 % extension)
0.090 to 0.119, incl 2.29 to 3.02, incl 28 190 0.0010 (0.10 % extension)
0.120 and larger 3.05 and largerA 42 290 0.0015 (0.15 % extension)
A
This is not to imply that larger wire will be manufactured to any unlimited diameter. It only implies that the wire sizes chosen by the strand manufacturer must meet the
requirements of this specification.

fracture occurs. Record the elongation attained from the NOTE 2—The extensometer used for the stress at 0.7 % extension and
elongation extensometer and add to it 0.7 % obtained from the the elongation extensometer may be the same instrument. Two separate
instruments are advisable since the more sensitive stress at 0.7 %
stress at 0.7 % extensometer to get the total elongation. extensometer that could be damaged when the wire fractures may be
7.2.2 Autographic Extensometer—When an autographic ex- removed following the determination of the 0.7 % extension. The elon-
tensometer is used, it shall have a gage length of at least 2 in. gation extensometer may be constructed with less sensitive parts or be
(50.8 mm) and the magnification of strain shall not be less than constructed in such a way that little damage would result if fracture occurs
250. Apply a load, corresponding to the tensile stress indicated while the extensometer is attached to the specimen.
in Table 5, using the nominal diameter of the specimen. 7.3 Elongation—In determining total elongation (elastic
Maintain this load and attach the extensometer. Then increase plus plastic extension) use either autographic or extensometer
the load uniformly until the extension recorded by the exten- methods. If fracture takes place outside the middle third of the
someter is at least 0.7 %. Determine the load at 0.7 % exten- gage length, the elongation value obtained is not necessarily
sion from the load-strain curve. The stress corresponding to representative of the material.
this load shall meet the requirements for stress at 0.7 %
7.4 Tensile Strength—The tensile strength is determined
extension prescribed in Table 4, depending on the class of
from the maximum load during the total elongation test.
coating under consideration. Hold the specimen at 0.7 %
extension under load and remove the extensometer used to 7.5 Ductility of Steel—The zinc-coated wire, prior to fabri-
measure the stress at 0.7 % extension; then replace it with an cation into strand, shall be capable of being wrapped two turns
elongation extensometer. Continue the application of load until in a close helix at a rate not exceeding 15 turns per minute
fracture occurs. Record the elongation attained from the around a cylindrical steel mandrel equal to three times the
elongation extensometer and add to it 0.7 % obtained from the nominal diameter of the wire under test without fracture of the
stress at 0.7 % extensometer to get the total elongation. wire.

4
 A586 − 04a (2014)
7.6 Weight of Zinc Coating—The weight of zinc coating on TABLE 6 Minimum Moduli of Elasticity of Prestretched Structural
the individual wires prior to fabrication of strand shall be not Strand
less than that specified in Table 3. Minimum Modulus—Class A
Nominal Diameter Strand
CoatingA
7.7 Adherence of Coating—The zinc-coated wire, prior to in. mm ksi MPa
fabrication into strand, shall be capable of being wrapped two 12⁄ to 29⁄16 12.70 to 65.09 24 000 165 500
turns in a close helix at a rate not exceeding 15 turns per minute 25⁄8 and larger 66.67 and larger 23 000 158 600
around a cylindrical steel mandrel equal to five times the A
For Class B or Class C weight of zinc-coated outer wires, reduce minimum
nominal diameter of the wire under test without cracking or modulus 1000 ksi or 6900 MPa.
flaking the zinc coating to such an extent that any zinc can be
removed by rubbing with the bare fingers. Loosening or
detachment during the adherence test of superficial small
particles of zinc formed by mechanical polishing of the surface 50 % of the breaking strength listed in Table 1 and Table 2, the
of zinc-coated wire shall not be considered cause for rejection. modulus of elasticity shall not be less than the value shown in
Table 6.
7.8 If any sample breaking within the grips or the jaws of
the testing machine results in values below the specified limits 10. Joints and Splices
for tensile strength, stress at 0.7 % extension or elongation, the
10.1 The wires shall be made in such lengths that the helical
results shall be considered invalid and retesting shall be
strands can be manufactured with no splices or joints in the
required.
finished outer wires. Welds made in the outer wires prior to
7.8.1 If any test fails to meet the minimum value required,
drawing are permitted. Splicing of the inner wires during the
two additional tests shall be made on samples of wire from the
stranding operation is permissible. Joints in the wires of strand
same coil or reel and if failure occurs in either of these tests,
shall be dispersed sufficiently so as to maintain the minimum
the coil or reel shall be rejected. If both of these tests pass, the
breaking strength as listed in Table 1 and Table 2. When joints
coil or reel shall be accepted.
are necessary in any wires, they shall be made in accordance
7.9 Finish—The zinc-coated wire surface shall be free of with best known acceptable practices and shall be recoated in
imperfections not consistent with good commercial practice. a workmanlike manner with zinc or a lead-zinc compound
The coating shall be continuous and reasonably uniform. containing a minimum of 50 % zinc.
NOTE 3—It is recognized that the surface of heavy zinc coatings,
particularly those produced by the hot-dip galvanizing process, are not 11. Sampling and Testing
perfectly smooth and not devoid of irregularities. 11.1 If specified, a test sample shall be taken from each
manufactured length of strand and tested to the minimum
8. Test for Coating Weight
breaking strength. If it fails to meet the minimum breaking
8.1 The weight of the zinc coating shall be determined by a strength requirement, and has not broken in the cone or grips,
stripping test made on the individual wires prior to fabrication two additional samples shall be cut from the same manufac-
of strand, in accordance with Test Method A90/A90M. tured length and tested. If either additional sample fails the
retest for breaking strength, the manufactured length in ques-
9. Strand tion shall be rejected. If both of these two samples pass the
9.1 The zinc-coated strand shall consist of layers of wire retest for breaking strength, the manufactured length in ques-
about a center wire. The number of layers and number and size tion shall be accepted. Any test, however, which fails due to
of wires in each layer shall be determined by the manufacturer. faulty attaching of the sockets shall be disregarded.
9.2 The minimum breaking strength of helical strand prop-
12. Inspection
erties are shown in Table 1 and Table 2. Specifically dimen-
sioned strand bigger than 4 in. (101.6 mm) may be employed 12.1 All tests and inspection shall be made at the place of
provided that the breaking strength, gross metallic area, and manufacture unless otherwise specified and shall be so con-
weight per unit length are defined. The properties of parallel ducted as not to interfere unnecessarily with the operations of
wire strand shall be as agreed upon between the purchaser and the works. The manufacturer shall afford the inspector repre-
the manufacturer. senting the purchaser all reasonable facilities to satisfy him that
the material is being furnished in accordance with this speci-
9.3 When specified, the helical strand shall be prestretched
fication.
under tension of not more than 55 % of the breaking strength
listed in Table 1 and Table 2. 13. Certification
9.4 The modulus of elasticity shall be as shown in Table 6. 13.1 When specified in the purchase order or contract, a
9.5 If specified, a test for modulus of elasticity shall be producer’s or supplier’s certification shall be furnished to the
made on each manufactured length of strand. The modulus of purchaser that the material was manufactured, sampled, tested,
elasticity shall be determined from gage length of not less than and inspected in accordance with this specification and has
100 in. (2.54 m) and shall be computed on the sum of the gross been found to meet the requirements. When specified in the
metallic cross-sectional areas of the wire making up the strand, purchase order or contract, a report of the test results shall be
including the zinc coating. Throughout the range from 10 % to furnished.

5
 A586 − 04a (2014)
14. Packaging 15. Keywords
14.1 Structural strand shall be packaged in coils or on reels 15.1 structural strand; zinc-coated strand
at the discretion of the manufacturer unless otherwise speci-
fied. Strand shall be packaged in such a manner so that no
permanent deformation of wires in the strand will occur.

ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentioned
in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the risk
of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years and
if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the
responsible technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you should
make your views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.

This standard is copyrighted by ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959,
United States. Individual reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the above
address or at 610-832-9585 (phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or [email protected] (e-mail); or through the ASTM website
(www.astm.org). Permission rights to photocopy the standard may also be secured from the Copyright Clearance Center, 222
Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, Tel: (978) 646-2600; http://www.copyright.com/