Sebastian's Technical Glossary

Anchor (F ancrage, R ancora) Device providing a fixing to a solid surface

Anemometer (R anemometru) Instrument for measuring and/or indicating the velocity of air flow

Anion (R anion) Negatively charged ion (Cl-, NO3-, S2-, etc.)

ANSI American National Standards Institute: this organization represents the United States in the ISO (International Organization for Standardization)

Application Program Computer program that accomplishes specific tasks, such as word processing

ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Asphalt (R Asfalt) Black petroleum residue, which can be anywhere from solid to semisolid at room temperature. When heated to the temperature of boiling water, it becomes pourable. It is used in roofing materials, surfacing roads, in lining the walls of water-retaining structures such as reservoirs and swimming pools, and in manufacturing floor tiles. Asphalt should not be confused with tar, a similar looking substance made from coal or wood and incompatible with petroleum derivates

ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials

Atomic Number (symbolized Z) (R Numar Atomic)The number of protons in a nucleus. It determines the chemical properties of an element

Atomic Weight (R greutate atomica) The nominal atomic weight of an isotope is given by the sum of the number of neutrons and protons in each nucleus. The exact atomic weight differs fractionally from that whole number because neutrons are slightly heavier than protons and the mass of the nucleus is also affected by the binding energy

Auto-Zero Automatic internal correction for offsets and/or drift at zero voltage input

AWG American Wire Gage

AWS Automated Weather Station measures environmental factors such as air temperature, relative humidity, rain, wind, ground temperature, solar radiation and air pressure

Axial Load (R incarcare axiala) Load applied along or parallel to and concentric with the primary axis

Background Noise -T The total noise floor from all sources of interference in a measurement system, independent of the presence of a data signal

Bearing (F porteur, R reazem, suport, baza) The linear or areal dimension over which a higher component transmits load to a lower component

Bedding (F scellement, R baza, pat) A layer, usually of concrete or mortar, for providing continuous support to such items as bricks, slabs, pipes (BS 892, 5385). VAR. to embed (F sceller)

Blackbody A theoretical object that radiates the maximum amount of energy at a given temperature, and absorbs all the energy incident upon it. A blackbody is not necessarily black. (The name blackbody was chosen because the color black is defined as the total absorption of light energy)

Bleeding (F ressuage) C: The separation of water from an unhardened mix (BS 4049). P: The process of diffusion of a soluble colored substance from, into, and through a paint or varnish coating from beneath, thus producing an undesirable staining or discoloration (BS 2015). Used similarly to refer to the transfer of soluble material from bitumen impregnated roofing materials, in lime-rich water, causing staining of soffits of concrete slab roofs

Blister (F poches d'air, R basica, umflatura) A local separation of a surface layer causing a raised area on the surface with a cavity below, usually happening in flat roofs

Bond (F adhérence, R aderenta) Adherence between materials such as bricks/mortar, or plies of felt, or between felts and other elements of roof systems, which use bitumen or other materials as the cementing agent

Bridge (R Punte) Wheatstone bridge configuration utilizing four active strain gages

BTU (btu) British thermal units; the quantity of thermal energy required to raise one pound of water at its maximum density, 1 degree F. One BTU is equivalent to .293 watt hours, or 252 calories. One kilowatt hour is equivalent to 3412 BTU

Building Envelope cladding + roof system

Capillarity (F capillarity, R capilaritate) Absorbtion of a liquid due to surface tension _ "rising damp" (R Igrasie) in walls is caused by capillary rise of the water in small pores of the walling materials

Carbonation (F carbonatation, R carbonare, carbonatie) C: The transformation of the free alkali and alkali-earth hydroxides existent in the cement matrix into carbonates, due to a reaction with carbon dioxide available in the atmosphere.

Cell Test cells of 500 feet length are constructed for various combinations of bituminous, concrete and aggregate. They represent a wide range of pavement types with varying combinations of surface, base, subbase, drainage and compaction

Cladding (F bardage, R vener, although the cladding/air barrier concept is not normally used in Romanian construction) The external covering to the frame or structural walls of a building or structure (BS 5168). The veneer is non- loadbearing, and as such it is designed to carry only its own weight (dry and/or wet), and a limited number of loads such as wind and seism. In relationship with the structure it encloses, it can be either fully bonded or sepparated by an air barrier

Condensation (F condensation, R condensatie) Precipitation of liquid from its vapor resulting from lowering of the temperature under constant pressure, especially the deposition of water from warm moist air on to a relatively cold surface (BS 5643)

Corrosion (F corrosion, R coroziune) Deterioration of a metal by chemical or electrochemical reaction with its environment (BS 3660). Occasionally used, incorrectly, to apply to non-metallic materials, eg. concrete

Crack (F fissure, R crapatura) Linear discontinuity produced by fracture (BS 499). Elongated narrow opening. Synonyms can include: break, split, fracture, fissure, separation, cleavage, in various applications

Crazing (R paienjenis de crapaturi) Network of surface cracks (BS 3446). Used generally to describe surface cracking of concrete surfaces and paint film. Also used specifically to describe the fine network cracking of ceramic glazes by, for example, differential thermal expansion between glaze and tile body, or moisture expansion of the body

Creep (F fluage, R curgere lenta) Slow deformation of a stressed material at temperatures which may be within or above the normal working range of the material (BS 1755)

CRREL USACE/Cold Regions Research Engineering Laboratory (great institutution, although strangely enough it is located in Western NH)

Dampness (F humidité superficielle, R umiditate, umezeala, igrasie) Condition of being slightly wet: usually not so wet that liquid water is evident, eg. wetness caused by condensation on a porous substrate or water transmitted up a porous wall by capillarity

DCP (Dynamic Cone Penetrometer) Instrument used to measure the strength of soil and granular materials used in roadway construction

Decomposition (F décomposition, R descompunere) The separation of a material into elements or parts

Defect (F défaut, R defect) The non-conformity of the result of a test with the specification for a characteristic (ISO 2071). In Building Pathology, used sometimes almost as a synonym of 'fault' or 'failure', but preferred meaning is to indicate only a deviation from some (perceived) standard which may, but will not necessarily result in a failure

Delamination (R destratificare) The breakdown of a material by separation of the layers of which it is composed

Deterioration (F détérioration, R deteriorare, stricare) A reduction in ability to perform up to the anticipated standard

Deviation (F ecart) Divergence of the value of a quantity from a standard or reference value (BS 5233). Used generally to indicate a divergence from what was originally intended.

Dipstick The dipstick is an instrument used to calculate the elevation profile of the road.

Drainage It is an important aspect of controlling water flow in your homes. Drainage issues normally happen because standing water or what we see as "little puddles" are kept intact and form pools within parts of your house. Other drainage problems could be a result of soil that is marshy or a rainy weather. When water has difficulty to drain correctly, your building is in danger. The water will simply sit and saturate the earth, your roof, your walls or your floor always leading to stains, leaks, rust that can slowly ruin parts of your home.

Durability (F durability, R longevitate) The quality of maintaining satisfactory aesthetic, economic, and functional performance for the useful life of the structure

Dynamic Sensors traffic triggered sensors

Embedded Strain Gauge A sensor that measures static and horizontal strains in concrete and asphalt layers by means of five different models placed in various locations and orientations.

Exfiltration (R prelingere) Leakage out of a material or structure

Failure (F défaillance, R distrugere, dezastru, pierderea functionalitatii) The termination of the ability of an item to perform a required function. See defect & fault

Fatigue (R oboseala) The weakening of a material caused by repeated or alternating loads; may be used in conjunction with either static or dynamic loading (BS 2787)

Fault (F 1.imperfection, vice, R 1.defect, 2.falie) 1) Any defect which impairs normal operation (BS CP1013); 2) geologic discontinuity where seismic events start. See failure & defect

Faultmeter A Georgia Digital instrument that measures vertical displacement between joints with a digital readout. Measurements are positive or negative and be recorded for a number of joints

FHWA (US) Federal Highway Administration

Fissure (F fissure, R fisura, crapatura) crack or split

Fracture (F fracturer, R fractura, rupere, ruptura)[n or v] To make or become discontinuous otherwise than by cutting. Usually of relatively brittle materials

Fungus (F moisi, R fungi, ciuperca, mucegai) A plant growth obtaining its nutrition by breakdown of organic matter, usually associated with the presence of dampness, eg. in timber. The plants are characterized by the absence of chlorophyll (BS 4261)

Fungal growth (F moisissure). mold. Upward movement of soil (ground) or of a structure which it supports

FWD (Falling Weight Deflectometer) Instrument that determines the structual condition of each pavement layer.

Grout extremely fluid mixture of sand and gravel; ASTM C476, ACI530.1/ASCE6/TMS602

Horizontal Clip Gauge Tr: sensor that measures the width of concrete joint openings.

Integrity (F bon état, R intregime) in Building Pathology: soundness, with no part or element deficient in performance

Inquiry (R ancheta, cercetare) Official, or semi-official, examination of a case, with the aim of establishing cause, blame, etc.

Interstitial occurring within the thickness of some material element. usually used in the context of 'interstitial condensation' which means condensation which occurs within the thickness of a building element or within its component materials

Loss Consequences of a defect or failure, expressed in terms of costs, injuries, loss of life, etc.

LTPP Long Term Pavement Performance

LVDT Linear Variable Differential Transformer. A sensor consisting of two components anchored at different levels to measure the relative vertical deflection of pavement layers

LVR (Low Volume Road) 2.5 mile loop where controlled truck weight and traffic volume simulate conditions on rural roads

Masonry (R zidarie) the science, art, craft and trade of building in natural or artificial stone. The term is often extended to work in brick and tile. Ancient examples of immense irregular blocks of stone, laid together without mortar, have been found throughout Europe, Americas, Africa, and Asia. The ancient Greeks and Romans developed masonry techniques that are still used today. Rubble masonry uses irregular and coarsely jointed quarried or field stone. Ashlar masonry contains carefully worked stones set with fine, close joints. Either kind of masonry may be laid with or without mortar

Mildew (F mildiou, R mucegai)mold whenever it occurs on fabrics, leather, etc.

Mold, Can/Brit: mould (F moisissure, feutrage de champignons de petite taille, R mucegai). Woolly or powdery fungal growth that forms on the surface of materials in damp, stagnant atmospheres

Mortar (R mortar) mixture of lime and/or cement with sand and water, used either as a binding material for bricks and stone or as a plaster

Piezo Accelerometer Sensor that measures the vertical acceleration of concrete slabs under dynamic loadings. The resulting data, when integrated twice, yields deflections

Pore Water Pressure Gauge Sensors that measure static and and dynamic soil pore water pressures using two different models

Preservation (F préservation, R refacere) The technology of protecting wood from deterioration by living organisms by application of chemical wood preservatives (BS 4261)

Rehabilitate Extensive maintenance intended to bring property or building up to current acceptable condition, often involving improvements (BS 3811)

Renovate (F rénover, R (a) renova) Generally used to mean 'restore'

Repair (R (a) repara, reparatie) to restore an item to an acceptable condition by the renewal, replacement or mending of decayed or damaged parts (BS 3811)

Restore (F restaurer) to bring back an item to its original appearance or state (BS 3811)

Restraint (R constringere, legatura) the partial or total restriction of movement. A device which produces this effect

Resistivity Probe sensors that measure depths of freezing and thawing fronts in the pavement structure

Rutting Dipstick a manually operated device used to record transverse profiles for the bituminous cells

Resistivity Probe sensors that measure depths of freezing and thawing fronts in the pavement structure

Shrinkage (F contraction, R contractie) Decrease in length or volume

Soil Pressure Gauge Sensors that measure static and dynamic stresses, both vertical and horizontal, in soils and other unbounded layers.

Spall (F eclat, R spartura superficiala, tandara) A flaky fragment, usually produced by a blow, or by the action of weather or pressure

Spalling (F eclatement, R spargere superficiala, fragmentare; spall=aschie, tandara) detachment of fragments, usually of flaky shape, from a larger mass by a blow, or by the action of weather or pressure; chipping of stone, masonry or concrete (BS 2787)

Split (F delitement, clivage, R crapatura, clivaj) Break in a material, approximately parallel with the natural grain or cleavage of the material

Stain (R pata) [v, n] To discolor. An uncontrolled discoloration, usually on concrete, masonry, and wood

Static Sensors Those sensors that generate data at 15 minute intervals Examples are weather sensors, etc.

Stitching [M restoration] insertion of new bricks to replace existing damaged bricks

Thermohygrograph (F Thermohygrographe) Device that measures and records simultaneously air temperature and relative humidity (BS 5643)

Upstand Portion of roof covering turned up against a vertical surface, yet not necessarily tucked into a groove (BS 2717)

Water vapor (F Vapeur d'eau, R vapori de apa) creates a pressure just like any other gas. Cold air has a relatively low vapor pressure, while warm air (with larger amounts of water vapor) has a greater pressure. The difference in pressure cause the vapor to penetrate building materials in the direction from high to low vapor pressure

Wrinkle (F Ride, R rid) slight ridge caused by folding, rumpling or creasing. In roofing may refer to the common wrinkled pattern that forms over the joints of insulation in insulated roof systems. Simil.to buckling

Weather (R Vreme, Climat) To degrade under the action of the weather. Also used to describe the inclusion of a slight slope to throw off rainwater, eg. on a sill

Weathering (R for 1: Imbatrinire) 1) Action of weathter in producing degradation; aging 2) Alternatively used as a noun to describe a slight construction slope designed to throw off rainwater

Credits:

ACI, ANSI, APA, ASTM, BIA, BOCA, CIB, CSA, DEA, ISO, MinnDOT, NRCC, PCA, TMS, USACE

A. Sebastian: "Essential Construction & Architectural Engineering Dictionary"

Webster, formerly known as a "Dictionary of the American Language" (whatever that might mean)

American Heritage Dictionary

Encarta, a barely passable product from a much less than passable corporation

Echo-Eurodicatum: although sliding down fast, it is still the power house to beat in web multilingual dictionaries (http://www2.echo.lu/edic/)

TechDico, Logos (http://www.logos.it/query/query.html)

Site design by the author himself. Strange hobby, isn't it? E-mail: Roof Doctor