HYDRAULICS ENGINEERING

CEWB222

UNITS AND CONVERSIONS

Preferred units:
length, m; mass kg; time, s; temperature, C; force, N; energy or work, J; power, W; pressure or stress, Pa
Preferred prefixes:
giga, G; mega, M; kilo k; milli, m; micro, mu;
Weight/mass units:
mass density is mass per unit volume, rho = [kg.m-3];
weight density or specific weight is force per unit volume, gamma = rho.g = [N.m-3]
relative density or specific gravity is the ratio of the substance density to density of water
Derivations:
K= 273 + C; N = kg.m.s-2; J = N.m; W = J/s; Pa = N.m-2;
Handy numbers:
1 m3 = 1000 l; 1 m water = 10 kPa; 2.3 ft water = 1 psi; 1 ft3 water= 62.4 lbs; 1 m3 water = 1000 kg
common distribution pressures: 150 ft = 45 m = 450 kPa = 65 psi;
USE THE FOLLOWING TABLE FOR CONVERTING SI UNITS TO U.S. CUSTOMARY UNITS
To convert from (SI)

Conversion factor

To get U.S. Customary

Meters (m)

Multiply by 3.28

Feet (ft)

Meters

Multiply by 1.094

Yards

Meters per second (m/s)

Multiply by 2.237

Miles per hour (mph)

Centimeters (cm)

Multiply by 0.39

Inches (in.)

Milimeters (mm)

Divide by 25.4

Inches

Kilometers (km)

Divide by 1.608

Miles (mi)

m3/(m2-day) = m/day

Multiply by 24.6

gpd/ft2

cm2

Divide by 6.45

Square inch

m2

Multiply by 10.76

Square foot (ft2)

Hectare (ha = 10 000 m2)

Multiply by 2.46

Acre

Length

Area

km2 ( = 100 ha = 106 m2)

Multiply by 0.387

Square mile

Liters ( = 1 dm3)

Divide by 28.3

Cubic foot (ft3)

m3

Multiply by 35.4

ft3

Liters

Divide by 3.78

U.S. gal

Liters

Divide by 4.54

Imp. gal

Liters/(s-ha)

Multiply by 0.014

Inches/hour

m3

Divide by 3 780

Million U.S. gal (mg)

m3

Multiply by 8.54

Barrel

m3

Divide by 1 230

Acre-ft

Liters/s

Divide by 43.75

Million gal/day (mgd)

Liters/s

Multiply by 15.87

gal/min (gpm)

Liters/m2

Divide by 40.76

gal/ft2

Gram (g)

Divide by 454

Pounds (lb)

Gram

Multiply by 15.43

Grain

Kilogram (kg = 1 000 g)

Multiply by 2.2

Pounds

Newton ( = 0.1 kgb)

Multiply by 0.225

Pounds

Metric ton ( = 1 000 kg)

Multiply by 1.1

U.S. ton

Metric ton

Multiply by 0.98

English ton

Volume

Mass