I've always wondered why the typical plates bolted to rock in order to secure climbers are that thin. I imagine them behaving like a knife under a sudden load in a falling scenario. Wouldn't increasing the surface area in solid to solid contact with the quickdraw carabiner reduce this problem? Even if this effect is well under the safety margins, wouldn't be great for the durability of whatever clipped to them?

I've always wondered why the typical plates bolted to rock in order to secure climbers are that thin. I imagine them behaving like a knife under a sudden load in a falling scenario. Wouldn't increasing the surface area in solid to solid contact with the quickdraw carabiner reduce this problem? Even if this effect is well under the safety margins, wouldn't be great for the durability of whatever clipped to them?

As for the bolt-plate contact, the problem should be less if properly tightened, what makes forces rely not only on the bolt, producing shear stress, but on the rock, via friction.