Structural Engineering and Construction Statics

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to Structural Engineering and Construction Statics.

Structural Engineering

A branch of engineering that focuses on the framework and integrity of structures.

Statics

The branch of mechanics that studies the effects and distribution of forces on rigid bodies that are at rest.

Friction

A contact resistance by one body when a second body moves or tends to move past it.

Strain energy

Energy stored in a material due to its deformation.

Modulus of Toughness

Indicates the maximum amount of strain-energy a material can absorb just before it fractures.

Modulus of Resilience

Represents the largest amount of internal strain energy per unit volume that a material can absorb without permanent damage.

Elasticity

Property of a material that enables it to return to its original dimensions when the load is removed.

Ductility

Ability of a material to deform in the plastic range without breaking.

Stiffness

Ability to resist deformation within the linear range.

Toughness

Material’s resistance to fracture.

Hardness

Material’s resistance to indentation.

Creep

Time dependent permanent deformation of a material when subjected to a constant load over time.

Fatigue

The breakdown of a material structure due to repeated cycles of stress or strain.

Buckling

Lateral deflection that occurs when long slender members are subjected to an axial compressive force.

Yielding

A slight increase in stress above the elastic limit that results in permanent deformation of the material.

Ductile Material

Materials that can be subjected to large strains before fracturing.

Brittle Material

Materials that exhibit little or no yielding before failure.

Homogeneous Material

Material with the same physical and mechanical properties throughout its volume.

Isotropic Material

Material with the same physical and mechanical properties in all directions.

Orthotropic Material

Material with properties that differ along three mutually orthogonal axes.

Elastic limit

The greatest stress a material can develop without permanent elongation when unloaded.

Plasticity

Condition where a material continues to deform under load even after permanent deformation has occurred.

Poisson's Ratio

Ratio of lateral strain to axial strain for unrestrained materials.

Ultimate Stress

The maximum stress a material is capable of developing.

Young's Modulus

Constant of proportionality that defines the linear relationship between stress and strain.

Water-Cement Ratio

Significantly influences the quality and strength of concrete.