density or unit weight for civil construction materials

What is density?

The density, of a substance’s mass, is divided into per volume. The mass of the substance is based on the material, ex; high-density materials like osmium, platinum, gold, iron, etc. low-density materials like hydrogen, foams, polymers, plastics, etc. density are denoted by “ρ (rho)”.

 ρ = m/v 

ρ = density

m = mass

v = volume 

SI unit: ton per cubic meter, kilogram per unit meter, gram per unit meter, lb. /ft3 

Conversion: 1kg/m3 = 0.624 lb. /ft3

What is the unit weight? 

The unit weight is also known as the specific weight of the materials. Unit weight is measured if the weight of a unit volume of material

Difference between density and unit weight

Both can be used interchangeably. Density is mass in volume of the material and unit weight is weight in volume of the material.

Mass and weight both are the same because gravity is almost the same everywhere on earth and we don’t know the difference. So, don’t confuse with them

The density or unit weight of construction materials

S.N	Material	Kg/m3
01	Cement	1440
02	Sand	1600 to 1840
03	Aggregate	1200 to 1750
04	Stone	2850 to 2900
05	Water	1000
06	Rocks	1600 to 1950
07	Brick masonry	1900 to 1950
08	Cement mortar	2080
09	Lime mortar	1760
10	Pcc	2400
11	Rcc	2500
12	Steel	7850
13	Stainless steel	7850 to 8000
14	Soil (damp)	1760
15	Cement concrete block	1800
16	Lime	600 to 650
17	Glass	2530
18	Teak wood	650 to 850
19	Sal wood	900 to  1000
20	Marble stone	2620
21	Granite stone	2460 to 2800
22	A.C sheet corrugated	1600
23	Bitumen	1040
24	Bamboo	300 to 400
25	Willow wood	420
26	African mahogany	500 to 800
27	American redwood	450
28	European redwood	500
29	Spruce (Sitka)	450
30	Spruce (Canadian)	450
31	Ash (black)	540
32	Ash (white)	670
33	Maple	755
34	Teak	600 to 750
35	Sandy soil	1800
36	Clay soil	1900
37	Gravel soil	2000
38	Sandstone	2000
39	Rocks	2600 to 3000
40	Asphalt	720
1	Cast iron	7250
42	Iron	7850
43	Aluminum	2750
44	Magnesium	1750
45	Copper	8950
46	Granite	2750

Note;

1. All the above values are kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m3). 
2. The values are may be changed, that all depends on material quality, quantity, and measurement

Some other materials’ density

World’s top 5 highest density material

1. osmium – 22,570 kg/m3
2. Iridium – 22,420 kg/m3
3. Platinum – 21,450 kg/m3
4. Rhenium – 21,020 kg/m3
5. Gold – 19,320 kg/m3 

World’s top 5 lowest-density material

1. Hydrogen – 0.0898 kg/m3
2. Helium – 0.179 kg/m3
3. Aero graphite – 0.2 kg/m3
4. Metallic micro lattice – 0.9 kg/m3
5. Aerogel – 1.0 kg/m3

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