Unit converter, construction material unit weights, concrete mix design (ACI/ASTM), and asphalt Marshall mix design (MS-2) — all in one place.
Unit weights (bulk density) for common road, bridge and building construction materials. Values are approximate; always verify with local testing.
| Material | Unit Weight (kg/m³) | Unit Weight (kN/m³) | lb/ft³ | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brick (common) | 1,600 – 1,900 | 15.7 – 18.6 | 100 – 118 | Walls, masonry |
| Brick (engineering) | 2,000 – 2,200 | 19.6 – 21.6 | 125 – 137 | Load-bearing walls |
| Stone (granite) | 2,600 – 2,800 | 25.5 – 27.5 | 162 – 175 | Cladding, masonry |
| Stone (limestone) | 2,100 – 2,700 | 20.6 – 26.5 | 131 – 168 | Facing, flooring |
| Stone (marble) | 2,600 – 2,850 | 25.5 – 28.0 | 162 – 178 | Flooring, decorative |
| Sandstone | 2,000 – 2,400 | 19.6 – 23.5 | 125 – 150 | Masonry, paving |
| Glass | 2,500 – 2,700 | 24.5 – 26.5 | 156 – 168 | Windows, facades |
| Plaster of Paris | 800 – 1,100 | 7.8 – 10.8 | 50 – 69 | Ceiling, wall finish |
| Gypsum board | 600 – 1,000 | 5.9 – 9.8 | 37 – 62 | Partition walls |
| Ceramic tile | 1,800 – 2,200 | 17.7 – 21.6 | 112 – 137 | Flooring, walls |
| Asbestos cement sheet | 1,200 – 1,600 | 11.8 – 15.7 | 75 – 100 | Roofing, cladding |
| Hollow concrete block | 1,000 – 1,500 | 9.8 – 14.7 | 62 – 94 | Partition walls |
| Solid concrete block | 1,800 – 2,200 | 17.7 – 21.6 | 112 – 137 | Load-bearing walls |
| AAC block | 450 – 850 | 4.4 – 8.3 | 28 – 53 | Lightweight walls |
| Fly ash brick | 1,700 – 1,850 | 16.7 – 18.1 | 106 – 115 | Alternative bricks |
Water content at which soil changes from plastic to liquid state. Casagrande apparatus or cone penetrometer.
Water content at which a soil thread just crumbles when rolled to 3 mm diameter.
Range of water content over which soil remains plastic. Higher PI = more clay, more compressibility.
Water content below which further loss of water does not cause volume reduction.
Weight per unit volume of soil. Critical for bearing capacity and settlement calculations.
Ratio of mass of soil solids to mass of equal volume of water at 4°C.
Ratio of volume of voids to volume of solids. Higher e = more compressible soil.
Ratio of volume of voids to total volume, expressed as percentage.
Percentage of void space filled with water.
Ratio of mass of water to mass of dry soil solids.
Highest dry density achievable by compaction at optimum moisture content.
Water content at which soil can be compacted to maximum dry density.
Measure of how easily water flows through soil. Critical for drainage, seepage and dewatering.
Shear strength of soil under undrained conditions (no pore pressure dissipation).
Slope of virgin compression curve on e-log σ' plot. Indicates settlement potential.
Measure of grain-size distribution. Higher = more well-graded soil.
| Soil Type | Liquid Limit (%) | Plastic Limit (%) | Plasticity Index | USCS Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lean clay | 30–50 | 15–25 | 10–25 | CL |
| Fat clay | >50 | >25 | >25 | CH |
| Silty clay | 30–40 | 15–20 | 10–20 | CL-ML |
| Silt (low plasticity) | 25–35 | 10–20 | <7 | ML |
| Silt (high plasticity) | >50 | >25 | >7 | MH |
| Organic clay | >50 | >25 | variable | OH |
| Poorly graded sand | — | — | Non-plastic | SP |
| Well-graded sand | — | — | Non-plastic | SW |
| Well-graded gravel | — | — | Non-plastic | GW |
Interactive mix design for concrete classes C10 to C60. Based on ACI 211.1 and ASTM C94 absolute volume method. Adjust inputs and click "Calculate Mix" to get proportions per m³.
| Grade | fck (MPa) | Cube (MPa) | Cylinder (MPa) | Typical w/c | Min Cement (kg/m³) | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C10 / M15 | 10 | 15 | 12 | 0.75–0.90 | 220–250 | Blinding, mass concrete |
| C15 / M20 | 15 | 20 | 16 | 0.65–0.75 | 250–300 | Footings, pavements |
| C20 / M25 | 20 | 25 | 20 | 0.55–0.65 | 300–350 | Slabs, beams, columns |
| C25 / M30 | 25 | 30 | 25 | 0.50–0.60 | 320–380 | General RC structures |
| C30 / M35 | 30 | 35 | 30 | 0.45–0.55 | 350–420 | Heavy-duty floors, bridges |
| C35 / M40 | 35 | 40 | 35 | 0.40–0.50 | 380–450 | High-rise, marine |
| C40 / M45 | 40 | 45 | 40 | 0.38–0.48 | 400–480 | Prestressed, columns |
| C45 / M50 | 45 | 50 | 45 | 0.35–0.45 | 420–500 | High-strength RC |
| C50 / M55 | 50 | 55 | 50 | 0.32–0.42 | 450–530 | Special structures |
| C60 / M70 | 60 | 70 | 60 | 0.28–0.38 | 480–550+ | High-performance concrete |
Interactive Marshall mix design following ASTM D1559 / AASHTO T245 (MS-2 method). Input aggregate properties and asphalt grade to determine optimum binder content, stability, flow, VMA and VFB.
| Parameter | Light Traffic | Medium Traffic | Heavy Traffic | Very Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stability (min, kN) | 3.4 | 5.5 | 8.0 | 10.0+ |
| Flow (mm) | 8–18 | 8–16 | 8–14 | 8–12 |
| Air Voids VIM (%) | 3–5 | 3–5 | 3–4 | 3–4 |
| VMA (min, %) | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| VFB (%) | 65–80 | 65–78 | 65–75 | 65–72 |
| Marshall Quotient (kN/mm) | 2–4 | 2–5 | 3–6 | 4–7 |
| Retained Stability (%) | >75 | >75 | >80 | >80 |
| Climate / Traffic | Light Traffic | Medium Traffic | Heavy Traffic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold climate (<10°C avg) | 120/150 or 80/100 | 80/100 | 60/70 or modified |
| Moderate climate (10–30°C) | 80/100 | 60/70 | 60/70 or 40/50 |
| Hot climate (>30°C) | 60/70 | 40/50 or 30/40 | 30/40 or polymer-modified |
| Rainy / high water table | 80/100 + antistrip | 60/70 + antistrip | PMB / CRMB |