Let’s immediately clarify why you need to know this characteristic. The fact is that the specific gravity (density) of this or that type of building material directly determines: its scope of application, strength, thermal conductivity coefficient and cost.
The following “equality” is true here: the higher the density, measured in kg/m3, the greater the weight of the final product. By and large, the weight of the solution depends on the type and weight of the filler: crushed stone, gravel, sand, expanded clay, slag and other types of filler. Accordingly, there are the following main types (types) of concrete:
- Heavy. The mass of 1 m3 ranges from 1800 to 2400 kg;
- Lungs. Weight range 1 m3 from 500 to 1,800 kg;
- Particularly heavy. Weight range 1 m3 from 2,450 to 2,950 kg;
- Particularly light. The weight of material with a volume of 1 m3 is up to 550 kg.
How much does 1 cube of different types of concrete weigh?
- Heavy concrete. The composition of this type of building material includes coarse-grained fillers characterized by significant mass: granite crushed stone, gravel, river sand. In particular, the standard recipe for preparing 1 m3 of heavy concrete for widespread use includes following components: 1250-1300 kg of crushed stone (gravel), 650-700 kg of sand, 160-200 liters of water and 250-450 kg of Portland cement grade M400-M500. Area of application of heavy concrete: any load-bearing elements, screed, fencing, etc.;
- Lightweight concrete. According to the name, porous (light) fillers are used to mix this type of material: expanded clay, vermiculite, foam perlite and waste from metallurgical and energy production. Lightweight concrete has a high porosity of the “body”, therefore it is used for the construction of: floor screeds, walls of residential buildings, block products and internal partitions;
- Extra heavy concrete. This type of material is generally not used in low-rise construction. Almost the entire volume of such concrete consists of large heavy components. High grade cements are used as a binder. Scope of application: construction of bridges, overpasses, protective structures of nuclear power plants and hydraulic structures;
- Particularly lightweight concrete. These are so-called “cellular” materials, which do not contain large aggregates. Lightweight concrete is a structural mortar made from cement, sand and a foaming agent. In this case, air pores appear in the body of the solution, occupying up to 85% of the volume. Particularly lightweight concrete is used to produce “warm” blocks, slabs and non-load-bearing partitions.
Weight of 1 meter of cubic concrete of different brands
In accordance with GOST, heavy concrete is divided into grades from M100 to M600 (M100, M150, M200, M250, etc.). The composition of concrete of a particular brand depends on the ratio of the amount of binder, sand, crushed stone, water, as well as on the brand of cement (usually Portland cement M400 or M500).
Concrete is popular construction material, used in the construction of a wide variety of buildings and structures. Its different types have different characteristics, primarily weight.
How much does M300 concrete weigh?
In general, the spread of concrete mass is very large - from 500 kg/m3 to 2500 kg/m3. And according to this important indicator, the material is divided into light, medium and heavy types, having several different areas applications.
M300 concrete is a heavy type and weighs on average 2300-2500 kg/m3. It is used for the construction of various structural elements:
- bearing and self-supporting walls, partitions, ceilings, building foundations;
- for the subfloor, paths around the house and on the site, entrances to the house from the main road, etc.;
- for hydraulic structures;
- in road construction.
How to determine your weight yourself
You can approximately calculate the mass of a cubic meter of M300 concrete by knowing the weight of all the components used concrete mixture. However, it should be understood that per 1m3 ready mixture it will take about 20-30% more in terms of volume of components. This is due to the fact that during the preparation of the mixture it becomes highly compacted; cement and sand occupy previously empty spaces between the grains of coarse aggregate. If it is not just concrete, but a reinforced concrete structure, then when calculating the weight it is worth taking into account the weight of the steel reinforcement used.
Also, the weight indicator will not necessarily be constant for a particular brand of mixture. It can vary quite a lot depending on the raw materials used (sand, cement, crushed stone), their density and size. So, for example, the use of coarse aggregate increases the number and size of pores in concrete stone, accordingly making it lighter.
The weight depends on the type, quantity and size of the aggregate (sand and crushed stone) and only shows what load this concrete element creates, transfers to the supporting structures and further to the foundation soils. It does not give a direct indication of strength. It mainly depends on the grade of cement that was used (it should be 1.5-2 times higher than the desired grade of concrete), and is indicated in the grade of concrete - the numerical coefficient shows the compressive strength in kg/cm2 of a cubic sample (with edges according to 15 cm) of this concrete. Those. in the case of the M300 brand, a concrete cube, having gained almost 100% strength on the 28th day of curing, must withstand 300 kg for each square centimeter of its surface.
Cement mortar is one of the most popular materials in construction. When constructing any structures, it is important to take into account the specific gravity of the substances used. For example, if construction involves the use of cement, then you need to know how much a cube of concrete of a particular configuration weighs. Reinforced concrete and concrete structures are the basis of many buildings, so it is impossible to neglect their properties at the design stage.
Classification by weight
Concrete mixtures are used in quite a variety of variations. Modern cement is necessary for the following operations:
- interior decoration of residential premises;
- construction of reinforced concrete building foundations;
- construction of dams and monolithic structures.
It is also used for other purposes - this is just a sample list that shows the variety of uses of this material. Of course, from cement to interior decoration and foundation construction require different characteristics, which is why all mixtures are divided into classes and brands.
Using classification, you can determine the weight of 1 cube of concrete. Mass increases with type change:
- thermal insulation (extra light, classes below B7.5);
- light (classes B7.5-B15);
- heavy (B15-B30);
- super heavy (more).
The first includes brands from M50 to M75, their specific gravity does not exceed 500 kilograms. The second - from M100 to M200, which vary from 500 to 1800 kg. “Heavy” ones are labeled as M200-M400, and their specific gravity is 1800-2500. All brands from M450 are considered especially heavy. The specific gravity of such concrete reaches three tons.
Thermal insulation mixture
This cement contains a large volume of fillers, thanks to which a level of 85% of voids is achieved. Although the mass of a cubic meter of such a mixture does not reach half a ton, and in a frozen state it cannot withstand heavy loads and perform a load-bearing function, the brand has the lowest thermal conductivity values. Porous structures do not withstand cold well and quickly wear out under the influence of frost, therefore, to increase strength, a plasticizer for concrete is also included in the mixture. Moisture instability should not be ignored, which is why installation of waterproofing is mandatory.
Medium types
“Light” mixtures are not uncommon, especially M150. Many types of ready-mix concrete fall into the 500-1800 kg specific gravity range. Most building blocks have pores in their structure. Air bubbles in the mass are created using foaming agents or cellular fillers. Among the latter, expanded clay is often used.
“Heavy” concrete is used much more often than other types, because it is used for the construction of many structural components. First of all, it is used for parts that perform a load-bearing role. A cube of M300 concrete weighs at least 1800 kilograms - this applies to all mixtures of the heavy type. If there is a need to do load-bearing structure stronger, density increases to 2.5 tons per cubic meter. This is done by changing the ratio of sand and coarse filler. The density of the latter also plays an important role - crushed gravel is much heavier than granite or expanded clay.
Extra heavy concrete
This species is not very common due to its specificity. Such concrete can reach maximum values when one meter cube weighs approximately three tons. To achieve such indicators, metal fillers are included in the mixture, many of them are relatively specific materials for the construction industry. In addition, they are quite expensive. But the M450 brand perfectly prevents the spread of radiation.
Extra-heavy concrete is used only for the construction of special structures. Walls made from dense mixtures with metal impurities reflect most of the radioactive radiation. This is beneficial for the construction of nuclear power plants, laboratories and “sarcophagi” at the sites of radiation-related disasters.
Volume and specific gravity table
Volumetric weight is calculated during transportation and differs from the actual weight. Density depends not only on the brand, but also on the state (liquid or dry) of the mixture.
As it becomes clear from the table, the weight of concrete is 1 m³ higher in the liquid state than in the dry state.
The values of how much 1 cubic meter of concrete weighs in kg actually and calculated always differ. The actual values are shown in the second table.
If we compare these two tables, we can see that the calculated weight of the M200 brand is equal to the actual weight of the M250 cube. This also applies to other species. How much a cube of M300 concrete weighs in fact, is how much M250 weighs according to calculations.
Attention! Exact compliance of the described characteristics with the specified brand is achieved only during factory production of the mixture.
This building material is used everywhere and is considered truly universal. It is used for the construction of foundations and floor slabs, screeds and plaster layers. But depending on the specifics of the work, it is often necessary to make certain calculations, and for this you need to know the weight of 1 m 3 of concrete.
This value is not constant, since this material is divided into several types. Their differences are not only in the proportions of “ingredients”, but also in the structure. But they are distinguished, first of all, by their specific gravity.
Particularly heavy
1 “cube” weighs between 2.5 and 3 tons. This figure depends mainly on the type of filler. These can be barite, hematite, metal scrap, magnesite and some others. Considering how much a cube of concrete weighs, it is clear that it is used infrequently, mainly in special construction ( underground storage facilities, tunnels and the like).
Heavy
Traditionally used not only in civil and industrial construction, but also in the private sector. Due to its strength, such concrete is made different kinds foundations, floor and interfloor slabs, other load-bearing structural elements. Gravel and crushed stone of large fractions are used as backfill. The weight of 1 m3 ranges from 1.8 to 2.5 tons.
Lungs
The fillers are either lightweight fractions (expanded clay, shell rock, tuff), or they are not used at all. The porosity of the structure is achieved artificially (cellular types - gas and foam concrete). The weight of 1 “cube” is in the range of 0.5 - 1.8 tons. This material is suitable for both partitions and other unloaded parts of the building. Often in low-rise construction for walls.
The total weight is directly dependent on the components. In particular, sand can be either fine, sifted, or coarse river sand. Therefore, it is correct to focus on the specific gravity of all ingredients.
The size of the fractions of solid components is also taken into account. It is clear that the smaller they are, the more densely they will fill the volume. But the use of large fractions involves the formation of voids, and the larger their size, the lighter the concrete will ultimately be. In addition, the various fillers used, which are introduced into the composition to improve certain properties of the final product, and the amount of added water also have an impact. By the way, change a few total weight maybe the quality of mixing of the composition. It also depends on whether the sand was initially wet or dry.
Knowing the proportion in which the various components are taken and their specific weight characteristics, it is not difficult to calculate the weight of 1 m3. In this case, an accurate result will not be obtained, since it is impossible to measure all the components with “pharmaceutical” accuracy.
If for calculations you need to know the specific gravity of one m 3 of concrete, then experts advise focusing on the figure of 2,500 kg/m 3. This value is true for almost any structure and appears in many reporting documents.
You can give some more data on the specific gravity of common concretes (in kg/m3):
- with coarse gravel – 2,400;
- with volcanic fillers – from 800 to 1,600;
- gas and foam concrete - from 300 to 1,000.
More extensive data is available in special tables, but they are used mainly by professionals.
Currently, like many centuries ago, concrete remains probably the most common material for construction. It is used to perform a wide variety of construction work- from major repairs before the construction of buildings. However, to perform any work, the first thing you need to do is calculate the amount required material taking into account its characteristics. For example, builders often have the task of determining the weight of a cubic meter. Therefore, this article is devoted to the question of what is the weight of 1 m3 of concrete.
What determines the mass of concrete?
First of all, it should be noted that builders do not use such a concept as “specific gravity of concrete.” This is due to the fact that this building material may contain a variety of components with different weights.
So, the following can be used as a filler:
. Crushed stone.
. Gravel.
. Expanded clay, etc.
Even if for cooking concrete mortar the same composition is used, the weight of 1 m3 of concrete may be different in cases where the filler has different fractions. How larger size fraction, the more voids in the material and, accordingly, the less its mass.
But builders are still interested in weight characteristics, since many characteristics of the objects being completed depend on the value of this indicator. For example, based on this data, they perform and select the type of foundations for different types soil. The same applies to other load-bearing elements.
In practice, builders use a parameter called “volumetric weight”. But this characteristic does not have a permanent meaning. In addition, the calculations must take into account the weight of the liquid used in preparing the solution.
Types of concrete
By appearance binder material this building material is divided into cement, silicate, slag-alkaline, asphalt concrete, etc. According to the purpose, ordinary concrete is divided (for civil and special (road, decorative, thermal insulation, hydraulic) and special purposes (chemically resistant, sound-absorbing, heat-resistant, for protection against nuclear radiation and other).
Characteristics of concrete
Compressive strength is used as the main indicator characterizing concrete. This characteristic determines the class of concrete, marked with the letter “B” (Latin) and numbers indicating (in kg/sq.cm) permissible load. For example, the value B25 shows that this class of concrete is designed for a load of 25 kg/sq.cm. When calculating the strength indicators of structures, coefficients should be taken into account. Example: a structure made of class B25 concrete at a rate of 13.5 percent can withstand a load of 327 kg/sq.cm, and this is equivalent to strength grade M350. Strength class B3.5 corresponds to strength grade M50, B10 - M150, B30 - M400, and B60 - M800.
Other important indicators of concrete include frost resistance, flexural strength and water resistance. Frost resistance is designated by the letter “F” and a number from 50 to 500, indicating the number of transitions from freezing to thawing and back that the concrete will withstand. For the water resistance indicator, the letter “W” and a number from 2 to 12 are used, which shows what a sample of a given brand of concrete in the form of a cylinder will withstand.
Weight determination
Reference data on the volumetric weight of concrete are defined in SNiP No. II-3. This standard specifies the design weight of concrete varieties depending on the type of filler. It contains a table of concrete weight, from which you can find out that reinforced concrete products are characterized by a volumetric weight (in kg/m3) of 2500, concrete using filler in the form of gravel or crushed stone - 2400, expanded clay concrete based - 500-1800, based on perlite sand - 800-1000. In turn, aerated concrete is characterized by a volumetric weight of 300-1000 kg/m3. Naturally, the weight of 1 m3 of concrete is approximate, but these data are quite suitable for calculation purposes. After all, the accuracy of data up to several kilograms cannot be ensured by any calculation.
Weight of concrete depending on its brand
Builders often determine brand dependencies. Its severe types are characterized by the following calculated data. The weight of M200 concrete is 2430 kg/m3. For grade M100, you can use a value of 2495 kg/m3. The weight of concrete M300 is 2390, and for grades M400 and M500 you can take values of 2375 and 2300 kg/m3, respectively.
Thus, the quantitative values given in the article can be used for approximate engineering calculations during repair and construction work.
