Unit Conversion Guide for Engineering
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ScribdTranslationsUnit Conversion Guide for Engineering
Uploaded by
ScribdTranslationsUnit conversion
The conversion of units is the transformation of one unit into another.
This process is carried out using theconversion factorsand the very useful onesconversion tables.
It would be enough to multiply by onefraction(conversion factor) and the result is another equivalent measure, in
the units that have changed.
When the unit conversion involves the transformation of several units, several can be used.
conversion factors one after another, so that the final result will be the equivalent measure in the
units that we are looking for, for example if we want to convert 8metrosayards, lthe only thing we have to
to make is to multiply 8 x (0.914) = 7.312 yards.
What we must remember before doing unit conversion:
We can only convert units that belong to the same type or group. Obviously, we cannot
convert meters to kilograms or cubic meters to feet.
The conversion factor or ofunitit is afractionin which thenumeratorand thedenominatorson
equal measures expressed inunitsdifferent, in such a way that this fraction is worth theunity.
Effective method for unit conversion and solving simple exercises without using therule
of three.
Example 1: pass 15inchesacentimeters(conversion factor: 1 inch = 2.54 cm)
15 inches × (2.54 cm / 1 inch) = 15 × 2.54 cm = 38.1 cm
The International System (SI) in civil and structural engineering
This system is distinguished by using the meter (m) as the base unit of length, the newton (N) as
unit of force and the pascal (Pa = N/m2) as a unit of stress.
Below are some general recommendations for the application of the international system in the
field of civil and structural engineering, based on the recommendations of NIBS (1991):
RECOMMENDED UNITS OF MEASUREMENT FOR DIFFERENT PROPERTIES OF USE
COMÚN EN LA INGENIERÍA CIVIL Y ESTRUCTURAL
PROPERTY TO MEASURE UNIT
LONGITUDE OR HEIGHT m
FLOOR AREA 2
VOLUME OF MATERIAL 3
DIMENSION OF A SECTION mm
Cross-sectional area 2
SECTION MODULE 3
MOMENT OF INERTIA 4
SWIVEL RADIO mm
DEFLECTION mm
REINFORCEMENT SPACING mm
REINFORCEMENT AREA 2
MASS OF MATTER kg or t
DENSITY OF MATTER kg/ 3o t/ 3
WEIGHT, FORCE OR POINT LOAD N o kN
BENDING OR TORSIONAL MOMENT N·m or kN·m
LOAD PER UNIT LENGTH N/m or kN/m
LOAD PER UNIT AREA N/ 20 kN/ 2
SPECIFIC WEIGHT OF MATERIAL N/ 3o kN/ 3
EFFORT N/ 2MPa or kN/ 2= kPa
MODULE OF ELASTICITY kN/ 2= GPa
TEMPERATURE °C
The English System of Units (FPS) in civil and structural engineering primarily uses the foot (ft) and the
inch (in) as units of length, pound (lb) as unit of force, and pound per inch
square (lb/in2 or psi) as a unit of effort.
Conversion factors between the English Unit System (FPS) and the System
International (SI)
QUANTITY FPS YES
DOUGH 1 lb 0.4536 kg
LONGITUDE 1 ft 0.3048 m
1 in 25.4 mm
AREA 1 2 0.0929 2
1 2 645.16 2
VOLUME 1 3 0.02832 3
1 3 16387.1 3
STRENGTH 1 lbf 4.4482 N
1 chicken 4.4482 kN
DENSITY 1 lb/ 3 16.0185 kg/ 3
SPECIFIC WEIGHT 1 lbf/ 3 157.09 N/ 3
EFFORT / PRESSURE / 1 psi (lbf/ 2) 6.89476 kPa (N/ 2)
MODULUS OF ELASTICITY 1 ksi (kilopounds per square6.89476
inch) 2 ) MPa (N/ 2)
1 psf (lbf/ 2) 47.88 Pa (N/ 2 )
MOMENT 1 lbf∙ft 1.3558 N·m
1 kip-ft 1.3558 kN·m
1 lbf·in 0.11298 N·m
LOAD PER UNIT OF 1 lbf/ft 14.5939 N/m
LONGITUDE 1 kip/ft 14.5939 kN/m
SECTION MODULE 1 3 16387.1 3
MOMENT OF INERTIA 1 4 416231 4
TEMPERATURE x °F (x-32) / 1.8 °C
Technical System of Units in civil and structural engineering takes the kilogram-force (kgf) as
unit of force and the kilogram-force per square centimeter (kgf/cm2) as a unit of stress.
Likewise, the use of the centimeter as a unit of length is common in this system (Angustias, 2011),
unit that is mostly avoided in the International System.
Conversion factors between the Technical System of Units and the International System
(YES)
Quantity SMG YES
Era 1 kg 1 kg
Length 1 cm 0.01 m
1 cm 10 mm
Area 1 2 10 -4 2
1 2 100 2
Volume 1 3 10-6 3
1 3 1000 3
Strength 1 kgf 9.80665 N
1 tf 9.80665 kN
Density 1 kg/ 3 1 kg/ 3
Specific weight 1 kgf/ 3 9.80665 N/ 3
1 tf/ 3 9.80665 kN/ 3
Esfuerzo / presión / Módulo 1 kgf/ 2 0.0980665 N/ 2(MPa)
of elasticity 1 tf/ 2 9.80665 kN/ 2
Moment 1 kgf·m 9.80665 N·m
1 tf∙m 9.80665 kN·m
1 kgf·cm 0.0980665 N·m
Charge per unit length 1 kgf/m 9.80665 N/m
1 tf/m 9.80665 kN/m
1 kgf/cm 980.665 N/m
Section module 1 3 1000 3
Moment of inertia 1 4 10000 4
Temperature 1 °C 1 °C
