Eigengewichts

Eigengewichts, in Dutch often written as eigengewicht (singular) and eigengewichten (plural), refers to the inherent or self weight of an object or structure—the weight that belongs to the object itself, excluding any cargo, fuel, payload, or other external loads. In practice the term is commonly used in engineering, construction, and logistics to distinguish the intrinsic mass from additional loads.

In engineering and construction, eigengewicht is used to describe the self-weight of components such as beams, slabs, and walls, and it is a fundamental part of load calculations. It is considered a distributed load that acts due to gravity on every point of the structure. In transportation and logistics, eigengewicht is the empty or tare weight of a vehicle or container, which, together with additional loads, determines the gross vehicle weight and affects stability, fueling, and pricing.

Calculating eigengewicht involves multiplying the mass of the object by the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.81 m/s²), yielding the weight in newtons. In practice, many specifications provide eigengewicht directly in kilograms or metric tonnes, with weight used for design and safety checks rather than as a standalone measure. Measurements and specifications are typically drawn from product data sheets, engineering drawings, or official testing.

Equivalents in English include tare weight, empty weight, or self-weight, depending on context. The concept is closely related to related loads in structural analysis, such as dead load, live load, and distributed loads, and it plays a key role in ensuring safety, performance, and regulatory compliance.