What is Unit weight of construction materials?
The ratio of the weight of a material to its volume is known as the unit weight of that materials. Sometimes it is termed specific weight or weight density. It is denoted by (y) Gama.
If you want to calculate the unit weight of materials then you have to take unit volume of materials and its weight.
As we know that the volume is expressed in the terms of liters or m3 and weight is measured in terms of Kg or KN. So, Unit weight can be expressed in Kg/L or KG/m3 or KN/m3 .
The formula of unit weight is given below;
Read Also, Easy way to calculate unit weight of steel rod
Why we need the unit weight of different constructional materials?
- To estimate the total cost and materials as per volume.
- Unit weight let us know how heavy is the materials.
- The unit weight helps to calculate the total load which will be acted on the structure.
- The unit weight helps to calculate the dead load and live load on the structure.
- It helps to know the different characteristics of materials like permeability, compactness, etc.
There are many materials which are used in construction. The table below shows the Unit weight of construction materials which is commonly used in the construction sites.
Unit weight of construction materials
| Material | Unit weight |
| Water | 980 Kg/m3 |
| Bricks ( common ) | 1600 Kg/m3 |
| Bricks ( broken ) | 1420 Kg/m3 |
| Cement ( ordinary) | 1440 Kg/m3 |
| Cement (rapid hardening) | 1250 Kg/m3 |
| Cement concrete (reinforced) | 2500 Kg/m3 |
| Cement concrete (plain) | 2400 Kg/m3 |
| Cement mortar | 2000 Kg/m3 |
| Lime concrete | 1900 Kg/m3 |
| Cement plaster | 2000 Kg/m3 |
| Lime plaster | 1700 Kg/m3 |
| Glass | 2500 Kg/m3 |
| Stones ( ballast) | 1720 Kg/m3 |
| Stone (basalt) | 2850 Kg/m3 |
| Stone (granite) | 2450 Kg/m3 |
| Stone (aggregates) | 1750 Kg/m3 |
| Stone (marble) | 2650 Kg/m3 |
| Timber (Oak, sal) | 510 Kg/m3 |
| Timber (teak) | 625 Kg/m3 |
| Timber (mango) | 650 Kg/m3 |
| Coal | 600 Kg/m3 |
| Plastics | 1250 Kg/m3 |
| Ashes | 650 Kg/m3 |
| Clinker | 750 Kg/m3 |
| Oils | 800 Kg/m3 |
| Rubber | 1300 Kg/m3 |
| Slag | 1500 Kg/m3 |
| Clay soil | 1900 Kg/m3 |
| Sand (wet) | 1760 to 2000 Kg/m3 |
| Sand ( dry) | 1540 to 1600 Kg/m3 |
| Steel | 7850 Kg/m3 |
| chalk | 2100 Kg/m3 |
| Bitumen | 1040 Kg/m3 |
| Gravel | 2000 Kg/m3 |
| Sedimentary rock | 2600 Kg/m3 |
| Igneous rock | 2700 to 3000 Kg/m3 |
| Metamorphic rock | 2700 Kg/m3 |
| Mud | 1600 to 1920 Kg/m3 |
| Alcohol | 780 Kg/m3 |
| Gasoline | 670 Kg/m3 |
| Ice | 910 Kg/m3 |
| Graphite | 500 Kg/m3 |
| Rubber | 1300 Kg/m3 |
I hope this article remains helpful for you.
Happy Learning – Civil Concept
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