DNV Grade DH36, designated NV D36 and written NV/D36, is high-strength hull plate at the 355 MPa yield level with D-level impact testing. Enquiries should use these professional grade forms; the historical product URL is left unchanged and is not a different material. Gangsteel welcomes enquiries for NV D36 plate for shipbuilding and export projects; dimensions, delivery condition and documentation are agreed for the individual order.
The numerical requirements on this page for DNV Grade DH36 (NV D36) are transcribed from the official predecessor Det Norske Veritas Rules for Classification of Ships, Part 2 Chapter 2 Metallic materials, January 2016 edition, entering into force on 1 July 2016, Sec.1 C, including Tables C1, C2, C3, C4 and C5, together with the general requirements of Sec.1 A. That January 2016 chapter is a predecessor document family; it is not the current DNV-RU-SHIP Part 2 Chapter 2. The current listed official ship-rules edition is DNV-RU-SHIP, July 2026, which enters into force on 1 January 2027. The later edition’s numerical tables have not been independently verified here. The edition named in the contract, the applicable certificate and the attending surveyor’s requirements govern any actual supply. The figures below are January 2016 rule requirements for plate, not a statement that material offered today complies with the July 2026 rules, and not measured results for a particular heat.
Grade Designation
The official designation in the January 2016 rules is NV D36. In commercial enquiries the same product is commonly written DNV Grade DH36, NV D36, NV/D36 and DNV DH36. These are alternative writings of one Det Norske Veritas high-strength hull grade under Sec.1 C, not different material standards. The number 36 identifies the strength level with a specified minimum yield stress of 355 MPa; the letter D identifies the specified impact toughness within that level. The letter does not change the tensile-strength range of the strength level. Finished-product marking uses the official form, for example NV D36 (Sec.1 A1101). This page presents plate requirements. Section and bar figures are omitted.
Under Sec.1 A102, the plate and wide-flat requirements summarized here apply to thicknesses not exceeding 150 mm. For greater thicknesses, variations in the requirements may be permitted for particular applications. Through-thickness (‘Z’) quality, where needed, is a supplementary Sec.1 E requirement (quality classes Z25 and Z35) and is not implied by the base grade name or by this product title.
Key Advantages of DH36 Steel Plate
- Defined high-strength level: a specified minimum yield stress of 355 MPa and a tensile-strength range of 490–630 MPa under Table C4.
- D-level notch toughness is verified at −20°C, distinguishing NV D36 from the other toughness letters in the 36 family. The test temperature is a laboratory condition, not a blanket service limit.
- The grade is killed and fine-grain treated, with Table C1 limits on a heat-analysis basis and conditional grain-refining rules for aluminium, niobium, vanadium and titanium.
- For plate supplied in the thermo-mechanical (TM) condition, Table C2 sets carbon-equivalent maxima; those TM-only limits are not presented as a universal Ceq requirement for every delivery condition.
Chemical Composition (Heat Analysis)
Table values are taken from a heat analysis (Sec.1 A401): the composition of each heat is determined on a sample taken preferably during pouring of the heat. When several heats are tapped into a common ladle, the ladle analysis applies and shall remain within the same specified limits. Values are percentage by mass, maximum unless shown as a range or as a minimum. They are rule limits, not typical mill results and not product-analysis tolerances.
Table C1 gives chemical composition limits for high-strength steel. NV D36 shall be killed and fine-grain treated. NV A32, NV D32, NV E32, NV A36, NV D36, NV E36, NV A40, NV D40 and NV E40 share this chemical row; the F grades do not.
| Element | Heat-analysis requirement |
|---|---|
| Carbon, C | 0.18 max |
| Silicon, Si | 0.50 max |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.90–1.60; minimum 0.70% for thicknesses up to and including 12.5 mm |
| Phosphorus, P | 0.035 max |
| Sulphur, S | 0.035 max |
| Chromium, Cr | 0.20 max |
| Molybdenum, Mo | 0.08 max |
| Nickel, Ni | 0.40 max |
| Copper, Cu | 0.35 max |
| Aluminium, Al | Minimum 0.020% total when used as required below (if acid-soluble aluminium is determined instead, minimum 0.015%) |
| Niobium, Nb | 0.02–0.05, subject to the grain-refining rule below |
| Vanadium, V | 0.05–0.10, subject to the grain-refining rule below |
| Titanium, Ti | 0.007–0.05, subject to the grain-refining rule below |
| Nitrogen, N | No numerical limit is stated in Table C1 for this row (shown as “–”). |
The steel shall contain aluminium, niobium, vanadium or titanium, either singly or in any combination. When an element is used singly, the specified minimum for that element applies. When aluminium and niobium are used together, the minimum total aluminium content is 0.015% and the minimum niobium content is 0.010%. When aluminium and vanadium are used together, the minimum total aluminium content is 0.015% and the minimum vanadium content is 0.030%. The total content of Nb+V+Ti shall not exceed 0.12%.
Mechanical Properties
Table C4 mechanical properties apply to high-strength steel. MPa is numerically equal to N/mm². Unless otherwise agreed, for plates and wide flats 600 mm wide or more, tensile test pieces are transverse and impact test pieces are longitudinal (Sec.1 A605).
| Property | NV D36 requirement (Table C4) |
|---|---|
| Yield stress ReH, minimum | 355 MPa |
| Tensile strength Rm | 490–630 MPa |
| Elongation A5, minimum | 21% |
For full-thickness flat tensile test pieces 25 mm wide with a 200 mm gauge length, Table C4 reduces the minimum elongation (%) to the following values. These figures must not be copied onto the A5 basis.
| Thickness, mm | t ≤ 5 | 5 < t ≤ 10 | 10 < t ≤ 15 | 15 < t ≤ 20 | 20 < t ≤ 25 | 25 < t ≤ 30 | 30 < t ≤ 40 | t > 40 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strength level 36 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
Table C5: for A and D grades of all high-strength levels, the maximum impact test unit for plates is 50 tonnes, reduced to 25 tonnes for plates over 50 mm supplied NR, and to 25 tonnes for plates supplied AR. Tensile test units are a maximum of 50 tonnes (C402).
These tables state January 2016 rule requirements for DNV Grade DH36, not evidence of certificates currently held by Gangsteel and not test results for a particular plate. Before purchase, confirm the contractual rules edition, the manufacturer’s approval for the grade, thickness and delivery condition, the inspection and certification scope, and the actual test results in the documentation for the offered material.
Charpy V-Notch Impact Requirements
Energies are minimum averages for a set of three standard Charpy V-notch test pieces (Sec.1 A703). Table values are average minima; a single-specimen minimum is not stated in these mechanical-property tables and is not invented here. The test temperature is a laboratory condition, not an approved minimum service temperature.
| Plate thickness t | Test temperature | Minimum average, longitudinal (J) | Minimum average, transverse (J) |
|---|---|---|---|
| t ≤ 50 mm | −20°C | 34 | 24 |
| 50 mm < t ≤ 70 mm | −20°C | 41 | 27 |
| 70 mm < t ≤ 150 mm | −20°C | 50 | 34 |
Table C4. The four toughness letters in this strength level share these energies and differ by test temperature. Test direction follows A605.
Delivery Condition and Weldability
Abbreviations follow Sec.1 A500: AR as-rolled, NR normalising rolling, N normalising, TM thermo-mechanical rolling, and QT quenching and tempering. Where more than one condition is permitted, the manufacturer may supply only conditions for which it is approved. The following entries are the plate column of the official table; section-column permissions are not shown as plate data.
| Grain-refining element | Plate thickness | Permitted plate conditions (Table C3) |
|---|---|---|
| Al or any combination with Al | t ≤ 20 mm | AR, NR, N, TM |
| Al or any combination with Al | 20 mm < t ≤ 25 mm | AR when especially approved; NR, N, TM |
| Al or any combination with Al | 25 mm < t ≤ 150 mm | NR, N, TM, QT |
| Any combination without Al | t ≤ 12.5 mm | AR, NR, N, TM |
| Any combination without Al | 12.5 mm < t ≤ 150 mm | NR, N, TM, QT |
For steels supplied in the TM condition, the carbon equivalent shall comply with Table C2 (C202). Those maxima apply to the TM condition only and are not stated as a universal Ceq requirement for AR, NR, N or QT supply.
| Thickness (TM condition only) | Maximum Ceq for the 36 strength level (all toughness letters) |
|---|---|
| t ≤ 50 mm | 0.38 |
| 50 mm < t ≤ 100 mm | 0.40 |
| 100 mm < t ≤ 150 mm | 0.42 |
Ceq is calculated from the heat analysis using the formula in Sec.1 A405. Subject to agreement, weldability may alternatively be assessed using the Pcm formula in the same clause.
Available Dimensions
Under Sec.1 A102 of the January 2016 chapter, the plate and wide-flat requirements summarized here apply to thicknesses not exceeding 150 mm. Greater thicknesses may be considered only with the variations permitted for the particular application. Sec.1 A903 states that, for plates and wide flats, the minus tolerance on the ordered nominal thickness shall not exceed 0.3 mm; this is a rule tolerance, not a stock-size list. Width, length, edge condition, quantity and processing are agreed for the order. This page does not list inventory quantities or implied mill stock sizes.
Main Applications
Sec.1 A101 applies these rolled steels to hulls and other marine structures. DNV Grade DH36 (NV D36) is used where the approved scantlings call for the 36 strength level and D-level toughness — often in higher-stress hull-girder plating, decks, bottoms and supporting members — subject to the contractual rules edition and the designer’s schedule. It is not a substitute for ordinary-strength NV A–E plate, or for a different toughness letter, without an engineering and approval review. Impact-test temperatures are laboratory conditions, not declared operating limits.
Equivalent Grades of DH36
NV D36 and the commercial writings of DNV Grade DH36 name the same Det Norske Veritas grade; they are not cross-society equivalents of one another. The table below lists similarly named official product pages on gangsteel.com for comparison only. Other-society figures are not used as DNV requirements. Automatic substitution is not permitted.
| Society / standard | Comparable grade | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | ABS Grade DH36 | Comparable designation at the same commercial strength and toughness letter. Chemistry, tensile range, impact energy, thickness scope, delivery condition, sampling and certification follow that society’s own rules and the contractual edition — not the January 2016 DNV tables on this page. Not a drop-in substitute; designer and classification approval are required before any replacement. |
| BV | BV Grade DH36 | Comparable designation at the same commercial strength and toughness letter. Chemistry, tensile range, impact energy, thickness scope, delivery condition, sampling and certification follow that society’s own rules and the contractual edition — not the January 2016 DNV tables on this page. Not a drop-in substitute; designer and classification approval are required before any replacement. |
| CCS | CCS Grade DH36 | Comparable designation at the same commercial strength and toughness letter. Chemistry, tensile range, impact energy, thickness scope, delivery condition, sampling and certification follow that society’s own rules and the contractual edition — not the January 2016 DNV tables on this page. Not a drop-in substitute; designer and classification approval are required before any replacement. |
| LR | LR Grade DH36 | Comparable designation at the same commercial strength and toughness letter. Chemistry, tensile range, impact energy, thickness scope, delivery condition, sampling and certification follow that society’s own rules and the contractual edition — not the January 2016 DNV tables on this page. Not a drop-in substitute; designer and classification approval are required before any replacement. |
| KR | KR Grade DH36 | Comparable designation at the same commercial strength and toughness letter. Chemistry, tensile range, impact energy, thickness scope, delivery condition, sampling and certification follow that society’s own rules and the contractual edition — not the January 2016 DNV tables on this page. Not a drop-in substitute; designer and classification approval are required before any replacement. |
| GL (Germanischer Lloyd) | GL Grade DH36 | Comparable designation at the same commercial strength and toughness letter. Chemistry, tensile range, impact energy, thickness scope, delivery condition, sampling and certification follow that society’s own rules and the contractual edition — not the January 2016 DNV tables on this page. Not a drop-in substitute; designer and classification approval are required before any replacement. Historical Germanischer Lloyd designation; GL’s ship classification is now within the DNV organisation. Current certification follows the society and edition named on the contract. |
Any proposed replacement requires a complete comparison of chemistry, strength, toughness, test temperature, thickness scope, delivery condition, sampling, mill approval and certification, and must be accepted by the designer and the relevant classification society under the contractual rules edition.
Related Products
- DNV Grade DH32 steel plate
- DNV Grade DH40 steel plate
- DNV Grade AH36 steel plate
- DNV Grade EH36 steel plate
- DNV Grade FH36 steel plate
- DNV Grade D steel plate
- DNV shipbuilding steel plates
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is DNV Grade DH36 (NV D36) steel plate?
DNV Grade DH36, officially NV D36 and also written NV/D36, is a Det Norske Veritas high-strength hull plate with a specified minimum yield stress of 355 MPa and D-level notch toughness. These writings name the same grade. The numerical tables here follow the January 2016 predecessor chapter.
Does the impact test temperature define the service limit of DNV Grade DH36?
No. DNV Grade DH36 is associated with a Charpy test temperature of −20°C under the January 2016 Table C4 requirements, including any thickness exemptions described above, but that laboratory temperature is not a blanket minimum operating temperature. The vessel or component requires its own approved material selection.
Is DNV Grade DH36 always supplied in the same delivery condition?
No. Permitted plate conditions for DNV Grade DH36 are those in Table C3 of the January 2016 chapter, subject to the manufacturer’s approval. The grade name alone does not fix the delivery condition.
Does DNV Grade DH36 automatically include through-thickness Z quality?
No. DNV Grade DH36 identifies the base grade. Through-thickness quality (Z25 or Z35) is a supplementary requirement under Sec.1 E and must be specified, produced and tested separately. These product titles do not state Z35, and this page does not imply stock Z-quality plate.
Can another shipbuilding grade replace DNV Grade DH36?
Not automatically. DNV Grade DH36 must match the approved design and the contractual classification requirements. A different toughness letter, strength family, rules edition or society designation needs a technical and approval review before substitution. Similarly named grades of other societies are comparison candidates only.
What should an enquiry for DNV Grade DH36 include?
Include DNV Grade DH36 (and the official designation NV D36), the rules edition that will govern the contract, dimensions, quantity, delivery condition, required inspection documentation, and any additional testing or through-thickness requirements. Availability, documentation and delivery are confirmed for the specific enquiry; none is implied by this overview.
Contact Gangsteel with your DNV Grade DH36 plate specification and project requirements for an order-specific technical and commercial review.