English Applied to Civil Engineering

8/3/2019 English Applied to Civil Engineering

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ENGLISH APPLIED TO CIVILENGINEERING: VOCABULARY LIST

Word Translation DescriptionSoil Suelo

Dam PresaBarrier built across a river to hold back flowing water.

Used especially to create a reservoir or to produce

electricity.

Irrigation RegadoSewage Alcantarillado Waste matter usually disposed off by drains.Sewer Alcantarilla

Culvert DesageConstruction for the total enclosure of a drain or water

course.

Beam VigaA rigid structural member supported at each end,

designed to resist stress in a structure.

Industrialwaste

Material left over from industrial production.

Strain DeformacinThe change in shape or size of a body through the

action of a force.

Stress TensinThe intensity of force per unit area that develops inside

and on the surface of a body subjected to external

force.

Anneal To make materials tough by cooling them slowly.

AnodizeTo give a metal a protective coat by using it as an

anode in electrolysis.

Electroplate To cover with a thin layer of metal using electrolysis.Forge To shape metals by heating and then hammering.Found To melt a metal and then pour it into a form.Galvanize To protect from rusting by coating in zinc.Grind To polish or sharpen by rubbing on a rough surface.

RollTo make thin sheets of metal by passing it between

large rollers.

Plate To cover a metal with a thin layer of another.Soften To make softer.

TemperTo heat and then cool metals to obtain the required

hardness and elasticity.

Eavesdrop Or a escondidasLeak GotearSuspensionbridge

Puente colgante

DikeMuro de

contencinDique

A wall or embankment of timber, stone, concrete or

other materials built along the banks of a river or along

the coast, to confine flow rigidly within definite limits

over the length treated.

Viaduct Carries a road or railway across water.LockChamber Esclusa

The section of a canal where the water level changes to

raise boats from one level to another.

Well (ormanhole) Pozo

A deep hole in the ground where to get water.

Canal Conducto- Dug underground for roads and railways.

- Conduct for removal of liquids.


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Ditch Canal de drenaje A canal that is level throughout.

Drainage DrenajeThe removal of any liquid by a system designed for the

purpose.

Desalinate Desalar

BulldozerLarge powerful vehicle that uses a large blade to move

earth and rocks.

Dredger (Dragar)Machine or ship used to remove sand and mud from the

bottom of a river or harbour.

Road rollerMachine used for rolling tarmac or asphalt flat on a

road surface.

Macadam Gravilla

UnderdrainDesagesubterrneo

Herb/CurvPiedras derevestimiento

Pothole BacheSewer AlcantarillaSoft shoulder Cuneta

Cantilever Viga voladiza A beam that extends beyond its support.Clapper The tongue or striker of a bell.

Slope PendienteRelation between vertical and horizontal advance.

Measure of the inclination of a line in comparison to

the a fixed line (generally, the horizontal).

Pier MuellePilar

- The support of an arch in the span of a bridge.

- Structure built out into the sea as a promenade.

- A water breaker.

Shovel PalaTo shrink EncogerWire CableSteel Acero

Mould MoldeHollow container into which a substance is poured or

pressed to harden into a required shape. I.e. a structure

or frame to hold concrete.

To bond To join securely to something else.Damp HmedoCoarse Rough or harsh in texture.

AggregateSmall stones, gravels or crushed rocks used as a

building material.

Screeds Capas de mortero

Outward ExteriorUnsightly AntiestticoRusting Oxidacin Deteriorate because of the action of oxygen.Hand tamper Apisonador manual

Slab PlanchaA flat horizontal moulder layer of reinforced concrete

supported by beams.

Bevelled Biselado Having a sloping end.

Trommel PulidoraA flat steel hand tool used in finishing operations to

impart a relatively smooth surface to concrete floors.

Mat/RaftA slab or beam that resists upward soil pressure. The

mat is a single slab which is laid over the entire

foundation bed. Its thickness is important for stability.

Core boring SondeoA small hole drilled through the earth for the purpose

of taking soil samples.

Bearing Supporting a load. If it is not a bearing wall, it can be


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removed without causing damage.

Clay Arcilla

Soil material finer than 0002 mm. It is a fine-textured

sedimentary or residual deposit, which consists of

hydrated aluminium silicates mixed with various

impurities.

Coal Carbn A hard, black mineral which burns and supplies heat.Workable Easy to manipulate.Durable Long-lasting.To grind To break mechanically into small pieces. /ground/Bearingcapacity

Maximum unit pressure that progressive settlement will

handle before failure.

CaissonA box used during underwater construction, into which

water cannot flow (watertight chamber). It is used in

laying foundations of bridges etc. in deep waters.

CastFormed by pouring materials into a mould. Concrete

piles are either precast or cast at the site.

Column Vertical supporting member.To drive into Force into place by blows (golpes). Bore. Operate.

Excavation Removal of earth, or place of removal.

FootingA widening of a foundation or base to spread the

weight over a larger area. A bearing wall is supported

by a continuous footing.

Foundations Cimientos

- Structural elements through which the load of a

structure is transmitted to the earth: a solid ground or

base beneath a structure.

- Lowest part of a structure, usually below ground

levels.

- Material base.

Foundationbed

The stratum of soil upon which the foundation is built.

Every foundation bed will settle somewhat after the

foundation has been built on it.

PileLong piece of wood, steel or concrete driven into the

ground to support a load.

Precast Concrete cast in its final shape before positioning.

Raftfoundation

A continuous slab of concrete, usually reinforced, laid

over soft ground or wherever heavy loads must be

supported to form a foundation.

Stratum A later or bed of rock or earth.Subsoil Layer of soil beneath the surface.

Substratum Layer or earth deep below the surface layers. We usepiles to transfer the weight to a stronger substratum.Freighter Large ship or plane that carries goods.

Seepage FiltracinA quantity of fluid that flows or passes slowly through

fine pores or small openings.

Silt Limo/CienoMaterial of an earthy character intermediate in grain-

size between sand and clay. Usually carried by flowing

water down to the mouth of a river or a harbour.

ThrustTo push something suddenly or violently in a particular

direction.

Spillway AliviaderoA channel or pipe dug round the side of a reservoir or a

dam through which excess water is conducted away.

UpstreamAguas arriba(Contracorriente)

Along a river, in the opposite direction to the way the

water flows.

Downstream Aguas abajo In the direction of flow of a stream.


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Reservoir EmbalseA natural or artificial lake where water is stored in

quantity before it is taken by pipes, when required.

ButtressAbutment

ContrafuerteA supporting pier built on the exterior of a wall so as to

enable it to resist onward thrust.

Thrust Empuje

Gate CompuertaA movable barrier for stopping or regulating the flow

in a channel.

SluiceWater channel equipped with means of controlling the

flow.

Stability The ability of a structure to resist forces.Hydraulic Having to do with liquids in motion.Gravity dam A dam which, by its weight, resists the forces against it.Site engineer Ingeniero de obra

Cofferdam AtaguaCompartimento

A temporary wall serving to exclude water from a site,

usually under water, so as to ease the laying of

foundations or other similar works. It consists of a

watertight enclosure made of piles or steel sheets and

sunk into a water bed. It is pumped dry to work inside.

Gorge Garganta A deep narrow valley with steep sides where a riverpasses.

Hot on theheels of

Pisando los talones

de Very soon after

Resume Curriculum VitaeErode Erosionar Eat awayTrigger Desencadenar Set offPavementwidth

Transverse measurement of the pavement.

Horizontalalignment

Horizontal design of the centre line of a road.

ChannelizationHandrails

QuitamiedosWay of limiting the transversal movement of a vehicle

on a road.

Interchange Cruce Point where two highways cross at different levels.Intersection InterseccinTraffic-operation

System of laws and techniques by which vehicles move

in a network.

Environmentconcern

Interest in the effects of man-made facilities to nature.

Federal aidEconomical aid given by the federal governments in

the USA to states, counties, cities and towns.

Freeway AutopistaHighway with total access control, throughway severallanes in each direction and strict motorway design

elements which assure safe, relaxed and efficient

driving.

Expressway Autopista A motorway without total access control.Arterialhighway

AutovaHighway in good conditions, but of an inferior quality

that freeways.

Access controlControl of the entering and exiting of vehicles into the

pavement.

Sight distance VisibilidadRoad distance that a normal person sees at a moment of

the road ahead.

Grade Longitudinal slope of a road.

SuperelevationTransversal grade given to the pavement where a curve

occurs.

Transition Special curve designed between a straight alignment


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curve and a circular one.

Shoulder ArcnOutside pavement of a road, designed for accidental

parking or emergency stops.

Right-of-way Land affected by the highway. It includes the roadside.

Roadway CalzadaRoadbed plus land affected by culverts, bridge piers

and traffic signs.

RoadsideBorde de la

carreteraPart of the road not included in the roadway.

Median MedianaStrip of land that separates the two directions in a

freeway.

Arch damA dam that curves upstream. It needs a solid rock

foundation and less material for construction that a

gravity dam.

Channel/Flume

Canal A course, open at the top, through which water flows.

Hydraulicjump

A sudden increase in the force exerted by a stream of

water when the water level increases.

HydroelectricHaving to do with the production of electricity by water

power.

Pipeline TuberaA line of pipes for moving fluid from one place to

another. Gas (gasoducto), petrol (oleoducto)

Apron EspignThe protecting slope on the downstream side of a lock

gate or dam provided to withstand the force of falling

water.

Blanket Estrato de unmaterial

A thin widespread geologic deposit.

Boulder Canto rodado

A detached and rounded or much-worn mass of rock

from 8 inches to 10 or more feet in diameter typically

carried some distance from the parent rock by natural

forces and worn by a stream, ocean waves or byweathering in situ.

Breccia ConglomeradoA rock consisting of sharp fragments embedded in a

fine-grained matrix as sand or clay.

Bucket DeflectorA curved surface designed to deflect flowing water

gradually and to prevent erosion (as between the

overflow face and apron of a dam).

Cavitation CavitacinThe sudden development of a gas bubble in the water

as a result of excessive tension.

Chute Trampoln

A quick descent, steep channel, or narrow sloping

passage by which water flows to a lower level.Its the way we call an inclined tube for conducting

ready-mixed concrete deliveries to the point of placing.

CoreNcleo de una

presa.

Watertight wall built within a dam or embankment as

an absolute barrier to the passage of water.

CreepAscensin capilar,

percolacinThe rise of water of a slope or parapet.

Crest Coronacin The top of a slope or parapet.

CurtainPantallaimpermeabilizador

a

A material that serves to waterproof.

Damovertopping

Desbordamiento The flowing over the top of a dam.

Dental worksDado deflector a

pie de presa

Teethlike structures built at the bottom of the plunge

pool to prevent erosion.


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Desilt Filtrar limos To remove suspended silt from the water of a stream.

Embankment TerraplnA retaining wall from the top of which the supported

earth normally rises at a slope

Face Parmetro Each of the surfaces that limit the dam.

Filter Filtro/FiltrarA porous mass that serves as a medium for separating

from a liquid passed through it, matter held in

suspension or dissolved impurities.

Phreatic watersurface Nivel fretico Water level reached in a soil.

Grouting GunitarThe process of injecting a fluid cement to fill crevices

for strengthening purposes.

WatershedCuenca

hidrogrficaSurface that collects water from a dam.

Lining RevestimientoA layer of clay puddle covering the sides of a canal,

making them watertight.

Outlet Canal de desageThe channel through which a stream flows from a

culvert.

Plunge pool

Cubeta de recogida

del agua deltrampoln

A deep hollow constructed to collect falling water from

the chute.

Quarried rock Roca de cantera Large rock or stone dug from an open excavation.River bed Lecho fluvial The channel presently or formerly occupied by a river.Rubble Escombro Rough uncut stones, of no particular size or shape.Spoil tip/Dump Vertedero The heap of accumulate waste materials.

Storage basin PantanoA gently folded structure in which beds dip inwards

from the margin towards the centre.

ToeLnea de base

aguas abajo

The line of contact between the lower of downstream

face and the base of a dam or reservoir.

Trashrack Rejilla filtradoraA frame placed in a stream to stop the passage of fish

and floating matter.

Weir RepresaA dam placed across a river to rise its level in dry

water.

Suspensionbridge

Puente colganteA bridge supported by cables that are usually hung

from towers.

Bascule bridgeA movable bridge with a span that is risen at an angle

by means of a counterweight.

Beam bridgeThe simplest kind of bridge. It consists of a rigid beam

between two supports.

Cantilever

bridgePuente voladizo See Cantilever above.

Concrete archbridge

A bridge with an arch made of reinforced concrete.

Lift bridge Puente levadizoA movable bridge with a span that is raised by

elevators.

Masonry archbridge

Puente de arcos de

mampostera

A bridge of masonry (unequal stones) with arches

between piers.

Steel archbridge

A bridge with an arch made of steel beams.

Swing bridgePivot bridge

A movable bridge that swings open parallel to the

channel.

Anchorage The terminal support, usually a huge block of concrete,for the main cables of a suspension bridge.

Crane Gra A device that moves and lifts heavy weights.Deck The roadway or traffic-bearing surface of a bridge.


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FalseworkThe temporary scaffolding used to support an arch

while it is being constructed.

KeyingExtending the piers of a bridge into bedrock instead of

simply resting them on top of the rock.

Pneumaticcaisson

A cylinder with a cutting edge that can be sunk into the

water bed. Water is forced out by compressed air.

PontoonA floating hollow metal structure supporting a

roadway.

Span The distance between two supports of a bridge.

StayA cable that runs at a diagonal from the main

supporting cable to the deck of a suspension bridge.

Limestone A mineral, chemically calcium hydroxide or carbonate.To size To classify by size.To varyinversely

To increase when another factor decreases, or vice

versa.

Water/cementratio

The weight of the water divided by the weight of the

cement in concrete.

Air-entrained

concreteConcrete injected with small air bubbles.

FormworkTotal system of support for freshly placed concrete

including the mould which contacts the concrete as

well as supporting members.

Void A space in concrete filled with air.

EdgerA finishing tool used on the edges of fresh concrete to

make them round.

Power floatA motor driven revolving disc used in finishing

operations. It smoothes, flattens and compacts the

surface of concrete floors.

To braceTo make something stronger or more solid by

supporting it with something.

ReinforcementBars, wires, strands or other slender members which

are embedded in concrete in such a manner that they

and the concrete act together in resisting forces.

Concretemixer Hormigonera

A machine usually with a rotating drum, in which

aggregates, cement and water are mixed for 2 or 3

minutes to make concrete.

To level To make something flat or smooth.

MasonryBuilding materials suck as rock, brick or tile, often

bound together by mortar or cement.

Pozzolana A natural cement used by Romans.Bitumen A binding agent made from natural tars.

Tar AlquitrnThick black sticky liquid, hard when cold, obtained

from coal and used in making roads.

Tarmac Alquitranado Pista de aterrizaje.Tensilestrength

The ability of a material to retain its strength under

tension.

Fatigue FatigaTendency of a material to weaken as a result of

continual changes in stress.

RivetingProcess of fastening together pieces of metal with

rivers that do not have threads.

Welding Process of fastening together pieces of metal bymelting a bending metal between similar metals.

Polymers PolmerosLong manlike compounds of elements, principally

hydrogen and carbon.


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TrussesDiagonal beams in bridges that extend between the

horizontal and the vertical beams for support.

Steel AceroAn alloy or mixture of iron with a small amount of

carbon or some other substance that increases its

strength.

PortlandCement Cemento Prtland

A mixture of limestone and clay, which is then heated

and ground into a powder.

Concrete A mixture of cement, aggregate, sand and water.Reinforcedconcrete

Concrete with steel rods embedded in it to increase its

tensile strength and resistance to sharing forces.

Bond Union between two materials.

Prestressedconcrete

Concrete in which the steel rods are pulled tight in

advance, before pouring concrete, to give the material

the greatest strength possible.

Grout A thin mortar or cement used as binding agent.

Curtain wallA wall supported by a steel or concrete structure of a

building. A curtain wall does not have any support

function itself, as does a bearing wall.

GRAPHS

Pie chart Line graph Bar chart Flow chart

Increase

Rose

Decrease

Fill

Shoot up

Take off

Plunge

Slump

Fluctuate Recover

Pick up

Level off

Rocket

Remain steady

Stabilize

Peak Bottom out Grow

Expand

Shrink

Decline


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Symbol Translation Symbol Translation There exists Xi X subscript / suffix / sub i

For all ai The sum from I equals 1 to n of ai

P Q P implies Q ||X|| The norm / modulus of XP Q P if and only if Q OA / the vector OAX A X belongs to A OA / the length of the segment OAX B X does not belong to A AT A transpose / the transpose of AA B A is contained / is a subset of B A-1 A inverse / the inverse of AA B A contains B F (x) Fx / F of x /the function F of xA B A cup / join / union B F : S T Function F from S to TA B A cap / meet / intersection B F (x) F prime / dash XA \ B A minus B / the difference F (x) F double-prime / double-dash XA B A cross B / Cartesian product

of A and B

F / X1 Partial derivate of F with respectto X1. Integral from 0 to infinity.

X + 1 X plus 1 Lim (x0) The limit as x approaches zeroX 1 X minus 1 Lim (x0+) from aboveX 1 Lim (x0-) from belowX Y XY / X multiplied by Y Log e Y Logarithm Y to the base e /

X / Y X over Y Ln Y Logarithm to the base e of YX = 1 X equals / is equal to 1 + Addition, to add to

@ At - Subtraction, to subtract from0 Zero / nought Multiplication, to multiply by

X Y X is equivalent to Y Division, to divide byX Y X is not equivalent to Y AB = E A times B equals E

X > Y X is greater than Y ( ) ParenthesisX Y X greater than or equal to Y [ ] Square bracketsX Y X is less than or equal to Y | Vertical

0 < X < 1 0 is less than X is less than 1 Horizontal |X | Mood / modulus X = 45 45 degree angleX2 X squared / raised to power 2 < 90 Acute angleX3 X cubed / raised to the power 3 > 90 Obtuse angleX4 X to the fourth > 180 Reflex angleX-n X to the power minus n = 90 Right angle (to be at) X Square root X / Diagonal

( X + Y ) 2 X plus Y all squared Perpendicular to( X / Y ) 2 X over Y all squared // Parallel

N! N factorial Intersecting linesX hat < Bisector

X bar / tilde Perpendicular bisector

MBA Master in Business AdministrationB.Sc Bachelor of ScienceB.A Bachelor of ArtsEng EngineerMA Master of ArtsMS Master of SciencePhD Philosophy DoctorInternship Beca dentro de una empresa.


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Scolarship Beca para estudiar.

PARTS OF A DAM

PARTS OF A BRIDGE


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Documents

English Applied to Civil Engineering