Table Of ContentDICTIONARY OF
CIVIL ENGINEERING
DICTIONARY OF
CIVIL ENGINEERING
English–French
Jean-Paul Kurtz
KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS
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PREFACE
I am pleased to present a work which marks a milestone in the history of public works
and, more precisely, in that of permanent structures—a comprehensive dictionary of Civil
Engineering terms.
Since the beginning of time, Man has always tried to find a means to clear the
obstacles which nature erected to displace him. With the first tree trunk thrown across a
river, man sought to improve the crossing structure. After the invention of the wheel, and to
satisfy his thirst for conquest (Roman ways), and comfort (aqueducts), man built bridges
that became a preremptory necessity to movequickly.
Thus, Man started to build wooden and masonry works. With the passing centuries,
the builders became masters in the art of building masonry works. Then came the Industrial
Revolution and the advent of the steel (1864), which was closely followed by the invention
of the reinforced concrete (1855).
The need for railways and improving the road network inspired great works of
crossing such as viaducts and tunnels. The boom of the railway network and the
development of the car required the construction of an increasing number of new
structures. This phenomenon continues today with hundreds of structures built each year
throughout the world.
Today, a multitude of technicians in various trade associations are involved in the
sphere of influence in Civil Engineering and know how difficult it is to speak the same true
language. Also, as techniques evolve, new terms appear and further complicate the
language. It thus proved essential to index and codify the various technical terms and for
this reason I undertook the compilation of this dictionary.
Jean-Paul Kurtz
V
ABILITY
AASHTO
Capacité
Various
Strength of Materials
American Association of State Highway and
TransportationOfficials. The intrinsic characteristic of a material to
respond to external stresses (e.g., absorption
ability, deformation ability).
ABACUS
Abaque
ABILITY BENDINGTEST
Architecture
Essai d’aptitude au pliage
A parallelepiped crowning a column, a pilaster or
Metallography
a capital. When this crowning is decorated with
A test to check the ability of steel to undergo
moldings, it is called raised table. See Figure1
bending stresses without significant degradations
of its internal structure.
ABIETO-
A test bar positioned on two parallel supports is
Abiéto-
bent by a round punch pressed in the centre of
Materials
the bar. No cracks must appear either on the
A prefix indicating abietic-acid-based products,
edge or convex faces of the fold in the bar.
the principal component of rosin. Several abietic
resins are used in the paint industry:
ABLATION
abietoformophenolic resins (les résines
Ablation
abiétoformophénoliques);
Geomorphology
abietoalkyd resins (les résines
1. Loss of mineral matter of a rock due to
abiétoglycérophtaliques); erosion.
abietomaleic resins (les résines 2. The eroding of a river bed due to the
abiétomaléiques).
combined abrasive action of water and
waterborne materials in it.
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Dictionary of Civil Engineering
ABNORMAL COLORING cables are, relative to others, lower than their
Coloration anormale theoretical position resulting for a horizontal
Defects (Building Materials) layer, in an apparent warp. Usually, this defect
A color modification in wood that indicates a resultsfrom a:
change of its chemical composition and, thus of partial or total destressing of one or more
its properties. This defect can make the wood cables;
unsuitable for some uses. Syn. with differential creep between the cables due to
ABNORMAL TINTING their different ages and constitution.
ABNORMAL CONTACTS ABORTIVE HEAD (of rivet)
Contacts anormaux Tête avortée
Defects (Civil Engineering Structure) Defects (Metal Construction)
In suspension or guy bridges, parasitic contacts The second head of a rivet that has been
between the mechanically independent parts that incompletely formed because the horizontal base
are due to a bad design or bad adjustment of the was not in contact with the metal sheet. See
suspension. These contacts can occur between Figure 2
cables or distinct layers or with a part of the
structure, such as: abutment,deck, parapet, etc. ABRADE
Egréser; Abraser
ABNORMAL PERMANENT SAG Masonry
Flèche permanente anormale Syn. with GRIND (THE STONE)
Defects (Construction)
The abnormal sag of a portion or a complete ABRAMS’ SLUMP TEST
span in the absence or presence of any accidental Essai d’affaissement au cône d’Abrams
overload on the entire work. The abnormal sag Test of Materials (Concrete)
can be stable or evolutionary and can result from: A test carriedoutonconcretingbuilding sites to
a geometrical error during construction; check the rheology of the fresh concrete and
an increase of the permanent load, or a occasionally, of mortar. It consists in measuring
diminishing of the bearing capacity of the the subsidence of a truncated cone of fresh
structure; concrete after demolding. Syn. with SLUMP
an accidental loading on a portion of the TEST
structure.
ABRASIMETER
ABNORMAL TINTING Abrasimètre
Coloration anormale Equipment for Measure and Control
Defects (Building Materials) An instrument for measuring material resistance
Syn. with ABNORMAL COLORING to abrasion.
ABNORMAL TWIST (or WARP) OF A ABRASIN
SUSPENSION BRIDGE DECK Abrasin
Déversanormal d’un tablier de pont suspendu Building Materials
Defects (Civil Engineering Structure) A tree from which a drying oil is drawn, used in
The abnormal slope of the cross section of the the preparation of mastic to varnish wood and to
deck that can be due to the: make some oil varnishes. Syn. with TUNG
differential deformation between two layers of TREE
cables;
slipping of the cable suspension. ABRASION
Abrasion
ABNORMAL WARP OF A CABLE LAYER Defects
Dévers anormal d’une nappe 1. A wearing phenomenon that generates a loss
Defects (Construction of P.C.) of metal mass due to mechanical action of an
A defect in suspension bridges in which some externalbody.
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Dictionary of Civil Engineering
2. The deterioration of stones or bricks due to ABSENCE OF BOND
matter removal on the surface by solid bodies Absenced’élément d’appareil
carried by water or air. Abrasion can be Defects (Construction)
superficial or deep. A cavity or gap in parts of a structure or
masonry. (Example: absence of an archstone in a
ABRASION RESISTANCE stringcourse; appearance of a cavity in an
Résistance à l’abrasion abutment following undermining).
Building Materials
ABSENCE OF PLAY AT THE BUTTS
The resistance in a material that opposes surface
Absence de jeu aux abouts
wearing generated by the action, intentional or
Defects (Metal Construction)
not, of another material or fluid.
A defect of metal decks in which the deck cannot
be bent (out of shape) or expand freely to their
ABRASION RESISTANCE TEST ends. Results from insufficient free space
Essai Deval between end and obstacle, due to bad design
Test of Materials (Building Materials)
(insufficient space at the beginning), the
Syn. with DEVAL TEST
presence of foreign bodies in an initially
sufficient space, bearing displacement, etc.
ABRASIVE
Abrasif ABSOLUTE DENSITY
Materials Masse spécifique absolue
A relatively hard product used to sharpen, Geotechnics
machine-finish or polish materials that are softer The specific volume of the particles of a portion
than it. Also used for scouring under pressure of ground that is assumed to be without voids; it
metal surfaces for painting or metallizing later. is called
Abrasives can be:
natural (les abrasifs naturels), such as ABSOLUTE POROSITY OF STONE
diamond, corundum, emery, quartz sand, Porosité absolue d’une pierre
sandstone and pumice stone; Building Materials
artificial (les abrasifs artificiels), such as The ratio of the volume of the voids to the total
silicon carbide, synthetic diamond, artificial apparent volume of the stone, the void including
corundum, boron carbide and artificial aluminum the volume occupied by both imbibition and
oxide. hygrometric water (excluding combination
Syn. with ABRADANT; GRIT water).
ABRASIVE WHEEL ABSOLUTE SOIL COMPACTNESS
Meule Compacité absolue d’un sol
Equipment and Tools Geotechnics
Syn. with GRINDSTONE; GRINDWHEEL Measurement of the average soil particle density.
ABSCESS ABSORBED (SOIL) WATER
Abcès Eau absorbée
Defects (Building Materials) Geohydrology
An excrescence of the wood due to affluence of Thin fluid film (< 0.1 m) intermediate between
sap and, sometimes, insect stings. interstitial water and combined water
surrounding solid grains of the ground by
molecular attraction.
ABSENCE OF BEARING DEVICE
Absence de dispositif d’appui
ABSORBENT
Defects (Construction)
Hydrophile
A design defectwhich allows a deck or floor to
Building Materials
rest directly on masonry or concrete.
Of a material that likes water.
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Dictionary of Civil Engineering
ABSORPTION COEFFICIENT OF BRICK generally a front wall and lateral walls called
Coefficient d’absorption d’eau d’une brique wing walls or return walls according to their
Test of Materials (Building Materials) location. Syn. with ABUTMENT WALL See
Syn. with ABSORPTION RATE Figure 3 to 5
ABSORPTIONRATE ABUTMENT
Coefficient d’absorption d’eau d’une brique ; Pied; Piédroit
Coefficient de capillarité Construction
Test of Materials (Building Materials) 1. A vertical construction that supports a vault.
1. The ratio calculated from a formula using the 2. A vertical or slightly sloping wall of a pier or
mass of water absorbed after immersion, the area an abutment of: tunnel, underground passage,
of the immersed face and the time of immersion. subway.
(Note that the absorption rate by capillary rise is
completely different from the porosity index.) ABUTMENT PIER
Syn. with ABSORPTION COEFFICIENT OF Arc-boutant
BRICK Construction
2. Syn. with CAPILLARY FACTOR A half-arch-shaped pillar for staying a wall or a
vault in order to reinforce it. Syn. with ARCHED
ABSORPTIVE POWER BUTTRESS; FLYING BUTTRESS
Absorptivité
Building Materials ABUTMENT PIER
Syn. with ABSORPTIVITY Pile-culée
Construction
ABSORPTIVITY 1. A pier placed between two unequal arches or
Absortivité between a masonry arch and a metal span.
Building Materials 2. In a viaduct with equal arches, a pier that
The imbibition ability of somebodies. Syn. with shows an allowance compared with the others
ABSORPTIVE POWER (one on four or five) and that is butressed on the
lateral part. This type of construction limits the
ABUT destruction of the work in case an arch breaks.
Abuter See Figure 6
Construction 3. A construction intended to resist a strongly
To join or place exactly side by side two parts. inclined force.
Syn. with SCARF
ABUTMENT WALL
ABUTMENT Culée
Culée; Boutée Construction
Construction Syn. with ABUTMENT (first entry)
The end bearing of a deck, a vault, a beam or an
arch. ABYSSINIAN WELL
Abutments are highly important parts of a bridge Puits abyssinien
and must be studied carefully, since their Foundation
morphologies quite different.. A bridge can The ancestor of the wellpoint. A pointed tube
comprise arches, vaults, or decks, and the with regularly spaced perforations, through
abutment supports these structures and connects which water gets in the tube, is driven into the
the bridge to the natural rock by supporting ground. Water is then extracted from it by
generally speaking, the earth pressure. In the pumping.
case of arches or vaults, the abutment supports
the pressure of these structures. Abutments can ACACIA
be built of masonry, concrete, reinforced Acacia
concrete, possibly prestressed concrete, and even Building Materials
in curtains of sheet piles. Abutments comprise A leafy tree which is either:
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Dictionary of Civil Engineering
true acacia (l’acacia véritable), which gives ACCEPTANCE
hard wood which can be used in carpentry; or Réception
false acacia or Robinia (le faux acacia ou Civil Engineering Structure
Robinier), which gives greenish yellow wood of Written indication by which the owner accepts a
good quality, hard and elastic, and splits easily in building or structure, thus agreeing that all
a green state and is not subject to vermiculation. design specifications have been met. Acceptance
Acacia has a density from 0.61 and 0.72. It is:
consumes much water. It is planted in unstable provisional (la réception provisoire), i.e., a
slopes to retain soil and to absorb surplus water. preliminary examination of the work is
conducted and all repairs and defects for which
ACCELERATING ADMIXTURE the contractor is obliged to perform are listed; or
Accélérateur de prise final (la réception définitive), i.e., the official
Hydraulic Binders report established between all parties involved,
Syn. with ACCELERATOR; SETTING stating that repairs noted during provisional
AGENT acceptance were carried out and the final
payment can be made.
ACCELERATOR
Activeur; Accélérateur de prise; Durcisseur ACCEPTANCE TEST
Materials; Hydraulic Binders; Polymers Essai ou épreuve de réception; Essai de
1. Substance mixed with a catalyst and added to recette ou contrôle de qualité
concrete, cement, etc. to speed up its setting Materials Test
time. 1. A test to check conformity between design
2. Syn. with ACCELERATING ADMIXTURE ; specifications and the performance of the
SETTING AGENT structure, to determine its acceptability.
3. Syn. with POLYMERIZING AGENT 2. Syn. with QUALITY CONTROL
ACCESS PLATFORM WITH TRUCK
ACCELEROMETER
Accéléromètre ELEVATING PLATFORM
Plate-forme élévatrice
Equipment for Measure and Control
Equipment and Tools
A recording device to measure acceleration and
Syn. withELEVATINGPLATFORM
shocks and vibrations generated by shot-firings.
This device converts mechanical motion into an
ACCESS RAMP
electrical signal that is proportional to the
acceleration. Rampe d’accès
Constructions Nomenclature
A sloping way giving access to a structure, a
ACCENT
quay or from one level to another.
Rechampir
Painting
ACCESS VIADUCT
1. To apply paint on a dry film, with no risk of
Viaduc d’accès
moistening or bleeding.
Engineering Structure
2. To apply a second paint coat on one that is
Series of arches which replace an embankment
already dry but of different color so as to set off
near a work crossing a main river. Also called a
the tone and to develop certain parts or details.
bridge.
The connection of both tones must be linearly
perfect and must be in the full substrate (plane or
ACCOMMODATION
curve surface) or in an internal angle. Tone
Accommodation
connection on a salient angle is not considered
Strength of Materials
accenting.
The stabilization of the remanent elongation of a
metal after a number of loading and unloading
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