Conversion Tables, Constants, and Material Properties

General conversion factors (to five significant digits)

Quantity U.S. unit SI equivalent
Length 1 in 0.025400 m
1 ft 0.30480 m
1 mile 1609.3 m
Area 1 in2 0.64516 103 m2
1 ft2 0.092903 m2
1 acre 4046.9 m2
Volume 1 in3 0.016387 103 m3
1 ft3 0.028317 m3
1 US gallon 3.7854 103 m3

Conversion factors for stress analysis

Quantity U.S. unit SI equivalent
Density 1 slug/ft3 = 1 lbf s2/ft4 515.38 kg/m3
1 lbf s2/in4 10.687 106 kg/m3
Energy 1 ft lbf 1.3558 J (N m)
Force 1 lbf 4.4482 N (kg m/s2)
Mass 1 slug = 1 lbf s2/ft 14.594 kg (N s2/m)
1 lbf s2/in 175.13 kg
Power 1 ft lbf/s 1.3558 W (N m/s)
Pressure, Stress 1 psi (lbf/in2) 6894.8 Pa (N/m2)

Conversion factors for heat transfer analysis

Quantity U.S. unit SI equivalent
Conductivity 1 Btu/ft hr F 1.7307 W/m C
1 Btu/in hr F 20.769 W/m C
Density 1 lbm/in3 27680. kg/m3
Energy 1 Btu 1055.1 J
Heat flux density 1 Btu/in2 hr 454.26 W/m2
Power 1 Btu/hr 0.29307 W
Specific heat 1 Btu/lbm F 4186.8 J/kg C
Temperature 1 F 5/9 C
Temp F 9/5 Temp C + 32
9/5 Temp K 459.67
 Important constants
Constant U.S. unit SI unit
Absolute zero 459.67 F 273.15 C
Acceleration of gravity 32.174 ft/s2 9.8066 m/s2
Atmospheric pressure 14.694 psi 0.10132 106 Pa
Stefan-Boltzmann constant 0.1714 108 Btu/hr ft2 R4 5.669 108 W/m2 K4
where R = F + 459.67 where K = C + 273.15

Approximate properties of mild steel at room temperature

Quantity U.S. unit SI unit
Conductivity 28.9 Btu/ft hr F 50 W/m C
2.4 Btu/in hr F
Density 15.13 slug/ft3 (lbf s2/ft4) 7800 kg/m3
0.730 103 lbf s2/in4
0.282 lbm/in3
Elastic modulus 30 106 psi 207 109 Pa
Specific heat 0.11 Btu/lbm F 460 J/kg C
Yield stress 30 103 psi 207 106 Pa

Consistent units
Quantity SI SI (mm) US Unit (ft) US Unit (inch)
Length m mm ft in
Force N N lbf lbf
Mass kg tonne (103 kg) slug lbf s2/in
Time s s s s
Stress Pa (N/m2) MPa (N/mm2) lbf/ft2 psi (lbf/in2)
Energy J (N m) mJ (103 J) ft lbf in lbf
Density kg/m3 tonne/mm3 slug/ft3 lbf s2/in4