Do you know what Civil Engineering is? Many people have a good idea, but most of them don't really know. There is a good reason to this and it's because Civil Engineering is related to multiple fields. This glossary can be useful for people who want to learn more about the whole Civil engineering environment, or simply learn the definition of specific term related to a branch of this field of study. In this glossary, There are 20 words all chosen from recognized work in the civil engineering field. You can now deepen your knowledge about Civil engineering with the help of this glossary.
cleavage
noun
How some minerals break along flat planes when exposed to stress, such as being hit with a hammer. Creates smooth, flat surfaces that reflect light.
Example: Moscow mica cleaves perfectly into sheets.
en: clivage
concentrated load
adjective+noun
A force applied at a single point on a beam or structure.
Example: The basement post is holding a concentrated load.
en: charge concentrée
dead load
nouns
The load from the self weight of the structure and whatever is permanently attached to it and acts always.
Example: The dead load of a typical asphalt-shingled, wood-framed roof is about 15 pounds per square foot.
en: charge permanente
engineered wood
adjective+noun
Composite wood, man-made wood, or manufactured board, includes a range of derivative wood products which are manufactured by binding or fixing the strands, particles, fibers, or veneers or boards of wood, together with adhesives, or other methods of fixation[1] to form composite material.
Example: The beams in my house are made of engineered wood.
en: bois d'ingénérie
footing
noun
Important part of foundation construction. They are typically made of concrete with rebar reinforcement that has been poured into an excavated trench. Their purpose is to support the foundation and prevent settling.They are placed below the frost line and then the walls are added on top.
Example: The footing of this house is not wide enough.
en: semelle
Gantt Chart
nouns
Horizontal bar chart developed as a production control tool. Provides a graphical illustration of a schedule that helps to plan, coordinate, and track specific tasks in a project.
Example: Gantt charts are useful for planning and scheduling projects.
en: Diagramme de Gantt
granulometry
noun
Measurement of the shape, size and distribution in different classes of grains.
Example: The granulometry of this concrete is perfect.
en: granulométrie
hardness
adjective
The quality or condition of being hard. The relative resistance of a mineral to scratching, as measured by the Mohs scale.
Example: Hardness is the principal quality of diamonds.
en: dureté
joist
noun
A length of timber or steel supporting part of the structure of a building, typically arranged in parallel series to support a floor or ceiling.
Example: The joist in my house are spaced of 16 inches from center to center.
en: solive
linear load
adjective+noun
Load distributed over a linear surface. Useful for calculating the practical load of a beam. (lb / ft).
Example: This beam as a maximum linear charge of 500 lb/pi.
en: charge linéaire
live load
nouns
Loads that may or may not act, fully or partially, and vary with time and exact location on the structure.
Example: The snow on the roof is a live load.
en: surcharge
lumber
noun
Type of wood that has been processed into beams and planks, a stage in the process of wood production. ... It is more commonly made from softwood than hardwoods, and 80% of lumber comes from softwood.
Example: All of my is in lumber.
en: bois d'oeuvre
masonry
noun
The art and craft of building and fabricating in stone, clay, brick, or concrete block. Construction of poured concrete, reinforced or unreinforced.
Example: I have done all my house masonry by myself.
en: maçonnerie
Micron
noun
Unit of length equivalent to a millionth of a meter. 1 micron = 0,001mm
Example: Red blood cells are approximately 10 microns in diameter.
en: micron
network schedule
nouns
Graphical display of logical order of activities and a method of scheduling work process where various related events are programmed into a sequential network on the basis of starting and finishing dates.
Example: Big constructions sites need a well-planed network schedule.
en: échéancier en réseau (C.P.M)
sealing
noun
A device or material that is used to close off or fasten an opening or connection, especially to prevent the escape of a liquid or gas: used caulk as a seal around the window. b. An airtight closure: a door that lacks a tight seal.
Example: The house windows would need a new sealing.
en: scellage
staircase hopper
nouns
The opening in a floor, set to receive the components of the stairs.
Example: Six feet by six feet is the staircase hopper size
uniformly distributed load
phrase
A load that is distributed or spread across the whole region of an element such as a beam or slab. In other words, the magnitude of the load remains uniform throughout the whole element.(kN/m2).
Example: When placed in steel storage racks, a uniformly distributed load is one whose weight is evenly distributed over the entire surface of the rack's beams or deck.
en: charge uniformément répartie
Volumic Mass
nouns
Density, mass of a unit volume of a material substance. The formula for density is d = M/V, where d is density, M is mass, and V is volume. Density is commonly expressed in units of grams per cubic centimeter.
Example: The Volumic Mass of concrete is 10 tonnes per cubic meter.
en: Masse volumique
wind load
nouns
The “load” placed by the wind speed and its air density onto a building. With high velocity winds, low pressure areas are created on the building which creates suction pressure.
Example: Wind loading is the critical loading on tall buildings, and indeed it was to withstand wind loads more efficiently and economically as buildings get higher and higher than shear wall systems were developed.
