Steel Sheets And Plates

A steel plate provides a strong, flat material for supporting loads, reinforcing structures, resisting wear, or containing pressure. It can be cut, welded, bent, drilled, and machined into components for buildings, bridges, machinery, storage tanks, ships, vehicles, and industrial equipment. The required grade depends on the application. For example, ASTM A516 steel plate is commonly specified for pressure vessels, while ASTM A588 steel plate is designed for structures requiring improved atmospheric corrosion resistance.

Commercial mild or low-carbon steel plate is generally the cheapest type of steel plate. ASTM A36 steel plate is often one of the most economical choices because it is widely produced, readily available, weldable, and suitable for general structural fabrication. ASTM A283 carbon steel plate may also provide a cost-effective option for low-to-intermediate-strength applications. The final price depends on the grade, thickness, dimensions, order quantity, processing, certification, and delivery location. Learn more in our guide to the main types of steel.

A 3/8-inch steel plate is 0.375 inches, or approximately 9.5 mm, thick. Its strength depends on the material grade rather than thickness alone. A 3/8-inch ASTM A36 steel plate, for example, has a minimum yield strength of approximately 36 ksi (250 MPa) and a minimum tensile strength of approximately 58 ksi (400 MPa). However, its actual load capacity also depends on the plate’s width, length, unsupported span, support conditions, load direction, holes, welds, and safety factor. An engineer should verify these factors before using the plate in a load-bearing application.