Definition
K = -V x dP / dV
Material property lookup
Bulk Modulus of Common Materials
Compare resistance to uniform compression for common engineering materials and fluids.
Instant compressibility lookup
Select a material or case
Select a material to view typical bulk modulus in GPa and million psi.
Selected value
Reference table
Bulk modulus table
| Material | Group | Bulk Modulus (GPa) | Bulk Modulus (106 psi) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | Metal | 76 | 11.0 | Common aluminum reference |
| Carbon Steel | Metal | 160 | 23.2 | Typical steel value |
| Stainless Steel | Metal | 160 | 23.2 | Typical stainless value |
| Copper | Metal | 140 | 20.3 | Approximate value |
| Brass | Metal | 100 | 14.5 | Varies by alloy |
| Glass | Ceramic | 40 | 5.8 | Approximate range midpoint |
| Concrete | Construction | 25 | 3.6 | Approximate; mix dependent |
| Water | Fluid | 2.2 | 0.32 | Near room temperature |
| Hydraulic Oil | Fluid | 1.5 | 0.22 | Fluid dependent |
| Rubber | Polymer | 2.0 | 0.29 | Nearly incompressible formulation |
Formulas
Bulk modulus formulas
Compressibility
beta = 1 / K
Higher K means less compressible
Bulk modulus values are typical references. Fluids and polymers can be strongly affected by temperature, pressure, and formulation.
Reference
How engineers use bulk modulus
Hydraulics
Bulk modulus affects hydraulic stiffness, response time, and pressure-wave behavior.
Compressibility
It measures resistance to volume change under pressure.
Acoustics
Bulk modulus contributes to sound speed in fluids and solids.
Material models
It connects elastic constants for isotropic linear materials.
FAQ
Bulk modulus questions
What is bulk modulus of water?
A common room-temperature bulk modulus for water is about 2.2 GPa.
What does high bulk modulus mean?
A high bulk modulus means the material is difficult to compress.
Is bulk modulus the inverse of compressibility?
Yes. Compressibility is commonly beta = 1 / K.
Related
Common material property tables
Density of Common Materials
Density values for metals, polymers, ceramics, and construction materials.
Friction Coefficients of Common Materials
Static and kinetic friction coefficients for common material pairs.
Hardness Conversion Table
Approximate Rockwell, Brinell, Vickers, and tensile strength conversion values.
Melting Point of Common Materials
Melting point reference values for common metals, plastics, and engineering materials.
Poisson's Ratio of Common Materials
Poisson ratio values for common engineering solids.
Shear Modulus of Common Materials
Shear modulus values for metals, polymers, ceramics, and construction materials.