Glossary of Structural Engineering Terms

An explanation of some terms used in structural engineering, architecture and construction in the
UK.
Fr.:- French equivalent terms, nouns are m(asculine) or f(eminine).

A B A:
C D
E F Access chamber:
G H
I J
K L Acre:
M N
O P
Q R
S T
U V
W Y Acrow:
top

Underground chamber enabling access to drains or other underground

services.
Unit of land area in the Imperial system; 4840 square yards, or the
equivalent of a rectangular field one chain wide and one furlong long,
approximately 4047 square metres or 0.4047 hectares.

A telescopic prop much used as a temporary support

in construction. Named after the American
manufacturer who first introduced them to the UK.

Additive:

Chemicals added to cement based products (concrete, mortar, render,

screed etc) to impart various desirable properties such as to increase or
reduce curing time, increase strength, enhance workability and so on.
The amount of additives should be watched carefully since in excess
or combination they can have undesirable effects.

Aggregate:

The stones and sand (coarse and fine aggregate respectively) used as a
filler in concrete, asphalt etc.

Air conditioning:

Originally, a system by which fresh air is drawn from outside the

building and brought to an acceptable condition in terms of
temperature and humidity before being introduced into the building.
The name is often also applied to chillers with no air handling, drying
or heating capacity.

Aircrete:

A lightweight aerated cement-based material from which easily

handled high insulating building-blocks are made. (Trade name.)

All-in ballast:

Ballast suitable for making into concrete without the addition of any
other aggregate.

Angle:

Steel angle: a steel section whose cross-section is L-shaped. If the

vertical and horizontal legs of the 'L' are the same length it is called an
equal angle, if different, an unequal or odd leg angle. Angles are also
available in other metals.
An amount of rotation. The measurement of angles using 360 degrees
in a whole circle, with each degree divided into 60 minutes of 60
seconds each, is of very great antiquity, going back to the Babylonians
who used a number system based on 60s rather than tens.

Arch:

A basic form of masonry construction dating back

millenia. Brick arches are found spanning over
window and door openings in Victorian and older
buildings; their disadvantage is that they exert