Feel behind on all the construction terms you come across? Here’s a refresher to help you understand the words we throw around!
- Tieback Anchors: Typically used in Bridge Abutments and Retaining walls, tieback anchors are pile-like anchors installed at 15-45 degrees and use tension strength and skin friction to resist lateral loads from the Earth.
- Flowable Fill: A type of low strength material that is self compacting. It does not have nearly as much compressive strength as concrete, so it is typically used for encasement of utilities and other non-structural purposes.
- Grout: A mixture of water, cement, and sand with a wide range of purposes. Used for embedding rebar in masonry walls, connecting sections of pre cast concrete, filling voids, sealing joints, securing tieback anchors, etc.
- Bridge Bearing: Structural Equipment or devices installed between the bridge superstructure and substructure to transfer the applied loads from the superstructure to the supports. Bridge Bearings also allow for relative movements between superstructure and substructure.
- Superstructure: Structural parts of a bridge that provide the horizontal span.
- Substructure: Structural parts of a bridge that provide the vertical supports and transfers applied loads into the ground.
- Expansion Plate: mid structure separation designed to relieve stress on building materials caused by building movement due to seismic events, wind, deflection. Aka: movement joint
- Construction Joint: The interface between concrete placements intentionally created to facilitate construction.
- Seal Joint: Allow concrete to expand and contract with changes in temperature. The sealant will move with the concrete or asphalt and will provide a constant seal against the elements.
- Dewatering: The process of removing excess water from saturated soils to facilitate the excavation process and create safe working materials.
- Request for Information (RFI): A formal written process undertaken during a construction project to clarify information like plans, drawings, specifications, and agreements.
- Design-Build Construction: A construction method that attempts to speed the process up by designing the project as it goes along. Structural decisions and plans are made as the project drags on.
- Anchor Bolt: designed to attach structural elements to concrete. Typically attach steel to concrete.
- Dowel Bar Retrofit: A method of reinforcing cracks in highway pavement by inserting steel dowel bars in slots cut across the cracks.
- Dowel Bar: Small steel bars used to produce a mechanical connection between concrete slabs without restricting horizontal joint movement. Also play a role in tensile load management.
- Abutment: The Bridge Supports that are located at the exterior of the bridge.
- Pier: The bridge supports located in between the abutments.
- Castellated Beam: An I beam that is cut horizontally through the webbing and shifted to produce a beam that has a deeper web for more strength without adding extra material.
- Gusset Plate: A plate for connecting beams and columns.
- Cross Laminated Timber (CLT): A structural type of wood that is made by layering timber and laminating it. It is very light and very strong.
- Caulking: A smooth, rubbery type of material used to seal gaps in a joint
- Warping: a distortion of material, usually caused by moisture
- Aggregate: A particular material made up of sand or crushed stone. Used in concrete and other mixtures.
- Backfilling: Refilling trenches created during excavation.
- BIM (Building Information Modeling): A computer model of a building including all details of a project.
- Egress: A way of exiting the structure.
- Lath: a metal wire on the frame of the building that serves as a base for laying down stucco or plaster.