About

Materials testing, particularly in civil engineering for concrete and steel, operates at pressure magnitudes best expressed in Megapascals (MPa). However, compression testing machines in older laboratories often output results in kgf/cm². Converting these values accurately is critical for determining if a structural component meets building codes.

This tool addresses the needs of lab technicians and structural engineers. It applies the precise standard conversion factor to ensure that safety reports reflect the true strength of materials tested. A rounding error here could theoretically pass a sample that is actually below the required yield strength.

Formulas

The prefix "Mega" denotes a factor of one million (10⁶). The relationship between the technical atmosphere and the Megapascal is derived as follows:

P_MPa = P_kgf × 0.0980665

Essentially, 10 kgf/cm² is roughly equal to 1 MPa, but for engineering precision, the exact factor must be used.

Reference Data

Strength (kgf/cm²)	Result (MPa)	Common Concrete Grade
100	9.81	Low strength / Bedding
150	14.71	Residential Slab
200	19.61	~C20 General Purpose
250	24.52	~C25 Foundations
300	29.42	~C30 Structural Beams
350	34.32	~C35 External Walls
400	39.23	~C40 Heavy Load
450	44.13	High Strength
500	49.03	~C50 Prestressed
600	58.84	~C60 High Rise
700	68.65	Ultra High Strength
800	78.45	Specialized Infrastructure
900	88.26	Extreme Loads
1000	98.07	Research Limits

Frequently Asked Questions

MPa (Megapascal) is the standard SI unit for internal pressure, stress, and Young"s modulus. It is almost exclusively used in construction to define the compressive strength of concrete and the tensile strength of steel.

Dividing by 10 gives an approximation (error of ~2%). 100 kgf/cm² is 9.8 MPa, not 10 MPa. In structural engineering, a 2% overestimate of strength is dangerous and unacceptable.

Yes, the tool is optimized for values between 1 and 1000 kgf/cm², covering the entire spectrum of standard construction materials testing.

Results are typically displayed to 3 or 4 decimal places to ensure precision, though construction standards usually specify strength to the nearest 1 MPa or 0.1 MPa.