20.

ABRAM’S LAW – a rule stating that, with given

TERMS AND DEFINITIONS concrete materials and conditions of test, the ratio of the
amount of water to the amount of the cement in the
1. ADMIXTURE – material other than water, mixture determines the strength of the concrete,
aggregates or hydraulic cement. Used as an provided the mixture is of a workable consistency.
ingredient of concrete and added to concrete before 21. ACCELERATOR - Chemical substance added to a
or during its mixing to modify its properties. concrete mix that reduces the set time by increasing the
2. AGGREGATE – granular materials such as sand, rate of hydration.
gravel, crushed stone and iron blast furnace slag. 22. ACI—American Concrete Institute
Used with a cementing medium to form a hydraulic 23. ACID ETCHING- Application of muriatic or
cement concrete or mortar. phosphoric acid to clean or profile a concrete
3. AGGREGATE LIGHTWEIGHT – aggregate with a surface. Used as an alternative to abrasive blasting
dry, lose weight of 110 kg/m3 or less. for surface preparation.
4. AIR CONTENT- The amount of entrained or 24. ACID STAIN - A stain containing inorganic salts
entrapped air in concrete, usually expressed as a dissolved in an acidic, water-based solution that reacts
percentage of total volume. chemically with the minerals in hardened concrete to
5. AIR-ENTRAINING- Air-entrained concrete produce permanent, transparent color that will not peel
contains minute air bubbles that are distributed or flake.
uniformly throughout the cement paste. 25. ACRYLIC SEALER- An acrylic solvent or water-based
6. ALLOWABLE STRESS – maximum permissible sealer that forms a protective film on the surface of the
stress used in design of members of a structure and concrete that imparts a sheen that highlights the beauty
based on a factor of safety against rupture or of regular and decorative concrete.
yielding of any type. 26. AGGREGATE LIGHTWEIGHT – aggregate with a
7. ANGLE OF REPOSE – the angle between the dry, lose weight of 110 kg/m3 or less.
horizontal and the natural slope of loose material 27. AIR CONTENT- The amount of entrained or
below with the material will not slide. entrapped air in concrete, usually expressed as a
8. AXLE-STEEL REINFORCING BARS—Deformed percentage of total volume.
reinforcing bars rolled from steel axles for railroad 28. AIR-ENTRAINING- Air-entrained concrete contains
cars. minute air bubbles that are distributed uniformly
9. ABUTMENT—supporting substructure at ends of throughout the cement paste.
bridges. 29. ALLOWABLE BEARING CAPACITY – the maximum
10. ANCHORAGE—The securing of reinforcing steel in pressure to which a soil or other matter should be
concrete either by straight embedment, hooks, or headed subjected to guard against shear failure or excessive
bar. settlement.
11. ACTIVE CRACK – a crack whose width changes with 30. ANGLE OF REPOSE – the angle between the
horizontal and the natural slope of loose material
time.
below with the material will not slide.
12. ADDITIVE – a substance added to another in relatively 31. AWS - American Welding Society.
small amounts to impart or improve desirable properties 32. ANTIQUING - A color layering technique for giving
or suppress undesirable properties. decorative concrete surfaces an aged or mottled
13. ARC WELDING—A process by which the two pieces appearance.
of steel to be joined are heated by an arc formed 33. ASTM—American Society for Testing and Materials.
between an electrode and the steel. As the electrode 34. BALANCED LOAD – load capacity at simultaneous
melts, it supplies weld material which fuses the pieces crushing of concrete and yielding tension steel.
of steel together. 35. BAR—Steel bar used to reinforce concrete.
14. ARCHITECT—A person or firm who prepares the 36. BAR-END CHECK—Check of the ends of reinforcing
architectural drawings that determine the design and bars to determine whether they fit the devices intended
form of buildings. for mechanically splicing the bars.
15. AASHTO—American Association of State Highway 37. BAR LIST—Bill of materials, where all quantities,
and Transportation Officials. sizes, lengths and bending dimensions of the reinforcing
16. ANCHORAGE—The securing of reinforcing steel in bars are shown.
concrete either by straight embedment, hooks, or headed 38. BAR NUMBER—A number, approximately the bar
bar diameter in eighths of an inch, used to designate the
17. ANSI— American National Standards Institute reinforcing bar size.
18. ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS—Drawings which 39. BAR OFF—Unloading reinforcing bars from a truck
show the general design and form of structures by bed by levering individual bundles over the side with
means of elevations, plans and sections; pinch bars.
19. Abrasion Resistance– the ability of a concrete 40. BAR PLACER or PLACER—Worker who handles
surface to withstand surface wear from machines and and places reinforcing steel and bar supports.
other materials.
41. BAR PLACING SUBCONTRACTOR—A columns. Tendons in the perpendicular direction are
contractor or subcontractor who handles and places spaced uniformly.
reinforcement and bar supports often colloquially
referred to as a “bar placer” or “placer.” 58. BAR-END CHECK—Check of the ends of reinforcing
42. BAR SPACING – distance between parallel bars to determine whether they fit the devices intended
reinforcing bars measured from center-to-center of for mechanically splicing the bars.
the bars perpendicular to their longitudinal axes.
43. BAR SUPPORTS—Devices of formed wire, plastic 59. BALANCED LOAD – load capacity at simultaneous
or precast concrete, to support, hold, and space crushing of concrete and yielding of tension steel.
reinforcing bars. 60. BALANCED MOMENT – moment capacity at
44. BASKET—Wire assembly to support and space simultaneous crushing of concrete and yielding of
dowel bars along the expansion joints in concrete tension steel.
pavement. 61. BASE PLATE – a metallic plate, typically steel, used to
45. BEAM – a horizontal structural member supporting distribute forces and moments.
load from a floor or roof system to columns, girders 62. BATCH MIXER – a machine that mixes batches of
or walls. either concrete or mortar.
46. BEAM AND SLAB FLOOR CONSTRUCTION—A 63. BAY – the space in plan, between the centrelines of
reinforced concrete floor system in which a solid adjacent piers, mullions, or columns.
slab is supported by beams or girders of reinforced 64. BEAM-COLUMN – a structural member subjected to
concrete. axial load and bending moment.
47. BEAM-COLUMN – a structural member subjected 65. BLEEDING – the autogenous flow of mixing water
to axial load and bending moment. within, or its emergence from, a newly placed
48. BEAM SCHEDULE—Table on a placing drawing cementitious mixture caused by the settlement of solid
giving the quantity, size and mark number of beams; materials within the mass.
the quantity, size, length and mark numbers of 66. BORING – the removal of a sample by drilling of rock.
reinforcing bars and stirrups (including stirrup 67. BRACE – a structural member used to provide lateral
spacing), and, where specified, the stirrup support support for another member, generally for the purpose
bars and beam bolsters. of ensuring stability or resisting lateral loads.
49. BELLED—Having a butt or bottom end shaped like 68. Bracing System – a method of reinforcing a structure to
a bell, often used on concrete piers or caissons. resist lateral loads.
50. BILL OF LADING—A list that gives each part or 69. Buckling – lateral or torsional instability of a structural
mark number, quantity, length of material, total member.
weight, or other description of each piece of material
that is shipped to a jobsite. 70. BAR NUMBER—A number, approximately the bar
51. BILLET—Piece of semi-finished steel, nearly square diameter in eighths of an inch [whole millimeters], used
in section, formed by hot-rolling an ingot or bloom, to designate the reinforcing bar size.
from which reinforcing bars are rolled.\BOLT
CUTTER—A tool used to cut reinforcing bars on the 71. BENT—A self-supporting reinforced concrete frame
job-site. Smaller (wire) mesh cutters are used to cut with one or more columns, usually at right angles to the
welded wire reinforcement or bundle wires. length of the structure it supports.
52. BOND—Holding or gripping force between
reinforcing steel and concrete. 72. BENT CAP—A reinforced concrete beam or block,
53. BONDED TENDON – pre-stressing tendon that is extending across and encasing the heads of columns,
bonded to concrete either directly or through comprising the top of a bent for the bridge span above.
grouting.
54. BOTTOM CHORD - The lower or bottom 73. BENT BAR—A reinforcing bar bent to a prescribed
horizontal member of a truss. shape such as a truss bar, straight bar with end hook,
55. BOX CULVERT—A tunnel-like reinforced concrete stirrup, or column tie.
structure consisting of single or multiple openings, 74. BILLET—Piece of semi-finished steel, nearly square in
usually square or rectangular in cross section. section, formed by hot-rolling an ingot or bloom, from
56. BAND—Group of reinforcing bars distributed in a which reinforcing bars are rolled.
slab or wall or footing.
75. BOLT CUTTER—A tool used to cut reinforcing bars on
57. BANDED TENDONS—Prestressing tendons which are the job-site. Smaller (wire) mesh cutters are used to cut
grouped into a narrow “band” 3 to 4 feet wide over the welded wire reinforcement or bundle wires.
76. BOND—Holding or gripping force between reinforcing 91. COLUMN—Vertical structural member supporting a
steel and concrete. floor beam, girder, or other member, and supporting
primarily vertical loads.
77. BOX CULVERT—A tunnel-like reinforced concrete 92. COLUMN CAPITAL—Upper flared cone-shaped
structure consisting of single or multiple openings, section (mushroom head) on circular columns; pyramid-
usually square or rectangular in cross section. shaped section on square columns.
93. COLUMN HORSE—Wood or metal supports, used
78. BOX GIRDER—A bridge having a top and bottom slab in groups of two or more, to hold longitudinal
with two or more walls forming one or more rectangular reinforcing bars in a convenient position for placing
bays. The wall heights may be variable in order to ties while prefabricating column, beam or pile cages.
provide an arched bottom slab. 94. COMPRESSION BARS—Reinforcing bars used to
resist compression forces.
79. BRACKET—An overhanging member projecting from
95. COMPRESSION FLANGE – the widened portion of
a wall, column, girder, or beam to support the weight of
a I, T, or similar cross-sectional beam that is
a structural member. compressed by bending under normal loads.
96. COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH – Maximum stress a
80. BREAK (A SPIRAL)—Opening a spiral to the round material is capable of resisting under axial
shape and forcing it toward the opposite direction that it compression loading.
was folded (collapsed) so that it will remain circular for 97. CONCRETE BLOCK BAR SUPPORTS—Precast
placing. concrete blocks, with or without tie wires, used to
support reinforcing bars above the ground or to
space bars off vertical forms and above horizontal
81. BEAM BOLSTER—Continuous bar support used to forms. Also known as “dobies.”
support the reinforcing bars in the bottom of beams. 98. CONCRETE COVER—The distance from the face
82. BEAM BOLSTER UPPER—Continuous bar support of the concrete to the reinforcing steel, also referred
for the upper layer of bottom reinforcing bars in beams to as “Fireproofing,” “Clearance,” or “Concrete
and top reinforcing bars in bridge deck slabs. Protection.”
99. CONCRETE – mixture of cement, aggregates, water
with or without admixtures.
83. BUILDING CODE—Laws or regulations set up by 100.CONSTRUCTION JOINT—Separation between
building departments of cities, states and Federal two placements of concrete; a means for keying two
Government, for uniformity in design and construction sections together.
practices.
101.CONTACT SPLICE—A means of splicing
reinforcing bars by lap splicing in direct contact. See
84. BULKHEAD—Partition placed in a form to hold fresh
LAP SPLICE.
concrete, earth, or water.
102.CONTINUOUS BEAM—A beam which extends
85. BUNDLE OF BARS—A bundle consists of one size, over three or more supports (including end supports).
length or mark (bent) of reinforcing bars tied together.
103.CANTILEVER BEAM—Beam which extends beyond
86. BURNING REINFORCEMENT—Cutting reinforcing the supports in an overhanging position with the
bars with an oxy-acetylene torch. extended end unsupported. Similarly such a slab is
called a cantilever slab.
87. BUTT-WELDED SPLICE—Reinforcing bar splice
made by welding the butted ends. 104.CARBON-STEEL REINFORCING BARS—
Reinforcing bars rolled from steel billets in contrast to
88. COLUMN – vertical structural member supporting a rail or axle steel.
floor beam, girder, or other member, and supporting
primarily vertical loads. Member with a ratio of 105.CAT-HEAD—A light frame and a sheave at the top of a
height-to-least-lateral dimension of 3 or greater used material tower through which the lifting cable is
primarily to support axial compressive load. operated.
89. COLUMN SCHEDULE—Table on a placing
drawing giving the mark number and size for the
column, number of pieces and size of vertical bars, 106.CAMBER – a deflection that is intentionally built into a
ties or spirals and any bar mark numbers required. structural element or form to improve appearance or to
90. COLUMN TIES – reinforcing bars bent into square, compensate for the deflection of the element under the
rectangular, U-shaped, circular or other shapes for effects of loads, shrinkage, and creep.
the purpose of holding column vertical bars in place.
107.CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE – concrete that is 126.DEFORMED BAR—A reinforcing bar
deposited and allowed to harden in the place where it is manufactured with deformations (protrusions) to
required to be in the completed structure, as opposed to provide a locking anchorage with the surrounding
concrete.
precast concrete.
127.DECK – the form on which concrete for a slab is
108.CEMENT – any of a number of materials that are placed, also the floor or roof slab itself.
capable of binding aggregate particles together. 128.DUSTING – the development of a powdered
109.CHAIR – bar support material at the surface of hardened concrete.
110.CHUTE – a sloping trough or tube for conducting 129.DEFORMED REINFORCEMENT – deformed
concrete, cement, aggregate, or other free-flowing reinforcing bars, bar mats, deformed wire, welded
materials from a higher to a lower point. plain wire fabric and welded deformed wire fabric.
130.DESIGN LOAD – applicable loads and forces or
111.COLD-WORKED STEEL REINFORCEMENT – steel
their related internal moments and forces used to
bars or wires that have been rolled, twisted, or drawn at proportion members.
normal ambient temperatures. 131.DESIGN STRENGTH - nominal strength multiplied
112.CONCRETE BLOCK – a concrete masonry unit, by a strength reduction factor ɸ.
usually containing hollow cores. 132.DYNAMIC ANALYSIS – analysis of stresses in
113.CONCRETE COVER – the distance from the face of framing as functions of displacement under transient
the concrete to the reinforcing steel. loading.
133.DEVELOPMENT LENGTH – length of embedded
114.CONSISTENCY – the degree to which a freshly mixed
reinforcement required to develop the design
concrete, mortar, grout, or cement paste resists
strength of reinforcement at a critical section.
deformation.
134.DOWEL—A bar connecting two separately cast
115.CONTINUOUS BEAM – a beam which extends over
sections of concrete. A bar extending from one
three or more supports.
concrete section into another is said to be doweled
116.CORROSION – deterioration of a material, usually a
into the adjoining section. Examples: column dowels
metal, that results from a chemical reaction with its
into a column or horizontal wall bars doweled into
environment.
an adjacent wall section.
117.CRACK – a complete or incomplete separation of either
135.DOLLY—Small, heavy, wheeled platform used for
concrete or masonry into two or more parts produced by
moving heavy objects. Colloquially, any wheeled cart or
breaking or fracturing.
carrier.
118.CREEP – time-dependent deformation due to sustained
136.Drop Panel—The structural portion of a flat slab
load.
which is thickened (by “dropping” the form)
119.CONTRACTOR—the person, firm, or corporation with
throughout an area surrounding a column, column
whom the Owner enters into an agreement for
capital or bracket.
construction of the Work.
137.EDGE BEAM – a stiffening beam at the edge of a
120.CULVERT—Any structure, not classified as a bridge,
slab.
which provides a waterway or other opening under a
road or highway. 138.END-BEARING SLEEVE—Device fitting over the
121.CURTAIN—A single layer of vertical and horizontal abutting ends of two reinforcing bars for the purpose
reinforcing bars in a wall. If a wall has a layer of of ensuring transfer of only axial compression from
reinforcement at each face, it would be called a “double one bar to the other.
curtain” wall. 139.EFFECTIVE AREA OF CONCRETE – area of a
concrete section assumed to resist shear or flexural
122.CUT-OFF SAW—A powered saw used to cut
stresses.
reinforcing bars at the job-site. 140.EFECTIVE DEPTH – depth of a beam or a slab
123.COUPLER—Threaded device for joining reinforcing section measured from the compression face to the
bars for the purpose of providing transfer of either axial centroid of the tensile reinforcement.
compression or axial tension or both from one bar to the 141.ELASTIC DESIGN – design based on a linear
other. distribution of flexural stresses and strains and
124.COUPLING SLEEVE—Non-threaded device fitting corresponding limiting elastic properties of the
material.
over the ends of two reinforcing bars for the eventual 142.ENGINEER—A licensed professional or structural
purpose of providing transfer of either axial engineer, responsible for the design of reinforced
compression or axial tension or both from one bar to the concrete, structural steel, and other materials which
other. make up the complete structure.
143.ENDO—The dimension from the end of a
125.DEAD LOAD – the weights of the structural reinforcing bar to a point of reference along its
members, supported structure, and permanent longitudinal axis; i.e., any bar is positioned in the
attachments or accessories that are likely to be forms transversely by “cover” or “spacing” and
present on a structure in service; longitudinally by “cover” or “endo.”
144.EFFECTIVE PRE-STRESS – stress remaining in 162.FACTOR OF SAFETY – the ratio of the ultimate
pre=stressing tendons after all losses has occurred. capacity to the magnitude of the demand at the service
Excluding effects of dead load and super imposed level.
loads. 163.FORMWORK – the temporary structure erected to
145.EMBEDMENT LENGTH – length of embedded support work in the process of construction.
reinforcement provided beyond a critical section. 164.FATIGUE – the weakening of a material by repeated
146.EXPANSION JOINT—A separation between two loads.
sections of concrete which is provided to allow for 165.FATIGUE STRENGTH – the greatest stress that can be
free movement due to temperature changes.  sustained for a given number of stress cycles without
147.EPOXY COATING—An organic, non-metallic coating failure.
applied to reinforcing steel by electrostatic spray to 166.FLEXURAL RIGIDITY – a measure of stiffness of a
prevent corrosion. member, indicated the product of modulus of elasticity
148.EXPANSION JOINT—A separation between two and moment of inertia divided by the length of the
sections of concrete which is provided to allow for member.
free movement due to temperature changes. The 167.FLEXURAL STRENGTH – the measured maximum
sections are usually divided by a strip of metal or resistance of a concrete specimen to flexural loading and
bituminous material and are sometimes tied together reported as modulus of rupture.
with dowels, using sleeves or coatings at one end. 168.FLY ASH – the finely divided residue that results from
149.FACTORED LOAD – load, multiplied by the combustion of ground or powdered coal and that is
appropriate load factor, used to proportion members transported by flue gases from the combustion zone to
by the strength design method. the particle removal system.
169.FORM OIL – oil applied to the interior surfaces of
150.FILLET—Beveled inside corner usually at 45° to forms to promote easy release from the concrete when
avoid a sharp 90° change in direction at the the forms are removed.
intersection of two reinforced concrete members.
Also refers to a triangular-shaped weld.
170.GIRDER – a large beam, usually horizontal, that
151.FORMS—A temporary structures or molds, usually
serves as a main structural member.
made of wood, fiberglass, metal or plastic, for the
support of concrete while it is setting and gaining
171.GRADE MARKS—Markings rolled onto the surface
sufficient strength to be self-supporting.
of reinforcing bar to identify the grade of steel.
152.FOUNDATION—Substructure through which the
172.GRADE OF REINFORCING BARS—The means
loads are carried to the earth or rock.
by which an Engineer specifies the strength
153.FRACTURE – a crack or break in concrete or
properties of the reinforcing bar required in each part
masonry; the configuration of a broken surface; the
of a structure. 
action of racking or breaking.
173.GROUT—A concrete which contains no coarse
154.FLAT PLATE SLAB—A flat slab without drop
aggregate.
panels or column capitals.
155.FLAT SLAB—A concrete slab reinforced in two or
more directions, with drop panels and with or 174.GENERAL CONTRACTOR—An individual or
without column capitals. company that bids and executes the contract for actual
156.FABRICATION—Actual work on the reinforcing bars construction, coordinates and supervises the work of the
such as cutting, bending, bundling, and tagging. Subcontractors and is responsible for the completion of
157.FABRICATOR—A company that is capable of the Work in accordance with the project drawings and
preparing placing drawings, bar lists, and storing, project specifications.
shearing, bending, bundling, tagging, and delivering
reinforcing bars. 175.GIN POLES—Single vertical guyed pole for supporting
158.FAR FACE (OF A WALL)—Face farthest from the lifting tackle.
viewer, which may be the outside or inside face,
depending on whether one is inside looking out or 176.GRADE BEAM—A low foundation wall or a beam
outside looking in. usually at ground level, which provides support for the
159.FIREPROOFING—See CONCRETE COVER. Also walls of a structure.
refers to encasement of reinforcing steel for fire
protection. 177.GALVANIZE—To dip steel into molten zinc, which is
160.FLAT PLATE SLAB—A flat slab without drop panels termed “hot-dip galvanizing”; or to electroplate with
or column capitals. zinc.
161.FOOTINGS—That part of the foundation of a structure 178.GENERAL CONTRACTOR—An individual or
which rests on earth. company that bids and executes the contract for actual
construction, coordinates and supervises the work of the
 Subcontractors and is responsible for the completion of 195.HORIZONTALS—Reinforcing bars running
the Work in accordance with the project drawings and horizontally.
project specifications. 196.INSERTS—Devices embedded in concrete to receive a
179.GRADE BEAM—A low foundation wall or a beam bolt or screw to support shelf angles and machinery.
usually at ground level, which provides support for the 197.INSPECTOR—A person who examines the Work in
walls of a structure. progress at the jobsite to see that it conforms to the
180.GRILLAGE BARS-Reinforcement placed around post- project drawings and project specifications.
tensioning anchors. Also known as “back-up bars”. 198.INTEGRAL—Elements which act together as a unit,
181.GROOVE WELD—Arc weld used to join two such as concrete joists and top slab. Reinforced concrete
reinforcing bars, or a reinforcing bar to a steel plate or members may be made integral by bond, dowels, or
an angle to make a lap splice. being cast in one piece.
199.INTEGRALLY-CAST—Elements (such as reinforced
182.HONEYCOMB—Voids left in concrete due to loss concrete joists and top slab) cast in one piece.
or shortage of mortar or inadequate consolidation of 200.INVERTED L-BEAM – a beam having a cross section
the concrete.
in the shape of an inverted L.
183.HORIZONTALS—Reinforcing bars running 201.INVERTED T-BEAM – a beam having a cross section
horizontally. in the shape of an inverted T.
184.HIGH STRENGTH CONCRETE – concrete that has a 202.I-SECTION – beam cross section consisting of top and
specified compressive strength for design of 8000 psi bottom flanges connected by a vertical web.
(55MPa) or greater. 203.IRONWORKERS—Workers who handle and place
185.HIGH STRENGTH STEEL – steel with a high yield steel and ornamental iron, including reinforcing steel
point (in the case of reinforcing bars 60000 ppsi (414 and bar supports. Also, in the Metropolitan Area of New
MPa) and greater). York City, depending on local union jurisdiction, these
186.HEADER—A short reinforced beam, joist or slab edge workers are called LATHERS. Colloquial terms
generally used at floor openings to support other similar frequently used include rod-setter, rodbuster; bar-setter,
members terminating at the opening. and bar placer.
204.JACK ROD—Plain rod, usually 7/8 or 1 inch in
187.HEAVY BENDING—Reinforcing bar sizes #4 through diameter, with square-cut or threaded ends to support
#18 [#13 through #57], which are bent at not more than sliding forms in conjunction with a jack. In some cases,
six points in one plane (unless classified as “Light these jack rods are also used as a portion of the vertical
Bending” or “Special Bending”) and single radius reinforcement required.
bending. 205.JACK ROD SLEEVE—Piece of pipe which joins two
jack rods for an end-to-end butt connection.
188.HAIRPIN BARS—Bars, usually small sizes, bent to a 206.JOINTED REINFORCED CONCRETE PAVEMENT
hair pin shape and used for such purposes as short —A reinforced pavement with transverse joints
hooked spacer bars in columns and walls, and for typically spaced at 30 feet or more.
special dowels. 207.JOIST SCHEDULE—Table on a placing drawing
189.HAUNCH—Portion of a beam that increases in depth giving the quantity and mark of the joists, the quantity,
towards the support. size, length, bending details of reinforcing bars and
190.HEADER—A short reinforced beam, joist or slab edge usually the quantity of joist chairs in each joist.
generally used at floor openings to support other similar
members terminating at the opening. 208.JOIST - a comparatively narrow beam used in
closely spaced arrangements to support floor or
191.HICKEY—Hand tool with side opening jaw used in
slabs.
developing leverage for making bends on reinforcing
bars at the jobsite. 209.JOIST CHAIRS – bar supports which hold and space
192.HIGH CHAIR—See INDIVIDUAL HIGH CHAIRS the two reinforcing bars in the bottom of a joist.
and CONTINUOUS HIGH CHAIRS. 210.JACKING FORCE – in pre-stressed concrete,
193.HOOK—A semi-circular (180°) or a 90° turn at the free temporary force exerted by device that introduces
end of a reinforcing bar to provide anchorage in tension into pre-stressing tendons.
concrete. For stirrups and column ties only, turns of 211.JOINTED REINFORCED CONCRETE
either 90° or 135° are used. PAVEMENT—A reinforced pavement with
194.HOOK ON and/or HOOK OFF—The act of placing or transverse joints typically spaced at 30 feet or more.
removing chokers or slings on or off a bundle of
212.L- BEAM – a beam having a cross section on the
reinforcing bars and connecting or disconnecting the shape of an L; a beam having a ledge on one side
crane hook. only.
213.LEAN CONNCERTE – concrete of low sleeve, and possibly additional materials or parts to
cementitious material content. accomplish the splicing of reinforcing bars.
214.LEVER ARM – in a structural member, the distance 232.MECHANICAL DRAWINGS—Drawings which
from the center of the tensile reinforcement to the
show piping for water, sanitary, gas and drains;
center of action of the compression zone; the
perpendicular distance of a transverse force from a heating, ventilating and air conditioning ducts and
point about which moment is taken. equipment, and other mechanical equipment.
215.LINTEL—Beam supporting the wall above a 233.METAL LATHER—A worker who installs furring and
window or door opening. metal lath, places inserts in concrete for support of
216.LIVE LOAD - load that is not permanently applied ceilings; and in the Metropolitan Area of New York
to a structure but is likely to occur during the service City, fabricates and places bar supports and reinforcing
life of the structure.
steel, which is delivered to the jobsite in straight lengths.
217.LIFT SLAB—Floor construction in which slabs are
234.MISCELLANEOUS IRON—Steel items such as lintel
cast directly on one another. Each slab is lifted into
angles, inserts, plates, form braces, spreaders and other
final position by jacks on top of the columns. Floors
structural shapes attached to or embedded in reinforced
are secured at each floor level by column brackets or
concrete.
collars.
235.MARKS—A series of letters, numbers or a combination
218.LOAD FACTOR - a factor by which a service load
is multiplied to determine a factored load used in the of both used to designate (a) the parts of a structure or
strength- design method. (b) the identity of a bent reinforcing bar.
219.LOAD –BEARING WALL - a wall designed and 236.MAT—A large footing or foundation slab used to
built to carry superimposed vertical loads in-plane support an entire structure. The term MAT also
and shear loads, or both. describes a grid of reinforcing bars.
220.LONG COLUMN – a column whose load capacity is 237.Moving loads – live loads that move under their own
limited by buckling rather than strength.
power.
221.LAP SPLICE—The overlapping of two reinforcing bars
238.MORTAR – a mixture of cement paste and fine
by lap splicing them side by side (in contact or non-
aggregates.
contact); similarly the side and end overlap of sheets or
239.NEUTRAL AXIS – a line in the plane of a structural
rolls of welded wire reinforcement. Also, the length of
member subject to bending where the longitudinal
overlap of two bars. Also referred to as “lap”.
stress is zero.
222.LAP-SPLICE CONNECTOR SYSTEMS—Proprietary
240.No-Slump Concrete – freshly mixed concrete exhibiting
or patented prefabricated plastic or metal boxes or strips
a slump of less than ¼ in. (6 mm).
of foam acting as keyway forms and containing
241.NEAR FACE (OF A WALL)—Face nearest the viewer
prefabricated anchorage and lap splice reinforcement.
and may be inside or outside, depending on whether one
The lap splice reinforcement is field-straightened with a
is inside looking out or outside looking in.
pipe and/or hickey when the keyway form is exposed
242.NON-CONTACT SPLICE—A means of splicing
for the next pour.
reinforcing bars by lap splicing not in direct contact.
223.LATERAL—See TRANSVERSE.
243.NOMINAL DIAMETER—The diameter of a plain
224.LIFT—Units of reinforcing bars tied together for shop
round bar of the same weight per linear foot as a
or field convenience.
deformed reinforcing bar.
225.LIGHT BENDING—All #3 [#10] bars, all stirrups and
244.ONE-WAY SLABS-A slab which presumably bends
ties, and all bars #4 through #18 [#13 through #57],
in only one direction.
which are bent at more than six points in one plane, or
245.OVERLAY – a layer of concrete or mortar placed on
reinforcing bars which are bent in more than one plane.
a concrete slab to either restore or improve the
226.LINTEL—Beam supporting the wall above a window or
function of the previous surface.
door opening.
246.OWNER—The corporation, association, partnership,
227.LONGITUDINAL BAR—Any reinforcing bar placed in
individual, or public body or authority which the
the long direction of the member.
Contractor enters into agreement with and for whom
228.LOW-ALLOY STEEL REINFORCING BARS—
the Work is provided.
Reinforcing bars rolled from low-alloy steel billets.
247.Over Reinforced Design – is a design in which the steel
229.MAT FOUNDATION – a foundation consisting of a
reinforcement is more than what is required for balanced
continuous concrete slab extending in both directions
condition. If the beam is over reinforced, the steel will
that is usually reinforced and supports an array of
not yield before failure. As the load is increased,
columns, walls, or both.
deflections are not noticeable although the compression
230.METAL FORMS—Used to provide the forms for
concrete is highly stressed, and failure occurs suddenly
joist floor construction. Also known as PANS.
without warning to the user of the structure.
231.MECHANICAL SPLICE—The complete assembly
of an end-bearing sleeve, a coupler, or a coupling
248.OFFSET BEND—Any bend in a reinforcing bar that 266.PRECAST PILE—A reinforced concrete pile
displaces the center line of a section of the bar to a manufactured in a casting plant or at the jobsite and
position parallel to the original bar, in which the driven into place by a pile hammer.
267.PRESTRESSED CONCRETE—Reinforced concrete
displacement is relatively small; commonly applied
in which the reinforcing steel is stretched and
to column vertical bars. Also known as “dog-leg.” anchored to compress the concrete.
249.PAD—A footing; sometimes a block of concrete to 268.PROJECT DRAWINGS—The drawings which,
support machinery. along with the Project Specifications, completely
250.PANS—Metal forms for one-way reinforced describe the construction of the Work required or
concrete joists (one-way pans) and for two-way referred to in the Contract Documents. Examples
(waffle slab) concrete joists (dome pans). include Placing Drawings and Structural Drawings.
269.PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS—The written
251.PILE—A concrete, steel, or wood member driven
documents which describe the requirements for a
into the ground to support a load. project in accordance with the various criteria
252.PILE CAP—A structural member placed on the tops established by the Owner. psi—Abbreviation of
of piles and used to distribute loads from the pounds per square inch used in measuring load,
structure to the piles. pressure, or stress.
253.PRE-TENSIONING – method of pre-stressing in 270.RAIL-STEEL REINFORCING BARS—deformed
which tendons re tensioned before concrete is reinforcing bars rolled from selected used railroad
rails.
placed.
271.RETARDER – an admixture that delays the setting of a
254.PURLIN - Purlin plates are beams which support the
cementitious mixture.
mid-span of rafters and are supported by posts. By
272.RICH CONCRETE – concrete of high cement content.
supporting the rafters they allow longer spans than
273.REBAR—Abbreviated term for reinforcing bar.
the rafters alone could span thus allowing a wider
building. 274.REINFORCED CONCRETE—Concrete containing
255.PEAK LOAD – the highest load sustained by a reinforcing steel positioned so that the two materials
specimen or structural element during a test. act together for increased strength.
256.PEDESTAL—Short pier used as a base for a 275.REINFORCEMENT—Steel bars or wires embedded
column. in concrete and located in such a manner that the
steel and the concrete act together in resisting loads.
257.PIER—A short column used as a foundation
276.RETAINING WALL—Wall reinforced to hold or
member in construction. Also, a large column or retain soil, water, grain, coal, or sand.
wall type bridge support. 277.SCAFFOLDING—A temporary structure for the
support of deck forms, runways, or workers.
258.PILASTER—Column partially or completely 278.SHEAR STRENGTH – the maximum shearing
embedded in a wall, or a portion of a wall enlarged stress a flexural member can support at a specific
to serve as a column. location as controlled by the combined effects of
259.PLAIN CONCRETE—Structural concrete with no shear forces and bending moment.
reinforcement or with less reinforcement than the 279.SHEAR WALL—A wall designed to resist forces
minimum amount specified in the ACI Building resulting from wind, blast or earthquake.
Code. 280.SLAB—Flat section of floor or roof either on the
260.PLAN VIEW—Top view as of any floor, roof, or ground or supported by beams or walls.
foundation of a structure. 281.SAND PLATE—A flat plate attached to the legs of a
261.PRECAST CONCRETE—Reinforced concrete cast bar support for use on soil.
elsewhere than its final position in the structure. 282.SCALE—Reduction of size to which drawings are
Usually precast concrete consists of individual made (as 1/8 inch = 1 foot).
members such as columns, wall panels, beams or 283.SCHEDULE—Table on placing drawings (or
joists erected and connected to form the structural elsewhere) to give size, shape, and arrangement of
frame. similar items.
262.POST-TENSIONING—A method of prestressing 284.SHEAR—To cut off as by two equal opposed forces.
reinforced concrete when tendons are tensioned after SHEARHEAD—Assembled unit in the top of the
concrete has reached a specified strength. columns of flat slab or flat plate construction to
263.PARAPET—Extension of the main walls above the roof transmit loads from slab to column.
level, for architectural appearance. 285.SPIRAL SPACERS—Usually made of channels or
264.PILASTER—Column partially or completely embedded angles, punched to form hooks, which are bent over the
in a wall, or a portion of a wall enlarged to serve as a coiled spiral to maintain it to a definite pitch.
column. 286.SPLICE—Connection of one reinforcing bar to another
265.PITCH—Center-to-center spacing between turns of a by lap splices (in contact or non-contact), mechanical
spiral. splices, or welded splices; the lap between sheets or
rolls of welded wire reinforcement.
287.SPIRAL—A continuously coiled reinforcing bar or 306.UNDER REINFORCED DESIGN – is a design in
wire. which the steel reinforcement is lesser than what is
288.SPIRAL COLUMN—A column in which the vertical required for balanced condition. If the ultimate load is
reinforcing bars are enclosed within a spiral. approached, the steel will begin to yield although the
289.SPREADER BAR—A steel beam suspended from a compression concrete is still understressed. If the load is
crane, having two or more hooks or shackles to further increased, the steel will continue to elongate,
which slings are attached to eliminate the possibility resulting in appreciable deflections and large visible
of bending reinforcing bars in a bundle due to cracks in the tensile concrete. Failure under this
handling. Sometimes called a “strong back.” condition is ductile and will give warning to the user of
290.STAGGERED SPLICES—Splices in reinforcing bars the structure to decrease the load.
which are not made at the same plane. 307.VIBRATOR—An oscillating machine used to
291.STANDEE—A term used in some regions of the consolidate fresh concrete to eliminate voids or
country to designate a special bar bent to a U-shape with “honeycomb” before concrete hardens. See
90° bent legs extending in opposite directions at right HONEYCOMB.
angles to the U-bend. It is used as a high chair resting on 308.VOIDED SLAB—The concept of a voided flat plate
a lower mat of reinforcing bars and supporting an upper centers on removing  “concrete” from the middle of
mat. Sometimes called a “fabricated high chair”. the slab where it is structurally inefficient; reducing
292.STEM BARS—Reinforcing bars used in the wall the dead load by as much as 35% and allowing a
section of a cantilever retaining wall or in the webs of a larger clear span with an economical slab thickness.
box girder. When a cantilever retaining wall and its 309.VERTICAL BAR—Any reinforcing bar used in an
footing are considered as an integral unit, the wall is upright or vertical position.
often referred to as the stem of the unit. 310.WALL BEARING STRUCTURE—One with the
293.SUPERSTRUCTURE—Frame of the structure, usually slabs (i.e., the floors or roofs) supported on walls,
above grade. Portion of a bridge above piers and generally of masonry, eliminating columns and some
abutments. of the beams.
294.SUBGRADE—The soil supporting a structure or 311.WRAPPING—Reinforcing bars or welded wire
pavement. reinforcement surrounding a structural steel column
295.SUPPORT BARS—Rest on individual high chairs or or beam to reinforce concrete or plaster fireproofing.
bar chairs to support top reinforcing bars in slabs or
joists, respectively. 312.WELDED WIRE REINFORCEMENT—Wire
296.SIMPLE BEAM—Beam supported at each end (two reinforcement manufactured by means of welding
the intersecting wires, used for reinforcement in
points) and not continuous. slabs, slabs on grade, and highway pavements. Also
known as welded wire fabric.
297.TENSILE STRENGTH—Maximum stress a 313.WINCH—Mechanical lifting device attached to
material is capable of resisting under axial tension
derricks on which cable is wound up by means of a
loading.
298.TIE BARS—Reinforcing bars at right angles and crank and locked in position by a ratchet.
tied to main reinforcement to keep it in place; bars 314.WORK—The entire project (or separate parts) which
extending across a construction joint. is required to be completed under the Contract
299.TIE—Reinforcing bars bent to a circular, or to a Documents. Work is the result of performing
box-shape and used to hold vertical longitudinal services, furnishing labor, and supplying and
reinforcing bars together in columns and beams. incorporating materials and equipment into the
300.TOLERANCE—Allowable variation from a given construction, all as required by the Contract
dimension, quantity, or position. Documents.
301.TRANSVERSE—At right angles to the long direction
of the member (crosswise). Also referred to as “lateral.” 315.WAFFLE SLAB – A two-way reinforced concrete joist
302.TENDON – steel element such as wire, cable, bar floor with ribs running in both directions. (Named after
rod, or stand, or a bundle of such elements, used to the waffle-like appearance of the underside of the
finished floor).
impart pre-stresses to concrete. 316.WALES – Braces to two or more form panels, palings,
303.TRANSFER – act of transferring stress in pre- or studs, usually horizontal. Often incorrectly called
stressing tendons from jacks or pre-tensioning bed to “walers.”
concrete member. 317.WALL – A vertical structural member which encloses,
304.TRUSS BARS—Reinforcing bars bent up to act as both divides, supports or protects a building or room.
top and bottom reinforcement. 318.WALL BEARING STRUCTURE – One with the slabs
(i.e., the floors or roofs) supported on walls, generally of
305.UPTURNED BEAM—Reinforced concrete beam which
masonry, eliminating columns and some of the beams.
extends above the slab or structure it is supporting.
319.WALL SPREADER – An accessory, usually fabricated 12. Cs = compressive force in the concrete of a doubly
from a reinforcing bar to a “Z” or “U” shape, used to reinforced concrete beam
separate and hold apart two faces or curtains of
reinforcement in a wall. 13. d – distance from extreme compression fiber to centroid
320.WATER – water used in mixing concrete shall be clean
and free injurious amount of acids, alkalis, salts, organic of tension reinforcement, mm.
materials or other substances that may deleterious to 14. d’ – distance from extreme compression fiber to
concrete o reinforcement.
321.YIELD STRENGTH - the stress at which a material centroid of compression reinforcement, mm.
exhibits a specific limiting deviation from the 15. DL – dead load.
proportionality of stress to strain.
322.ZINC COATING—A zinc coating applied to 16. e – eccentric distance of application of force from the
reinforcing steel by dipping in a molten bath of zinc centroidal of a cross section, mm.
to prevent corrosion.
17. E – modulus of elasticity; earthquake load for LRFD
design.
18. Ec – modulus of elasticity of concrete, MPa.
19. Es – modulus of elasticity of steel, 200,000 MPa.
20. f’c – specified compressive stress of concrete, MPa.
21. fr – modulus of rapture of concrete, MPa.
22. fs – calculated stress in reinforcement at service loads,
MPa.
23. fy – specified yield strength of steel, MPa.
24. h – overall thickness of member, mm.
SYMBOLS AND NOTATIONS 25. I – moment of inertia, mm4.
26. Icr – moment of inertia of cracked section transformed to
1. a - depth of equivalent stress block,mm.
concrete.
2. As – area of tension reinforcement,mm2.
27. Ig – moment of inertia of gross concrete section about
3. Ask – area of skin reinforcement per unit height in one
centroidal axis, neglecting reinforcement.
side face,mm2/m.
28. Ise – moment of inertia of reinforcement about centroidal
4. Ab - area of a bolt (in2 , mm 2 ) axis of member cross-section
5. A s - area of steel compression reinforcement in 29. Ma – maximum moment in member at stage deflection is
concrete beam design (in2 , ft2 , mm 2 , m 2 ) computed.

6. A st - area of steel reinforcement in concrete and 30. Mcr – cracking moment.

31. Mn – nominal moment, N-mm.
masonry column design (in2 , ft2 , mm 2 , m 2 )
32. Mu – factored moment at section, N-mm.
7. b – width of compression face of member, mm. 33. LL – live load.
8. Bs - width within the longer dimension of a rectangular 34. R – coefficient Resistance.
spread footing that reinforcement must be concentrated 35. t – thickness, mm.
within for concrete design (ft, m) 36. tf – thickness of the flange of a steel beam cross section,

9. Bo - perimeter length for two-way shear in concrete mm.

footing design (in, ft, mm, m) 37. tw – thickness of the web of the steel beam cross section,

10. c – distance from extreme compression fiber to neutral mm.

axis, mm. 38. T – tension label; tensile force, N.

39. Ts – tension force in the steel reinforcement for masonry
11. Cc = compressive force in the compression steel in a design.
doubly reinforced concrete beam
40. v – shear force per unit length.
41. V – shear force; volume. 73. CL -center line
42. Vc – shear force capacity in concrete, N. 74. fa - calculated axial stress (psi, ksi, kPa, MPa)

43. Vs - shear force capacity in steel stirrups,N.

75. fb - calculated bending stress (psi, ksi, kPa, MPa)
44. w – load per unit length on a beam/area.
45. W – weight, N. 76. fm - calculated compressive stress in masonry
46. εc – strain in concrete (maximum=0.003). (psi, ksi, kPa, MPa)
47. εs – strain in steel below yield point= fs/ Es.
77. fm - masonry design compressive stress (psi, ksi,
48. εt – thermal strain.
kPa, MPa)
49. εy – strain in steel yield point= fy/ Es.
50. δp – elongation due to axial load, mm. 78. Fn - nominal strength in LRFD steel design (psi,
51. δs – shear deformation. ksi, kPa, MPa)

52. ρ – ratio of tension reinforcement As/ bd.

79. fp - calculated bearing stress (psi, ksi, kPa, MPa)
53. ρb – balance steel ratio 80. ft - calculated tensile stress (psi, ksi, kPa, MPa)
54. ρmax – maximum reinforcement ratio allowed in concrete
beam design for ductile behaviour. 81. fx - combined stress in the direction of the major axis of
a column (psi, ksi, kPa, MPa)
55. Ø – strength reduction factor.
56. Yt – distance from centroidal axis of gross section, 82. G = relative stiffness of columns to beams in a
neflecting reinforcement, to extreme fiber in tension. rigid connection, as is 
8 3 . H = shorthand for lateral pressure load
57.  - coefficient of thermal expansion (/C, /F);
8 4 . hf = depth of a flange in a T section
58.  - diameter symbol; angle of twist (degrees,
85. k= effective length factor for columns
radians); resistance factor in LRFD steel design
86. ϴ Angle of compression diagonals, degrees
59. and reinforced concrete design.
60.  - beam deflection (in, mm); 87. £ c = length of column in rigid joint
88. ld = development length for reinforcing steel
61.  - engineering symbol for normal stress (axial or
bending)
89. ldh = development length for hooks

62.  - engineering symbol for shearing stress 90. ln = clear span from face of support to face of
63.  - Poisson’s ratio; coefficient of static friction support in concrete design
64.  - radial distance (in, mm); radius of curvature 91. Mu = maximum moment from factored loads for
in beam deflection relationships (ft, m); LRFD beam design
65.  - specific gravity of a material (lb/in3, lb/ft3, 2
92. Rn = concrete beam design ratio = Mu/bd
N/m3, kN/m3); angle, in a math equation
66.  - strain (no units) 93. s= spacing of stirrups in reinforced concrete beams
67. 1 - coefficient for determining stress block 94. Nuc – factored horizontal tensile force.
95. Mcr – cracking moment
height, a, based on concrete strength, fc ;
96. fr – modulus of rapture of concrete, MPa
68. coefficient for determining stress block
97. Ɛt – net tensile strain in extreme layer of longitudinal
height, c, in masonry LRFD design
tension steel at nominal strength, excluding strains due
to effective prestress, creep, shrinkage, and temperature.
69. c - ratio of long side to short side of the column
in concrete footing design

70. g - reinforcement ratio in concrete column

design = Ast/Ag

71. -relative stiffness of columns to beams in a

rigid connection
72. -safety factor for ASD of steel (unified)