300 Most Important Civil Engineering Terms with Definitions

Civil Engineering Terms

• Abutment: A structure built at the end of a bridge or dam that supports the main load.
• Acoustic Engineering: A branch of engineering focused on sound and vibrations, used in building design, noise control, and audio systems.
• Aggregate: Materials like sand, gravel, or crushed stone used in concrete, plaster, and road construction.
• Architectural Drawings: Visual plans that show the layout, size, and design of buildings and infrastructure.
• Area: The surface size of a two-dimensional space, measured in square units like square meters or square feet.
• Asphalt Concrete: A mix of aggregates and bitumen used for road surfaces due to its durability and flexibility.
• Backfill: Material used to refill excavated ground in construction projects like roads and buildings.
• Balustrade: A row of small posts (balusters) supporting a railing on stairs or balconies.
• Base Course: A layer of material under the pavement that provides support and distributes loads.
• Batching Plant: A machine that mixes cement, sand, stone, and water to produce concrete.
• Beam: A horizontal structural element that carries loads to columns or walls.
• Bearing Capacity: The ability of soil to support the weight placed on it without failure.
• Bed Joint: The horizontal layer of mortar between masonry blocks or bricks for bonding and support.
• Berm: A raised strip of earth or gravel at the edge of roads to control water flow and increase safety.
• Binder Course: A layer in road construction between the base and surface that adds strength.
• Binding Wire: Thin steel wire used to tie reinforcement bars in place before pouring concrete.
• Bitumen: A black, sticky material from crude oil used in road building and waterproofing.
• Bleeding: When water rises to the surface of fresh concrete, weakening it if not controlled.
• Bollard: A short, strong post used to prevent vehicle access or protect areas from impacts.
• Bridge Deck: The top surface of a bridge that supports vehicles and pedestrian traffic.
• Broom Finish: A rough texture on concrete surfaces made with a broom to reduce slipping.
• Building Footprint: The ground area covered by the main structure of a building, excluding open spaces.
• Bull Float: A flat tool used to smooth fresh concrete surfaces during finishing.
• Bull Nose: A rounded edge applied to steps or corners for safety and better appearance.
• Butt Fusion Joint: A method to weld plastic pipes by heating and pressing their ends together.
• Cage: A frame of steel bars tied together to form the base structure for concrete columns or beams.
• Camber: A slight curve on road surfaces to help drain rainwater and improve safety.
• Cambered Beam: A beam curved slightly upward in the middle to handle loads better in long spans.
• Cantilever Retaining Wall: An L- or T-shaped wall that uses its base to resist soil pressure behind it.
• Cantilever: A structure supported at only one end and free on the other, used in balconies or bridges.
• Casement Window: A window attached with side hinges that opens outward like a door.
• Cavity Wall: A wall with two layers separated by an air gap for insulation and moisture resistance.
• Chair: A small support used to hold steel bars at the right height during concrete placement.
• Chase: A groove or recess formed in a wall or other surface to accommodate pipes, conduits, or other services.
• Chimney Breast: A mass of masonry surrounding a chimney, providing support and protection.
• Cladding: The external covering or finish of a building, such as siding or brickwork.
• Cleat: A small piece of rebar bent at a right angle and used to tie together different layers of reinforcement.
• Clinker: Clinker is a partially fused byproduct produced in the cement kiln during the production of Portland cement. It is ground with gypsum to produce cement powder.
• Closer: A cut brick used to end a course or to fill a small gap.
• Cofferdam: A temporary structure built to enclose an area for construction underwater, such as bridge piers.
• Cohesionless Soil: Soil composed mainly of sand or gravel without significant clay content.
• Cold Mix Asphalt: Asphalt mixture prepared and placed at ambient temperatures.
• Collar Beam: A horizontal structural member tying together two opposite roof rafters.
• Column: A vertical structural member that supports loads from above.
• Compaction: The process of reducing the volume of soil by removing air and water.
• Composite Material: A combination of two or more materials with distinct properties to create a new material.
• Concealed Beam: A beam that is embedded within the slab depth. This type of beam is not visible on the ceiling or floor. It is used for aesthetic purposes or when additional support is required without changing the architectural design.
• Concrete Admixture: Additional materials added to concrete to modify its properties, such as accelerators, retarders, or plasticizers.
• Concrete Cover: The distance from the surface of the concrete to the outer face of the rebar.
• Concrete Mix Design: The process of proportioning the ingredients (cement, aggregates, water, and admixtures) to achieve the desired properties of concrete.
• Concrete Spacer: Small, durable devices used to maintain the correct distance between the reinforcement and the formwork, ensuring the reinforcement is properly embedded in the concrete and protected from corrosion.
• Concrete: A composite material made of cement, water, and aggregates, used in construction.
• Coping: The top course or covering of a wall, often sloped to shed water.
• Covered Area: The area of a building that is covered by the roof, walls, and pillars. Open spaces like terraces, open parking areas, open lawns, and courtyards are not included in the covered area. Covered area is measured in sft (square feet) or sqm (square meters) for all floors of the building and values for each floor are added together to calculate the total covered area.
• Crank: The bending of the end of a bar to ensure proper anchoring within the concrete.
• Crenellation: Alternating high and low sections along the top of a wall, often used for defensive purposes.
• Crown: The top surface.
• Culvert: A structure, typically a pipe, used to allow water to pass beneath the road.
• Curb Stone: A precast concrete or stone element used to form the edge of a pavement, road, or walkway. It provides a clear boundary and helps contain the road surface and guide water runoff.
• Curing Compound: A liquid applied to the surface of concrete to retain moisture during the curing process.
• Curing: The process of maintaining adequate moisture, temperature, and time for concrete to achieve its desired properties.
• Curtain Wall: An exterior wall that does not support structural loads but serves as a barrier against the weather.
• Cut and Fill: Earthmoving process involving cutting material from high areas and filling low areas.
• Dado: The lower part of a wall, which is often decorated or paneled for aesthetic and protective purposes. It typically extends from the floor to a height of about 1 to 1.5 meters.
• Damp Proof Course (DPC): A layer of waterproof material placed on the walls of buildings at plinth level to prevent moisture from rising through the structure. DPC includes a layer of concrete coated by hot bitumen and covered by polyethylene sheet.
• Damp Proofing: The application of materials or techniques to prevent moisture from penetrating into a building.
• Dead Load: Permanent, static weight of a structure, including its own weight and any immovable elements such as walls, floors, and roofs. It does not change over time.
• Deep Foundation: A type of foundation that transfers building loads to deeper layers of soil or rock when the surface soil is too weak. Pile foundations and caissons are examples of deep foundations.
• Density: The mass of a material per unit volume, commonly expressed in kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³) or pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft³).
• Development Length: The length of rebar needed beyond a critical section to ensure proper anchorage in concrete.
• Diaphragm: A horizontal or inclined structural element that transmits lateral loads to vertical resisting elements.
• Dormer: A window that projects vertically from a sloping roof.
• Dovetail Joint: A type of joint that resembles the shape of a dove's tail, often used in woodworking.
• Dowel Bar: Reinforcing bar used to join two concrete elements.
• Dowel: A short piece of rebar extending from an existing structure to provide a connection for new concrete.
• Ductility: The ability of a material to deform under stress without breaking.
• Earth Pressure: The pressure exerted by soil against a retaining structure.
• Earthquake Resistant Design: Designing structures to minimize damage during seismic events.
• Easement: The legal right to use another person's land for a specific purpose.
• Edger: A tool used to round the edges of a concrete surface for a finished look.
• Efflorescence: A white, powdery deposit of salts that appears on surfaces due to water carrying salts to the surface where it evaporates.
• Egress: The means of exiting a building, including doors, windows, and emergency exits.
• Elastomeric Bearing Pad: A flexible bearing used to accommodate movements in bridges and structures.
• Embankment: A raised section of road created by compacting and layering soil or suitable materials.
• Enamel Paint: Paint that forms a hard, glossy surface, offering high durability and resistance to environmental wear.
• Erosion Control: Techniques and measures to prevent soil erosion.
• Expansion Joint: A joint designed to allow expansion and contraction of concrete due to temperature changes.
• Facade Engineering: The design and construction of a building's exterior, including walls and windows.
• Facade: The exterior face of a building, including walls, windows, and doors.
• Fascia: The board or band along the lower edge of a roof, covering the rafters.
• Fenestration: The design and arrangement of windows and doors in a building.
• Ferrous: Materials containing iron, typically magnetic and prone to rusting.
• Fiber Glass: A strong, lightweight material made of tiny glass fibers, used for insulation and frames.
• Fillet: A curved transition between two surfaces meeting at an angle, often used in welding.
• Finish Schedule: A document specifying materials and finishes for various surfaces in a building.
• Finishing: The process of creating a smooth final surface on cured concrete.
• Fire Resistance Rating: The time a material or assembly can withstand fire exposure.
• Fireproofing: Materials or coatings applied to protect structural elements from fire.
• Flashing: Waterproof material to prevent water penetration in leak-prone areas.
• Floor Joist: Horizontal framing members that support floors of a building.
• Footing: The base of a foundation that distributes load to the soil.
• Form Release Agent: A substance applied to formwork to prevent concrete from sticking.
• Form Ties: Devices used to hold formwork together during concrete pouring.
• Formwork: Temporary molds or structures that shape and support concrete until it sets.
• Foundation: The substructure supporting a building or structure.
• Framing: The assembly of structural elements forming a building's framework.
• Frog: A depression on a brick's top surface used for bonding with mortar.
• Gabion: A wire cage filled with rocks, used for erosion control or retaining walls.
• Gauges: A standard unit to measure thickness or diameter of wires and metal sheets.
• Geogrid: A synthetic material used to reinforce soil in road construction.
• Geopolymer Concrete: Concrete using aluminosilicate materials instead of Portland cement.
• Geotechnical Engineering: A civil engineering branch focused on soil and rock mechanics.
• Geotextile: A permeable fabric used to improve stability and performance in road structures.
• Girder: A large horizontal beam that supports other beams or joists.
• Glass Wool: A fibrous material from glass used for building insulation against heat and sound.
• Grade: The slope or incline of a road, usually in percentage.
• Gravity: The natural force pulling objects toward Earth, important in load-bearing calculations.
• Green Area Ratio (GRA): The ratio of green space to constructed area, used to regulate landscaping and reduce urban heat.
• Grout: A mixture of cement, water, and sand used to fill gaps or reinforce structures.
• Guardrail: A protective barrier along the edge of the road.
• Tack Coat: A thin application of asphalt emulsion to help bond layers of pavement.
• Gypsum Board: Also known as drywall or plasterboard, a common building material for interior walls and ceilings.
• Haunch: The section of a beam close to a support, typically deeper than the rest.
• Header: The end of a brick that is visible in the face of a wall.
• Hip Roof: A roof with slopes on all four sides, meeting at a common ridge.
• Honeycombing: Voids or gaps left in the concrete due to incomplete consolidation.
• Hook Length: The length of a bent or curved portion of a rebar used for anchoring.
• Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA): Asphalt concrete mixture produced at high temperatures and commonly used in road construction.
• HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning): Systems that control the temperature and air quality within a building.
• Hydraulic Structures: Structures designed to control or harness water resources, such as dams and channels.
• Hydrostatic Pressure: Pressure exerted by a fluid at equilibrium due to the force of gravity.
• I-beam: A type of steel beam shaped like the letter "I" used in construction.
• In-situ: Construction or testing performed on-site rather than in a controlled environment.
• Jacking: Lifting a structure using hydraulic jacks.
• Jamb: The vertical sides of a window or door opening.
• Joint: A point where two or more structural elements meet.
• Jointing: Creating grooves or joints in concrete to control cracking.
• Juggling of Steel: Refers to the movement, handling, or misplacement of steel reinforcement on-site, often due to attempts to conceal mistakes or errors in placement. This can lead to improper alignment or arrangement of the reinforcement, ultimately compromising the structural integrity of the reinforced concrete structure.
• Kick off Meeting: A project kick off meeting is the first meeting of the project team (client, contractor, and consultants). It discusses project team mobilization, timelines, and other TORs to streamline future project workings.
• Kick Plate: A protective metal or wood plate at the base of a door to prevent damage.
• Kicker: A short diagonal brace used in scaffolding.
• K-value (Thermal Conductivity): The measure of a material's ability to conduct heat.
• Lap Length: The length of overlap between two adjacent lengths of rebar to ensure continuity and strength.
• Lift Slab Construction: A method where concrete slabs are poured on the ground and lifted into position.
• Lintel Beam: A horizontal beam that supports the load over an opening, such as a door or window.
• Lintel: A horizontal structural element above an opening (door or window) to support loads.
• Live Load: Temporary, variable loads imposed on a structure, such as people, furniture, equipment, and vehicles.
• Load-Bearing Wall: A wall that supports vertical loads from above, such as the weight of the floors and roof.
• Louver: A slatted opening to allow ventilation while excluding rain and direct sunshine.
• Masonry: Construction using bricks, concrete blocks, or other materials bound together with mortar.
• Mass Concrete: Concrete structures with dimensions large enough to require special construction techniques.
• Median: The central area between opposing lanes of traffic.
• Modular Construction: Construction using pre-assembled and pre-fabricated building components.
• Modulus of Elasticity: The ratio of stress to strain in a material.
• Mullion Transom System: A structural system in which vertical and horizontal elements support the load.
• Mullion: A vertical or horizontal member that separates and supports adjacent window or door units.
• Nodal Point: A point in a structure where members meet and forces are transferred.
• Non-Destructive Testing (NDT): Techniques to evaluate materials and structures without causing damage.
• Non-Ferrous: Metals and alloys that do not contain significant amounts of iron. They are often resistant to corrosion and non-magnetic.
• Open Space Ratio (OSR): The ratio between the total plot size and total covered area of construction.
• Open Web Steel Joist: Lightweight steel truss used to support loads.
• Overhang: A part of a structure that extends beyond its main support.
• Overlay: The application of a new layer of pavement over an existing road surface.
• Parapet: A low wall along the edge of a roof, balcony, or terrace.
• Parquet Flooring: A type of wood flooring made of geometric patterns formed by small wood pieces.
• Partition Wall: An interior wall that divides spaces within a building but does not support structural loads.
• Pavement Design: The process of selecting appropriate materials and thickness for road and pavement construction.
• Pavement Markings: Painted lines and symbols on road surfaces for traffic control.
• Pavement Structure: The layers of materials (subgrade, subbase, base course, and surface course) that form the road surface.
• Permeability: The ability of a soil or rock to transmit water.
• Perpend: The vertical joint between two bricks in a wall.
• Pile Cap: A thick concrete mat that distributes the load from a group of piles to the underlying soil.
• Pile Foundation: A deep foundation system using vertical columns to transfer loads to the soil.
• Placing Drawing: A detailed drawing showing the location and arrangement of reinforcement in a structure.
• Plinth Level: Finished floor level of the ground floor of a building, above which the superstructure is constructed. It serves to raise the building above the surrounding ground level to prevent water ingress.
• Plinth Protection: A layer of concrete or paving laid around the external perimeter of a building at the plinth level to protect the foundation and walls from water and soil erosion.
• Pneumatic Caisson: A watertight structure used in the construction of bridge piers or other underwater structures.
• Pothole: A depression or hole in the road surface, often caused by wear, weathering, or poor construction.
• Precast Concrete: Concrete elements cast in a controlled environment before being transported to the construction site.
• Prestressed Concrete: Concrete in which internal stresses are introduced to improve strength.
• Pumpcrete: Concrete pump used to transport and place concrete at a construction site.
• Quality Control (QC): Processes to ensure that construction meets specified standards.
• Quoins: Cornerstones or angle stones used in masonry to reinforce the corners of buildings.
• Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC): Concrete that is pre-mixed at a batching plant and delivered to the construction site.
• Rebar (Reinforcement Bar): Steel bars used to reinforce concrete, improving its tensile strength.
• Rebar Cutter/Bender: Tools used to cut and shape rebar to the required dimensions.
• Rebar Schedule: A document specifying the details of the type, size, and placement of reinforcement in a structure.
• Rebar: Reinforcing bars made of steel used to strengthen concrete.
• Reinforced Concrete: Concrete that contains embedded steel reinforcement to enhance its tensile strength.
• Reinforced Earth: A technique where soil is reinforced with strips or grids of materials like geotextiles or steel.
• Retaining Wall: A structure designed to resist the lateral pressure of soil.
• Ridge: The highest point of a pitched roof where two roof slopes meet.
• Road Base: The layer of material directly beneath the surface course, providing additional support.
• Road Gradient: Horizontal slope of road is called road gradient. It affects vehicle performance, fuel consumption, and safety on hilly areas.
• Road Widening: Increasing the width of an existing road.
• Rockfall Protection: Measures taken to prevent rocks from falling onto roads or structures.
• Roof Truss: A structural framework designed to support the roof and distribute its load to the building's walls.
• Rowlock: A brick laid on its face with the short end exposed.
• Rumble Strips: Raised or grooved patterns on the road surface to alert drivers.
• Sail Course: A course of bricks where the bricks are laid at an angle to the face of the wall.
• Sash Window: A window with one or more movable panels or "sashes."
• Segregation: Separation of the Cement, Sand and aggregate form concrete due to improper handling or excessive vibration is called Segregation of concrete.
• Seismic Load: The forces and stresses that a structure bears during an earthquake. Buildings in seismic zones are designed to withstand these dynamic loads.
• Setting Time: The time it takes for concrete to stiffen and harden after mixing.
• Shallow Foundational: The type of foundation that transfers building loads to the earth very near the surface up to 3 m depth. Examples: strip footing, pad footing, raft foundation.
• Shear Force: A force that acts parallel to the surface of a material.
• Shear Wall: A vertical structural element that resists lateral forces, such as wind or seismic loads.
• Shoring: Temporary support structures used to prevent collapse during construction.
• Shotcrete: Also called Sprayed Concrete, it is conveyed through a hose and pneumatically projected at high velocity onto a surface. Used in tunnels, slope stabilization, and repairs.
• Shoulder Grading: Shaping and compacting the road shoulder to provide proper drainage and stability.
• Shoulder: The portion of the road adjacent to the traveled way, designed to provide additional support and drainage.
• Sill Level: The bottom of a window opening, where the window frame is installed.
• Sill Plate: The bottom horizontal member of a wood-framed wall that rests on the foundation.
• Sill: The horizontal piece at the base of a window or door.
• Skirting: A strip of material, often same as flooring, fixed at the base of a wall to protect from water seepage and cover floor-wall gaps.
• Skylight: A transparent or translucent window installed in a roof to allow natural light.
• Slab: A horizontal, flat, or slightly inclined surface forming a floor, roof, or platform within a building.
• Slope Stability: The ability of a slope to resist failure.
• Sluice Valve: A valve used to control the flow of water through a pipe or channel, typically used in water distribution and sewage systems is called sluice valve.
• Slump Test: A test to measure the consistency or workability of fresh concrete.
• Slurry Wall: A type of barrier wall constructed to contain groundwater flow.
• Soffit: The underside of an architectural element, such as a roof overhang.
• Soil Stabilization: Techniques used to improve the stability and load-bearing capacity of soil.
• Soldier: A brick laid vertically with its narrow end facing out.
• Spandrel: The triangular space between the outer curve of an arch and the rectangle enclosing it.
• Splice: The junction where two lengths of rebar are joined together to maintain continuity.
• Staircase: A structure that provides access between different levels within a building.
• Stirrup Length: The vertical length of a stirrup in a reinforced concrete element.
• Stirrup: U-shaped or bent rebar used to provide lateral support to vertical rebar in columns or beams.
• Strain: The deformation or displacement of a material in response to an applied stress. It is a dimensionless quantity representing the ratio of change in dimension to the original dimension.
• Stress: The internal force per unit area within materials that arises from externally applied forces, deformation, or temperature changes. It is expressed in units of force per area, such as pascals (Pa).
• Stress Analysis: The study of the distribution of forces within a structure.
• Stretcher: The long, narrow face of a brick visible in the length of a wall.
• Structural Drawings: Structural drawings are detailed technical drawings that show the design and specifications of a building's structural components, such as beams, columns, foundations, and reinforcement.
• Structural Frame: The skeleton or framework of a building, consisting of columns, beams, and other load-bearing elements.
• Strut-and-Tie Model: A structural analysis model used to design complex reinforced concrete elements.
• Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR): SBR is a synthetic rubber compound used as an additive in cement and concrete to improve their flexibility, waterproofing, and bonding properties. It enhances durability and crack resistance.
• Subbase: The layer of material placed on the subgrade to improve its properties and provide a stable base for the road.
• Subdrain: A drainage system installed beneath the road to remove excess water.
• Subgrade: The natural soil or prepared surface on which a road is built.
• Super Elevation: Super elevation is the difference of level between both sides of road provided to surface at curves to counteract the centrifugal force and reduce the tendency of vehicles to overturn and skid sideways. It helps in ensuring safe vehicle transportation on curved roads.
• Superstructure: The part of the building above the foundation, including walls, floors, and roofs.
• Surface Course: The top layer of the road pavement, providing the wearing surface for vehicles.
• Tack Welding: Temporary welding to hold rebar in place before concrete is poured.
• Tempered Glass: Tempered glass is a safety glass that has been processed by controlled thermal or chemical treatments to increase its strength compared to normal glass. This type of glass when broken, it shatters into small granular pieces instead of sharp shards.
• Tensile Strength: The maximum stress a material can withstand without breaking when stretched.
• Thrust Block: A concrete block placed against a pipeline to resist thrust forces.
• Tie Beam: A horizontal beam that connects and supports two or more columns.
• Toe Wall: A small sporting wall constructed at the base of a slope or embankment to prevent erosion or sliding of the soil and to provide additional stability to structures above it.
• Torsion: The twisting of a structural element under the influence of a torque.
• Traffic Calming: Design features incorporated into roads to slow down or reduce traffic speed.
• Traffic Engineering: Design and management of traffic systems.
• Trombe Wall: A passive solar building design in which a wall absorbs solar heat during the day and releases it at night.
• Trowel: A flat metal tool used to smooth and finish the surface of concrete.
• Truss: A framework of beams, bars, or rods that supports a structure.
• Turbidity Current: A fast-moving current of sediment-laden water flowing down a slope.
• Tying Wire: Wire used to secure and tie rebar at intersections and joints.
• Undercutting: Excavating material from below the natural ground level.
• Underpinning: Strengthening and stabilizing the foundation of an existing building.
• Valley: The internal angle formed by the intersection of two roof slopes.
• Veneer: A thin layer of material applied to the surface for decorative purposes.
• Vertical DPC (Damp Proof Course): A vertical layer or coating of waterproof material applied to prevent the passage of moisture through walls is called vertical DPC, typically applied where two walls intersect or where there is a change in wall levels.
• Vibration Isolation: Techniques to reduce the transmission of vibrations in structures.
• Vibrator: A tool used to consolidate and eliminate air pockets in freshly poured concrete.
• Volume: Volume is the amount of three-dimensional space occupied by an object, measured in cubic units (e.g., cubic meters or cubic feet). Volume is calculated by multiplying three dimensions of object (i.e. length, width and depth or height).
• Waste Management: The planning and implementation of strategies for the collection and disposal of waste.
• Water Emulsion Paint: Water emulsion paint is water based paint where pigment particles are suspended in a binder dissolved in water. It is easy to apply, environmentally friendly, and dries quickly. Commonly used for interior and exterior wall finishes.
• Water Table: The level at which the ground is saturated with water.
• Waterproofing: The process of making a structure resistant to the ingress of water.
• Wearing Course: The top layer of the road pavement designed to resist wear and provide a smooth driving surface.
• Weather Shield: A specialized exterior paint or coating designed to protect buildings from harsh weather conditions is called weather shield. This protects the building from rain, wind, and sunlight. It provides durability and long-lasting protection.
• Welding: The process of joining materials by melting and fusing them.
• Wind Load: The force exerted by the wind on a structure or building.
• X-bracing: Diagonal bracing in the shape of the letter "X" to provide lateral stability.
• Yield Point: The stress at which a material begins to deform plastically.
• Zero Lot Line: A type of development where structures are built up to the property line.
• Zoning: The process of dividing land into zones to control the use and development of properties.