Structural Engineering term translation Aust/UK/US

[csd72]

I am looking to do a white paper on term translations between Australia, the UK and the US and could definately do with some help coming up with terms and coming up with translations.

For Example

Australia: Cleat SHS/RHS
UK: Fin plate SHS/RHS
US: single plate shear connection HSS(Tube)

 

[msquared48]

Further, we refer to the soil or rock you mention as the "bearing strata".

Mike McCann
McCann Engineering

 

[msquared48]

I'm going to bed, so I'll leave you with these US structural terms to figure out:

Raker
Waler
Cribbing
Grillage
Tieback
Soil Nail
Strongback
Thrustblock
Deadman
Caisson
Matt Footing
Augercast Pile
Pin pile
Yielding Wall
Non-yielding Wall
Counterfort Wall
Rock Gabion wall
Underpinning
Soldier Pile

Just a few "foundation" terms. A good "base" to start from.

Mike McCann
McCann Engineering

 

[rob768]

i suggest to publish it all in an comprehensive dictionary

 

[hokie66]

Mike, I don't think there is much difference in meaning with that list on our side of the big lake. "Pin pile" is a new one on me.

 

[Ussuri]

wythe is a term they use in the US. We don't use it in the UK. And if i understand its US usage the UK equivalent would be leaf.

 

[hokie66]

Wythe, good old English word. Forgotten in the UK? We use it in Australia, but also sometimes leaf.

 

[csd72]

good ones guys, keep them coming.

 

[msquared48]

"Pin Piles" are 2" to 4" diameter steel pile pile used mainly in residential foundations either in new or retrofit/repair situations. They are commonly driven to refusal with a jackhaammer and have capacities in the 2 to 6 ton range per pile depending on soil conditions. The term "pin" is used because of the small diameter.

Mike McCann
McCann Engineering

 

[apsix]

'Augercast Pile' presumably this is Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) piling? (Brit)

Alternative british term for (truss) chord is boom.

 

[msquared48]

Controlled Density Fill" - a term for concrete of very low cement ratio that is used as structural fill only.

Mike McCann
McCann Engineering

 

[LittleWheels]

msquared48, is this the same thing as "lean mix concrete" (Aust and Brit) or something else?

 

[msquared48]

Good question... I'll ask one of the local concrete plants for a spec and post it here. Maybe we can compare them if you have a desingn mix for the "Lean mix concrete".

I have a suspicion it may be the same thing though. Just far less cement.

Mike McCann
McCann Engineering

 

[msquared48]

Actually, the useage for "lean mix concrete" I have run into here is around soldier pile so the concrete on the front face of the flange and behind the flange to the depth of the wood lagging can be easily removed.

There's another term - "Lagging" - placed between the soldier pile to hold back the soil - may be permanent or temporary.

Mike McCann
McCann Engineering

 

[msquared48]

OK - here's another one - "Balloon Framing" - where the studs are continuous for two stories to help limit story shrinkage through the joists.

Not as prevalent here now with the use of TJI floor joists and the like.

Mike McCann
McCann Engineering

 

[msquared48]

CONTROLLED DENSITY FILL

CDF, or flowable fill is composed of water, portland cement, fine aggregate, and fly ash or slag cement. It is a fluid material with typical slumps of 10 inches or more, and has the consistency of a milk shake. Like most concrete, flowable fill may be mixed in central-mix concrete plants, ready-mixed concrete trucks or pugmills (small on-site mixers).

Once flowable fill is transported to the jobsite, the mixture may be placed with chutes, conveyors, buckets, or pumps, depending on the application. Flowable fill is placed continuously in most applications. For pipe bedding and backfilling, flowable fill is placed in lifts to prevent the pipes from floating. Internal vibration or compaction is not needed to consolidate mixtures. Its flowability and weight are sufficient for consolidation.


A ready mix concrete producer can aid in developing a mix design for flowable fill. However, when ordering, consider the following properties:

Strength: Applications that require removal of flowable fill at a later date usually limit the maximum compressive strength to less than 200 psi (1.4 MPa).

Setting and Early Strength: Hardening time can be as short as one hour, but can take up to eight hours depending on mix design and trench conditions (e.g moisture, temperature).

Density in Place: The in-place density of normal flowable fill typically ranges from 90 to 125 pcf (1400 to 2000 kg/m3)

Flowability: Flowability can be enhanced through the use of fly ash or air entraining admixtures.

Durability: Flowable fill is not designed to resist freezing and thawing, abrasive or erosive actions, or aggressive chemicals.



Mike McCann
McCann Engineering

 

[hokie66]

In Australia, lean mix concrete and flowable fill are two different things. Lean mix concrete is what you use under a footing when soft material is encountered or the contractor digs out too much. Usually 10 MPa. Flowable fill is as described above, and we usually call it "liquifill". In fact one company here has registered "Liquifill" as a trademark.

 

[hokie66]

Australia USA

Holding down bolts Anchor bolts
(most of the time)

Variation Change Order

White ants Termites
(wrong may it be)

Roof battens probably not used?
(small members
spanning over roof
trusses providing
support for steel
roofing or roof tiles)

 

[msquared48]

Hokie66:

In the US, there are two kinds of bolts at the foundation.

What we refer in residential to as "Anchor Bolts", are typically used only for shear transfer ftom the wood plate to the concrete foundation.

"Holddowns" are bolts, rods, or special straps used to transfer tension forces from wind/seismic forces at the ends of shear walls to beams, columns, other shear walls, or the foundation below.

The bolts used to anchor steel moment frames, light poles, and the like are also called "Anchor Bolts" though, for what it's worth.

FYI, the 1X4 stripping you refer to are used for shake roofs in the US. The term that I well know escapes me for the moment - old timers disease I guess.

How about "furring strips" though for another term - used to "fur" out from a concrete wall to attach sheetrock.



Mike McCann
McCann Engineering

 

[msquared48]

Hokie66:

I finally remembered - what you refer to as roof battens, we call "Skip Sheathing" in the US.



Mike McCann
McCann Engineering

 

[hokie66]

Americans build wood structures, Australians build timber structures. Americans use 2x4's, Aussies use 4x2's (now 100x50 undressed, 90x45 dressed).