Bridges are critical infrastructures that connect communities and facilitate the transportation of goods across different locations. For bridges to be reliable and durable, they must use high-quality materials in their construction. Weldox 700 plate is a high-strength structural steel that offers many benefits in bridge construction. This blog explores the advantages of using the Weldox 700 plate in bridge construction.
What are Weldox 700 Plate?
Weldox 700 plate is a thermo mechanically rolled, high-strength steel plate produced by SSAB in Sweden. Due to its unique chemistry and processing, it has excellent weld ability and toughness properties. The mechanical properties of Weldox 700 make it suitable for a wide range of applications requiring extreme strength in combination with good durability and formability. Its excellent corrosion resistance suits corrosive environments such as offshore oil rigs or onshore chemical plants. The primary alloying elements that achieve outstanding mechanical properties are chromium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silicon, titanium and vanadium. By carefully controlling alloying elements such as sulfur or phosphorous content, superb weld ability can be maintained while still allowing good mechanical performance even at low temperatures.
Benefits of of Using weldox 700 Plate
High Strength:
Weldox 700 plate has a high yield strength, making it an excellent choice for bridge construction. Its strength property is twice that of a standard S355 plate commonly used in bridge construction. The high strength of the Weldox 700 plate means that it can support heavier loads, reduce the required supports, and improve the bridge’s lifespan.
Low Weight:
This material’s high strength comes with low weight, making it an exceptional weight-reducing solution in bridge construction. The reduced weight of the Weldox 700 plate means that it can be used to build longer-span bridges or reduce the weight of steel decks, thereby allowing for more cost-effective bridge construction projects. Weldox 700 is a high-strength, low-alloy structural steel with good formability and weld ability. It has an impressive yield strength of 800 MPa and tensile strength of 890–990 MPa, making it one of the strongest steels available. The weight of a Weldox 700 plate depends on its size, thickness, and density; small 12mm x 1300mm x 4000 mm plates with a 6 mm thickness generally weigh around 119 kgs, whereas larger 1340mm x 5000mmx 50mm plates can go up to 3500 kgs in total. Additionally, its lightweight makes it easier to handle during fabrication processes such as cutting or drilling, even with highly complex geometries.
Ductility:
Weldox 700 plate has high flexibility and can absorb impacts and withstand heavy loads without cracking. This flexibility makes it a reliable choice in bridge construction, as it reduces the risk of bridge failures due to the material’s ability to absorb energy.
Enhanced Toughness:
Bridges are subject to extreme weather and harsh conditions, making using materials that can withstand external impacts vitally. Weldox 700 plate has improved toughness, enhancing its fatigue resistance and making it more wear and tear-resistant.
Cost-Effective:
Using Weldox 700 plate in bridge construction projects is more cost-effective over the bridge’s lifespan. The use of high-strength steel means that the bridge component’s size can be reduced, which, in return, reduces material and transportation costs. Also, Weldox 700 plate’s durability means that maintenance, repair, and replacement costs will be reduced, saving on long-term expenses.
Conclusion
Using high-strength steel in bridge construction can bring many benefits. With its high strength, low weight, flexibility, toughness, and cost-effectiveness, Weldox 700 plate is an exceptional choice for bridge construction. Its use in bridge construction projects results in stronger, more durable, cost-effective infrastructures that withstand harsh weather conditions, heavy loads, and severe impacts. The advantages of Weldox 700 plates make it a preferred choice among engineers for infrastructure projects requiring long-term durability and planned maintenance costs, saving the community and government projects.
