Specific Gravity of Misc. Materials

[MRM]

Hi,
We've been retained to perform a geotechnical investigation for some rather tall sugar silos at a frozen food plant. As I was computing some preliminary loads to design the geotech program, it occurred to me that I don't know the specific gravity (of solids) of sugar, or an average unit weight for loosely placed bulk sugar. I became more interested in it, and a trip to the grocery store after work revealed what I expected; I found that 5 pounds of sugar weighs...5 pounds! Anyway, if anyone has a good number for SG of sugar solids or a good unit weight for a standard grain size sugar, I'd like to hear what it is. I want to try to avoid pulling my chemistry book out and figuring the SG that way if at all possible!

Also, I thought we might use this forum to discuss SG's or unit weights of other unusual materials, such as wheat, grain, unusal fluids (wastewater for example) or other particulate materials or fluids bulk stored in silos or tanks. This info may come in handy for others when performing preliminary load calcs.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Ron]

Specific Gravity of raw and refined granular sugar ranges from 0.90 to 1.1, depending upon type and purity.

 

[MRM]

Thanks Ron, I never would have guessed it!
Mark

 

[BigH]

For unit weights of materials (especially farm produce)to be stored in silos, look in American Society of Agriculture Engineers' Standards 2002. I never knew this compendium of standards for agricultural engineering existed until last week when I was at a factory making agricultural piping. Glancing through it, I saw units weights for various farm produce in the standards.

Hope this helps.

 

[MRM]

Thank you for your responses. They were certainly helpful for me and hopefully for others too.
Mark