Gangsteel offers project-based supply of BV Grade EH40 steel plate, also written BV/EH40. This is a higher-strength hull plate grade combining the 390 MPa minimum yield level with impact requirements referenced to −40°C. We work from the requested grade, dimensions and inspection scope so that the proposed material can be checked against the vessel’s approved plate schedule before an order is confirmed.
The numerical basis for this BV Grade EH40 overview is Bureau Veritas NR216 DT R17, January 2025, Rules on Materials and Welding for the Classification of Marine Units, Chapter 3, Section 2. This is the same NR216 edition currently listed by Bureau Veritas; it applies, unless otherwise specified, to ships contracted on or after 1 January 2025. Chemistry follows Table 2, mechanical properties Table 7, and plate delivery and impact-test frequency Table 9. Project applicability and any subsequent corrigenda must be checked at order review.
Grade Designation
BV Grade EH40 is a higher-strength weldable hot-rolled structural steel designation for hull construction and other structural applications within NR216. The commercial writings BV/EH40 and BV EH40 identify the same requested grade, not a separate specification. The 40 strength level denotes a minimum yield stress of 390 MPa; EH identifies the toughness category. The number is not a thickness or a chemical-analysis limit. The grade name alone does not identify a particular heat, mill approval or inspection document.
Key Advantages of EH40 Steel Plate
- A defined 390 MPa minimum yield requirement and 510–660 MPa tensile range for the plate scope summarised below.
- A higher-strength option for a design that specifically calls for the 40 strength level; any weight reduction requires structural calculation, not a grade-name assumption.
- An identified Charpy reference temperature of −40°C, with test applicability, specimen size and sampling still controlled by the rules.
- A rule-based enquiry specification covering chemistry, delivery condition and testing rather than relying on a commercial label alone.
Chemical Composition (Ladle Analysis)
Values are mass percentages determined on ladle samples under NR216 Chapter 3, Section 2, [1.7.1] and Table 2. They are not product-analysis tolerances or an analysis of material currently offered.
| Element / requirement | Ladle analysis, mass % |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C), maximum | 0.18 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.90–1.60 |
| Silicon (Si), maximum | 0.50 |
| Phosphorus (P), maximum | 0.035 |
| Sulfur (S), maximum | 0.035 |
| Acid-soluble aluminium (Al), minimum when applicable | 0.015 |
| Niobium (Nb), when applicable | 0.02–0.05 |
| Vanadium (V), when applicable | 0.05–0.10 |
| Titanium (Ti), maximum | 0.02 |
| Copper (Cu), maximum | 0.35 |
| Chromium (Cr), maximum | 0.20 |
| Nickel (Ni), maximum | 0.40 |
| Molybdenum (Mo), maximum | 0.08 |
The Al, Nb and V entries are conditional grain-refining provisions, not a requirement to add all three at their stated minima. Aluminium, niobium, vanadium or other suitable grain refiners may be used singly or in combination. When used singly, the specified minimum applies; in combination, at least one grain refiner must meet its specified minimum. Nb + V + Ti must not exceed 0.12%. Total Al of at least 0.020% may replace acid-soluble Al. For this non-FH grade, minimum Mn may be reduced to 0.70% at thicknesses up to 12.5 mm. Other alloying proposals require BV acceptance at approval; TM chemistry variations may be allowed or required at that approval. These qualifications must be reviewed with the proposed mill route.
Mechanical Properties
The following tensile requirements are for plate within the Section 2 scope, up to 100 mm thick. MPa is numerically equal to N/mm².
| Property | BV Grade EH40 requirement |
|---|---|
| Yield stress ReH, minimum | 390 MPa |
| Tensile strength Rm | 510–660 MPa |
| Elongation A5, minimum | 20% |
A5 is the table’s elongation basis. For full-thickness flat tensile specimens 25 mm wide with a 200 mm gauge length, use the thickness-dependent values in Table 8 for strength level 40 instead; the A5 minimum must not be copied onto that specimen basis.
These tables state rule requirements, not evidence of certificates currently held by Gangsteel. Before purchase, confirm the proposed manufacturer’s applicable BV approval, inspection and certification scope, heat and plate traceability, delivery condition, and actual test results in the documentation for the offered material.
Charpy V-Notch Impact Requirements
| Plate thickness t | Test temperature | Minimum average KVL (J) | Minimum average KVT (J) |
|---|---|---|---|
| t ≤ 50 mm | −40°C | 39 | 26 |
| 50 < t ≤ 70 mm | −40°C | 46 | 31 |
| 70 < t ≤ 100 mm | −40°C | 55 | 37 |
KVL denotes longitudinal specimens and KVT transverse specimens. The energies shown are minimum averages for standard-size specimens, not single-specimen minima. For plates at least 600 mm wide, NR216 [1.9.4] normally takes tensile specimens transverse and Charpy specimens longitudinal; transverse impact requirements remain guaranteed by the manufacturer and may be checked by BV. Subsize specimens follow Chapter 2, Section 4, rather than using the full-size energies unchanged. Impact tests are generally not required below 6 mm nominal thickness.
The −40°C reference is a laboratory impact-test temperature, not an approved minimum service temperature for BV Grade EH40. Vessel design, thickness, structural location and applicable classification requirements determine suitability in service.
Delivery Condition and Weldability
Table 9 permits normalised (N), thermo-mechanically rolled (TM), or quenched-and-tempered (QT) plate, with testing on each piece, or each piece as heat treated for QT.
BV Grade EH40 is killed and fine-grain treated. For TM-produced material only, the clear thickness grid in Table 3 gives the following maximum carbon equivalent values. These are not universal limits for all delivery conditions.
| TM plate thickness | CEQ maximum, mass % |
|---|---|
| t ≤ 50 mm | 0.40 |
| 50 < t ≤ 100 mm | 0.42 |
Under [1.7.3], CEQ = C + Mn/6 + (Cr + Mo + V)/5 + (Ni + Cu)/15, using ladle-analysis percentages. More stringent limits may be agreed by the manufacturer and shipbuilder. Pcm may be used at BV’s discretion with an agreed approval limit; no universal Pcm or CET maximum is asserted here.
Weldability requires review of actual chemistry, plate thickness, restraint, consumable selection, hydrogen control and the proposed heat input. The grade designation does not provide a ready-made welding procedure or a universal preheat temperature. Confirm the qualified fabrication procedure and any restrictions on subsequent thermal treatment before cutting or welding.
Available Dimensions
Send the required thickness, width, length, number of plates and dimensional tolerances for BV Grade EH40. NR216 Chapter 3, Section 2 covers plates and wide flats through 100 mm thickness; this rule scope is not a stock-size list or a promise that every dimension is available. Above that thickness, requirements need individual consideration by BV. Gangsteel will confirm the proposed mill route, dimensions and inspection scope against the enquiry; stock quantities and dispatch dates are not implied by this page.
Main Applications
BV EH40 plate may be specified for hull shell plating, decks, bulkheads and other structural plate members where the approved vessel design selects this grade. Use in highly loaded or toughness-sensitive locations depends on structural calculations and the applicable material-selection rules, not only the strength level. This is not a pressure-vessel, corrosion-resistant or polar-service approval simply by virtue of the BV grade name.
Equivalent Grades of EH40
BV/EH40 and BV EH40 are naming variants of BV Grade EH40, not separate equivalent materials. Grades bearing similar letters under another classification society are not automatically drop-in equivalents. Any proposed substitute requires a comparison of the applicable rule editions, product form, chemistry, strength, toughness, delivery condition, thickness and certification, followed by the required project approval. No cross-society equivalence is claimed here.
Within the BV family, the following grades share the same minimum yield level but differ in toughness category and may differ in chemistry or delivery requirements. They are comparison options, not authorised substitutions.
| Same-strength BV grade | Minimum yield stress | Impact category distinction |
|---|---|---|
| BV Grade AH40 | 390 MPa | 0°C reference; testing exceptions and delivery requirements apply |
| BV Grade DH40 | 390 MPa | −20°C reference; testing exceptions and delivery requirements apply |
| BV Grade FH40 | 390 MPa | −60°C reference; testing exceptions and delivery requirements apply |
Related Products
- BV Grade AH40 steel plate
- BV Grade DH40 steel plate
- BV Grade FH40 steel plate
- BV shipbuilding steel plates
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is BV Grade EH40 (BV/EH40) steel plate?
BV Grade EH40 is a higher-strength hull plate grade combining the 390 MPa minimum yield level with impact requirements referenced to −40°C. BV/EH40 is a commercial writing of the same grade. The actual plate must be supplied and documented to the agreed applicable requirements.
What tensile properties are specified for BV Grade EH40?
BV Grade EH40 has a minimum yield stress of 390 MPa, a tensile range of 510–660 MPa and a minimum A5 elongation of 20% within the plate scope shown. A 200 mm gauge-length specimen uses Table 8 values instead.
Does BV Grade EH40 have a minimum service temperature of −40°C?
No. For BV Grade EH40, −40°C identifies the impact-test reference, subject to the stated testing provisions. It is not an approved operating-temperature limit; the design authority must assess service suitability.
Is BV Grade EH40 supplied with through-thickness quality or ultrasonic testing automatically?
No. BV Grade EH40 does not by itself specify a through-thickness quality class or a universal ultrasonic acceptance level. Additional through-thickness testing for special applications is addressed by NR216 Chapter 3, Section 2, [1.9.4] and Section 12. Specify any such requirement and any ultrasonic standard and acceptance level separately; this page makes no stock Z-quality claim.
What should an enquiry for BV Grade EH40 include?
For BV Grade EH40, provide the applicable project rule edition, thickness, width, length, quantity, required delivery condition, certification and inspection scope, and any supplementary testing. Gangsteel can then confirm the proposed supply against those details rather than assuming stock or certificate availability.
For a BV Grade EH40 steel plate quotation, contact Gangsteel with your plate schedule and project requirements.