Engineering and Construction Terminology

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key vocabulary from engineering and construction topics based on lecture notes.

Runway

A defined surface on an airport prepared for the landing or takeoff of airplanes.

Jerk

The rate of change in acceleration.

Time Headway

Time elapsed between the front bumper of one vehicle and the front bumper of the following vehicle passing a given point.

Delineators

Roadside markers used to guide drivers through turns, especially at night or during poor visibility.

Design Speed

The maximum speed at which vehicles can continuously travel safely under favorable conditions.

Ballast

Gravel used as the base below the track for rail.

Waste

Materials excavated and thrown away that are no longer necessary to form an embankment.

Asphalt

A dark brown to black cementitious material in which the predominant constituent is bitumen from refining petroleum.

Sounding

The determination of water depth at a specific fixed point.

Stream Gaging

The art of making measurements of the flow of water in open channels.

Stream

A current or steady flow of water running along the earth's surface.

Stadia

Originated in measuring distances for athletic contests; involves distance measurement techniques.

Stadia Constant

The distance from the center of the instrument to the principal focus.

Secular Variation

An extremely slow swing of the magnetic needle over a long period due to shifts in the earth's magnetic interior.

Parallax

Difference in direction of a heavenly body as seen from the surface and from the center of the earth.

Limit of Economical Haul

The distance within which it is more economical to haul materials than to dispose of them.

Dredging

The process of widening, enlarging, clearing, or deepening channels in harbors, rivers, and canals.

Hydrographic Survey

Surveys referring to streams, lakes, and other bodies of water.

Peak Hour Volume

The maximum number of vehicles passing a point on a highway during a period of 60 consecutive minutes.

Annual Average Daily Traffic

The average of 24-hour traffic counts collected every day in a year.

Vehicle Miles of Travel

A measure of travel usage along a section of road.

Braking Distance

Distance traveled by a vehicle after brakes are applied until it stops.

Superelevation Run-off

The length of superelevation development from zero cross-slope to full design superelevation.

Stopping Sight Distance

Minimum sight distance required on a two-lane highway for safe passing.

Both Skid Resistance and Coefficient of Friction

The ratio between parallel forces divided by the normal forces in banking of curves.

Volition Time

The time taken for final action.

Density

The number of vehicles per unit distance occupying a section of roadway.

Traffic Volume

The number of vehicles moving in a specified direction on a given lane during a specified unit time.

Wakes

Waves formed by moving ships or boats.

Tides

Waves formed by the gravitational attraction between the moon and the sun.

Spring Tides

The highest tide occurring at intervals of half a lunar month.

Neap Tides

The lowest tide of the month occurring when the moon is in its quarter.

Wind

The circulation of masses of air parallel to the earth's surface.

Wind Rose

The graphical representation of the direction and intensity of winds.

Beaufort's Scale

A scale used to measure wind intensity.

Mean Range

The height of mean high water above mean low water.

Mean Sea Level

The mean of the height of mean high water above mean low water.

Flood Current

The current setting into bays and estuaries along the coast.

Seiche

The flow of seawater in a horizontal direction that accompanies tidal variations.

Fetch

The straight line stretch of open water available for wave growth.

Breakwater

A structure that protects harbors from stormy waves.

Wharf

A platform built parallel to the shore within the harbor to berth vessels.

Aquifers

Deep groundwater deposits available for water supply and irrigation.

Laminar Flow

Fluid flow where the fluid travels parallel to adjacent layers without crossing paths.

Turbulent Flow

Flow characterized by irregular paths causing an exchange of momentum.

Bernoulli Principle

The increase in kinetic energy per unit weight is equal to the decrease in potential energy per unit weight.

Critical Flow

Flow in an open channel where the Froude Number is equal to 1.

Free Flow

A conduit where liquid flows with a free surface subjected to atmospheric pressure.

Weir

An overflow structure built across an open channel for measuring or controlling flow.

Hydrometer Analysis

Test to determine the grain size distribution of soils.

Relative Density

Ratio of the difference between void ratios of a cohesionless soil in its loosest and natural states.

Soil Consistency

Describes the degree and kind of cohesion and adhesion between soil particles.

Rupture Resistance

Field measure of a soil's ability to withstand an applied stress.

Adhesion

Attraction of a water molecule to a non-water molecule.

Plasticity

Degree a soil can be molded causing permanent deformation.

Compaction

Densification of soil by removing air.

Vibroflotation

Technique for in situ densification of granular soil deposits.

Effective Stress

Sum of vertical components of the forces developed at contact points of solid particles.

Immediate Settlement

Settlement caused by elastic deformation of dry or saturated soils.

Primary Consolidation Settlement

Volume change in saturated cohesive soils due to expulsion of water.

Shear Strength

Internal resistance per unit area of soil mass to failure and sliding.

Overconsolidation Ratio (OCR)

Ratio of preconsolidation pressure to present effective overburden pressure.

Unrestrained Slope

An exposed ground surface that stands at an angle with the horizontal.

Subsurface Exploration

Identifying layers of deposits beneath a proposed structure.

Method of Slices

Analyzing slope stability in two dimensions by dividing the sliding mass into slices.

Base Failure

Type of failure occurs when the sliding surface passes below the toe of the slope.

Toe Circle

The failure circle in slope failure when it passes through the toe of the slope.

Plastic Equilibrium

Condition where every point in a soil mass is on the verge of failure.

Lateral Earth Pressure

Pressure that soil exerts against a structure mainly in a horizontal direction.

Active State

State where soil mass is allowed to relax or move outward to reach the limiting strength.

Spread Footing

Enlargement of a load-bearing wall or column spreading the load over a large area of soil.

Foundation

Structural member transmitting loads to the lower soil layers.

Counterfort Retaining Wall

Similar to cantilever walls but purpose is to reduce shear and bending moments.

Degree of Sensitivity

Ratio of unconfined compression strength in undisturbed vs remolded state.

Yield Stress

Unit tensile stress where stress-strain curve shows an increase in strain without stress increase.

Modulus of Elasticity

Slope of the initial straight-line portion of the stress-strain diagram.

Ductility

Ability of a material to undergo large inelastic deformation without fracture.

Homogeneous

Materials having the same composition at any point.

Plastic Flow

Large deformations occur in a ductile material loaded into plastic region.

Elastic Flow

Force generated by a body at rest.

Retaining Wall

Structure preventing lateral movement of earth or material.

Weight Bearing

Type of retaining wall supported by its own weight and soil.

Property Standards

Standards that define the properties of a material.

Compensatory Models

Involve values for attributes converted into common measurement scales.

Cash Flow

Refers to the actual inflows versus outflows in financial management.

Risk Management

The process of identifying, assessing, and controlling risks.

Construction Audit

Regular examination of project performance in accordance with safety standards.

Safety Signs

Information on potential risks present at construction sites.

Traffic Volume

Number of vehicles passing a point during specified time.

Material Standards

Define properties and requirements of construction materials.

Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

Hierarchy of project tasks to manage project components effectively.

Subbase Course

Thin layer placed on top of the prepared subgrade in pavement construction.

Joint Spalling

Breaking away of hardened concrete surface to a certain depth.

Traffic Accumulation

Total number of parked vehicles in a given area at a specific time.

Pneumatic Tools

Tools powered by compressed air used in construction activities.

Slip Lane

Lane arrangement allowing vehicles to slow down without causing obstruction.

Development Impact Assessment

Evaluate how road or construction projects affect local environment.

Bore Hole

A hole drilled into the ground to sample soil or rock.