CEA Lesson 3-2 Part 1 Key Terms

CEA

Allowable Strength

Nominal strength divided by the safety factor.

(ASD) Allowable Strength Design

A method of designing structural elements such that the allowable strength is greater than or equal to the strength necessary to support the required load combinations.

Axial Force

A force that acts along the longitudinal axis of a structural member. Axial tension causes elongation of the member. Axial compression causes shortening of the member.

Beam

A structural member, usually horizontal, that carries a load that is applied transverse to its length.

Beam Analysis

The use of physical laws and mathematics to compute internal forces, stresses, and deformations.

Caisson

A long cylindrical reinforced concrete foundation element formed by drilling into firm soil and pouring concrete into the hole.

Column

An upright structural member acting primarily in compression.

Continuous Beam

A single beam that is supported by more than two supports such that it has at least two distinct spans.

Dead Load

The weight of the building or building components.

Deep Foundation

A foundation that transfers building loads into the earth well below the building structure.

Deflection

The distance a beam or structure deforms under loading, typically due to bending in a beam.

Deformation

A change in the shape of a structure or structural member caused by a load or force acting on the structure.

Design Load

The applied load determined by the required load combinations.

Equilibrium

The state of a body such that the sum of all the external forces acting on the body equals zero and the sum of all external moments acting on the body equals zero.

Fixed Support

A support condition in which translation of a structural member is restricted in two perpendicular directions and rotation is restricted.

Footing

The lowest, widest part of the foundation that distributes the load over a broad area of the soil.

Force

An agent that causes stress in an object.

Foundation

The lower part of a building, which transfers structural loads from the building to the soil.

Free-body Diagram

A diagram used to isolate a body from its environment, showing all external constraints and forces acting upon it and all geometric measurements necessary to model the body.

Girder

A horizontal beam that supports other beams; a very large beam, especially one that is built up from other sections.

Grade Beam

A reinforced concrete beam that transmits the load from a bearing wall into a spaced foundation such as pile caps or caissons.

Internal Force

A force that is internal to structural elements and is needed to determine the material stress and strain.

Kip

A unit of weight equal to 1000 pounds.

Lateral Load

A force acting generally in a horizontal direction, such as wind, earthquake, and soil pressure against a structure.

Live Load

The weight of movable objects such as people, furnishings, machines, vehicles, and goods in or on a building.

Load

Forces or other actions that result from the weight of building materials, occupants and their possessions, and environmental effects.

Load Path

A continuous system of structural elements that transfer an applied load to the supporting soil.

Mat (Raft) Foundation

A single concrete footing that is essentially equal in area to the area of ground covered by the supported structure.