ASTM A252 is the standard specification for nominal-wall cylindrical steel pipe piles, where the pipe serves as a permanent structural element or as a casing for cast-in-place concrete foundations.
These piles are commonly produced using submerged arc welding (SAW) and are widely applied in agricultural projects, construction foundations, and geotechnical load-bearing works.
ASTM A252 includes three material grades-Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3-with Grades 2 and 3 being the most frequently used due to their superior strength and performance.
Product Parameters
Product Name:
A252 Seamless & Welded Steel Pipe Piles
Standards Available:
EN / DIN / JIS / ASTM / BS / ASME / AISI and others
Outer Diameter Range:
Seamless Pipe: 1/4"–36"
Welded Pipe: 21.3 mm–3620 mm
Round Tube: 1/2"–10"
Square / Rectangular Tube: 15×15 mm–400×600 mm
Wall Thickness:
Seamless: 1.25 mm–50 mm
Welded: 1.65 mm–65 mm
Length Options:
3–12 meters, with customized lengths available
Surface Finish:
Bright, polished, or black surface
Additional Processing Services:
CNC machining, centerless grinding, heat treatment, annealing, pickling, polishing, rolling, forging, cutting, bending, and small-part fabrication
Chemical Composition
Seamless and ERW Pipes:
Maximum phosphorus content: 0.050%
Mechanical Properties
| Grade | Tensile Strength psi (MPa) | Yield Strength psi (MPa) |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | 50,000 (345) | 30,000 (205) |
| Grade 2 | 60,000 (415) | 35,000 (240) |
| Grade 3 | 66,000 (456) | 45,000 (310) |
Application Fields
ASTM A252 pipe piles are widely used in heavy-duty civil, structural, and geotechnical engineering projects due to their high load-bearing capacity, wide size availability (up to 48" OD), and strong mechanical performance (Grade 3 yield strength 310 MPa). Below are detailed application fields supported by engineering data and project use cases:
1. Deep Foundation Piling
ASTM A252 Grade 2 & Grade 3 pipe piles are commonly used as primary load-bearing elements in deep foundations.
Typical Engineering Data：
Diameter ranges for deep foundations: Φ 324–1420 mm
Typical embedment depth: 10–60 meters, depending on soil conditions
Allowable axial load capacity (Grade 3):
1,000–3,500 kN for common pile diameters
Can serve as open-ended or closed-ended piles
Common applications：
High-rise buildings
Industrial plants
Marine structures
Heavy equipment foundations
2. Micropiles / Mini-Piles
ASTM A252 pipes are used for micropiles due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and good grout bonding.
Engineering Data：
Micropile diameter: Φ 76–273 mm
Typical working load: up to 1,000 kN
Used where large equipment cannot be mobilized or soil has low bearing capacity
Application scenarios：
Slope reinforcement
Foundation underpinning
Seismic retrofitting
Restricted-access construction locations
3. Bridge Foundation Systems
Pipe piles conforming to ASTM A252 (especially Grade 3) are extensively used in bridge substructures due to their stiffness and excellent drivability.
Supported by project data：
Common diameter: Φ 508–1220 mm
Typical bridge pile driving depth: 25–70 meters
Corrosion allowance often applied: 2.0–6.0 mm
Resistance to lateral loads needed for seismic regions
Used in：
Highway bridges
Railway bridges
Overwater piers
River-crossing foundations
4. Marine and Offshore Engineering
ASTM A252 pipe piles are preferred because of their ability to withstand cyclic loading, wave impact, and corrosion (often coated with FBE/3PE).
Marine engineering data：
Typical OD: 610–1626 mm
Coating: FBE / 3PE / galvanized
Design life with coating: 25–50 years
Load capacity for offshore piles: 3,000–6,000+ kN
Used for：
Port wharfs
Jetty structures
Dolphins and mooring systems
Offshore wind turbine foundations
5. Structural and Industrial Construction
A252 pipe piles are also used as structural members because of their high compressive performance and availability in long lengths.
Engineering Data：
Lengths available: up to 30–40 m (multi-joint welding)
Straightness tolerance: 1%
Wall thickness: up to 65 mm, suitable for high loads
Applications include：
Pipe-rack supports
Industrial steel frameworks
Tank farm foundations
Transmission tower bases
