Plate unite weights

Question

How to calculate the plate unit weights (kN/m/m) in PLAXIS 2D?

Vasileios Basas · Answer

Hi Tauseef, 
 Please refer to the answer given here: plate properties (PLAXIS 2d vs PLAXIS 3D)

Vasileios Basas · Answer

The direct input parameters of a plate element are: (a) its unit weight per meter of wall length,w, (b) its axial stiffness, EA and (c) its bending stiffness, EI. In PLAXIS 2D all three parameters are expressed in per meter in the out-of-plane direction units. The thickness d is not an input, but the result of the calculation of d = &radic;(12EI/EA) based on the assumption that the plate element has a rectangular cross-section. 
 Going back to your question, i f you refer to the manufacturer's specification ( https://sheetpiling.arcelormittal.com/products/au-20-3/ ), the mass per meter of wall is equal to G = 129.2 kg/m, which translates into unit weight of (approximately) w = 1.29 kN/m/m. That's the unit weight you should be using. 
 The same applies for the axial and bending stiffnesses: E = 210 GPa, I = 44440 cm 4 and A = 164.6cm 2 /m 
 EA = 3.45660E6 kN/m EI = 93324.0 kNm 2 /m