I - Part 1 Section 2 B Materials Chapter 1

GL 2008 Page 2–1

Section 2

Materials

A. General Table 2.1 Material factor k

1. All materials to be used for the structural ReH [N/mm2] k

members indicated in the Construction Rules are to be
in accordance with Rules II – Materials and Welding, 315 0,78
Part 1 – Metallic Materials. Materials the properties of 355 0,72
which deviate from these Rule requirements may only
be used upon special approval. 390 0,66
460 0,62

For higher strength hull structural steel with other

B. Hull Structural Steel for Plates and Sec- nominal yield stresses up to 390 N/mm2, the material
tions factor k may be determined by the following formula:

1. Normal strength hull structural steel 295

k =
R eH + 60
1.1 Normal strength hull structural steel is a hull
structural steel with a minimum nominal upper yield
point ReH of 235 N/mm2 and a tensile strength Rm of Note
400 – 520 N/mm2, see also Section 17, A.3. Especially when higher strength hull structural steels
are used, limitation of permissible stresses due to
1.2 The material factor k in the formulae of the buckling and fatigue strength criteria may be re-
following Sections is to be taken 1,0 for normal quired.
strength hull structural steel.
2.2 Higher strength hull structural steel is
1.3 Normal strength hull structural steel is grouped into the following grades, which differ from
grouped into the grades GL–A, GL–B, GL–D, GL–E, each other in their toughness properties:
which differ from each other in their toughness prop-
erties. For the application of the individual grades for GL–A 32/36/40
the hull structural members, see 3.
GL–D 32/36/40
1.4 If for special structures the use of steels with GL–E 32/36/40
yield properties less than 235 N/mm2 has been ac-
cepted, the material factor k is to be determined by: GL–F 32/36/40

235 In Table 2.7 the grades of the higher strength hull

k =
R eH structural steels are marked by the letter "H".

2.3 Where structural members are completely or

2. Higher strength hull structural steels
2.1 Higher strength hull structural steel is a hull
structural steel, the yield and tensile properties of
which exceed those of normal strength hull structural
steel. According to the Rules II – Materials and Weld-
ing, Part 1 – Metallic Materials, for three groups of
higher strength hull structural steels the nominal upper
yield stress ReH has been fixed at 315, 355 and
390 N/mm2 respectively. Where higher strength hull
structural steel is used, for scantling purposes the
values in Table 2.1 are to be used for the material
factor k mentioned in the various Sections:
partly made from higher strength hull structural steel,
a suitable Notation will be entered into the ship's cer-
tificate.
2.4 In the drawings submitted for approval it is to
be shown which structural members are made of
higher strength hull structural steel. These drawings
are to be placed on board in case any repairs are to be
carried out.
2.5 Regarding welding of higher strength hull
structural steel, see Rules II – Materials and Welding,
Part 3 – Welding.
Chapter 1 Section 2 B Materials I - Part 1
Page 2–2 GL 2008

3. Material selection for the hull rial classes and grades specified in Table 2.2 to Table
2.7. General requirements are given in Table 2.2,
3.1 Material classes while additional minimum requirements for ships with
length exceeding 150 m and 250 m, bulk carriers sub-
For the material selection for hull structural members ject to the requirements of SOLAS regulation XII/
material classes as given in Table 2.2 are defined. 6.5.3, and ships with ice strengthening are given in
Table 2.3 to Table 2.6. The material grade require-
3.2 Material selection for longitudinal struc- ments for hull members of each class depending on
tural members the thickness are defined in Table 2.7.
Materials in the various strength members are not to For structural members not specifically mentioned in
be of lower grade than those corresponding to the mate- Table 2.2, grade A/AH material may generally be used.

Table 2.2 Material classes and grades for ships in general

Structural member category Material class / grade

Secondary:
A1. Longitudinal bulkhead strakes, other than that be- – Class I within 0,4 L amidships
longing to the Primary category – Grade A/AH outside 0,4 L amidships
A2. Deck plating exposed to weather, other than that
belonging to the Primary or Special category
A3. Side plating
Primary:
B1. Bottom plating, including keel plate – Class II within 0,4 L amidships
B2. Strength deck plating, excluding that belonging to – Grade A/AH outside 0,4 L amidships
the Special category
B3. Continuous longitudinal members above strength
deck, excluding hatch coamings
B4. Uppermost strake in longitudinal bulkhead
B5. Vertical strake (hatch side girder) and uppermost
sloped strake in top wing tank
Special:
C1. Sheer strake at strength deck 1 – Class III within 0,4 L amidships
C2. Stringer plate in strength deck 1 – Class II outside 0,4 L amidships
C3. Deck strake at longitudinal bulkhead, excluding deck – Class I outside 0,6 L amidships
plating in way of inner-skin bulkhead of double-hull
ships 1
C4. Strength deck plating at outboard corners of cargo – Class III within 0,4 L amidships
hatch openings in container carriers and other ships – Class II outside 0,4 L amidships
with similar hatch opening configurations – Class I outside 0,6 L amidships
– Min. Class III within cargo region
C5. Strength deck plating at corners of cargo hatch open- – Class III within 0,6 L amidships
ings in bulk carriers, ore carriers, combination carriers – Class II within rest of cargo region
and other ships with similar hatch opening configura-
tions
C6. Bilge strake in ships with double bottom over the – Class II within 0,6 L amidships
full breadth and length less than 150 m 1 – Class I outside 0,6 L amidships
C7. Bilge strake in other ships 1 – Class III within 0,4 L amidships
– Class II outside 0,4 L amidships
– Class I outside 0,6 L amidships
C8. Longitudinal hatch coamings of length greater than – Class III within 0,4 L amidships
0,15 L – Class II outside 0,4 L amidships
C9. End brackets and deck house transition of longitudi- – Class I outside 0,6 L amidships
nal cargo hatch coamings – Not to be less than grade D/DH
1 Single strakes required to be of Class III within 0,4 L amidships are to have breadths not less than 800 + 5 L [mm] need not be greater
than 1800 mm, unless limited by the geometry of the ship's design.
I - Part 1 Section 2 B Materials Chapter 1
GL 2008 Page 2–3

Table 2.3 Minimum material grades for ships with length exceeding 150 m and single strength deck

Structural member category Material grade

Longitudinal strength members of strength deck plating Grade B/AH within 0,4 L amidships

Continuous longitudinal strength members above strength

Grade B/AH within 0,4 L amidships
deck
Single side strakes for ships without inner continuous
longitudinal bulkhead(s) between bottom and the strength Grade B/AH within cargo region
deck

Table 2.4 Minimum material grades for ships with length exceeding 250 m
Structural member category Material grade
Shear strake at strength deck 1 Grade E/EH within 0,4 L amidships
Stringer plate in strength deck 1 Grade E/EH within 0,4 L amidships
Bilge strake 1 Grade D/DH within 0,4 L amidships
1 Single strakes required to be of Grade E/EH and within 0,4 L amidships are to have breadths not less than 800 + 5 L [mm], need not be
greater than 1800 mm, unless limited by the geometry of the ship's design.

Table 2.5 Minimum material grades for single-side skin bulk carriers subjected to SOLAS regulation
XII/6.5.3

Structural member category Material grade

Lower bracket of ordinary side frame 1, 2 Grade D/DH
Side shell strakes included totally or partially between the
two points located to 0,125 A above and below the intersec-
Grade D/DH
tion of side shell and bilge hopper sloping plate or inner
bottom plate 2
1 The term "lower bracket" means webs of lower brackets and webs of the lower part of side frames up to the point of 0,125 A above the
intersection of side shell and bilge hopper sloping plate or inner bottom plate.
2 The span of the side frame A is defined as the distance between the supporting structures.

Table 2.6 Minimum material grades for ships with ice strengthening
Structural member category Material grade

Shell strakes in way of ice strengthening area for plates Grade B/AH

Table 2.7 Steel grades to be used, depending on plate thickness and material class

Thickness t [mm] 1 > 15 > 20 > 25 > 30 > 35 > 40 > 50

Material class ≤ 15 ≤ 20 ≤ 25 ≤ 30 ≤ 35 ≤ 40 ≤ 50 ≤ 100 3
I A/AH A/AH A/AH A/AH B/AH B/AH D/DH D/DH 2
II A/AH A/AH B/AH D/DH D/DH D/DH E/EH E/EH
III A/AH B/AH D/DH D/DH E/EH E/EH E/EH E/EH
1 Actual thickness of the structural member.
2 For thicknesses t > 60 mm E/EH.
3 For thicknesses > 100 mm the steel grade is to be agreed with GL.
Chapter 1 Section 2 B Materials I - Part 1
Page 2–4 GL 2008

3.3 Material selection for local structural
members
3.3.1 The material selection for local structural mem-
bers, which are not part of the longitudinal hull structure,
may in general be effected according to Table 2.8. For
parts made of forged steel or cast steel C. is to be applied.
Materials in the various strength members above the
lowest ballast water line (BWL) exposed to air are not
to be of lower grades than those corresponding to clas-
ses I, II and III, as given in Table 2.9, depending on the
categories of structural members (Secondary, Primary
and Special). For non-exposed structures and structures
below the lowest ballast water line, see 3.2 and 3.3.

Table 2.8 Material selection for local structural 3.4.3 The material grade requirements of each mate-
members rial class depending on thickness and design tempera-
ture are defined in Table 2.10. For design temperatures
Structural member Material class tD < – 55 °C, materials are to be specially considered.

hawse pipe, stern tube, pipe stan- 3.4.4 Single strakes required to be of class III or of
chion 3 I
grade E/EH or FH are to have breadths not less than
face plates and webs of girder 800 + 5 ⋅ L [mm], maximum 1 800 mm.
systems, hatch covers II 1
Plating materials for stern frames, rudder horns, rud-
rudder body 2, rudder horn, sole ders and shaft brackets are not to be of lower grades
piece, stern frame, propeller II than those corresponding to the material classes given
bracket, trunk pipe in 3.3.
1 Class I material sufficient, where rolled sections are used or 3.4.5 The design temperature tD is to be taken as
the parts are machine cut from plates with condition on de- the lowest mean daily average air temperature in the
livery of either "normalised", "rolled normalised" or "rolled
thermo-mechanical".
area of operation, see Fig. 2.1. The following defini-
2 tions apply:
See 3.3.2.
3 For pipe stanchions for cargo reefer holds Table 2.10 is ap- – Mean: statistical mean over an observation
plicable. period of at least 20 years
– Average: average during one day and night
3.3.2 Rudder body plates, which are subjected to
stress concentrations (e.g. in way of lower support of – Lowest: lowest during year
semi-spade rudders), are to be of class III material. For seasonally restricted service the lowest expected
value within the period of operation applies.
3.3.3 For topplates of machinery foundations located
outside 0,6 L amidships, grade A ordinary hull structural
steel may also be used for thicknesses above 40 mm. Mean daily maximum temperature
For members not specifically mentioned normally Mean daily average temperature
grade A/AH may be used. However, GL may require
also higher grades depending on the stress level.

3.4 Material selection for structural members

which are exposed to low temperatures
3.4.1 The material selection for structural mem-
bers, which are continuously exposed to temperatures
below 0 °C, e.g. in or adjacent to refrigerated cargo
holds, is governed by the design temperature of the
structural members. The design temperature is the
temperature determined by means of a temperature
distribution calculation taking into account the design
environmental temperatures. The design environ-
mental temperatures for unrestricted service are:
air: + 5 °C
MAR

MAY

AUG

NOV
OCT

DEC
APR
JAN

JUN
FEB

SEP
JUL

sea water: 0 °C

3.4.2 For ships intended to operate permanently in tD = design temperature

areas with low air temperatures (below and including
– 20 °C), e.g. regular service during winter seasons to Mean daily minimum temperature
Arctic or Antarctic waters, the materials in exposed
structures are to be selected based on the design tem- Fig. 2.1 Commonly used definitions of tempera-
perature tD, to be taken as defined in 3.4.5. tures
I - Part 1 Section 2 E Materials
GL 2008
4. Structural members which are stressed in
direction of their thickness
In case of high local stresses in the thickness direction,
e.g. due to shrinkage stresses in single bevel or double
bevel T-joints with a large volume of weld metal,
steels with guaranteed material properties in the thick-
ness direction according to the Rules II – Materials
and Welding, Part 1 – Metallic Materials, Chapter 2 –
Steel and Iron Materials, Section 1, I. are to be used.
C. Forged Steel and Cast Steel
Forged steel and cast steel for stem, stern frame, rudder
post as well as other structural components, which are
subject of this Rule, are to comply with the Rules II –
Materials and Welding, Part 1 – Metallic Materials.
The tensile strength of forged steel and of cast steel is
not to be less than 400 N/mm2. Forged steel and cast
steel are to be selected under consideration of B.3. In
this respect beside strength properties also toughness
requirements and weldability shall be observed.
D. Aluminium Alloys
1. Where aluminium alloys, suitable for sea-
water, as specified in the Rules for Materials and Weld-
ing, are used for the construction of superstructures,
deckhouses, hatchway covers and similar parts, the
conversion from steel to aluminium scantlings is to be
carried out by using the material factor:
635
k AA =
R p0,2 + R m
Chapter 1
Page 2–5
Rp0,2 = 0,2 % proof stress of the aluminium alloy
[N/mm2]
Rm = tensile strength of the aluminium alloy
[N/mm2]
For welded connections the respective values in
welded condition are to be taken. Where these figures
are not available, the respective values for the soft-
annealed condition are to be used.
Method of conversion:
− section modulus: WAA = WSt ⋅ k AA
− plate thickness : t AA = t St ⋅ k AA
2. The smaller modulus of elasticity is to be
taken into account when determining the buckling
strength of structural elements subjected to compres-
sion. This is to be applied accordingly to structural
elements for which maximum allowable deflections
have to be adhered to.
3. The conversion of the scantlings of the main
hull structural elements from steel into aluminium
alloy is to be specially considered taking into account
the smaller modulus of elasticity, as compared with
steel, and the fatigue strength aspects, specifically
those of the welded connections.
E. Austenitic Steels
Where austenitic steels are applied having a ratio
Rp0,2/Rm ≤ 0,5, after special approval the 1 % proof
stress Rp1,0 may be used for scantling purposes instead
of the 0,2 % proof stress Rp0,2.
Chapter 1 Section 2 E Materials I - Part 1
Page 2–6 GL 2008

Table 2.9 Material classes and grades for structures exposed to low temperatures

Material class
Structural member category
Within 0,4 L Outside 0,4 L
amidships amidships

Secondary:
Deck plating exposed to weather, in general
I I
Side plating above BWL 5
Transverse bulkheads above BWL 5

Primary:
Strength deck plating 1
Continuous longitudinal members above strength deck, excluding II I
longitudinal hatch coamings
Longitudinal bulkhead above BWL 5

Top wing tank plating above BWL 5

Special:
Sheer strake at strength deck 2

Stringer plate in strength deck 2 III II

Deck strake at longitudinal bulkhead 3

Continuous longitudinal hatch coamings 4

1 Plating at corners of large hatch openings to be specially considered. Class III or grade E/EH to be applied in positions where high local
stresses may occur.
2 Not to be less than grade E/EH within 0,4 L amidships in ships with length exceeding 250 metres.
3 In ships with breadth exceeding 70 metres at least three deck strakes to be of class III.
4 Not to be less than grade D/DH
5 BWL = ballast water line.
I - Part 1 Section 2 E Materials Chapter 1
GL 2008 Page 2–7

Table 2.10 Material grade requirements for classes I, II and III at low temperature

Class I

tD tD tD tD
Plate thickness – 20 °C to – 25 °C – 26 °C to – 35 °C – 36 °C to – 45 °C – 46 °C to – 55 °C
[mm] normal higher normal higher normal higher normal higher
strength strength strength strength strength strength strength strength
t ≤ 10 A AH B AH D DH D DH
10 < t ≤ 15 B AH D DH D DH D DH
15 < t ≤ 20 B AH D DH D DH E EH
20 < t ≤ 25 D DH D DH D DH E EH
25 < t ≤ 30 D DH D DH E EH E EH
30 < t ≤ 35 D DH D DH E EH E EH
35 < t ≤ 45 D DH E EH E EH FH
45 < t ≤ 50 E EH E EH FH FH

Class II

tD tD tD tD
Plate thickness – 20 °C to – 25 °C – 26 °C to – 35 °C – 36 °C to – 45 °C – 46 °C to – 55 °C
[mm] normal higher normal higher normal higher normal higher
strength strength strength strength strength strength strength strength
t ≤ 10 B AH D DH D DH E EH
10 < t ≤ 20 D DH D DH E EH E EH
20 < t ≤ 30 D DH E EH E EH FH
30 < t ≤ 40 E EH E EH FH FH
40 < t ≤ 45 E EH FH FH
45 < t ≤ 50 E EH FH FH

Class III

tD tD tD tD
Plate thickness – 20 °C to – 25 °C – 26 °C to – 35 °C – 36 °C to – 45 °C – 46 °C to – 55 °C
[mm] normal higher normal higher normal higher normal higher
strength strength strength strength strength strength strength strength
t ≤ 10 D DH D DH E EH E EH
10 < t ≤ 20 D DH E EH E EH FH
20 < t ≤ 25 E EH E EH FH FH
25 < t ≤ 30 E EH E EH FH FH
30 < t ≤ 35 E EH FH FH
35 < t ≤ 40 E EH FH FH
40 < t ≤ 50 FH FH