Gangsteel works with shipbuilding and offshore fabricators on ABS Grade DH36 steel plate enquiries, production specification review and export supply requirements. For AB/DH36 plate, we review the complete grade, thickness, manufacturing route and inspection scope before confirming an order. The ABS shipbuilding steel plate family provides related product context; availability and delivery are confirmed for the actual enquiry.
The numerical requirements below are based on the complete ABS Rules for Materials and Welding (Part 2), January 2023, Section 2-1-3, with the applicable general requirements. The current official edition listed in the ABS July 2026 Marine Vessel Rules is January 2026; the later edition’s numerical tables have not been independently verified here. Confirm the contractual edition before ordering. ABS Grade DH36 uses a Charpy V-notch test temperature of -20 °C where the specified tests apply. These are laboratory test conditions, not approved minimum service temperatures.
Grade Designation
ABS Grade DH36, also written ABS DH36 or AB/DH36, belongs to the higher-strength hull structural steel group. The 36 strength category has a minimum yield point of 355 MPa in the cited table; the DH quality selects the -20 °C Charpy test-temperature category. ABS lists the marking format AB/XHYY, with X identifying quality and YY identifying strength category. Do not shorten the designation to the strength number alone.
Key Advantages of DH36 Steel Plate
- A complete AB/DH36 designation links the enquiry to the appropriate ABS grade family rather than a generic strength description.
- ABS Grade DH36 uses a Charpy V-notch test temperature of -20 °C where the specified tests apply. These are laboratory test conditions, not approved minimum service temperatures.
- Ladle-analysis requirements and specimen-specific mechanical acceptance provide a defined basis for mill-document review.
- Gangsteel reviews production and export requirements against the order; no unverified stock quantity, rolling size or lead time is implied.
Chemical Composition (Ladle Analysis, Limits %)
ABS January 2023, Section 2-1-3, Table 1. Values are mass percentages, not typical heat results. Maxima, minima and ranges are labelled; these are ladle-analysis requirements, not product-analysis tolerances.
| C max | Mn range | Si range | P max | S max | Ni max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.18 | 0.90–1.60 | 0.10–0.50 | 0.035 | 0.035 | 0.40 |
| Element | Limit / conditional range |
|---|---|
| Al, acid soluble | ≥0.015 when used singly |
| Nb | 0.02–0.05 when used singly |
| V | 0.05–0.10 when used singly |
| Ti | ≤0.02 |
| Cu | ≤0.35 |
| Cr | ≤0.20 |
| Mo | ≤0.08 |
| Ca | ≤0.005 |
| N | No numerical limit stated in this table |
These steels are killed and made to fine grain practice. At least one grain-refining element must be present in sufficient amount; the Al, Nb and V minima are not simultaneous mandatory additions. Combined additions follow Section 2-1-3/5; total aluminum can replace acid-soluble aluminum on that basis. The silicon minimum does not apply where soluble Al is at least 0.015%.
Elements intentionally added must be determined and reported. Nb, V, Ti and Ca need not be reported unless intentionally added. Cu, Cr, Ni and Mo may be reported as ≤0.02% when the amount present does not exceed 0.02%. Alternative chemistry requires special agreement with ABS at mill qualification. Product-analysis tolerances are not the ladle-analysis values and are not tabulated here.
Mechanical Properties
| Property | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Yield point minimum, MPa | 355 |
| Tensile strength, MPa | 490–620 |
| Elongation minimum, % | 21 |
The displayed elongation applies to alternative A flat or alternative C round specimens in Section 2-1-1, Figure 2. Alternative B / 200 mm gauge-length specimens use the separate thickness-dependent Table 3, not a universal elongation value. ASTM E8M/E8 or A370 50 mm specimens use 20% under the applicable table note. No plate value is borrowed from sections, bars or pipes.
Confirm the contractual edition, plate identity and heat traceability, approved manufacturing route, specimen basis, impact tests and acceptance results on the mill certificate / inspection document. These requirement tables are not evidence of certificates currently held by Gangsteel, and no specific certificate type is promised here.
Charpy Impact Requirements
| Plate thickness, mm | Temperature, °C | Longitudinal, J min average | Transverse, J min average |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≤50 | -20 | 34 | 24 |
| >50–70 | -20 | 41 | 27 |
| >70–100 | -20 | 50 | 34 |
| >100–150 | -20 | 54 | 36 |
Either Charpy direction is acceptable under Table 4, using its corresponding energy requirement. These are minimum averages for full-size specimens, not a guarantee for every specimen. The ordered grade, plate thickness and condition-of-supply matrix determine testing frequency.
Under Section 2-1-2/11.5, the average of three specimens must meet the required average; only one may be below it and none below 70% of it. Subsize requirements differ from full-size values. Generally, impact testing is not required for plate thinner than 6 mm. For ABS Grade DH36, -20 °C is a laboratory test temperature, not a stand-alone minimum operating-temperature approval. Design temperature selection remains subject to the vessel/offshore rules, structural detail and approved design.
Delivery Condition and Weldability
Condition of supply follows Section 2-1-3, Table 5, including plate-only rows, thickness bands and any grain-refining practice. The complete route and test plan must be confirmed with the approved mill. “Any condition” in a qualifying table cell must not be extrapolated to every thickness or quality. Normalized, controlled-rolled, TMCP and QT supply are not universal options for every AB/DH36 plate.
| Thickness, mm | Ceq maximum, % |
|---|---|
| ≤50 | 0.38 |
| >50–100 | 0.40 |
| >100–150 | Agree with ABS at mill qualification |
Ceq = C + Mn/6 + (Cr + Mo + V)/5 + (Ni + Cu)/15. For non-TMCP steel, the maximum is agreed between fabricator and mill; the TMCP limits must not be applied indiscriminately. Section 2-1-3/7.3 permits calculation of Pcm unless otherwise specified by the purchaser, with its maximum agreed between fabricator and mill at ordering. No universal numerical Pcm limit is supplied in that section.
Welding requires review of actual heat chemistry, thickness, hydrogen control, restraint, heat input and the approved fabrication requirements. No universal preheat, welding procedure or post-weld treatment can be inferred from the grade name. Subsequent heating or forming must be assessed against the approved delivery condition; TMCP properties cannot be assumed to survive arbitrary heat treatment.
Available Dimensions
Section 2-1-3 covers AB/DH36 plate up to and including 150 mm thickness in the verified January 2023 edition. This is a rule-applicability limit, not a stock list or a statement that Gangsteel can roll or deliver every thickness. Different limits for tubulars, sections and bars must not be transferred to plate.
No commercial plate width or length range is established by the cited grade tables. Send thickness × width × length, quantity, dimensional tolerances and any cutting drawings for agreement. Confirm actual dimensions, approved production scope, inspection and delivery before purchase; no stock sizes or inventory quantities are asserted.
Main Applications
- Hull shell, deck and other welded ship structural plate details where the approved drawings specify AB/DH36.
- Bulkhead and supporting structural components subject to the required material class and thickness selection.
- Marine repair and offshore structural enquiries only where the governing design and classification requirements accept the ordered grade.
The suitability of ABS Grade DH36 depends on the approved structural detail and fabrication route, not just yield strength. It is not automatic pressure-vessel approval, a corrosion-resistance guarantee or permission to use the plate at its Charpy test temperature.
Equivalent Grades of DH36
| ABS grade | Yield min, MPa | Tensile, MPa | Charpy test-temperature category, °C |
|---|---|---|---|
| AH36 | 355 | 490–620 | 0 |
| DH36 | 355 | 490–620 | -20 |
| EH36 | 355 | 490–620 | -40 |
| FH36 | 355 | 490–620 | -60 |
The shared strength category does not remove differences in chemistry, toughness, test scope, delivery route or optional Z quality. No automatic cross-society or EN/ASTM equivalent is asserted for ABS Grade DH36. ABS, BV, CCS, DNV, GL, KR and LR specifications must not be treated as drop-in substitutes. Any replacement requires a complete comparison and designer, purchaser and classification acceptance as applicable.
Related Products
- ABS shipbuilding steel plate — family page
- ABS Grade AH36 steel plate
- ABS Grade EH36 steel plate
- ABS Grade FH36 steel plate
- ABS Grade DH32 steel plate
- ABS Grade DH40 steel plate
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is ABS Grade DH36 (AB/DH36) steel plate?
ABS Grade DH36, also written AB/DH36, is an ABS higher-strength hull structural plate grade. Use the full designation and contractual rules edition; the numerical tables here are explicitly based on January 2023, not a verified January 2026 table transcription.
What impact requirement applies to ABS Grade DH36?
ABS Grade DH36 uses a Charpy V-notch test temperature of -20 °C where the specified tests apply. These are laboratory test conditions, not approved minimum service temperatures. Use the thickness, specimen direction, energy and exemption details shown above, rather than treating a single temperature as an operating limit.
Does ABS Grade DH36 automatically include Z35?
No. ABS Grade DH36 identifies the base grade. Z35 must be separately specified, produced and tested to the applicable through-thickness rules and documented for the actual plate; a product-title reference is not proof of supply.
Which delivery condition should be ordered for ABS Grade DH36?
The ABS Grade DH36 delivery route must be within the mill’s approved grade and thickness scope and the applicable ABS tables. Agree the route before ordering; the designation alone does not guarantee as-rolled, normalized, TMCP or QT material.
Can another steel replace ABS Grade DH36?
Not on strength alone. For ABS Grade DH36, compare chemistry, thickness scope, impact acceptance, delivery condition and inspection requirements, and obtain the required project and classification approval before any substitution.
What should an enquiry for ABS Grade DH36 include?
Provide ABS Grade DH36 / AB/DH36, the rules edition, dimensions, quantity, approved delivery route, Charpy requirements, any Z35 or ultrasonic requirements, inspection documentation and processing drawings. Gangsteel can review these requirements before confirming production availability and export terms.
For ABS Grade DH36 steel plate enquiries, contact Gangsteel with the specification, plate dimensions, quantity and inspection requirements.