Densities and Material Properties


NR/GN/CIV/025 (Rail Bridge Assessments)


Table Key
Timber densities taken from BS 5268
Concrete coefficients of thermal expansion taken from BD 21/01 in accordance with Appendix B of NR/GN/CIV/025
ClassMaterialDensity (kg/m3)Unit Weight (kN/m3)Elastic Modulus (kN/mm2)Poisson RatioCoefficient of Thermal Expansion (10-6/K)
MetalAluminium275026.978---
Cast Iron720070.632114-10.2
Wrought Iron770075.5371900.312
Structural Steel785077.0092050.312
Reinforcing Steel785077.009200See concrete
Low Relaxation Prestressing Steel785077.009200 for wire and strand to Section 2 and 3 of BS 5896.
165 for alloy bars to BS 4486 and 19-wire strain to BS 4757 Section 3.		See concrete
As-drawn wire and strand for pretressing785077.009200 to BS 5896
175 for 19-wire strain to BS 4757 Section 2.		See concrete
ConcreteReinforced or Prestress Concrete240023.544Short: 20+0.27fcu
Long: 0.5 x [20+0.27fcu] 		0.29.0 to 14.0 refer to Table 4.3 of BD 21/01. Typically 12.0
Mass Concrete230022.563Short: 20+0.27fcu
Long: 0.5 x [20+0.27fcu] 		0.29.0 to 14.0 refer to Table 4.3 of BD 21/01. Typically 12.0
Light Weight Concrete Blocks140013.734As for normal weight concrete, but factored by [lightweight density/2300]0.29.0 to 14.0 refer to Table 4.3 of BD 21/01. Typically 12.0
MasonryEngineerings Brickwork240023.544---
Other Brickwork210020.601---
Granite2600 to 293025.506 to 28.743---
Sandstone2200 to 240021.582 to 23.544---
TimberSoftwoods480 to 720, typically 6404.709 to 7.063, typically 6.278---
Hardwoods640 to 12006.278 to 11.772---
Jarrah840 to 9608.240 to 9.418---
Greenheart1040 to 120010.202 to 11.772---
FillSand (dry)160015.696---
Sand (saturated)200019.62---
Hardcore192018.835---
Crushed Slag144014.126---
Packed Stone Rubble224021.974---
Earth (dry, compact)160015.696---
Earth (moist, compact)180017.658---
Puddled Clay192018.835---
Asphalt230022.563---
Macadam256025.114---
BallastTypical180017.658---

CS 454 (Road Bridge Assessments)


Table Key
A number of material properties are missing from CS 454, with the information either being contained in another DMRB standard or simply missing. Where this is the case the value from the most relevant standard has been adopted, however in some instances references to the previous standard BD 21/01 is required.
ClassMaterialDensity (kg/m3)Unit Weight (kN/m3)Elastic Modulus (kN/mm2)Poisson RatioCoefficient of Thermal Expansion (10-6/K)
MetalsAluminium275026.978--26
Cast iron720070.63290 to 138 (from BD 21/01)-10
Wrought iron770075.537200 (from BD 21/01)0.312
Structural Steel785077.009205 (from CS 455 and BS 5400-3)0.312
Reinforcing Steel785077.009200 (from CS 455)See concrete
Low Relaxation Prestressing Steel785077.009200 for wire and strand to Section 2 and 3 od BS 5896.
165 for alloy bars to BS 4486 and 19-wire strain to BS 4757 Section 3.		See concrete
As-drawn wire and strand for pretressing785077.009200 to BS 5896
175 for 19-wire strain to BS 4757 Section 2.		See concrete
ConcreteReinforced concrete240023.544Short: 20+0.27fcu
Long: 0.5 x [20+0.27fcu] 		0.2 (from CS 455)12
Plain concrete230022.563Short: 20+0.27fcu
Long: 0.5 x [20+0.27fcu] 		0.2 (from CS 455)12
MasonryEngineering bricks2200-230021.582-22.5634 to 7
Other solid bricks210020.6014 to 7
Granite2600-293025.506-28.7434 to 7
Sandstone2200-240021.582-23.5444 to 7
TimberPine timber480-7204.709-7.0633 to 5
English oak timber720-9607.063-9.4183 to 5
Greenheart timber1040-120010.202-11.7723 to 5
Glued laminated timber360-4103.532-4.0223 to 5
Surfacing materialsHot-rolled asphalt230022.563---
Bituminous macadam (tar)240023.544---
Bituminous macadam (water-bound)256025.114---
FillSand fill1600 (wet) to 2000 (dry)15.696 (wet) to 19.620 (dry)---
Gravel ballast fill1600 (wet) to 2100 (dry)15.696 (wet) to 20.601 (dry)---
Hardcore fill192018.835---
Crushed slag fill144014.126---
Packed stone rubble fill224021.974---
Compact earth fill1600 (wet) to 1800 (dry)15.696 (wet) to 17.658 (dry)---
Puddled clay fill192018.835---
Miscellaneous fill220021.582---
Advanced compositesCFRP plates160015.696Varies 150 to 250-0
GFRP160015.696Varies 20 to 50-0


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