Structure- Something that can hold its shape under load

Tension- A pulling force

Compression- A pushing force

Dead Load- the weight of the structure itself that stays the same

Live Load- the weight of things that come and go, such as cars, people, and furniture

Post- A vertical structural element

Beam- a horizontal structural element

Strut- A diagonal structural element

Prototype- A test version of a design

GLOSSARY

Abutment -

the outermost end supports on a bridge, which carry the load from the deck

Anchorage -

a secure fixing, usually made of reinforced concrete to which the cables are fastened

Aqueduct -

a bridge or channel for conveying water, usually over long distances

Arch Bridge -

a curved structure that converts the downward force of its own weight, and of any weight pressing down on top of it, into an outward force along its sides and base

Architect -

a person who designs all kinds of structures; must also have the ability to conceptualize and communicate ideas effectively -- both in words and on paper -- to clients, engineers, government officials, and construction crews

Beam -

a rigid, usually horizontal, structural element

Beam Bridge -

a simple type of bridge, composed of horizontal beams supported by vertical posts

Bedrock -

the solid rock layer beneath sand or silt

Bend -

(v.) to curve; bending occurs when a straight material becomes curved; one side squeezes together in compression, and the other side stretches apart in tension

Brace -

(n.) a structural support; (v.) to strengthen and stiffen a structure to resist loads

Brittle -

characteristic of a material that fails without warning; brittle materials do not stretch or shorten before failing

Buckle -

to bend under compression

Buttress -

a support that transmits a force from a roof or wall to another supporting structure

Cable -

a structural element formed from steel wire bound in strands; the suspending element in a bridge; the supporting element in some dome roofs

Cable-Stayed Bridge -

a bridge in which the roadway deck is suspended from cables anchored to one or more towers

Cantilever -

a projecting structure supported only at one end, like a shelf bracket or a diving board

Column -

a vertical, structural element, strong in compression

Compression -

a pressing force that squeezes a material together

Concrete -

a mixture of water, sand, small stones, and a gray powder called cement

Deck -

supported roadway on a bridge

Engineering -

a profession in which a knowledge of math and natural science is applied to develop ways to utilize the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of all human beings

Force -

any action that tends to maintain or alter the position of a structure

Geodesic Dome -

a dome composed of short, straight pieces joined to form triangles; invented by Buckminster Fuller

Load -

weight distribution throughout a structure; loads caused by wind, earthquakes, and gravity, for example, affect how weight is distributed throughout a structure

Masonry -

a building material such as stone, clay, brick, or concrete

Perimeter -

the distance around the outside of a shape

Pier -

a vertical supporting structure, such as a pillar

a long, round pole of wood, concrete, or steel driven into the soil by pile drivers

Pressure -

a force applied or distributed over an area

Rigid -

(adj.) ability to resist deformation when subjected to a load; rigidity (n.) the measure of a structure's ability not to change shape when subjected to a load

Span -

(n.) the distance a bridge extends between two supports; (v.) to traverse a specific distance

Steel -

an alloy of iron and carbon that is hard, strong, and malleable

Stiff -

(adj.) ability to resist deformation; stiffness (n.) the measure of a structure's capacity to resist deformation

Suspension Bridge -

a bridge in which the roadway deck is suspended from cables that pass over two towers; the cables are anchored in housings at either end of the bridge

Tension -

a stretching force that pulls on a material

Torsion -

an action that twists a material

Truss -

a rigid frame composed of short, straight pieces joined to form a series of triangles or other stable shapes