Mechanical Properties Evaluation According to Welding Conditions of TMCP Steel for Offshore Wind Power Substructrues (Part II: FCAW Welding for S420ML Steel)
Driven by stringent global CO2 emission regulations, the demand for offshore wind energy is rapidly expanding, necessitating structural materials with higher durability and strength for larger installations. Following our previous evaluation of S355ML steel welds (Part I), this study investigates the mechanical performance of Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) on S420ML steel. This higher-strength TMCP steel is increasingly preferred for large-scale offshore substructures to achieve enhanced structural efficiency and significant weight reduction. In this research, we evaluated the weldability and mechanical integrity of S420ML joints under optimized FCAW conditions. The experimental results demonstrated that the welded joints achieved a tensile strength of 598 MPa, exceeding the minimum requirements of the S420ML base metal and ensuring a joint efficiency of over 102%. Notably, Charpy V-notch impact tests at -50°C exhibited an average absorbed energy of 112.9 J, which significantly surpasses the standard requirement for offshore structures and demonstrates excellent low-temperature toughness. These findings provide critical technical validation for the application of S420ML steel in the next generation of offshore wind foundations.