Concrete Terminology Quiz

Concrete Terminology

• Concrete: A construction material made by combining Portland cement, aggregate, and water. Normal-weight concrete typically weighs 140-160 lb/cu ft. Lightweight insulating concrete can weigh 15-90 lb/cu ft and has a 28-day compressive strength of 100-1000 psi. Mass concrete is used in structures where the concrete's weight provides much of the structure's strength. Heavyweight concrete utilizes heavy aggregates like barite and magnetite, often used for nuclear shielding. Refractory concrete is cast into shape before placement.

• Leveling: Adjusting a concrete surface to the desired grade using mortar.

• Edging: Rounding off the edges of a concrete slab to prevent chipping.

• Screeding: Using a straight edge to smooth newly laid concrete.

• Jointing: Using premolded inserts in concrete slabs to help control cracking due to shrinkage.

• Bleeding: The settling of dry materials in concrete to the bottom, displacing the water to the surface.

• Troweling: Finishing concrete surfaces using tools to create a smooth and level finish; also used on slabs that will have other finishes like tile, carpet etc applied.

• Scaling: The breaking away of hardened concrete surfaces, usually happening in the early stages, to a depth of 1/6 to 3/16 inches.

Harbor Terminology

• Harbor: A protected area of water that provides safe and suitable accommodations for ships for cargo transfer, refueling, and repairs.

• Natural Harbors: Harbors protected by natural land features from storms and waves.

• Artificial Harbors: Harbors created by human structures like breakwaters or dredging.

• Port: A sheltered location where ships receive/discharge cargo; includes approaches and anchorage areas.

• Fairway: A navigable channel for vessels in a harbor.

• Wharf: A structure alongside water for loading/unloading cargo, etc.

• Pier: A landing stage or small pier where boats can dock.

• Jetty: A structure in the sea/canal that is not parallel to the coastline, used as a place to dock/load/unload cargo.

• Dolphin: A structure for mooring ships at sea.

• Significant Wave: Hypothetical wave with the average height and period of a wave group.

• Highest Wave: The biggest wave in a wave group.

• Mean Wave: Wave with the average height and period representing all the wave's in a wave group.

Sea Terminology

• Deepwater Waves: Waves in water where depth is at least half the wavelength.

• Mean Sea Level: The average sea level.

• Mean Low Water: Average low water height.

• Mean Lower Low Water: Average of the lower low waters.

• Storm Surge: An abnormal rise in sea level due to storms/typhoons.

• Tsunamis: Large, powerful waves caused by underwater earthquakes.

• Seiche: Oscillating water levels caused by disturbance.

• Seal Coat: Thin surface treatment of asphalt material in road construction.

• Tack Coat: Initial application of bituminous material on roads.

• Prime Coat: Bituminous material application on untreated road base material.

• Perception Time: Driver's time taken to recognize the need to brake..

• Intellection Time: Time needed to understand a situation.

• Emotion Time: Time taken to register any emotions that might affect response time.

• Volition Time: Final action time taken for situations.

Traffic Sign Terminology

• Traffic Sign: Device used to convey messages, regulate, warn or guide traffic.

• Regulatory sign: Shows traffic laws and regulations.

• Warning sign: Warns road users of hazards.

• Guide sign: Provides directions, distances, routes, and points of interest.

• Roadwork signs: Warn of temporary hazards during road work.

• Overhead sings: Essential traffic information on wide roads, where lane control is required.

• Plate Line capacity: Bucket volume when following the outline.

• Struck capacity: Bucket capacity when the load is struck off flush.

• Waterline capacity: Maximum material volume without spillage.

• Heaped volume: Bucket capacity at maximum level, based on angle of rest.

• Grade resistance: Component of vehicle weight acting parallel to the incline.

• Rolling resistance: Resistance due to tire flexing and surface penetration.

• Total resistance: Sum of grade and rolling resistance.

• Aggregate: Material used in concrete to reduce costs and shrinkage.

• Water: Required for cement hydration.

• Hydration: Chemical process for cement curing.

• Water-reducing agent: Substance that increases concrete workability without altering consistency.

Other Terminology

• Retarder: Slows concrete hardening.

• Accelerator: Speeds up concrete hardening.

• Pozzolan: Material used to reduce heat of hydration and increase workability.

• Plasticizers: Improve concrete workability.

• Batching: Proportioning of cement, water, and aggregates.

• Admixture: Other materials added to concrete to alter its properties.