ft-lb
Units & Measurements abbreviation · Engineering Unit
| Stands for | Foot-pound |
|---|---|
| Categories | Units & Measurements |
ft-lb stands for Foot-pound, an engineering unit abbreviation.
A US unit of work or energy, the energy needed to lift one pound by one foot, about 1.356 joules. Firearm muzzle energy and impact energy are given in ft-lb, and US service manuals use the same term for torque.
Example: The cartridge delivers about 2,600 ft-lb of muzzle energy.
Usage notes
Also written ft·lbf. Torque wrenches and shop manuals commonly say "tighten lug nuts to 80 ft-lb", even though purists reserve the form for energy. James Watt defined one horsepower as 33,000 ft-lb per minute.