When is a Beam a Plate?

Formulas associated with simple beam or plate theories are used extensively in structural design, to determine You's modulus, and to determine fracture strength of brittle nonmetallic materials. The question may arise as to whether the proper ratio of beam-width-to-beam-depth is such that the bent structural element can be considered as a beam and, if not, what is the correction factor that should be used with the simple beam formula. These questions are answered for a range of structural metallic and brittle nonmetallic materials.