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 change in volume of a material subjected to axial loading.
Material | Bulk Modulus - K - | |
---|---|---|
(106 psi) | (GPa) | |
Aluminum, various alloys | 9.9 - 10.2 | 68 - 70 |
Brass, 70-30 | 15.7 | 108 |
Brass, cast | 16.8 | 116 |
Copper | 17.9 | 123 |
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 |
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 |
- 1 GPa = 109 Pa (N/m2)
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