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What is S690QL steel used for? steel plate

S690QL steel is a high-strength quenched and tempered structural steel conforming to the EN 10025-6 standard. Its exceptional combination of ​​minimum yield strength of 690 MPa​, ​​toughness at low temperatures​, and ​​good weldability​ makes it indispensable across multiple demanding industries. Below is a detailed breakdown of its primary applications:

1. ​​Construction & Infrastructure​

​​High-Rise Buildings & Bridges​: Used for critical load-bearing components (e.g., support frames, beams, and columns) to reduce structural weight while enhancing seismic resistance and load capacity. For example, it enables longer spans in bridges and taller buildings without compromising safety  .

​​Industrial Facilities​: Applied in heavy equipment foundations, crane beams, and structural frameworks for factories, where stability under dynamic loads is crucial  .

​​Specialized Structures​: Key in stadiums, airports, and large-span roofs due to its fatigue resistance and ability to handle cyclic stresses.

2. ​​Heavy Machinery & Mining Equipment​

​​Cranes & Lifting Systems​: Forms crane booms, jibs, and chassis, reducing self-weight by up to 15% while maintaining strength, leading to fuel efficiency and higher payloads  .

​​Earthmoving Machinery​: Critical for excavator arms, bulldozer blades, and mining shovel buckets, where abrasion resistance and durability against impact are essential  .

​​Mining Vehicles​: Used in dump trucks, drilling rigs, and hydraulic supports for coal mines, withstanding harsh operational conditions .

3. ​​Offshore & Renewable Energy​

​​Oil/Gas Platforms​: Deployed in offshore drilling rigs (e.g., deep-water wellhead supports) due to corrosion resistance and strength under high-pressure environments. Projects like the "Blue Whale 1" platform use S690QL to reduce weight by 18%  .

​​Wind Turbines​: Ideal for tower sections and foundations, especially in offshore installations. A 7MW turbine tower using S690QL saves ~40 tons of steel per unit  .

​​Polar Engineering​: Utilized in icebreaker ships (e.g., "Xuelong 2") for reinforced hulls, validated for performance at temperatures down to -60°C  .

4. ​​Specialized Transport & Defense​

​​Heavy-Duty Vehicles​: Fabricates chassis for transport trucks and armored vehicles, offering ballistic protection without excessive weight  .

​​Aerospace Components​: Supports landing gear parts and structural frames where strength-to-weight ratios are critical  .

Key Material Properties Enabling These Applications

Table: Core Characteristics of S690QL Steel

​​Property​ ​​Value​ ​​Industry Benefit​
Yield Strength ≥690 MPa High load capacity with reduced material use
Impact Toughness (at -40°C) ≥30–40J Reliability in arctic/offshore environments
Elongation ≥14% Resistance to deformation under stress
Carbon Equivalent (CEV) ≤0.47 Reduced welding cracking risk
Fatigue Life 3× longer than S355 steel Extended service in cyclic-load structures

Table: Global Standards Equivalents

​​Region​ ​​Equivalent Standard​ ​​Key Differences​
Europe EN 10025-6 Baseline for -40°C toughness
China GB/T 16270 Q690E Includes mandatory post-weld heat treatment
USA ASTM A514 Gr.Q Stricter phosphorus control (≤0.020%)
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