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Metals and Alloys - Bulk Modulus Elasticity

The Bulk Modulus - resistance to uniform compression - for some common metals and alloys.

The Bulk Modulus Elasticity - or Volume Modulus - is a measure of the substance's resistance to uniform compression.

Bulk Modulus of Elasticity is the ratio of stress to the change in volume in a material subjected to axial loading.

Typical values of bulk modulus for some metals and alloys are indicated below. Note that the values may vary widely.

Metals and Alloys - Bulk Modulus Elasticity
MaterialBulk Modulus
- K -
(106 psi)(GPa)
Aluminum, various alloys 9.9 - 10.2 68 - 70
Boron Carbide (B4) 29 - 34.8 200 - 240
Brass, 70-30 15.7 108
Brass, cast 16.8 116
Concrete 0.87 - 4.1 6 - 28
Copper 17.9 123
Diamond (carbon) 80 - 93 550 - 640
Iron, cast 8.4 - 15.5 58 - 107
Iron, malleable 17.2 119
Magnesium alloy 4.8 33.1
Monel metal 22.5 155
Phosphor bronze 16.3 112
Silver 13.9 - 15.4 96 - 106
Stainless Steels (18-8) 23.6 163
Steel, cast 20.2 139
Steel, cold rolled 23.1 159
Steel, various 22.6 - 24.0 156 - 165
Tin 6.1 - 8.4 42 - 60
Tungsten 44.5 - 15.5 307 - 314
  • 1 GPa = 109 Pa (N/m2)
  • 1 GPa = 0.145 psi

Stainless steel with Bulk Modulus 163×109 Pa is approximate 80 times harder to compress than water with Bulk Modulus 2.15×109 Pa.

Bulk Modulus is related to Modulus of Elasticity and Poisson's Ratio as

K = E / 3 (1 - 2 r)                                                (1)

where

K = Bulk Modulus (Pa (N/m2), psi (lbf/in2)

E = Modulus of Elasticity (Pa (N/m2), psi (lbf/in2)

r = Poisson's Ratio

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