Metric - kg or N
Metric - kg or N
(OP)
I have an international exchange student working with us this summer who is a graduate engineer from Venezuela.We were discussing the applications of the English vs. Metric units in the U.S. and she indicated that all calculations and references for force units in Venezuela were based on kg (kg/m^2, kg/m, etc.) and they never use Newtons or Pascals.
All of the current GSA, DOT, and Corps of Engineers data we have indicate that Newtons and Pascals (for stress) are the proper usage.Is there some rationale for using kg in calcs? Note that AISC metric shapes are indicated in kg/m units.
The only concept we came up with is that you should stay in either kg or N consistently based on whether or not your specification or code provides limits on stresses in k/m^2 or in Pascals.






RE: Metric - kg or N
I agree that fundamentally it makes no difference as long as consistency prevails.
RE: Metric - kg or N
regards
Andy Machon
Andy@machona.freeserve.co.uk
RE: Metric - kg or N
Using kgf for force is outdated and considering the messages above confusing.
RE: Metric - kg or N
RE: Metric - kg or N
I think that in Venezuela they still use the so called technical system of unities like in the old Germany, designated as MKpS ( meter, kilograme weigth and second ).
Nowadays the countries all around the world subscribed a convention to addopt and use forever the SI unities, I am sure even the USA had subscribed that, but as it is a strong market is still keeping in use the Imperial system of unities.
CV
carlosvalinhas@netcabo.pt
RE: Metric - kg or N
When you make the change as I did twice - firstly from the old European system of kg as a force to the old British system of lbs and inches and feet; secondly to the SI system when it was introduced in Australia - you will experience a brief period of discomfort.
Before long, you will forget the old system and relish the new one with its clear distinction between mass and force.
RE: Metric - kg or N