Lecture 26 Metric

Metric units are used everywhere in the world EXCEPT the USA. It is based on
scientific measurements, not the length of a kings foot or the weight of a chicken.

Metric Conversion Factors

Length

Area

Volume

Weight
Force

Multiply:
inches
inches
feet
feet
yards
in2
ft2
ft2
yd2
in3
ft3
ft3
gallons
gallons
pounds
pounds
kips
pounds per foot (PLF)

Moment

Unit weight
Stress (pressure)

Lb-In
Lb-Ft
Kip-Ft
Kip-Ft
Kip-In
Lb per ft3 (PCF)
Lb per in2 (PSI)
Lb per in2 (PSI)
Lb per in2 (PSI)
Kips per in2 (KSI)
Kips per in2 (KSI)
Lb per ft2 (PSF)
Lb per ft2 (PSF)
Kips per ft2 (KSF)
Kips per ft2 (KSF)

By:
25.4
0.0254
304.8
0.3048
0.9144
645.2
92,909
0.0929
0.836
16,387
28,317,000
0.0283
0.003785
3.785
0.454
4.448
4448
14.594
0.11299
1.3559
1355.9
1.3559
112.99
0.1571
6895
6.895
0.0006895
6895
6.895
47.88
0.04788
47.88
0.04788

Lecture 26 Page 1 of 11

To Obtain:
millimeters (mm)
meters (m)
millimeters (mm)
meters (m)
meters (m)
mm2
mm2
m2
m2
mm3
mm3
m3
m3 = 1000 liters
liters
kilograms (kg)
Newtons (N)
Newtons (N)
Newtons per meter (N/m)
N-m
N-m
N-m
kN-m
N-m
kN/m3
Pascals = Pa = N/m2
kPa = kilopascals = 1000 Pa
mPa = megapascals = N/mm2

kPa
mPa
Pa
kPa
kPa
mPa

Example 1
GIVEN: All road construction projects in New York State have drawings
with metric measurements. All metric drawings always use units of mm
for everything. (Reminder: 1 m = 1000 mm)
REQUIRED: Convert 1500 mm as shown on the drawings into
feet/inch/sixteenths.
Use the conversion 1 inch = 25.4 mm
Number of inches =

1500mm
25.4mm _ per _ inch

= 59.055118 inches
= 48 + 11.055118
= 4 + 11.055118
= 4 + 11 + (0.055118 x 16th)
= 4 + 11 +

1500 mm = 4-11

0.88
16ths

1
"
16

Example 2
GIVEN: The x-sectional area of a W30x211 steel beam = 62.0 in2.
REQUIRED: Determine the area of the beam in units of mm2.
Use the conversion 1 inch = 25.4 mm
1 inch x 1 inch = 25.4 mm x 25.4 mm
1 in2 = 645.2 mm2
Number of mm2 = 62.0 in2 x 645.2 mm2 per in2
Area = 40,002 mm2

Lecture 26 Page 2 of 11

Example 3
GIVEN: The tank below.
REQUIRED: How many liters are in the tank?

7-0

Dia. = 18-0
Vol. =

(18' ) 2 (7' )

= 1781 ft3
= 1781 ft3(7.48 gals per ft3)
Vol. = 13324 gal.
Use the conversion 1 ft3 = 0.0283 m3
Volume = 1781 ft3(0.0283 m3 per ft3)
= 50.4 m3
Volume = 50.4 m3(1000 liters per m3)
Volume = 50,400 liters

Lecture 26 Page 3 of 11

Example 4
GIVEN: An ASTM A325 steel bolt is capable of resisting an allowable
shear stress of 30 kips per square inch (KSI)
REQUIRED: What is the allowable shear stress for the bolt in units of
KPa?
Use the conversions of 1 inch = 25.4 mm
1 Pa = 1 N/m2
1 kPa = 1000 Pa
1 lb = 4.448 N
30 KSI =

30000lb
1in 2

30 KSI =

(30000lb)(4.448 N _ per _ lb)

(0.0254m)(0.0254m)

30 KSI =

(133440 N )
(0.00064516mm 2 )

30 KSI = 206,832,414 N/m2

30 KSI = 206,832,414 Pa
30 KSI = 206,832 kPa

Lecture 26 Page 4 of 11

Metric Loads
All metric loads, forces and derivatives of those are in units of Newtons.
Below is a sampling of typical minimum design live loads for buildings:

Minimum Uniformly Distributed Live Loads per ASCE 7-02

Occupancy:
Assembly area fixed seats
Assembly area movable seats
Balconies - residential
Bowling alleys, poolrooms, rec. areas
Dining rooms and restaurants
Gymnasium
Hospital operating rooms, labs
Hospital private rooms
Library reading room
Library stack rooms
Office
Residential
Schools - classrooms
Stadium - bleachers
Stores 1st floor retail

Pounds per ft2

60
100
60
75
100
100
60
40
60
150
50
40
40
100
100

kN/m2 (soft metric)

2.87
4.79
2.87
3.59
4.79
4.79
2.87
1.92
2.87
7.18
2.40
1.92
1.92
4.79
4.79

Material Properties
Material:
Steel A36
Steel A992
Aluminum
Concrete (4000 psi)

Wood - SYP
Earth sandy

Water

Unit Weight:
Lb/ft3 kN/m3
490
77.2
490
77.2
170
26.7
150
23.6
37
5.8
100
15.7
62.4
9.8

Modulus Of Elasticity (E):

Kips/in2
29,000
29,000
10,000
3,600
1,600
-

kN/mm2
205
205
70
25.4
11.3
-

Lecture 26 Page 5 of 11

Yield Stress (fy):

Kips/in2 N/mm2
36
248
50
345
28
190
6
42
-

Metric Dimensions
All metric dimensions are in units of millimeters. Below are a few
examples of architectural drawings in metric dimensions:

Lecture 26 Page 6 of 11

Lecture 26 Page 7 of 11

Example 5 LRFD Steel Beam Analysis

GIVEN: A simply-supported ASTM A992 steel W18x35 beam is loaded as
shown (all loads are factored and includes beam weight). Assume the
beam is continuously laterally braced.
REQUIRED:
1) Determine the maximum factored moment in units of kN-m.
2) Determine the plastic section modulus, Zx of the beam in units
of mm3.
3) Determine the LRFD design moment of the beam Mn in units of
kN-m.
4) Determine if the beam is adequate in moment.
w = 3 kN/m

11 m

Step 1 - Determine the maximum factored moment in units of kN-m:

wu L2
8

Mmax =

(3kN / m)(11m) 2
8

Mmax = 45.4 kN-m

Step 2 - Determine the plastic section modulus of the beam in units of mm3:

From LRFD properties W18x35 Zx = 66.5 in3

25.4mm 25.4mm 25.4mm

x
x
Zx = 66.5 in3 x

in
in
in
Zx = 1,089,742 mm3

Lecture 26 Page 8 of 11

Step 3 - Determine the LRFD design moment of the beam Mn in units of kN-m:

From LRFD:
See table above

Mn = 0.9FyZx
where: Fy = 345 N/mm2
Zx = 1,089,742 mm3

Mn = 0.9(345 N/mm2)(1,089,742 mm3)

= 338,360,000 N-mm

m
kN
x
= 338,360,000 N-mm x

1000 N 1000mm
Mn = 338.4 kN-m
Step 4 - Determine if the beam is adequate in moment:
Since Mn = 338.4 kN-m > Mmax = 45.4 kN-m beam is OK

Lecture 26 Page 9 of 11

Example 6 ACI Concrete Beam Analysis

GIVEN: The rectangular concrete beam shown below. All loads are
factored and includes beam weight. Use fc = 25 mPa and 3 20 mm
diameter bars having fy = 400 mPa.
REQUIRED:
1) Determine the ACI 318 factored moment capacity, Mu of the beam in
units of kN-m.
2) Determine the ACI 318 factored moment capacity of the beam in units
of Kip-Feet.
250

350

Step 1 Det. moment capacity Mu in units of kN-m:

act f y
Mu = 0.9Asfyd(1 - 0.59

f 'c

(20mm) 2
where: As = 3 bars
4

2
= 942.5 mm

act =

As
bd

942.5mm 2
(250mm)(350mm)

= 0.0108

Lecture 26 Page 10 of 11


act f y
Mu = 0.9Asfyd(1 - 0.59
f 'c

(0.0108)(400 N / mm 2
= 0.9(942.5 mm2)(400 N/mm2)(350 mm)(1 - 0.59
25 N / mm 2

= 106,640,000 N-mm

m
kN
x
= 106,640,000 N-mm x

1000 N 1000mm
Mu = 106.6 kN-m
Step 2 Det. moment capacity Mu in units of Kip-Feet:

Kip Feet
Mu = 106.6 kN-m x

1.3559kN m
Mu = 78.6 Kip-Feet

Lecture 26 Page 11 of 11

See conversion
table above