MSTE Construction and Engineering Terms
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seyer intMSTE Construction and Engineering Terms
Uploaded by
seyer intCONSTRUCTION TERMS (MSTE)
PLACING – the movement of concrete to its final position
CONSOLIDATION - the process of removing air voids in concrete as it is placed
FINISHING - the process of bringing the surface of concrete to its final position and imparting the desired
surface mixture
CURING - the process of providing required water and maintaining favorable temperature for a period of
time after placing concrete
VACUUM DEWATERING - may be employed to reduce the amount of free water present in plastic
concrete after the concrete has been placed and screeded
TILT-UP CONSTRUCTION - a special form of precast wall construction in which wall panels are cast
horizontally at the job and then erected
FATIGUE - when a material is subjected to repeated cycle of stress or strain, what causes its structure to
break down ultimately leading to fracture
CREEP – time dependent deformation
- when a material has to support the load for a long period of time, what causes it to continue to
deform until a sudden fracture occurs
YIELDING - in what condition is a material when it breaks down and deforms permanently even due to a
slight increase in stress above the elastic limit
HIGHWAY ENGINEERING (MSTE)
ASPHALT - is a construction material that has a property of being dark brown to black cementitious
material in which the predominating substance is bitumen
WEATHERING - refers to the natural deterioration of the asphalt material
OXIDATION - chemical reaction that takes place when the asphalt material is attacked by oxygen in the
air
VOLATILIZATION - evaporation of the lighter hydrocarbons from the asphalt material
STABILITY - is the property of bituminous mixes in pavement to resist deformation or displacement due
to impose load or repeated loading
DURABILITY - it describes the ability of an asphalt material to resist weathering
DUCTILITY - it is a distance in centimeters a standard sample of asphalt material will stretch before
breaking when tested on standard ductility test equipment at 25 C (77 F)
VISCOSITY – is a property used to describe the consistency of asphalt material in the liquid state
PENETRATION TEST – gives an empirical measurement of the consistency of material in terms of the
distance a standard needle sinks into that material under a prescribed loading and time
FLOAT TEST – used to determine the consistency of semisolid asphalt materials that are more viscous
than grade 3000 or have penetration higher than 300
FLASH POINT – conducted using Cleveland open-cup apparatus
LOSS-ON HEATING TEST - used to determine the amount of material that evaporates from a sample of
asphalt under a specified temperature and time
DEMULSIBILITY TEST – used to indicate the relative susceptibility of asphalt emulsions to breaking down
(coalescing) when in contact with aggregates
MARSHALL STABILITY METHOD – one of the commonly used method to determine the optimum asphalt
content
EXTRACTION TEST – checking the gradation of composite aggregates and asphalt content of asphalt mix
SOLUBILITY TEST – test used to measure the amount of impurities in the asphalt material
JOB MIX FORMULA – refers to the determination of proportion different materials to be used in
producing the hot-mix, hot-laid mixture for the project under consideration
TACK COAT – a thin layer sprayed over an old pavement to facilitate the bonding of the old pavement
and a new course
PRIME COATS – it is used mainly to provide a waterproof surface on the base
SEAL COATS – it is usually a single application of asphalt that may not contain aggregates
SUBGRADE – natural material located along the horizontal alignment of the pavement
SUBBASE – located immediately above subgrade
BASE COURSE – lies immediately above subbase
SCALING – result of too wet mix, over sanded mix and overworking of concrete mix
SEGREGATION – malpractice of conveying fresh concrete mix
CBR TEST – most common method of assessing strength and stiffness of both subgrade and pavement
materials
DESIGN MIX – it is design to give the most practical combination of the materials which will produce the
desired workability, strength and durability
SLUMP TEST – test used to determine the consistency of concrete
VIBRATOR – tool used to eliminate the air voids and honeycomb
BLOCK CRACKING – interconnected cracks that divide the pavement into rectangular pieces
LONGITUDINAL CRACKS – cracks parallel to the centerline of the pavement
TRANSVERSE CRACKS – cracks orthogonal to the centerline of the pavement
POTHOLES – bowl-shaped holes
RUTTING – longitudinal surface depression in the wheel paths
REFLECTION CRACKING – cracks in asphalt concrete overlay surfaces that occur over joints in concrete
pavement
ALLIGATOR CRACKING – series of interconnecting cracks that are caused by fatigue failure
RAVELING – wearing of the pavement surface caused by breaking aggregates
SAFETY – freedom from accidents: absence of hazardous conditions and acts
HEALTH – freedom from illness: state of wellness, not just absence of disease
HAZARD – potential of an act or condition that can be lead to an accident
RISK – the chance of physical or personal loss
ACCIDENTS – unplanned or unwanted occurrence or event that cause damages
NEAR MISS – disruption in the normal process which does not results to injury or equipment damage
HYDRAU-GEO TERMS
CLAY – type of soil having fraction passing No.10 (2mm) U.S sieve and retained on No.200 (0.075mm)
sieve under AASHTO classification system
GRAVEL - type of soil having fraction passing 75mm sieve and retained on No.10 (2 mm) U.S sieve under
AASHTO classification system
SILT & CLAY - what type of soil having fraction passing the No. 200 sieve under AASHTO classification
system
CLAYEY - type of silt clay materials where the fine fractions have plasticity index of 11 or more
SILTY - type of silt clay materials where the fine fractions have plasticity index of less than 11
BOULDERS & COBBLES- soil having size large than 75 mm (75mm – 300mm)
SAND - soil particles having particular size limits from 2mm to 0.05mm in diameter under USDA
classification
SILT - soil particles having particular size limits from 0.05mm to 0.002mm in diameter under USDA
classification
CLAY - soil particles having particular size limits smaller than 0.002mm in diameter under USDA
classification
A-7-5 - classification of soil under AASHTO classification where P.I < LL-30
A-7-6 - classification of soil under AASHTO classification where P.I > LL-30
10-20 – range of suitability number of good backfill materials
FLOW LINE – line which a water particle will travel from upstream to downstream
EQUIPOTENTIAL LINE – line along which the potential head at all points is equa
Common questions
Powered by AIThe Marshall Stability Method is used to assess the stability and flow of asphalt mixes. It helps in determining the optimum asphalt content by evaluating the strength and flexibility of the asphalt mix under loading conditions. This method ensures that the mixture can withstand traffic stresses while maintaining adequate flexibility to prevent cracking .
Fatigue occurs when materials undergo repeated stress, leading to structural breakdown and fracture over time. Creep involves time-dependent deformation under sustained load, causing materials to continue to deform until failure. Both phenomena highlight the importance of considering long-term stress impacts in design to prevent premature failure .
Viscosity measures the asphalt's fluidity in its liquid state, impacting its workability during application and its resistance to deformation under load. Ductility assesses the asphalt's ability to stretch before breaking, influencing its effectiveness in accommodating thermal expansion and contraction. Together, these properties determine how well an asphalt pavement can resist cracking and deformation over time .
Oxidation occurs when asphalt is attacked by oxygen in the air, leading to a chemical reaction that can cause the asphalt to harden and become brittle over time. This process decreases the ductility and increases the susceptibility of the pavement to cracking, thereby reducing its durability .
The penetration test measures the consistency of asphalt by determining how deep a standard needle penetrates the material under specified conditions. This test provides an empirical assessment of the asphalt's hardness or softness, which is crucial for predicting how the material will perform under temperature variations and traffic loading, thus affecting the pavement's longevity and quality .
Vacuum dewatering involves reducing the amount of free water in plastic concrete after it is placed and screeded. Its benefits include enhancing the strength and durability of the concrete by removing excess water, thus reducing the water-cement ratio, which leads to denser and more durable concrete .
Tack coats are applied as thin layers over existing pavements to improve adhesion between new and old layers, preventing separation and improving structural integrity. Prime coats serve mainly to seal and waterproof the base surface, providing a durable bonding foundation and preventing water ingress that could destabilize the layers underneath .
The design mix is crucial as it determines the proportion of various materials to produce concrete with specific properties. By adjusting the ratios of water, cement, aggregates, and additives, engineers can attain desired levels of workability, compressive strength, and durability, depending on the environmental conditions and structural requirements .
Safety and health considerations are critical in managing construction projects as they reduce the risk of accidents and illnesses, ensuring workforce well-being and compliance with regulations. Proactive safety management can lead to fewer disruptions, lower insurance costs, and enhanced productivity, reflecting positively on project timelines and costs .
The AASHTO classification system categorizes soils based on their grain sizes. CLAY has particles smaller than 0.002mm, SILT ranges from 0.05mm to 0.002mm, and SAND is from 2mm to 0.05mm. GRAVEL falls between 75mm and 2mm, while BOULDERS and COBBLES are larger than 75mm. CLAYEY and SILTY soils are differentiated by the plasticity index, which affects their engineering behavior .