Conversion Tables

Page 1

Unit Conversions
The S.I. and English Systems The System International (International Standard System) of units uses units of Newtons (N) and meters (m) for its units of force and length. The English System (imperial, engineering) uses pounds (lb, force) and feet (ft) or inches (in). The unit of time, seconds (sec) is the same in both systems. Below are various tables that convert units from English to S.I. and back (e.g., 1 meter = 39.4 inches), as well as common conversions within each system (e.g., 1 ft = 12 inches). In general, the Conversion Factors are listed to 6 significant digits (even though your answer should not be that extensive). 4a. Geometric Conversions 4b. Force and Stress Conversions 4c. Same System Conversions 4d. Pounds, Newtons & Kilograms; Density 4e. Temperature

A useful interactive conversion tool, with many more units, is Engineering Exchange's online Unit Conversions program. Another tool, by Joshua Madison, may be downloaded here (no length conversions; remember, pressure has the same units as stress). Some useful approximate conversions:
A pound is 4.45 newtons; a meter is 39.4 inches. Multiply psi (or ksi) by ~7 to convert to kPa (or MPa)

4a. Lengths, Areas and Volumes - English Units to S.I. Units and Back
To Convert From Length inches, in inches, in feet, ft yards, yd miles, mi Area square inch, in , si square inch, in , si square feet, ft , sf square yard, yd , sy Volume cubic inch, in , ci cubic inch, in , ci cubic foot, ft , cf cubic yard, yd , cy gallon, gal.
3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2

multiply

to get / To Convert from

multiply by

to get

25.4 0.0254 0.3048 0.9144 1.609344 645.16 0.00064516 0.09290304 0.836127

millimeters, mm meters, m meters, m meters, m kilometers, km

2

0.0393701 inches, in 39.3701 inches, in 3.280840 feet, ft 1.09361 yards, yd 0.621371 miles, MI 0.00155000 square inch, in2 1550.00 square inch, in2 10.7639 square feet, ft2, sf 1.19599 square yard, yd2
3

square millimeters, mm square meter, m square meter, m square meter, m

2 2 2

16387.064

cubic millimeters, mm

61.0237 x 10-6 cubic inch, in3 0.06102374 cubic inch, in3 35.3147 cubic foot, ft3, cf 1.30795 cubic yard, yd3

16.387064 cubic centimeters, cc, cm3 0.0283168 0.764555 3.78541 cubic meters, m cubic meters, m
3 3 3

Liters, l = 0.001 m

0.264172 gallon, gal.

Other Geometric Properties of a Cross-section Moment of Inertia, in

4 3

416231 16387.064

mm = 10
3

-12 -9

2.402 x 10-6 in4 61.0237 x 10-6 in3

Section Modulus, in

mm = 10 m

Excerpts/adaptions from: Aluminum Design Manual, Aluminum Association, Inc., October, 1994, Table A1-1, pg. Appendix 1-4. Underlined values units represent an "exact" conversion factor. - Top - Geometric Conversions - Force and Stress Conversions - Same System Conversions - Pounds, Newtons & Kilograms; Density - Temperature -

4b. Force, Stress, Loads and Mass - English Units to S.I. Units and Back
To Convert From Force pound, lb kilopound, kip = 1000 lb 4.44822 newton, N 0.224809 0.224809 lb kip = 1000 lb multiply to get / To Convert from multiply by to get

4.44822 kilonewton, kN = 1000 N

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Conversion Tables
Stress [Force per Unit Area] pounds per sq. ft, lb/ ft , psf psf kilopounds per sq. ft, ksf pounds per sq. inch, psi psi kilopounds per sq. in, ksi
2

Page 2

47.8803 0.0478803 47.8803 6894.76 6.89476 6.89476

pascals, Pa = N/m

2 2

0.0208854 20.8854 0.0208854 0.000145038 0.145038

lb/ft , psf psf ksf psi psi ksi

kilopascal, kPa, kN/m kPa Pa kPa megapascal, MPa = MN/m = N/mm

2 2

0.145038

Bending Moment, Torque [Force x Length] pound-foot, lb-ft pound-inch, lb-in pounds per (linear) foot, plf pounds per (linear) inch, pli 1.35582 0.112985 newton-meter, N-m N-m 0.737561 8.850732 lb-ft lb-in

Distributed (or "Running") Load [Force per Unit Length] 14.5939 175.127 newtons per meter, N/m N/m 0.06852178 0.00571015 plf pli

Excerpts/adapted from: Aluminum Design Manual, Aluminum Association, Inc., October, 1994, Table A1-2, pg. Appendix 1-4. - Top - Geometric Conversions - Force and Stress Conversions - Same System Conversions - Pounds, Newtons & Kilograms; Density - Temperature -

4c. Same System Conversions; Things you should know

From Length in ft ft mm cm Area in ft
2

Multiply by 0.083333 0.333333 1.89393 x10

-4

to get / To Convert from feet, ft yards, yd miles, MI meters, m m

2 2

multiply by 12 in 3 ft 5280 feet, ft 1000 mm 100 cm 144 in2 9 ft2 60 s 3600 s 86400 s 1440 min

to get

0.001 0.01

0.00694444 0.111111

ft

yd

Time second, s second second minutes, min Weight lb 0.005 ton (U.S.) 2000 lb 0.0166666 2.77777 x10 1.1574 x 10
-4 -5 -4

minutes, min hour, h day, d day,d

6.9444 x10

- Top - Geometric Conversions - Force and Stress Conversions - Same System Conversions - Pounds, Newtons & Kilograms; Density - Temperature -

4d. Force and Weight; and Density - English Units to S.I. Units and Back In the S.I. system, weight is often expressed in kilograms (a mass); in the United States, weight is expressed in pounds (a force). Be careful! The force of 1 kg. is 9.81 N (in standard gravity).
To Convert From pounds lb lb N lb
3

Multiply by 4.44822 0.453592 0.101972 0.0310

to get / To Convert from Newton, N kg kg slug (lb-s2/ft)

multiply by 0.224809 lb 2.20462 lb 9.80665 N 32.2 lb 6.36590 lb / ft3

to get

Pounds, Newtons and Kilograms

Weight Density (force/volume); including kilogram force lb / ft 0.157087 kilonewtons per kN/m3

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Conversion Tables
3 3

Page 3
271.447 0.000578703 0.101972 kN/m3 lb / ft
3 3 3 3

lb / in lb / in N/m

0.00368 lb / in3 1728 lb / in3 9.80665 N / m3 0.0090665 kN / m3 0.0624279 lb / ft3 0.0019403 slug / ft3

3 3

kg / m kg / m

kN / m lb / ft
3

101.972 16.0185

kg / m

Mass Density (mass/volume) slug / ft

3

515.379

kg / m

- Top - Geometric Conversions - Force and Stress Conversions - Same System Conversions - Pounds, Newtons & Kilograms; Density - Temperature -

4e. Temperature Conversions

To Convert From degrees Fahrenheit, F deg. F deg. Centigrade change in degrees F (or R) function (5/9)(F-32) F+459.67 C+273.15 (5/9)(DF) to get / To Convert from degrees Centigrade C degrees Rankine, R Kelvin, K change in deg. C (or K) function 1.8 C + 32 R-459.67 K-273.15 1.8(DC) deg. F deg. Centigrade change in deg. F. to get degrees Fahrenheit, F

- Top - Geometric Conversions - Force and Stress Conversions - Same System Conversions - Pounds, Newtons & Kilograms; Density - Temperature Elastic Constants - Strength - Density & Thermal Coefficients - Unit Conversions Tables

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