This study investigates the feasibility of using a portable Brinell hardness test apparatus (PBHTA) for in situ mechanical property assessment of Q235 and Q345 structural steels. Steel samples were tested using PBHTA and compared with laboratory-based Brinell hardness and tensile strength tests. The results show strong exponential correlations between Brinell hardness and both yield strength (fy) and ultimate tensile strength (fu), with R2 values of 0.8255 and 0.7428, respectively. The mean errors in estimating in situ yield strength and tensile strength were 3.2% and 1.6%, respectively. These findings demonstrate that PBHTA provides a minimally destructive, reliable, and efficient method for evaluating structural steel properties directly on-site, facilitating the rapid assessment and retrofitting of existing steel structures.
Article navigation
1 November 2025
Research Article|
September 23 2025
Steel strength testing for in situ by Brinell hardness method
Suhang Yang;
Suhang Yang
School of Civil Engineering and Architecture,
Changzhou Institute of Technology
, Changzhou, PR China
Search for other works by this author on:
Jingxuan Xu;
Jingxuan Xu
College of Civil Engineering and Architecture,
Shandong University of Science and Technology
, Qingdao, PR China
Search for other works by this author on:
Zhifeng Xu
College of Civil Engineering and Architecture,
Shandong University of Science and Technology
, Qingdao, PR China
Corresponding author Zhifeng Xu (xuzhifeng422@126.com)
Search for other works by this author on:
Corresponding author Zhifeng Xu (xuzhifeng422@126.com)
Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. We declare that we do not have any commercial or associative interest that represents a conflict of interest in connection with the work submitted.
Publisher: Emerald Publishing
Received:
April 04 2025
Accepted:
July 31 2025
Online ISSN: 1747-6518
Print ISSN: 1747-650X
Funding
Funding Group:
- Award Group:
- Funder(s): Natural Science Foundation of Shandong province
- Award Id(s): ZR2024ME141
- Funder(s):
- Award Group:
- Funder(s): State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power Co., Ltd. Technology Project
- Award Id(s): J2025082
- Funder(s):
- Funding Statement(s): This research was funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong province (Grant No. ZR2024ME141) and State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power Co., Ltd. Technology Project (J2025082). The authors wish to gratefully acknowledge the support of these organisations for this study.
© 2025 Emerald Publishing Limited
2025
Emerald Publishing Limited
Licensed re-use rights only
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Construction Materials (2025) 178 (6): 356–367.
Article history
Received:
April 04 2025
Accepted:
July 31 2025
Citation
Yang S, Xu J, Xu Z (2025), "Steel strength testing for in situ by Brinell hardness method". Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Construction Materials, Vol. 178 No. 6 pp. 356–367, doi: https://doi.org/10.1680/jcoma.25.00035
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
ICE Member Sign In
Log inPurchased this content as a guest? Enter your email address to restore access.
Please enter valid email address.
Email address must be 94 characters or fewer.
Pay-Per-View Access
$39.00
Rental
This article is also available for rental through DeepDyve.
94
Views
New and popular articles
Suggested Reading
The preparation of a hydrochromic film and its application in the visualization of localized corrosion
Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials (April,2025)
Speeding on-site testing
Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials (April,2001)
On the Damage Evolution and the Mechanical Degradation of Glass‐Fibre Non‐Crimp Fabric Reinforced Epoxy Under Tensile Loading: Experimental and Finite Element Modelling
Multidiscipline Modeling in Materials and Structures (January,2006)
Corrosion resistance and mechanical characteristics of dual-phase steel B500c, after shot blasting processes
International Journal of Structural Integrity (October,2017)
Macro–meso failure mechanism of soil–rock mixture at medium strain rates
Geotechnique Letters (January,2016)
Related Chapters
The UK highways Agency's advice notes on the nondestructive testing of highway structures
Bridge Management 5: Inspection, maintenance, assessment and repair: Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Bridge Management, organized by the University of Surrey, 11–13 April 2005
COST EFFECTIVE TESTING OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES
Repair and Renovation of Concrete Structures: Proceedings of the International Conference held at the University of Dundee, Scotland, UK on 5–6 My 2005
DURABILITY AND REPAIR OF BRIDGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Concrete for Transportation Infrastructure: Proceedings of the International Conference held at the University of Dundee, Scotland, UK on 5–7 July 2005
Recommended for you
These recommendations are informed by your reading behaviors and indicated interests.
