Structural Engineering

With some resilience and toughness, you won't crack under the strain of learning these structural engineering terms. Think like an architect and learn about building materials and structural elements, stress and tension, compression and deformation, and more.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. alloy
    a mixture containing two or more metallic elements
  2. aluminum
    a silvery, flexible, metallic element
  3. arch
    a curved masonry construction for spanning an opening
  4. architect
    someone who creates plans to be used in making something
  5. beam
    a long thick piece of material used in construction
  6. cantilever
    a projecting horizontal beam fixed at one end only
  7. cast iron
    an alloy of iron containing so much carbon that it is brittle and so cannot be wrought but must be shaped by casting
  8. catenary
    the curve theoretically assumed by a perfectly flexible and inextensible cord of uniform density and cross section hanging freely from two fixed points
  9. column
    a tall vertical cylindrical structure standing upright
  10. composite
    consisting of separate interconnected parts
  11. compression
    an increase in the density of something
  12. concrete
    a strong hard building material made with gravel and cement
  13. contractor
    someone who is hired to build things
  14. deformation
    alteration in the shape or dimensions of an object as a result of the application of stress to it
  15. dome
    a hemispherical roof
  16. elongation
    the act of lengthening something
  17. factor of safety
    the ratio of the breaking stress of a structure to the estimated maximum stress in ordinary use
  18. fatigue
    a weakened state caused by long stress on a material
  19. geodesic dome
    a lightweight dome constructed of interlocking polygons
  20. girder
    a beam used as a main support in a structure
  21. gusset
    a metal plate used to strengthen a joist
  22. lamina
    a thin plate or layer (especially of bone or mineral)
  23. load
    weight to be borne or conveyed
  24. load-bearing
    capable of bearing a structural load
  25. masonry
    structure built of stone or brick
  26. modulus of elasticity
    (physics) the ratio of the applied stress to the change in shape of an elastic body
  27. plate
    structural member consisting of a horizontal beam that provides bearing and anchorage
  28. plywood
    a laminate made of thin layers of wood
  29. reinforced concrete
    concrete with metal and/or mesh added to provide extra support against stresses
  30. reliability
    the quality of being dependable
  31. resilience
    ability of a material to return to its original shape
  32. shell
    a metal sheathing of uniform thickness
  33. slab
    block consisting of a thick piece of something
  34. spire
    a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building
  35. stable
    resistant to change of position or condition
  36. stainless steel
    steel containing chromium that makes it resistant to corrosion
  37. story
    a part of a building with rooms on the same level
  38. strain
    deformation of a body under the action of applied forces
  39. stress
    (physics) force that produces strain on a physical body
  40. strut
    brace consisting of a bar or rod used to resist compression
  41. tension
    a stress that produces an elongation of a physical body
  42. tie
    a horizontal beam to prevent structural members from spreading
  43. timber
    the wood of trees prepared for use as building material
  44. toughness
    the elasticity and hardness of a metal object
  45. truss
    a rigid framework of beams that supports a structure
  46. variance
    the quality of being subject to change
  47. wrought iron
    iron having a low carbon content that is tough and malleable and so can be forged and welded
Created on Wed Mar 01 19:47:18 EST 2017 (updated Fri Apr 07 11:20:12 EDT 2017)

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