SSAB Weathering steel for outlasting bridges and structures

SSAB Weathering is a corrosion-resistant steel that saves costs from day one. This makes it an ideal building material for bridges and other structures that need to be corrosion resistant.

Lighter and stronger structures

To cope with the elements and the constant strains put on bridges, structural materials have to be extremely strong and durable.

SSAB Weathering steels are available in yield strength levels from 355–960 MPa. This allows for sophisticated design of lighter and stronger structures, easier to erect and reducing transportation movements.

Regardless of the decision for a painted or unpainted bridge structure, SSAB Weathering steel offers either less maintenance repainting or minimal maintenance altogether.

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New design guide for weathering steel in bridge construction

Deeper insights into weathering steel, numerous examples from working practice and recommendations based on international experience. Don't miss the new edition of the European Design Guide for the use of weathering steel in bridge construction. The guide is published by ECCS, the European Convention for constructional steelwork, to which SSAB is also a contributor.

Download the guide and learn more

SSAB Weathering steel for bridge construction – built to last

Don't miss out on SSAB’s comprehensive steel solution for bridges. SSAB offers steel products both for superstructure (girders, trapezoidal profiles) and substructure (LSAW tubes, piles for foundation).

Plates for I beam / girder

Strength level from 355, 420, 460 in Weathering steel and SSAB Domex
Excellent weldability; No need to preheat with TM rolled material
Excellent toughness both in base metal and welded joints
Prefabricated plates – shot blasted, weld beveled, plasma cut

SSAB Weathering 355ML, 420ML and 460ML and SSAB Domex 420ML, 460ML and 500ML.

Plates for Cross members

Strength level from 355, 420, 460 in Weathering steel and SSAB Domex
Excellent weldability ; No need to preheat with TM rolled material
Excellent toughness both in base metal and welded joints
Prefabricated plates – shot blasted, weld beveled, plasma cut

SSAB Weathering 355ML, 420ML and 460ML and SSAB Domex 420ML, 460ML and 500ML.

Trapezoidal sections / VU sections for orthotropic steel decks

Length up to 21 Meters
Cross section accuracy
Both roll formed & press bent trapezoidal sections (bigger & smaller lots)
Possible also in Weathering grades

Trapezoidal sections.

Hollow sections for Guard rails

Length up to 26 meters
Strength level from 355, 420, 460, 500, 550 in Weathering steel
Large dimensional range, good weldability
Good impact values in low temperatures

Hollow sections.

Plates for Piers

Strength level from 355, 420, 460 in Weathering steel and SSAB Domex
Excellent weldability ; No need to preheat with TM rolled material
Excellent toughness both in base metal and welded joints
Prefabricated plates – shot blasted, weld beveled, plasma cut

SSAB Weathering 355ML, 420ML and 460ML and SSAB Domex 420ML, 460ML and 500ML.

LSAW tubes for circular piers

Precise dimensions for project needs
Tailor made shapes
Short delivery time and on-site deliveries
Guaranteed weld quality
From small to big diameters

LSAW for piers.

Steel piles for foundation

Pile sizes up to 1220x23 and steel grade up to S550J2H
Mechanical splices up to diameter 323.9 mm
Versatile value-adding and outfitting, such as rocks shoes and shear rings, of piles according to the requirements of EN1090
Wide range of design tools available

Piles.

Maintained by rust

The oxide layer that transforms into patina behaves as if it was a paint coating. It seals-off the steel surface from the atmosphere and prevents corrosion. This allows for applications in non-painted condition, leading to considerable maintenance cost savings. The oxide-to-patina process takes place under normal atmospheric conditions, with rainy, snowy and sunny days. No anti-corrosion treatment is needed, which lowers overall costs.

SSAB Weathering and COR-TEN® steels have a much smaller environmental footprint than conventional steel.

Environmentally friendly steel

SSAB Weathering steel has a much smaller environmental footprint than non-weathering steels. Emissions and pollution to the structure’s surrounding, caused by painting and stripping before re-painting, can be avoided when used in unpainted condition. A steel bridge made of SSAB Weathering steel is 100% recyclable at the end of its service life. This is a key selling point for many large scale infrastructure projects today.

A landscape-friendly material

The appearance of a structure is an important consideration for any infrastructure project, particularly large-scale structures such as bridges or towers. The patina of SSAB Weathering steel is renowned for the way it blends in with its surroundings, particularly in the countryside. For example, a weathering steel bridge made from SSAB Weathering steel can provide a softening tone when used in conjunction with concrete or other structural materials that can be overbearing on their own.

If only Gustave Eiffel had waited for SSAB Weathering steel

Back in 1889, construction was completed on one of the world’s most iconic structures – the Eiffel Tower. At a total height of 324 meters and a weight of 7,300 tons, it was an architectural and engineering masterpiece. Gustave Eiffel’s material of choice was wrought steel. But what would have happened if the Eiffel Tower had been made of SSAB Weathering steel?

Well, if they hadn’t painted it, they would have saved 8.6 tons of paint a year and all the man-hours that it entails. That is a staggering 1,092 tons of paint, which is shocking when you consider that rust would work just as well with a similar look.

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Outlasting, maintenance-free SSAB Weathering 420 ML chosen for Jokikylä bridge defies time

Jokikylä bridge spans the river Kiiminkijoki in Haukipudas, Northern Ostrobothnia and is a major milestone in Finnish bridgebuilding. Work started on building the bridge in 2022 and the bridge was opened in autumn 2023. The old bridge needed to be replaced due to damage, deficient load-bearing capacity and poor conditions for light traffic. Additionally, the new bridge provides safer conditions for pedestrians and cyclists

World’s first robotically welded automated bridge: The Ya Bridge, Norway

Nestled in Norway's beautiful scenery, the 2022 Ya River Bridge breaks new ground in innovative bridge building. Located alongside Norway's Highway 3 in Tynset, the Ya Bridge has achieved a remarkable feat — it's the world's first automotive bridge built using automated, robotic laser welding technology. With a length of 48 meters, a width of 9.6 meters, and a rising height of 1.6 meters, this bridge is a true marvel of modern bridge building. The Ya Bridge boasts a single long span and is engineered for an impressive 100-year service life.

Norway’s first bridge made of SSAB Weathering 420 ML: Elverhøy

The Elverhøy Bridge had to be built using a material that requires little maintenance, blends nicely into the natural surroundings and lasts a long time. The choice fell on SSAB Weathering 420 ML, a weathering, high-strength steel that is ideal for bridges. The 110-meter-long bridge is now complete. It was manufactured using state-of-the-art robot laser technology, which cuts carbon dioxide emissions significantly compared with other welding technologies.

SSAB Weathering steel in pedestrian bridge design: Staying strong and lasting long

The City of Hyvinkää in Finland is on the track to sustainable bridge design. With weathering steel from SSAB, this pedestrian bridge will stay strong and last long.

An SSAB Weathering steel bridge – built to last

The award-winning pedestrian bridge near Lake Kuusijärvi in Finland not only resists corrosion, requires little maintenance and is visually striking. Thanks to SSAB Weathering steel, it also helps to reduce lifecycle costs and carbon footprint.

Maintenance costs for painted structures are greatly reduced with SSAB Weathering steel

Painted SSAB Weathering steel was subjected to a six-year test, where it was exposed to corrosive salt air and extreme weather conditions.

High-strength steel for low-carbon, lower life-cycle cost bridges

Learn about SSAB’s portfolio of weathering steels for the construction of low-maintenance bridges that deliver superior corrosion resistance and help you reduce life-cycle and environmental costs. Sami Niemelä from design firm WSP will also be showcasing his award-winning bridge in the forests of Finland.

”By choosing COR-TEN® weathering steel and painting it, you get an extremely long-lasting construction”

The Hashalom railway station in Tel Aviv, Israel, is the country’s busiest railway station, and features an unforgettable design – a flying carpet-like roof of steel and glass. For its construction, renowned architect Eri Goshen chose to use COR-TEN® weathering steel from SSAB in combination with a paint coating.

New insights - SSAB Weathering can reduce maintenance costs of painted steel structures

The webinar will address topics, such as: How SSAB Weathering steel forms its protective patina layer during the oxidation process. How effective painted SSAB Weathering steel is in resisting degradation and retaining paint within a corrosive environment. Real-world applications of SSAB Weathering steel.