INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING BLOG YOU SHOULD BE READING

Brief Description and Comparisons of LSAW, SSAW, and ERW Pipes

16 Jun.,2025

Brief Description and Comparisons of LSAW, SSAW, and ERW Pipes

High quality steel pipes are produced from three (3) manufacturing processes: Seamless, LSAW (longitudinal-seam submerged arc welding), and ERW (electric resistance welding). LSAW and ERW pipes are highly regarded for their numerous fields of application. They are tremendously used in foundation solutions and systems, marine construction, structural construction, and diverse applications in water projects, petrochemical, chemical, and power industry, agricultural irrigation, urban construction, and more.

You can find more information on our web, so please take a look.

LSAW Pipes has two types: Longitudinal (Single or Double Straight-seam Weld, DSAW) and Spiral (also called SSAW, HSAW, or SAWL). What makes DSAW pipes differ from other LSAW pipes is that DSAW have a seam weld in the inside and outside of the pipe, while the latter have a single seam weld on the outer surface, longitudinal or cross sectional.

SSAW and LSAW pipes employ a common manufacturing procedure called “JCOE and UOE forming process”. The difference is SSAW pipes are welded in the helix or spiral position while LSAW pipes are welded in the longitudinal direction.

SSAW pipe takes form by rolling and welding a steel strip in a way that the pivotal direction is oblique to the axis or pipe center, making the weld seam in a spiral line. LSAW pipes are produced by molding steel sheets to a cylinder and joining the ends together by welding in a straight line.

The LSAW pipe diameter range is normally from 16 inch to 60 inch (406mm to mm). They have good performances on high pressure resistance, and low-temperature corrosion resistance.

ESC Steel however can supply pipes between 1 inch to 167 inch (21mm up to mm) in diameter and thicknesses between 3/32 inch to 4 inch (2.1mm up to 100mm). Largest diameters and thickness of ESC Steel Pipes are manufactured using LSAW which are highly recommended for load bearing piles, combination wall piles and other applications. In the oil and gas industry, large-diameter API 5L LSAW pipes are use d to transport hydrocarbons over long distances efficiently.

HSAW (helical submerged arc welding) or SSAW pipe diameter range is generally 20 inch to 100 inch (406mm to mm). One advantage of SSAW is the possibility to obtain different diameter

of SSAW pipes from a standard size of steel strip without cutting. On the other hand, spiral welding seam length is quite longer than the pipe length, making it more costly and prone to cracks, air holes, cinder inclusion, partial welding, and more.

HSAW or spiral weld pipes are used for non-critical applications such as water distribution and not for oil & gas. ESC recommends SSAW pipes as King Piles for our Combination Walls and also as Dredging Pipe.

Overall, it appears that LSAW Pipes has slight edge over SSAW Pipes. Below points explains it why.

SSAW Pipes has greater residual stress than LSAW pipes. LSAW pipes passes through uniform expansion process.
SSAW pipes weld stress concentration phenomenon is considered serious by category. The heat affected zone of SSAW pipes is larger than LSAW pipes. Heat affected zones are considered weak points where failure might start.
Geometry accuracy of LSAW pipes is better than SSAW pipes, a key in the ease of installation.
The welding line of LSAW pipe is around 60% lesser than of SSAW pipes.
Using steel plates, quality of LSAW pipe can be tested by non-destructive procedures. While SSAW pipes using hot-rolled coils should be tested with destructive methods such as x-ray.
LSAW pipes adopt welding after molding process where various checks can take place. SSAW pipes employ molding and welding at the same time, pre-checks are not being carried out.

ESC Steel LLC’s wide range of steel pipes also includes ERW pipes. ERW pipes are manufactured using steel coils: the coil is first uncoiled, smoothed, cut, and finally formed into a pipe shape by joining its two extremities by high-frequency electrical welding (HFI & HFW). ERW pipes are available in sizes between ½ inch and 20 inches (12mm to 508mm) and rapidly becoming a popular alternative to seamless pipes, both in terms of price and performance.

SSAW Steel Pipe

Introduction

What is SSAW steel pipe?
SSAW steel pipe, also known as spiral submerged arc welded steel pipe, is a spiral welded steel pipe produced by double-sided submerged arc welding. Spiral welded pipes are formed using narrower sheets or hot rolled coils, which greatly reduces their production costs. The spiral welding process allows the production of large diameter pipes suitable for transporting large quantities of oil and gas.

Specification

Out Diameter

Wall Thickness (mm)

219.1

273

323.9

325

355.6

377

406.4

426

457

478

508

529

630

711

720

813

820

920

Standard

Chemical Analysis and Mechanical Properties of SSAW Steel Pipe

Standard

Grade

Chemical Composition(max)%

Mechanical Properties(min)

Tensile Strength(Mpa)

Yield Strength(Mpa)

API 5CT

h40

0.030

417

Tirico are exported all over the world and different industries with quality first. Our belief is to provide our customers with more and better high value-added products. Let's create a better future together.

417

J55

0.030

517

K55

0.300

655

API 5L PSL1

0.22

0.90

0.030

335

0.26

1.20

0.030

415

X42

0.26

1.30

0.030

415

X46

0.26

1.40

0.030

435

X52

0.26

1.40

0.030

460

X56

0.26

1.40

0.030

490

X60

0.26

1.40

0.030

520

X65

0.26

1.45

0.030

535

X70

0.26

1.65

0.030

570

API 5L PSL2

0.22

0.45

1.20

0.025

0.015

415

X42

0.22

0.45

1.30

0.025

0.015

415

X46

0.22

0.45

1.40

0.025

0.015

435

X52

0.22

0.45

1.40

0.025

0.015

460

X56

0.22

0.45

1.40

0.025

0.015

490

X60

0.12

0.45

1.60

0.025

0.015

520

X65

0.12

0.45

1.60

0.025

0.015

535

X70

0.12

0.45

1.70

0.025

0.015

570

X80

0.12

0.45

1.85

0.025

0.015

625

ASTM A53

0.25

0.10

0.95

0.050

0.045

330

0.30

0.10

1.20

0.050

0.045

415

ASTM A252

0.050

345

0.050

414

0.050

455

EN-1

P195TR1

0.13

0.35

0.70

0.025

0.020

320

P195TR2

0.13

0.35

0.70

0.025

0.020

320

P235TR1

0.16

0.35

1.20

0.025

0.020

360

P235TR2

0.16

0.35

1.20

0.025

0.020

360

P265TR1

0.20

0.40

1.40

0.025

0.020

410

P265TR2

0.20

0.40

1.40

0.025

0.020

410

EN-2

P195GH

0.13

0.35

0.70

0.025

0.020

320

P235GH

0.16

0.35

1.20

0.025

0.020

360

P265GH

0.20

0.40

1.40

0.025

0.020

410

EN-5

P235GH

0.16

0.35

1.20

0.025

0.020

360

P265GH

0.20

0.40

1.40

0.025

0.020

410

EN-1

S235JRH

0.17

1.40

0.040

360

S275JOH

0.20

1.50

0.035

410

S275J2H

0.20

1.50

0.030

410

S355JOH

0.22

0.55

1.60

0.035

470

S355J2H

0.22

0.55

1.60

0.030

470

S355K2H

0.22

0.55

1.60

0.030

470

Our factory

Packing

Packing:

The company is the world’s best Ssaw Pipe supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

1.In bundle, black, caps, beveled ends or plain ends2.OEM/ customer's REQUEST3.Marks: Standard * Material*OD*WT*L *Heat No./requiredShipping:a. Length: ≤5.85m, loaded in 20FT Container, Max 25tonsb. Length: ≤12m, loaded in 40 FT Container, Max 26.5tonsc. Length: >12m, shipped by bulk vessel. FILO termsd. Delivery time :about 10-30 days after received deposit

Previous: US20100285191A1 - Absorbent food pad and method of using same

Next: Pulp Molding Die Laser Cutting Technology and Applications

Guest Posts