ICS 61.060  
Y 78  
National Standard  
of the People’s Republic of China  
GB ×××× —××××
 
Shanks for footwear  
(Draft for Approval)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Issued on XX -XX-XXX X Effective on XX -XX-XXX X 
Issued by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspect ion and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China and 
the Standardization Administration of China   
 GB XXXX —XXXX  
I  Foreword  
Articles 5.1, 5.3.2, 5.4, 5.6, and 5.7 of this standard are compulsory whereas the rest is recommend ed.  
This standard is based on the original  light industry standard QB/T 1917 -2000 (Shanks for Leather 
Shoes), which has been in effect for years.  
This standard has been drafted in compliance with GB/T 1.1 -2009 (Directives for Standardization) 
Part I - structure and drafting of standards.  
This st andard has been proposed by China Light Industry Federation.  
This standard is under the jurisdiction of the National Tech nical Committee for the Standardization of 
the Making of Footwear.  
This standard has been drafted by Kunshan Longying Iron Production  Co., Ltd., New Belle Footwear 
(Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Tianzhu Hardware and Shoe Materials Co., Ltd., Ritai Group, and China Leather 
and Footwear Industry Institute.  
The authors of this standard are: Yan Huaidao, Cheng Xiaoxia, Xu Gensheng, Song Xiaowu, Yan  
Hongwei, Tian Wang, Zhang Weijuan, Gao Shanfang, Xiao Houzhu, and Jin Zhefu.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 GB XXXX —XXXX  
2  Shanks for Footwear  
 
 
1. Scope  
This standard prescribes the classification, technical requirements, test method, test rules and 
symbols, pack aging, transportation, and storage methods  which should be used for footwear products 
containing shanks  (includ ing boots ). It is applicable to footwear containing  metal shanks (includ ing 
boots ).  
 
2. Normative references  
The following documents are indisp ensable for the application of this document. For dated references, 
only the dated edition shall apply to this document; for undated references, the latest edition (including 
all amendments) shall apply.  
GB/T 191 Packaging - Pictorial Markings for Handlin g of Goods  
GB/T 2703 Footwear - Vocabulary   
GB/T 230.1 Metallic Rockwell Hardness Test, Part I: Test Method (Scales A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K, 
N, T)  
GB/T 3293.1 Shoe Sizes  
QB/T 3903.35  Test Method for Footwear Shanks - Fatigue Resistance  
QB/T 1813 Test Method for Longitudinal Rigidity of Leather Shoe Shanks  
 
3. Terms and definitions  
The terms and definitions in GB/T 2703 are applicable to this standard.  
 
4. Classification of products  
Shanks for male footwear, shanks for female footwear, and shanks fo r (older) children's footwear, 
according to the user;  
I-shaped shanks, L -shaped shanks, and Y -shaped shanks, according to the shape.   
 
5. Technical requirements  
5.1 Marking  
The following information shall be marked on a shank:  
- User: 1 for male footw ear shank, 2 for female/children's footwear shank  
- Suitable heel height or range of suitable heel heights - in Arabic numerals and mm  
E.g.  
1/20 (shank for male footwear, heel height 20  mm) 
2/30–35 (shank for female/children's footwear, heel height 30 -35 mm) 
 
5.2 Appearance  
The surface of the shank shall be free of burrs and rust. The locations of the bar, nail holes and fork 
shall be correct.  
 
5.3 Size  
5.3.1 Size tolerance  
For one batch of shanks, the maximum length tolerance shall be ±2.0  mm, the max imum width 
tolerance shall be ±1.0  mm, and the maximum thickness tolerance shall be ±0.2  mm.  
5.3.2 Minimum lengths  
5.3.2.1 For the minimum lengths of shanks for male footwear, see Table 1.  
 
 
 
 GB XXXX —XXXX  
3  Table 1. Minimum lengths of shanks for male footwear (mm)  
 
Shoe size  235–243 244–253 254–263 264–278 279–298 299 and above  
Shank length  105 110 115 120 125 130 
5.3.2.2 For the minimum lengths of shanks for female/children's footwear, see Table 2.  
 
Table 2. Minimum lengths of shanks for female/children's footw ear (mm)  
 
Shoe size  200–213 214–223 224–233 234–243 244–258 259–278 279 and above  
<30 90 100 105 110 115 120 125 Heel 
height  30 95 105 110 115 120 125 130 
 
5.3.2.3 For L -shaped shanks (suitable for female high heels, with the rear curving downward into a short 
edge that is embedded in the formed heel), the minimum length can be 15  mm less than the values in 
Table 2. For Y -shaped shanks, the minimum length can be 25  mm less than the values in Tables 1 and 2.  
 
5.4 Longitudinal rigidity  
For requirements on the longitudinal rigidity of shanks, see Table 3.  
 
Table 3. Requirements on the longitudinal rigidity of shanks  
 
Heel heigh t/mm  <50 50–74 >74–99 >99 
Longitudinal rigidity (kN • mm2 ) 400 800 1200  1600  
 
5.5 Fatigue resistance  
The shank shall be subjected to the fatigue resistance test for the times prescribed in Table 4 without 
breaking. Fine cracks on the surface are permissible.  
 
Table 4. Required times of fatigue resistance te st of shanks  
 
Heel height/mm  <50 50–74 >74–99 >99 
Times of test  3 000  8 000  20 000  60 000  
 
5.6 Hardness  
See Table 5 for requirements on the hardness of shanks.  
 
Table 5. Requirements on the hardness of shanks  
 
Heel height/mm  <30 30 
HR15N  70.0 82.0 
HRA  61.5 72.5 Hardness  
HRC  22.5 43.5 
Notes:  
1. Compliance with any one of the three criteria (HR15N, HRA, HRC) is acceptable.  
2. When the sample is less than 1 mm thick, HRA and HRC shall not apply.  GB XXXX —XXXX  
4   
5.7 Bending capacity  
The shank shall be subje cted to the 180° bending test without breaking. Cracks on the surface are 
permissible.  
 
6. Number of samples   
Consider the shanks in one continuous production batch with the same material and dimensions as a 
sample batch and take six shanks at random out of it as test samples. Use two of them for tests on 
marking, appearance, size, longitudinal rigidity, hardness and bending capacity, and the other four for 
the fatigue resistance test.  
Note: samples for tests on longitudinal rigidity and fatigue resistanc e shall not be used 
repeatedly.  
 
7. Test method  
7.1 Marking and sensory quality  
Visual observation in normal light.  
 
7.2 Measurement of shank length  
7.2.1 Measurement of the length of an I -shaped shank  
Use a measuring tape for shoes with a precision o f at least 1  mm, press it close to the top of the shank, 
and measure the longest part, which is the length of the shank. Round off the result to an integer. State  
the length of each shank separately. The tolerance is the difference between the maximum and the 
minimum of the measurements.  
7.2.2 Measurement of the length of an L -shaped shank  
Place the shank on a platform as shown in Fig. 1. Measure it with a height gauge and mark the highest 
point B. Use a measuring tape for shoes with a precision of at lea st 1 mm, press it close to the top of the 
shank, and measure the distance from said point to the tip of the head, which is the length of the shank. 
Round off the result to an integer. The tolerance is the difference between the maximum and the 
minimum of t he measurements.   
 
A: tip of the head  
B: height point of the shank  
Fig. 1 Measurement of the length of an L -shaped shank  
 
7.2.3 Measurement of the length of a Y -shaped shank  
Use a measuring tape for shoes with a precision of at least 1  mm, press it c lose to the top of the 
Y-shaped shank's axis, and measure the distance from the tip of the front to the central point of the fork. 
Round off the result to an integer. The tolerance is the difference between the maximum and the 
minimum of the measurements.   
 
7.3 Measurement of the width of a shank  
Use a vernier ca lliper with a precision of at least  0.05  mm and measure at two burr -free points, one at 
Maximum  Height  GB XXXX —XXXX  
5  the head and the other at the tail. Round off the results to one digit after the decimal point. For each 
shank, state the widths at the head and the tail separately. The tolerance is the difference between the 
maximum and the minimum of the measurements at a particular part of a sample.  
 
7.4 Measurement of the thickness of a shank  
Use a vernier ca lliper with a precision of at least 0.05  mm and measure at two burr -free points, one at 
the head and the other at the tail. The arithmetic mean of the measurements at the head and the tail shall 
be the thickness of the shank. Round off the result to one digit after the decimal point. The tolerance is 
the difference between the maximum and the minimum of the measurements at a particular part of a 
sample.  
 
7.5 Longitudinal rigidity  
Test according to QB/T 1813. State  the result for each shank separately.  
 
7.6 Fatigue res istance  
Test according to GB/T 3903.35 . State  the result for each shank separately.  
 
7.7 Hardness  
Test according to GB/T 230.1. State  the hardness value of each shank separately.  
 
7.8 Bending capacity  
7.8.1 Test device  
The shank bending capacity tes ter (Fig. 2), which has a fixed gripper and a moveable gripper. The 
latter can turn 180° around a central column with a diameter of 10  mm.  
7.8.2 Test temperature  
Room temperature (20  ±5 ). 
7.8.3 Number of samples  
1 (select the hardest one among the samples).  
7.8.4 Test procedure  
See Fig. 2 for a diagram of the test device. The bending capacity test shall be conducted as follows.  
a) Insert the shank into the pivot (5  in Fig. 2 ), the central column (2  in Fig. 2 ), and the roll (8  in Fig. 
2);  
b) Press the top of middle of the shank (for an L -shaped shank, test the longer side excluding the 
corners) to the central column  (10 mm), which shall be a fulcrum, and conduct the 180° bending  test;  
c) Visually observe whether the shank breaks; meanwhile, observe cracks on its surface.  
 GB XXXX —XXXX  
6  
 
 
1 – base   
2 – central column   
3 – loading head  
4 – loading shaft  
5 – pivot  
6 – dial scale  
7 – shank  
8 – roll 
Fig. 2 Test of the bending capacity of a shank  
 
 
8. Inspection rules  
8.1 Inspection of shanks  
8.1.1 Batch  
Products shall be inspected batch by batch. Continuously manufactured products of the same model 
and the same size can be considered one inspection batch.  
8.1.2 Classification of inspecti ons  
Product  inspection s are classified as either a  factory inspection or type inspection.  
8.1.3 Factory inspection  
Total inspection for marking and appearance; sampling for minimum length, longitudinal rigidity, 
hardness, and bending capacity; selective  inspection for size tolerance and fatigue resistance.  
8.1.4 Type inspection  
A full inspection shall be conducted in the following order: marking, sensory quality, size, minimum 
length, longitudinal rigidity, and hardness; after these, select the hardest  shank for the bending capacity 
test, and use the other four for the fatigue resistance test.  
In the event of any of the following, a type inspection is required:  
a) A major change in structure, technique, or material;  
b) Resumption of manufacture after  a long suspension (at least three months);  
c) Requirement for such inspection has been made by the state's quality supervision and inspection 
authorities;  GB XXXX —XXXX  
7  d) A type inspection shall be conducted at least every six months during normal production.  
 
8.2 Inspection of shanks in footwear  
In the sampling of shoes , or the submission of them for inspection, if the number of samples do not 
meet the requirement of this standard, take two shanks from one pair of shoes and conduct a full test. 
First test them for  marking, appearance, size, and hardness; then, test one for fatigue resistance and the 
other for other properties.  
 
8.3 Judgment of results  
In the test for each property, if at least one shank fails to meet this standard, the batch shall be judged 
to be defective in that particular property; if the batch is defective in at least one tested property, it shall 
be judged as defective. The criteri a for marking, minimum length, longitudinal rigidity, hardness, and 
bending capacity are compulsory; if the batch is defective in at least one property, it shall not be 
re-inspected and shall be judged as defective. The criteria for appearance and fatigue resistance are 
recommendatory; if the batch is defective in at least one property, the same batch may be re -sampled, 
with a double number of samples, for a re -inspection on the property/properties in which it is defective, 
and the judgment shall be based o n the results of the re -inspection.  
 
9. Labe lling, packaging, transportation, and storage  
9.1 Labe lling  
The container  shall be labe lled with the following:  
Name of the product, target users, dimensions (length, width and thickness), suitable heel heigh t (or 
range of suitable heel heights), number, name, address, telephone number and postal code of the 
manufacturer, trademark, date of production, damp -proof mark, factory inspection certificate, and the 
number of this standard.  
For imported products, spe cify the country of origin and the name, a ddress and telephone number of 
the domestic distributor.  
The pictorial markings for handling of goods shall comply with GB/T 191.  
 
9.2 Packaging  
The container  shall provide rust protection. The type of container  may be a carton, wooden box, or 
any other type agreed upon by both the supply and demand sides.  
 
9.3 Transportation and storage  
During transportation and storage, avoid heavy pressure, exposure to rain, or contact with acids, 
alkalis or any other corros ive. Keep the depository dry and ventilated. Keep the products at least 0.2  m 
clear of the floor and the walls to prevent rusting.