Reinforced Concrete, Plain Concrete, Glass, and Hardware Reviewer

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering reinforced and plain concrete principles, foundation systems, floor systems, beam types, mix proportions, glass types, and construction hardware from Building Technology I.

Plain / Mass Concrete

A stone-like mass formed by hydration of cement, water, fine aggregates (sand), and coarse aggregates (gravel) without embedded steel reinforcement.

Reinforced Concrete (RC)

Concrete poured with embedded steel reinforcement to increase tensile strength.

Combined Footing

A shallow foundation type designed to support columns located near property lines.

Mat / Raft Foundation

A shallow foundation system that covers a large continuous area to reduce differential settlement.

Caisson

A deep foundation element consisting of a bored shaft filled with concrete; also referred to as a drilled pier.

Spiral Column

A reinforced concrete column containing longitudinal vertical bars bound together by continuous spiral hooping.

Composite Column

A structural column featuring structural steel embedded inside concrete.

Lally Column

A structural column made of a steel pipe filled with concrete grout.

Dowel Bars

Bars that transfer stress from columns to footings, requiring at least $1$ bar per vertical column bar and an embedment of $40\text{--}50$ bar diameters.

One-Way Slab

A reinforced concrete floor slab reinforced primarily in one direction and supported by parallel beams.

Ribbed Slab (Joist Slab)

An economical floor system for medium spans constructed using hollow blocks made of tile, metal, or gypsum.

Waffle Slab

A two-way reinforced concrete floor system with a ribbed pattern suitable for longer spans and heavy loads.

Flat Plate

A floor slab of uniform thickness supported directly by columns without beams; commonly used in apartments and hotels.

Flat Slab

A flat plate concrete floor slab that incorporates thickened zones at the column supports called drop panels.

Inflection Point

The point along a structural concrete beam where the bending moment changes sign.

Stirrups

U- or W-shaped reinforcing steel bars placed in beams to resist diagonal tension (shear).

Pre-Tensioned Concrete

A pre-stressing method where steel tendons are tensioned before the concrete is placed.

Post-Tensioned Concrete

A pre-stressing method where steel tendons are stressed and anchored after the concrete hardens.

Fine Aggregates

Sand or screenings with particle diameters measuring less than $6\,\text{mm}$.

Coarse Aggregates

Gravel or crushed rock with particle diameters measuring greater than $6\,\text{mm}$.

Slump Test

A standardized test used to determine the fluidity and workability of freshly mixed concrete.

Class AA Concrete Mix

A concrete volumetric ratio of $1 : 1.5 : 3$ (cement : sand : gravel) used for retaining walls and underwater construction.

Class A Concrete Mix

A concrete volumetric ratio of $1 : 2 : 4$ (cement : sand : gravel) specified for slabs, beams, and columns.

Class B Concrete Mix

A concrete volumetric ratio of $1 : 2.5 : 5$ (cement : sand : gravel) used for footings and thick walls.

Class C Concrete Mix

A concrete volumetric ratio of $1 : 3 : 6$ (cement : sand : gravel) used for plant boxes and simple concrete work.

Class D Concrete Mix

A concrete volumetric ratio of $1 : 3.5 : 7$ (cement : sand : gravel) specified for mass concrete placement.

Concrete Curing

The process of protecting freshly placed concrete for at least $7\,\text{days}$ to promote hydration; allows concrete to attain approximately $60\%$ of its strength at $28\,\text{days}$ and $80\%$ at $3\,\text{months}$.

Accelerators

Admixtures such as calcium chloride ($\text{CaCl}_2$) that accelerate the setting time and early strength development of concrete.

Retarders

Admixtures added to concrete to slow the rate of hydration, particularly beneficial during hot weather placements.

Air-Entraining Agents

Admixtures that introduce microscopic air bubbles into concrete to improve resistance to freeze-thaw cycles.

Counterfort Retaining Wall

A reinforced concrete retaining wall supported by triangular cross-walls (counterforts) placed at regular intervals along its stem.

Float Glass

The most widely used flat glass, manufactured by floating molten glass over a molten tin bath to achieve high clarity and uniform flatness.

Annealed Glass

Standard glass that has undergone controlled slow cooling during manufacturing to relieve internal stresses.

Heat-Strengthened Glass

Partially tempered flat glass engineered to be approximately twice as strong as annealed glass.

Tempered Glass

Glass rapidly cooled during processing that fractures into small, blunt, relatively harmless granular pieces upon failure.

Laminated Glass

Safety and security glass constructed by bonding two or more glass sheets with a resin interlayer that holds shattered pieces in place upon impact.

Wired Glass

Glass incorporating an embedded wire mesh inside the sheet, providing an established fire-rating.

Spandrel Glass

Opaque architectural glass designed to conceal mechanical systems, slab edges, and structural framing between floor levels.

Low-E Glass (Low-Emissivity Glass)

A coated architectural glass formulated to reflect radiant heat energy while allowing visible light transmission.

Double-Headed Nails

Specialty nails featuring two distinct heads, specifically designed for easy extraction from temporary structures or concrete formwork.

Carriage Bolts

Fasteners featuring a domed head and a square neck underneath, intended for use where access to the bolt head is restricted.

Expansion Bolts

Anchoring hardware featuring split sleeves that expand against the internal walls of a pre-drilled hole as the fastener is tightened.

Toggle Bolts

Hollow-wall fasteners fitted with spring-loaded folding wings that pivot outward once inserted behind the wall face.