Structural Steel Plate used in Ankang Bridge
Designed to withstand extreme loads from busy highways, modern bridges use a wide range of materials ranging from concrete to steel. One material that has proven to be more than able for the job is structural steel plate. Structural steel plate, when used for bridges, is put through rigorous testing to ensure that it meets the highest standards with regards to its strength and durability. Structural steel plate used in Ankang Bridge is no exception.
Structural steel, referred to commonly as S-Structural Steel or ASTM A36/A36M Steel, is a steel that is made to adhere to the specifications of the American Society for Testing and Materials and designed to be used in structural applications. Steel work is composed of small amounts of other metals such as carbon, manganese and silicon, as well as varying amounts of the element iron, giving it strong corrosion and wear-resistant qualities. The combination of elements and thickness of the plate determines the strength and durability of the plate, both of which are essential for its intended application.
The Ankang Bridge, constructed in the Jiangsu Province, is a Z-shape bridge with a length of 500 meters (1,640 feet). The bridge was erected using mainly structural steel plate, as well as other materials such as concrete and bituminous surface layers. The structural steel plate used for the construction of the Ankang Bridge was of a Chinese made grade named Q235, which was specifically designed to withstand the weight of modern heavy vehicles. The thickness of the plate used was 8 to 25 mm and the plate had to pass various tests such as tensile testing, chemical composition tests and weldability tests.
In addition to the structural steel, the bridge used High Strength Low Alloy (HSLA) fillets, with American designations of ASTM A572 Gr50/A572M and ASTM A606/A606M. This type of steel is known to be malleable and resistant to corrosion and wear, making it perfect for outdoor applications. The HSLA fillets were also subjected to various tests before being incorporated into the bridge design.
The use of structural steel in the construction of bridges, including the Ankang Bridge, has proved to be quite successful in terms of both cost and longevity. The many tests and stringent standards mandated by the American Society for Testing and Materials ensures that the structural steel plate used for bridges meet the highest quality requirements. Quality control measures such as tensile tests, chemical composition tests and weldability tests ensure that the steel is suitable for its intended application and also provides an assurance of safety and durability for the bridge.
