Thickness of Plate Calculator

Minimum Plate Thickness Formula:

\[ t = 2 \times p \times \sqrt{\frac{fp}{Fy}} \]

Limiting Size:

Actual Bearing Pressure:

Yield Stress of Steel:

Tolerance:

Minimum Plate Thickness (m):

1. What is a Thickness of Plate Calculator?

Definition: This calculator determines the minimum required thickness of a steel plate based on bearing pressure and material yield stress.

Purpose: It helps engineers and designers ensure structural plates have adequate thickness to withstand applied loads without failure.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

\[ t = 2 \times p \times \sqrt{\frac{fp}{Fy}} \]

Where:

\( t \) — Minimum plate thickness (meters)
\( p \) — Limiting size (meters)
\( fp \) — Actual bearing pressure (Pascals)
\( Fy \) — Yield stress of steel (Pascals)

Explanation: The formula calculates thickness based on the square root of the ratio between bearing pressure and material yield strength.

3. Importance of Plate Thickness Calculation

Details: Proper thickness calculation prevents plate deformation, ensures structural integrity, and maintains safety factors.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the limiting size, actual bearing pressure, yield stress of steel, and optional tolerance percentage (±5%). All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the tolerance percentage for?
A: The tolerance allows you to add or reduce the calculated thickness by a percentage to account for manufacturing variations or design factors.

Q2: How is limiting size determined?
A: Limiting size is the larger value between 0.5(N -0.95d) and 0.5(B -0.80b), where N is plate length, B is minimum width, d is column depth, and b is flange width.

Q3: What's a typical yield stress for steel?
A: Common structural steel has yield stress between 250-400 MPa (250,000,000-400,000,000 Pa).

Q4: Can I use this for other materials?
A: The formula is specific to steel. For other materials, consult appropriate engineering standards.

Q5: Does this include safety factors?
A: No, you should apply appropriate safety factors to the calculated thickness based on your application.