Products FAQ

CTOD (Crack Tip Opening Displacement) is a fracture mechanics testing method.

For vessels navigating in extremely cold waters, such as the Arctic, or offshore oil and gas platforms, relying solely on the Charpy V-notch impact test is insufficient to comprehensively assess the structural safety of CCS EH36 material. The CTOD test enables a dynamic assessment of the ability of welded joints and heat-affected zones to resist brittle fracture propagation initiated by minute initial cracks under extreme low-temperature conditio

Typical dimensions for CCS EH36 shipbuilding steel plates:

Note: Other dimensions can be customised on request.

CCS EH36 shipbuilding steel plates exhibit good cold-forming properties. During bending operations (such as for ship side plating and bow plating), it is recommended that the bending radius be no less than twice the plate thickness (R ≥ 2t). Steel plates supplied in a thermomechanically controlled process (TMCP) condition have a lower risk of cold-bending cracking due to grain refinement. To achieve optimum crack resistance, the bending line should be perpendicular to the rolling direction of the steel plate during bending operations.

Z-direction properties (thickness-direction properties) refer to the ability of steel plates to resist laminar tearing in the thickness direction.

For CCS EH36 steel plates, when used in thick-walled, highly constrained joints (such as T-joints, cross joints, and drilling platform pile leg joints), welding cooling shrinkage generates significant tensile stresses perpendicular to the plate surface in the thickness direction. To prevent laminar tearing within the steel plate, the purchaser must explicitly specify the Z15, Z25 or Z35 grades in the contract, corresponding to a tensile reduction in thickness of not less than 15%, 25% and 35% respectively.

CCS EH36 shipbuilding steel plate has good weldability (Ceq ≤ 0.40%, low-carbon design). Suitable processes: SMAW, SAW, GMAW, FCAW. Use low-hydrogen electrodes; preheat thick plates (>50 mm) to 80 - 120 °C to prevent cold cracking.

The key difference between the two lies in the temperature at which the impact toughness test is conducted:

CCS DH36: Requires impact toughness testing at -20°C;

CCS EH36: requires impact toughness testing to be conducted at -40°C.

Consequently, CCS EH36 can operate in lower ambient temperatures and is therefore more suitable for harsher marine environments such as the deep sea and polar regions.

The steel plates are typically supplied in a TMCP (Thermomechanically Controlled Process) or normalised condition, designed to ensure they meet the required low-temperature toughness specifications.

Yes, all our shipbuilding steel plates are subject to official third-party inspections by organisations such as SGS. All inspection costs and testing procedures are negotiable in accordance with the customer’s requirements.

Yes. As a Grade E high-strength structural steel for marine applications, CCS EH32 shipbuilding steel plate has undergone Charpy V-notch impact testing at -40°C. For applications requiring even lower temperatures, we can supply plates certified for impact toughness at -60°C upon request.

The main difference between the two lies in the temperature at which the impact toughness test is conducted.

CCS DH32 requires impact testing to be carried out at -20°C;

CCS EH32 requires impact testing to be carried out at -40°C.

Consequently, EH32 offers superior low-temperature impact resistance, making it more suitable for extremely cold marine environments and providing greater safety.