





Steel Plate for Wind Power
Classification :
Product introduction
Wind power steel plates are special steel plates designed specifically for key structural components of wind turbines. Their core function is to ensure the structural strength, toughness and durability of wind power equipment (especially onshore/offshore wind turbines) when they are subjected to complex loads (such as wind, gravity, vibration, fatigue, etc.) and harsh environments (such as low temperature, salt spray, ultraviolet rays, etc.) for a long time, so as to avoid wind turbine shutdown or safety accidents due to material failure.
Core features
1. Excellent low-temperature impact toughness: Onshore wind turbines are often deployed in high-altitude, cold regions (such as Northeast and Northwest my country), while offshore wind turbines face freezing temperatures in winter. Steel plates must maintain high impact energy (e.g., AKV ≥ 34J) at temperatures between -40°C and -60°C to avoid low-temperature brittle cracking.
2. High fatigue strength and fatigue resistance: Wind turbine blades rotate several times per second, and towers and nacelles must withstand long-term alternating wind loads. Steel plates must achieve 20-year fatigue fracture resistance (typically requiring a fatigue strength ≥ 300 MPa) through controlled composition (e.g., a low P/S ratio) and refined grain size.
3. Excellent weathering/corrosion resistance: Offshore wind turbines are exposed to salt spray for extended periods, requiring the use of marine corrosion-resistant steel (e.g., steel with copper, chromium, and nickel additions). Onshore wind turbines must also be resistant to UV aging to prevent surface rust from compromising structural strength.
4. Excellent welding and forming properties: Wind turbine towers (with diameters ranging from 4 to 6 meters) are typically welded using a roll welding process. Steel plates must have a low weld crack susceptibility (carbon equivalent value (CEV)) of at least 0.42%. Welded joints must perform as well as the parent material and resist cracking during cold bending and rolling.
5. Strict thickness uniformity and internal quality: Steel plates used for tower and pile foundations can be up to 50-100mm thick and must have uniform properties throughout the entire thickness. Internal defects such as pores, inclusions, and layered are not permitted, and ultrasonic testing (UT) must meet Class I standards.
Classification
Classification | Application part | Performance requirements | Grade(GB/T ) |
Steel for wind turbine towers | Tower (lower section/middle section/upper section), flange | High strength (yield strength ≥ 345MPa), high weldability, and weather resistance; thick plates (16~100mm) require uniform toughness throughout the entire thickness | Q345NE、Q355ND/E、Q420ND/E |
Steel for wind turbine nacelles | Nacelle base, nacelle cover (metal part) | Medium to high strength (yield strength ≥ 235MPa), excellent low temperature toughness (-40℃ impact resistance meets standards), easy to process and shape | Q235NE、Q345ND、Q355NE |
Steel for wind turbine pile foundations | Offshore wind turbine pile foundations and jackets | Ultra-high strength (yield strength ≥460MPa), marine salt spray corrosion resistance, fatigue resistance, thick plate (30~80mm) | Q460ND/E、Q500ND/E、Q690ND/E |
Blade steel | Large metal blades (several designs) | Lightweight (thin gauge, 3~8mm), high toughness, weather resistance | Q345ND(Thin gauge) |
Chemical properties (Take the mainstream brand Q355ND as an example)
Performance category | Indicator requirements(GB/T 1591-2018) | Remark |
Chemical composition (%) | C≤0.20,Si≤0.55,Mn≤1.60,P≤0.020,S≤0.010,Nb≤0.06,V≤0.05,Ti≤0.20 | Lower P/S can reduce fatigue crack initiation, while Nb/V/Ti can refine grains and improve toughness. |
Mechanical properties | Yield strength (Rel) ≥ 355MPa, tensile strength (Rm) 470~630MPa | Ensure the tower can withstand the wind turbine's own weight and wind loads |
Elongation (A) ≥ 21% | Meet the needs of rolling and bending to avoid cracking | |
-40℃ Charpy impact energy (AKV, longitudinal) ≥34J | Adapt to cold regions/ocean low temperature environments to prevent low temperature brittle cracking | |
Fatigue performance | 10⁷ cycle fatigue strength ≥310MPa (stress ratio R=-1) | Ensure no fatigue fracture under 20-year alternating load |
Welding performance | Carbon equivalent CEV≤0.42%, welding crack sensitivity index Pcm≤0.28% | Lowering welding preheating temperature to reduce tower welding defects |
Weather resistance | Atmospheric corrosion resistance index I ≥ 6.0 (some weather-resistant grades, such as Q355NH) | Onshore wind turbines resist atmospheric corrosion and extend maintenance intervals |
Specification range
The specifications of steel plates for wind power generation need to match the size requirements of wind turbine structural components, especially the steel for towers and pile foundations, which have a wide range of specifications
Thickness (T): Tower steel: 16-100mm (thicker at the bottom, thinner at the top); Nacelle steel: 6-30mm; Pile foundation steel: 30-80mm;
Width (W): 1500-4800mm (Wider steel plates reduce the number of welds after tower rolling, improving reliability);
Length (L): 6000-18000mm (customizable according to tower height, reducing the number of joints);
Delivery Condition: Mainly in "normalized" or "TMCP" condition. TMCP steel requires no subsequent heat treatment and can be directly formed, thus reducing costs. Thick plates (≥40mm) or low-temperature steels (such as Q355NE) require "normalizing and tempering" to ensure uniform properties throughout the thickness.
Application areas
Onshore wind power: Key requirements include low-temperature toughness, drought resistance, and sandstorm resistance.
Offshore wind power: For offshore wind farms, key requirements include salt spray corrosion resistance and ultra-high strength (to withstand typhoon loads).
Deepwater wind power: Future development will require steel plates with higher corrosion resistance (such as weathering steel + coating composite protection) and higher fatigue strength.
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