What Is Unit Weight | What Is Density | What Is Unit Weight Material

What Is Unit Weight?

The ratio of the weight of a material to its volume is its unit weight, sometimes termed specific weight or weight density.

The unit weight of water, γw, is 9.81 kN/m³ in the SI system and 62.4 lb/ft³ in the English system.

Also, read: What Is a Field Dry Density Test | Different Type of Field Density Tests

What Is Density?

The term density is used herein to denote the mass-to-volume ratio of the material. However, some references, particularly older ones, use the term to describe unit weight.

Density is denoted by p. Because m = W/g, the unit weight terms defined above can be converted to mass densities as follows:

ρ = M/V

ρ = Density

M = Mass

V = Volume

In the SI system mass densities are commonly expressed in Mg/m³, kg/m³, or g/ml. The mass density of water can therefore be expressed ρw = 1000 kg/m³ = 1 Mg/m³ = 1 g/ml.

The mass density of soil solids typically ranges from 2640 to 2750 kg/m³. Where mass or mass density values (g, kg, or kg/m³) are given or measured, they must be multiplied by g(9.8 m/s²) to obtain weights or unit weights before performing stress calculations.

In the English system mass density values are virtually never used in geotechnical engineering and all work is performed in terms of unit weights (1b/ft³).

Also, read: Tension Vs Compression | What Is Tension & Compression

What Is Unit Weight Material?

Unit weight material is also known as Specific material weight. Unit weight material is the weight of the material per unit volume.

As we know that the volume is identified in terms of liters or  m³ and weight is measured in terms of Kg or KN. 

The unit weight of materials is the weight of material/unit volume which means the Unit weight is expressed in Kg/L or  KG/m³ or KN/m³.

For easy reference, we organized all the building materials unit weights in a table. This list is a collective effort. Give a thumbs up if you liked it. Bookmark the page and use the search if required.

Also, read: Density of Cement Sand and Aggregate | Cement Density | Sand Density | Aggregate Density | list of Density

Unit Weight Building Materials

Material	Unit Weight
A.C Sheet	17 Kg/m3
Aerocon Bricks	551 to 600 Kg/m3
Alcohol	780 Kg/m3
Aluminum	2739 Kg/m3
Anthracite Coal	1550 Kg/m3
Ashes	650 Kg/m3
Ballast	1720 Kg/m3
Birch Wood	670 Kg/m3
Bitumen	1040 Kg/m3
Bituminous concrete	2243 Kg/m3
Bituminous Macadum	2400 Kg/m3
Brick	1600 – 1920 Kg/m3
Brick Jelly	1420 Kg/m3
Brick Masonry	1920 Kg/m3
Cemrent	1400 Kg/m3
Cast iron	7203 Kg/m3
Ceement Slurry	1442 Kg/m3
Cement Concrete block	1800 Kg/m3
Cement Grout	1500 to 1800 Kg/m3
Cement Mortar	2000 Kg/m3
Cement Plaster	2000 Kg/m3
Chalk	2220 Kg/m3
Clay (Damp)	1760 Kg/m3
Clay (dry)	1600 Kg/m3
Clinker	750 Kg/m3
Coal Tar	1200 Kg/m3
Coarse Aggregate	1680-1750 Kg/m3
Cobalt	8746 Kg/m3
Copper	8940 Kg/m3
Crude Oil	880 Kg/m3
Cuddapa	2720 Kg/m3
Disel	745 Kg/m3
Dry Rubble Masonry	2080 Kg/m3
Earth (Dry,loose)	1200 Kg/m3
Fly Ash	1120 to 1500 Kg/m3
Fly Ash Brick Masonry	2000 to 2100 Kg/m3
Fly Ash Bricks	1468 to 1700 Kg/m3
Galvanized Iron Steel (0.56 mm)	5 Kg/m3
Galvanized Iron Steel (1.63 mm)	13 Kg/m3
Gasoline	670 Kg/m3
GeoPolimer Concrete	2400 Kg/m3
Glass Reinforced Concrete	2000 to 2100 Kg/m3
Granite Stone	2460-2800 Kg/m3
Graphite	1200 Kg/m3
Gravel Soil	2000 Kg/m3
Green Concrete	2315 to 2499 Kg/m3
Heavy Charcoal	530 Kg/m3
Ice	910 Kg/m3
Igneous rocks (Felsic)	2700 Kg/m3
Igneous rocks (Mafic)	3000 Kg/m3
Kerosene	800 Kg/m3
Larch Wood	590 Kg/m3
Laterite Stone	1019 g/m3
Lead	11340 Kg/m3
Light Charcoal	300 Kg/m3
Light Weight Concrete	800 to 1000 Kg/m3
Lime Concrete	1900 Kg/m3
Lime Plaster	1700 Kg/m3
Lime Stone	2400 – 2720 Kg/m3
M Sand	1540 Kg/m3
Magnesium	1738 Kg/m3
Mahogany	545 Kg/m3
Mangalore Tiles with Battens	65 Kg/m3
Maple	755 Kg/m3
Marble Stone	2620 Kg/m3
Metamorphic rocks	2700 Kg/m3
Mud	1600-1920 Kg/m3
Nickel	8908 Kg/m3
Nitric Acid (91 percent)	1510 Kg/m3
Oak	730 Kg/m3
Peat	750 Kg/m3
Petrol	720 Kg/m3
Pitch	1100 Kg/m3
Plain Cement Concrete	2300 Kg/m3
Plaster of Paris	881 Kg/m3
Plastics	1250 Kg/m3
Quarry Dust	1300 to 1450 Kg/m3
Quartz	2320 Kg/m3
Quick lime	33450 Kg/m3
Rapid Hardening Cement	1250 Kg/m3
Red Wood	450-510 Kg/m3
Reinforced Cement Concrete	2400 Kg/m3
Rubber	1300 Kg/m3
Rubble stone	1600-1750 Kg/m3
Sal Wood	990 Kg/m3
Sand	1440-1700 Kg/m3
Sandstone	2250 to 2400 Kg/m3
Sedimentary rocks	2600 Kg/m3
Shale Gas	2500 Kg/m3
Silt	2100 Kg/m3
Slag	1500 Kg/m3
Stainless Steel	7480 Kg/m3
Steel	7850 Kg/m3
Sulphuric Acid (87 Percent)	1790 Kg/m3
Teak	630-720 Kg/m3
Tin	7280 Kg/m3
Water	1000 Kg/m3
Zinc	7135 Kg/m3

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