PSAD

Definition of Terms

Objective Test Questions:

1.) The ability of the material to deform under tensile 10.) Besides the epicenter, it describes the location of
stress. an earthquake.

a. malleability c. toughness a. geologic formation c. fault line

b. ductility d. resilience b. focal depth d. dip angle

2.) The ability of a material to absorb energy when it is 11.) It is measured by a seismometer.
deformed elastically and release that energy upon
loading. a. reference points
b. attenuation
a. toughness c. elasticity c. components of ground motion
b. stiffness d. resilience d. actual displacements

3.) The ability of a material to absorb energy and 12.) It is measured by Richter’s scale.
plastically deform without fracturing.
a. ground acceleration
a. resilience c. toughness b. intensity of observed effects
b. stiffness d. elasticity c. magnitude of an earthquake
d. period of an earthquake
4.) When a material is subjected to repeated cycle of
stress or strain, what cause its structure to breakdown 13.) The material has the same composition at every
ultimately leading to fracture? point but the elastic may not be the same in all
directions.
a. creep c. fatigue
b. plasticity d. yielding a. isotropic c. homogenous
b. orthotropic d. prismatic
5.) When a material has to support a load for a long
period of time, what causes it to continue to deform 14.) The composite material exhibits elastic properties
until a sudden fracture occurs? in one direction different from that in the
perpendicular direction.
a. plasticity c. creep
b. fatigue d. yielding a. isotropic c. prismatic
b. homogenous d. orthotropic
6.) In what condition is a material when it breaks
down and deforms permanently even due to a slight 15.) The material has the same elastic properties in all
increase in stress above the elastic limit? directions.

a. plasticity c. yielding a. prismatic c. orthotropic

b. fatigue d. creep b. isotropic d. homogenous

7.) It occurs when a building period coincides with the 16.) The material returns to its original shape when
earthquake period. the load is removed.

a. accidental eccentricity a. buckling c. plasticity

b. resonance b. elasticity d. resilience
c. torsional shear stress
d. out of plane offset 17.) The material deforms considerably even with a
slight increase in stress.
8.) It refers to the displacement of one level relative to
the level above or below. a. yielding c. strain hardening
b. fracture d. breaking
a. eccentricity
c. story drift 18.) The material undergoes changes in its structure
b. spring constant resulting in increased resistance to further
d. lateral displacement deformation.

9.) It occurs when the structure’s center of mass does a. yielding c. breaking
not coincide with its center of rigidity. b. strain hardening d. fracture

a. out of plane offset

b. story drift
c. torsional shear stress
d. re-entrant corners

Engineers Esplana, Realuyo and Co.

Compiled by Engr. Kenneth Mina, CE, SO2 Page 1 of 7
 PSAD
Definition of Terms

19.) Stressing high strength steel wires before the 26.) In this point in bolted connections, the shear
concrete hardens. stress due to moment alone is equal in magnitude and
opposite the direction of the shear stress due to force
a. post tensioning alone.
b. creep
c. pre-tensioning a. geometric center
d. relaxation b. plastic center
c. instantaneous center
20.) Stressing high strength steel after the concrete has d. eccentricity
been cast and has attained sufficient strength.
27.) The ratio of the stress of an elastic material to the
a. pre-tensioning strain.
b. relaxation
c. creep a. modulus of elasticity
d. post tensioning b. bulk modulus
c. plasticity
21.) Loss of stress that takes place with the passage of d. modulus of rigidity
time as concrete is held at a constant strain.
28.) The ratio of the lateral strain to that of the linear
a. pre-tensioning strain is known as
b. post tensioning
c. relaxation a. modular ratio
d creep b. Poisson’s ratio
c. stress-strain ratio
22.) Branch of mechanics which studies the effects and d. strain ratio
distribution of forces of rigid bodies which are and
remain at rest. 29.) The maximum amount of strain energy that can
be stored in a certain material without causing a
a. statics c. dynamics permanent set is known as
b. force d. mass
a. modulus of resilience
23.) This principle states that the external effect of a b. modulus of roughness
force on a rigid body is the same for all points of c. modulus of elasticity
application along its line of action. d. modulus of rigidity

a. principle of moments 30.) A localized buckling type of a failure of the web of

b. principle of transmissibility a steel beam or girder usually resulting from a
c. equilibrium concentrated load at that point is known as
d. friction
a. web crippling
24.) The “Slenderness Ratio” of the column is generally b. web buckling
defined as the ratio of its: c. lateral buckling
d. web shear
a. length to its minimum width
b. unsupported length to its maximum radius of
gyration
c. length to its moment inertia
d. unsupported length to its minimum radius of
gyration

25.) It is the point in the cross-section of the beam

through which the plane of the transverse bending
loads must pass so that the beam will bend without
twisting.

a. center of gravity
b. neutral axis
c. shear center
d. point of inflection

Engineers Esplana, Realuyo and Co.

Compiled by Engr. Kenneth Mina, CE, SO2 Page 2 of 7

NATIONAL STRUCTURAL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
(2015)
TERMINOLOGIES:
APPROVAL - shall mean that the proposed work or
completed work conforms to this code in the opinion
of the Building Official.
BEDROCK - is in-place solid or altered rock.
BORROW - is earth material acquired from an off-site
location for use in grading on a site.
BUILDING - is any structure usually enclosed by walls
and a roof, constructed to provide support or shelter
for an intended use or occupancy.
BUILDING OFFICIAL - is the officer or other
designated authority charged with the administration
and enforcement of this code, or the Building Official’s
duly authorized representative.
CIVIL ENGINEER - is a professional engineer licensed
to practice in the field of civil engineering.
OCCUPANCY - is the purpose for which a building or
other structures or part thereof, is used or intended to
be used.
ROBUSTNESS - is the insensibility of a structure to
local failure. From this definition, it follows that the
robustness is a property of the structure.
SITE - is any lot or parcel of land or contiguous
combination thereof, under the same ownership,
where grading is performed or permitted.
SLOPE - is an inclined ground surface the inclination
of which is expressed as a ratio of vertical distance to
horizontal distance.
STRUCTURE - is that which is built or constructed, an
edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of work
artificially built up or composed of parts joined
together in some definite manner.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING - is a discipline of civil
engineering dealing with the analysis and design of
structures that support or resist loads ensuring the
safety of the structures against natural forces.
TERRACE - is a relatively level step constructed in the
face of a graded slope surface for drainage and
maintenance purposes.
ACCELERATION is the rate at which the velocity of a
particle changes with time.
BANDWIDTH - is the frequency range that the sensor
operates, measured in hertz. (Hz)
DAMPING - is the energy dissipation properties of a
material or system under cyclic stress.
Engineers Esplana, Realuyo and Co.
Compiled by Engr. Kenneth Mina, CE, SO2
PSAD
Definition of Terms
DISPLACEMENT - is the measured distance travelled
by a particle from an initial position.
INTENSITY - is a number (written as a Roman
numeral) describing the severity of an earthquake in
terms of its effects on the earth’s surface and on
humans and their structures.
NATURAL FREQUENCY - is the number of wave cycles
per second which a system tends to oscillate in the
absence of any driving or damping force.
PERIOD - is the time interval required for one full cycle
of a wave.
VELOCITY - is a measure of the rate of motion of a
particle expressed as the rate of change of its position
in a particular direction with time.
BASE - is the level at which the earthquake motions are
considered to be imparted to the structure or the level
at which the structure, as a dynamic vibrator, is
supported.
BASE SHEAR - is the total design lateral force or shear
at the base of a structure.
COLLECTOR - is a member or element provided to
transfer lateral forces from a portion of a structure to
vertical elements of the lateral-force-resisting system.
DEAD LOADS - consist of the weight of all materials
and fixed equipment incorporated into the building or
other structure.
DECK - is an exterior floor system supported on at
least two opposing sides by an adjacent structure
and/or posts, piers, or other independent supports.
DESIGN FORCE - is the equivalent static force to be
used in the determination of wind loads for open
buildings and other structures.
DIAPHRAGM - is a horizontal or nearly horizontal
system acting to transmit lateral forces to the vertical
resisting elements. The term "diaphragm" includes
horizontal bracing systems.
DRIFT or STOREY DRIFT - is the lateral displacement
of one level relative to the level above or below.
IMPORTANCE FACTOR - is a factor that accounts for
the degree of hazard to human life and damage to
property.
LIMIT STATE - is a condition beyond which a structure
or member becomes unfit for service and is judged to
be no longer useful for its intended function
(serviceability limit state) or to be unsafe (strength
limit state).
LIVE LOADS - are those loads produced by the use and
occupancy of the building or other structure and do
not include dead load, construction load, or
environmental loads.
Page 3 of 7

LOAD AND RESISTANCE FACTOR DESIGN (LRFD)
METHOD - is a method of proportioning and designing
structural elements using load and resistance factors
such that no applicable limit state is reached when the
structure is subjected to all appropriate load
combinations. The term ”LRFD M is used in the design
of steel structures.
SHEAR WALL - is a wall designed to resist lateral
forces parallel to the plane of the wall (sometimes
referred to as vertical diaphragm or structural wall).
SOFT STOREY - is one in which the lateral stiffness is
less than 70 percent of the stiffness of the storey
above.
STRENGTH - is the capacity of an element or a member
to resist factored load.
WEAK STOREY - is one in which the storey strength is
less than 80 percent of the storey above.
ANCHOR - is a steel element either cast into concrete
or post-installed into a hardened concrete member
and used to transmit applied loads to the concrete
BEAM - is a member subjected primarily to flexure and
shear, with or without axial force or torsion; beams in
a moment frame that forms part of the lateral-force-
resisting system are predominantly horizontal
members.
COLUMN - is a member, usually vertical or
predominantly vertical, used primarily to support axial
compressive load, but that can also resist moment,
shear, or torsion. Columns used as part of a lateral-
force-resisting system resist combined axial load,
moment, and shear. Refer to moment frame.
CONCRETE - are mixture of Portland cement or any
other hydraulic cement, fine aggregate, coarse
aggregate and water, with or without admixtures.
CONNECTION - is a region of a structure that joins two
or more members; a connection also refers to a region
that joins members of which one or more is precast.
CONTRACT DOCUMENTS - is a written and graphic
documents and specifications prepared or assembled
for describing the location, design, materials, and
physical characteristics of the elements of a project
necessary for obtaining a building permit and
construction of the project.
DEVELOPMENT LENGTH - is a length of embedded
reinforcement, including prestressing strand, required
to develop the design strength of reinforcement at a
critical section.
DROP PANEL - is a projection below the slab used to
reduce the amount of negative reinforcement over a
column or the minimum required slab thickness, and
to increase the slab shear strength.
Engineers Esplana, Realuyo and Co.
Compiled by Engr. Kenneth Mina, CE, SO2
PSAD
Definition of Terms
DURABILITY - is an ability of a structure or member to
resist deterioration that impairs performance or limits
service life of the structure in the relevant
environment considered in design.
FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS - is a numerical modeling
technique in which a structure is divided into a
number of discrete elements for analysis.
HOOP - is a closed tie or continuously wound tie. A
closed tie, made up of one or several reinforcement
elements, each having seismic hooks at both ends.
MODULUS OF ELASTICITY - is a ratio of normal stress
to corresponding strain for tensile or compressive
stresses below proportional limit of material.
PEDESTAL - is a member with a ratio of height-to-least
lateral dimension less than or equal to three used
primarily to support axial compressive load; for a
tapered member, the least lateral dimension is the
average of the top and bottom dimensions of the
smaller side.
POST-TENSIONING - is a method of prestressing in
which prestressing reinforcement is tensioned after
concrete has hardened.
PRETENSIONING - is a method of prestressing in
which prestressing reinforcement is tensioned before
concrete is cast.
SPACING - is a center-to-center distance between
adjacent items, such as longitudinal reinforcement,
transverse reinforcement, prestressing reinforcement,
or anchors.
CLEAR SPACING - is a least dimension between the
outermost surfaces of adjacent items.
SPAN LENGTH - is a distance between supports.
SPIRAL REINFORCEMENT - is a continuously wound
reinforcement in the form of a cylindrical helix.
STIRRUP - is a reinforcement used to resist shear and
torsion stresses in a structural member; typically,
deformed bars, deformed wires, or welded wire
reinforcement either single leg or bent into L, U or
rectangular shapes and located perpendicular to or at
an angle to longitudinal reinforcement.
STRUT - is a compression member in a strut-and-tie
model representing the resultant of a parallel or a fan-
shaped compression field.
TIE - is a loop of reinforcing bar or wire enclosing
longitudinal reinforcement; a continuously wound bar
or wire in the form of a circle, rectangle, or other
polygon shape without re-entrant comers is
acceptable; refer to stirrup or hoop; or a tension
member in a strut-and-tie model.
Page 4 of 7

WALL - is a vertical element designed to resist axial
load, lateral load, or both, with a horizontal length-to-
thickness ratio greater than three, used to enclose or
separate spaces.
BLOCK SHEAR RUPTURE - refers to a connection, limit
state of tension fracture along one path and shear
yielding or shear fracture along another path.
BRACING - is a member or system that provides
stiffness and strength to limit the out-of-plane
movement of another member at a brace point.
BUCKLING - is a limit state of sudden change in the
geometry of a structure or any of its elements under a
critical loading condition.
CAMBER - is a curvature fabricated into a beam or
truss so as to compensate for deflection induced by
loads.
CASING - is an element that resists forces transverse to
the axis of the brace thereby restraining buckling of
the core. The casing requires a means of delivering this
force to the remainder of the buckling-restraining
system. The casing resists little or no force in the axis
of the brace.
COMPOSITE - is the condition in which steel and
concrete elements and members work as a unit in the
distribution of internal forces.
CONCRETE CRUSHING - is the limit state of
compressive failure in concrete having reached the
ultimate strain.
COPE - is a cut-out made in a structural member to
remove a flange and conform to the shape of an
intersecting member.
COVER PLATE - is a plate welded or bolted to the
flange of a member to increase cross-sectional area,
section modulus, or moment of inertia.
DOUBLER - is a plate added to, and parallel with, a
beam or column web to increase resistance to
concentrated forces.
EFFECTIVE LENGTH - is the length of an otherwise
identical column with the same strength when
analyzed with pinned end conditions.
EFFECTIVE LENGTH FACTOR - is the ratio between the
effective length and the unbraced length of the
member.
EFFECTIVE NET AREA - is a net area modified to
account for the effect of shear lag.
FLEXURAL BUCKLING - is a buckling mode in which a
compression member deflects laterally without twist
or change in cross-sectional shape.
FORCE - is a resultant of distribution of stress over a
prescribed area.
Engineers Esplana, Realuyo and Co.
Compiled by Engr. Kenneth Mina, CE, SO2
PSAD
Definition of Terms
GAGE - is a transverse center-to-center spacing of
fasteners.
GEOMETRIC AXIS - is the axis parallel to web, flange or
angle leg.
GRAVITY AXIS - is the axis through the center of
gravity of a member along its length.
GRAVITY LOAD - is a load, such as that produced by
dead and live loads, acting in the downward direction.
GUSSET PLATE - is a plate element connecting truss
members or a strut or brace to a beam or column.
JOINT - is an area where two or more ends, surfaces, or
edges are attached. Categorized by type of fastener or
weld used and the method of force transfer.
LAP JOINT - is a joint between two overlapping
connection elements in parallel planes.
LATERAL BRACING - is a diagonal bracing, shear walls
or equivalent means for providing in-plane lateral
stability.
LATERAL LOAD - refers to load, such as that produced
by wind or earthquake effects, acting in a lateral
direction.
LATERAL-TORSIONAL BUCKLING - is a buckling mode
of a flexural member involving deflection normal to the
plane of bending occurring simultaneously with twist
about the shear center of the cross-section.
LOCAL BUCKLING - refers to buckling of a
compression element where the line junctions
between elements remain straight and angles between
elements do not change.
LOCAL CRIPPLING - refers to limit state of local failure
of web plate in the immediate vicinity of a
concentrated load or reaction.
LOCAL YIELDING - refers to yielding that occurs in a
local area of an element.
PITCH - is the longitudinal center-to-center spacing of
fasteners. Center-to-center spacing of bolt threads
along axis of bolt.
PLASTIC HINGE - refers to yielded zone that forms in a
structural member when the plastic moment is
attained. The member is assumed to rotate further as if
hinged, except that such rotation is restrained by the
plastic moment.
PLASTIC MOMENT - refers to the theoretical resisting
moment developed within a fully yielded cross section.
PLUG WELD - is a weld made in a circular hole in one
element of a joint fusing that element to another
element.
Page 5 of 7

PURLIN - is a horizontal structural member that
supports roof deck and is primarily subjected to
bending under vertical loads such as snow, wind or
dead loads.
ROTATION CAPACITY - is the incremental angular
rotation that a given shape can accept prior to
excessive load shedding, defined as the ratio of the
inelastic rotation attained to the idealized elastic
rotation at first yield.
RUPTURE STRENGTH - is a strength limited by
breaking or tearing of members or connecting
elements.
SAFETY FACTOR - is the factor that accounts for
deviations of the actual strength from the nominal
strength, deviations of the actual load from the
nominal load, uncertainties in the analysis that
transforms the load into a load effect and for the
manner and consequences of failure.
SERVICE LOAD - is a load under which serviceability
limit states are evaluated.
SHEAR BUCKLING - is a buckling mode in which a
plate element, such as the web of a beam, deforms
under pure shear applied in the plane of the plate.
SHEET STEEL - refers to a composite floor system,
steel used for closure plates or miscellaneous
trimming in a formed steel deck.
SIMPLE CONNECTION - is a connection that transmits
negligible bending moment between connected
members.
SLIP - refers to in a bolted connection, limit state of
relative motion of connected parts prior to the
attainment of the available strength of the connection.
SLOT WELD - refers to weld made in an elongated hole
fusing an element to another element.
SPLICE - is a connection between two structural
elements joined at their ends to form a single, longer
element.
STIFFENED ELEMENT - refers to flat compression
element with adjoining out-of-plane elements along
both edges parallel to the direction of loading.
STIFFENER - is a structural element, usually an angle
or plate, attached to a member to distribute load,
transfer shear or prevent buckling.
STIFFNESS - is a resistance to deformation of a
member or structure, measured by the ratio of the
applied force (or moment) to the corresponding
displacement (or rotation).
STRONG AXIS - is a major principal centroidal axis of a
cross section.
Engineers Esplana, Realuyo and Co.
Compiled by Engr. Kenneth Mina, CE, SO2
PSAD
Definition of Terms
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS - is a determination of load
effects on members and connections based on
principles of structural mechanics.
TORSIONAL BUCKLING - is a buckling mode in which a
compression member twists about its shear center
axis.
TRANSVERSE REINFORCEMENT - refers to a steel
reinforcement in the form of closed ties or welded
wire fabric providing confinement for the concrete
surrounding the steel shape core in an encased
concrete composite column.
TRANSVERSE STIFFENER - is a web stiffener oriented
perpendicular to the flanges, attached to the web.
UNBRACED LENGTH - is a distance between braced
points of a member, measured between the centers of
gravity of the bracing members.
WEAK AXIS - is a minor principal centroidal axis of a
cross section.
WEB - is the portion of the section that is joined to two
flanges, or that is joined to only one flange provided it
crosses the neutral axis.
WEB BUCKLING - refers to limit state of lateral
instability of a web.
WEB CRIPPLING - is a limit state of local failure of web
plate in the immediate vicinity of a concentrated load
or reaction.
YIELD MOMENT - refers to in a member subjected to
bending, the moment at which the extreme outer fiber
first attains the yield stress.
YIELD POINT - refers to first stress in a material at
which an increase in strain occurs without an increase
in stress.
YIELD STRENGTH - refers to stress at which a material
exhibits a specified limiting deviation from the
proportionality of stress to strain.
YIELDING - is a limit state of inelastic deformation that
occurs after the yield stress is reached.
BRIDGE - any structure having an opening not less
than 20.0 ft that forms part of a highway or that is
located over or under a highway.
COLLAPSE - a major change in the geometry of the
bridge rendering it unfit for use.
DUCTILITY - property of a component or connection
that allows inelastic response.
FIXED BRIDGE - a bridge with a fixed vehicular or
navigational clearance.
MOVABLE BRIDGE - a bridge with a variable vehicular
or navigational clearance.
Page 6 of 7
 PSAD
Definition of Terms

DAMPER - a device that transfers and reduces forces

between superstructure elements and/or
superstructure and substructure elements, while
permitting thermal movements. The device provides
damping by dissipating energy under seismic, braking
or other dynamic loads.

DEFORMATION - a change in structural geometry due

to force effects, including axial displacement, shear
displacement, and rotations.

FOUNDATION - a supporting element that derives its

resistance by transferring its load to the soil or rock
supporting the structure.

LIQUEFACTION - the loss of shear strength in a

saturated soil due to excess hydrostatic pressure. In
saturated, cohesionless soils, such a strength loss can
result from loads that are applied instantaneously or
cyclically, particularly in loose fine to medium sands
that are uniformly graded.

UNCRACKED SECTION - a section in which the

concrete is assumed to be fully effective in tension and
compression.

Engineers Esplana, Realuyo and Co.

Compiled by Engr. Kenneth Mina, CE, SO2 Page 7 of 7