Aggregates Conversion: Convert from Cubic meter (m3) To Tonnes And Vice Versa
When carrying out site work, it is appropriate to know how to convert volumes of materials so as to know what quantities, volumes, or mass of materials to order.
After calculating the volume of materials required for site work, e.g sharp sand, granite, gravel, as the case may be, one should be able to do the necessary calculations and conversions from metric to customary units and vice versa, as well as convert to the units in which works are valued on site.
In Nigeria, aggregates are sold according to tipper trips which are valued in tonnes or cubic meter. Hence, a good grip on how to do this necessary conversion, will make your work easier.
Without wasting much time, let’s see how to convert aggregates from meter cube (m3) to tonnes, and from tonnes to cubic meter.
How to Convert from Cubic Meter (M^3) to Tonne
Density = Mass/Volume
Mass = Density * Volume
1 Tonne = 1000 Cubic Meter
Density = Density of material to be converted (ie the density of material used)
Volume = Cubic meter = m^3
Hence to convert from cubic meter (m^3) to tonne, multiply the density of the material by the volume in cubic meter (m^3), then divide by 1000.
1 tonne = (density * 1m^3)/1000
Let’s look at an example:
Density of 20mm coarse aggregates = 1550kg/m^3
Now let’s convert 3.8m^3 of this aggregate to the tonne equivalent.
1550/1000 = 1.55
Hence multiply 3.8 by 1.55 to get the answer in tonne
3.8 * 1.55 = 5.89 tonnes
This will be the mass of coarse aggregates of 20mm grading you will need for a volume of 3.8m^3
It is pertinent to note that the densities of materials vary. Also, the densities of aggregates vary depending upon the grading, hence a value of 1.5 to 2.2 is usually used to convert coarse aggregates from m^3 to the tonne equivalent.
Now lets convert from tonne to cubic meter (m^3)
