Explore over 100 terms about calculation, standards, and steel structure execution.
Action that twists a structural member around its longitudinal axis....
Condition that, if exceeded, leads to structural failure or collapse, endangering people (rupture, instability)....
A bolt with a conical head designed to sit flush with the surface of the material....
A hole with a larger diameter than standard to ease assembly, requiring a reduction in the joint capacity....
Applying an initial tension to the bolt using a torque wrench to prevent slippage between the connected plates....
A connection where the load is transferred through friction between the contact surfaces due to bolt preloading....
A bolt that passes completely through the members being joined (like a hollow section) rather than one face....
A thin plate (typically disk-shaped) with a hole intended to distribute the load of a threaded fastener....
The substructure at the ends of a bridge span where the structure rests on the ground....
A girder with a hollow, closed cross-section (rectangular or trapezoidal), providing high torsional stiffness, ideal for curved bridges....
A rubber-like device placed under bridge beams to transfer loads and allow for movement....
A structural device designed to allow for the free movement of a bridge deck due to thermal changes without internal stress....
A steel plate stiffened by longitudinal ribs that acts both as the roadway surface and as a main structural component of the bridge....
An intermediate vertical support for a bridge superstructure transmitting loads to the foundation....
A metal terminal used to house the end of a cable to allow its connection to the rest of the structure....
The geometric curve described by a cable suspended under its own weight, where all internal forces are pure tension....
Force applied to the cables during assembly to provide stiffness to the structure and control its final shape....
A straight cable used to support or stabilize a structure (like a bridge or mast) from a high point (pylon)....
A flexible member made of twisted steel wires, designed to withstand exclusively tensile forces....
A structural principle based on the use of isolated compressed components inside a continuous network of tensioned cables....
Instability phenomenon occurring in slender members subjected to axial compression....
Maximum vertical displacement of a structural member (beam) under the action of loads....
Relative lateral displacement between two floors of a building under wind or seismic loads....
The theoretical length of a pinned-pinned column that would have the same critical load as the real member....
The most common type of weld used to join two components that overlap or form an angle (typically a T-joint)....
Instability of a beam under bending where the compressed flange moves laterally and rotates....
Local instability of thin plates (such as a beam web) under compression or shear stresses....
A yielded zone in a structural member which acts as a hinge but with a constant resisting moment....
Condition related to the normal use, comfort, or appearance (excessive deflections, vibrations)....
The ratio of an element's length to its radius of gyration. It determines buckling sensitivity....
Out-of-plane deformation of a cross-section, critical in open sections subjected to torsion....
Certification mark that indicates conformity with health, safety, and environmental protection standards within the EU....
Sections which can develop their plastic moment resistance, but have limited rotation capacity because of local buckling....
Sections in which the stress in the extreme compression fiber can reach the yield strength, but local buckling prevents reaching the plastic...
Sections in which local buckling occurs before the yield strength is reached in one or more parts. Requires the use of effective widths....
Classification (CC1, CC2, CC3) based on the consequences of failure in terms of loss of human life or economic loss....
Legal document where the manufacturer declares the performance of the construction product according to standards....
The period during which the structure is expected to remain fit for its intended use without major repairs (typically 50 years)....
Standard for the execution of steel structures. Mandatory for CE marking of fabricators....
Basis of structural design. Defines principles of safety, serviceability, and durability, including load factors....
Actions on structures. Covers densities, self-weight, imposed loads, snow, wind, and thermal actions....
The main European standard governing the design and calculation of steel structures....
Design of composite steel and concrete structures (composite columns, composite slabs)....
Design of structures for earthquake resistance (seismic design)....
The ability of a structural element to maintain its load-bearing capacity for a specific period (R30, R60, R90...) during a fire....
Analysis that assumes equilibrium is maintained on the original geometry of the structure, without considering deformations....
A supplementary document to each Eurocode defining country-specific parameters (such as safety factors or wind maps)....
Partial safety factor for the resistance of cross-sections, whatever the class (recommended value = 1.0)....
Partial safety factor for the resistance of members to instability/buckling (recommended value = 1.0)....
Analysis that takes into account the influence of structural deformations on its equilibrium and internal forces (P-Delta effects)....
An instability mode in open sections (like C or Z sections) where the cross-section shape changes due to flange bending....
The portion of the cross-section that is effectively load-bearing after accounting for local buckling effects....
A geometric property indicating mass distribution around an axis; it is key to determining buckling resistance....
A beam where the steel section and a part of the concrete work together to resist bending....
A steel hollow section filled with concrete, increasing load capacity and fire resistance....
A metal element (usually a headed stud) welded to the steel beam to ensure composite action with the concrete slab....
A collaborative workflow methodology for creating and managing a construction project using a data-rich 3D digital model....
An exact virtual replica of a physical structure that receives sensor data to monitor its structural health and predict maintenance needs....
A numerical simulation technique used to solve complex structural problems by dividing the structure into small components (elements)....
An open and neutral data format that allows the exchange of 3D models between different engineering and design software....
A scale that defines the amount of information and geometric detail of an element within the BIM model (from LOD 100 to LOD 500)....
A design process based on algorithms and rules that allows generating complex geometries and automatically optimizing the structure....
A drawing showing the location of every piece on site and the assembly sequence....
The area of base metal not melted but whose properties have been altered by the heat of welding....
Methods for inspecting welds (ultrasonics, magnetic particles, dye penetrants) that do not damage the component....
An intentional curvature built into a beam during fabrication to compensate for the deflection caused by loads....
Detailed drawing for the fabrication of each individual component, showing all dimensions, holes, and welds....
A tool used to apply a specific torque to a fastener such as a nut or bolt....
Automated machinery used to drill or punch bolt holes in profiles and plates with high precision....
Thermal cutting techniques used to shape steel plates. Plasma is more precise and faster for medium thicknesses....
A machine tool used for bending sheet and plate steel to create custom profiles or components with specific angles....
A surface cleaning process where abrasive particles are projected at the steel to remove rust and prepare it for coating....
Structural damage caused by repeated loading and unloading cycles that can lead to failure below the design stress....
Classification of a joint geometry that determines its fatigue resistance according to Eurocode 3....
The number of cycles per second at which a structure vibrates freely. Critical to avoiding resonance....
Fastening into concrete using a two-component resin to secure the stud or bolt....
A reinforced concrete element responsible for transferring the structural steel loads to the ground....
A high-strength, non-shrink mortar poured under the base plate to fill the gap and ensure uniform load transfer....
A small steel profile welded under the base plate and embedded in concrete to resist high shear forces that bolts cannot handle....
A structural element (beam) anchored at only one end, projecting outwards....
A horizontal support of timber, stone, concrete, or steel across the top of a door or window....
Variable loads due to the weight of people, furniture, or goods depending on the building use....
Variable action due to the weight of snow on roofs, calculated based on site altitude....
Pressure or suction exerted by the wind on structural surfaces, depending on location and height....
A composite system where a profiled steel sheet and concrete work together thanks to shear connectors....
Level of rigor in fabrication (EXC1 to EXC4) based on the importance of the structure and the risk to people....
A planar structure consisting of columns and beams joined rigidly or pinned, forming the main skeleton of a building....
Initial out-of-plumbness or geometric defects that standards require to be considered in structural analysis....
A metal fastener used to attach the structure's base plate to the concrete foundation....
A steel plate welded to the bottom of a column to transfer loads to the concrete foundation....
A weld joint where two pieces of metal are placed together in the same plane and joined at their ends....
Sections which can form a plastic hinge with the rotation capacity required for plastic analysis without reduction of the resistance....
A plate welded to the end of a beam to allow it to be bolted to a column or another beam....
A triangular element used to increase the stiffness and strength of a joint, often in beam-to-column connections....
Bolts of classes 8.8 or 10.9 used in structures, often suitable for pre-tensioning....
A connection capable of transferring bending moments between members, maintaining the angle between them under load....
A secondary plate added to a section to prevent web or flange deformation at points of concentrated loads....
The critical dimension for calculating the strength of a fillet weld (the height of the inscribed triangle)....
A beam that supports the rails on which a crane travels, subjected to both vertical and horizontal loads....
A multiplier applied to static loads to account for the impact and motion of cranes....
A safety device at the end of the runway beam to stop the crane's movement by absorbing the impact....
Fixed loads that act constantly, such as the self-weight of the structure, walls, and flooring....
The ability of steel to undergo plastic deformation before rupture, critical for structural safety....
The ratio of transverse contraction to longitudinal extension (0.3 for steel in the elastic range)....
Structural steel with a yield strength of 355 MPa....
A measure of the stiffness of a solid material (for steel it is approx. 210,000 MPa)....
Special steels with thermal treatments that allow reducing the structure weight due to their high yield strength....
A measure of the elastic shear stiffness of a material (approx. 80,000 MPa for steel)....
Steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5% chromium content, used in highly corrosive environments or for architectural purposes....
The maximum stress that can be applied to a material before it begins to deform permanently....
The state of an iterative calculation where the difference between the previous and current step is minimal, indicating a solution has been ...
The number of independent movements (translations and rotations) possible at each node of the structure....
An advanced calculation where the relationship between force and displacement is not constant, due to geometric changes or plastic material ...
A mathematical representation of the structural properties that relates nodal displacements to applied forces....
A serviceability issue where steel floors oscillate excessively during walking, causing discomfort to users despite being structurally sound...
Accelerated corrosion that occurs when two dissimilar metals (e.g., steel and aluminum) are in contact in the presence of moisture....
A type of cracking that occurs beneath welds, caused by tensile stresses in the through-thickness direction of the plate....
A deflection that remains after the load is removed, indicating the material has exceeded its elastic limit....
A system of elements (cross braces, portals) designed to provide lateral stability and resist horizontal forces like wind....
The degradation of steel due to an electrochemical reaction with its environment. Moisture and oxygen are the main causes....
Environmental classification (C1 to CX) defining the aggressiveness of the surroundings to determine the required paint or protection system...
A type of steel alloy which develops a stable, rust-like appearance (patina) that protects the material and stops progressive corrosion....
The temperature at which steel is expected to lose its load-bearing capacity to the level of the applied loads (generally around 500-600°C)...
A spray-applied product based on perlite or vermiculite used for the thermal insulation of structural elements in case of fire....
A process of immersing steel in molten zinc to create a protective coating that prevents corrosion through barrier and cathodic protection....
A reactive coating that expands under heat, forming an insulating char that protects the steel from temperature rise....
The highest point of a pitched roof where the two slopes meet....
A channel installed along the edge of a roof to collect and carry away rainwater to the downspouts....
A horizontal structural member (usually Z or C section) that directly supports the roof sheeting or panels....
A light member connecting purlins to limit their lateral deflection and prevent twisting....
A prefabricated element consisting of two steel sheets with an insulating core (polyurethane, rock wool) in between....
A roof opening covered with translucent material (polycarbonate) to allow natural light into the building....
A fixed vertical ladder with a circular safety cage around it to allow safe roof access....
A fall protection element that must withstand regulatory horizontal loads (usually 0.5 to 3 kN/m)....
The horizontal surface of a step, often made of grating with slip-resistance for structural stairs....
A mechanical device added to the structure to absorb seismic energy and reduce damage to load-bearing members....
A plot of the peak response (acceleration) of a system according to its natural period of vibration....
The ability of a structure to dissipate energy through inelastic deformations during an earthquake....
The sudden failure of steel with little or no plastic deformation, often occurring at low temperatures or in thick sections....
The spread of an initial local failure from element to element, eventually resulting in the collapse of an entire structure....
The ability of a structure to withstand events like local failure without suffering damage disproportionate to the original cause....
A beam made by cutting the web in a zig-zag pattern and welding it back together to increase depth....
The top and bottom horizontal plates of an I or H beam that resist most of the bending moment....
Wide flange beams (H). HEB are heavier than HEA. Very efficient for columns....
Closed profiles with rectangular or square cross-sections, highly efficient in torsion and compression....
I-shaped steel beam with narrow parallel flanges, ideal for beams subjected to bending....
European Standard I-beam with sloping internal flange surfaces (14% taper), unlike the IPE....
U-shaped section steel profile, often used in composite beams or edge channels....
The central vertical plate of a beam connecting the flanges and resisting mainly shear forces....
A measure of the total greenhouse gas emissions throughout the steel life cycle, expressed as CO2 equivalent....
A production model focusing on reuse and recycling. Steel is the ideal material for this model as it is 100% recyclable....
A standardized document providing quantified environmental data about a steel product based on its life cycle assessment....
Steel manufactured using processes powered by renewable energy or green hydrogen instead of coal, drastically reducing CO2 emissions....
A methodology for assessing environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a structure's life, from extraction to end-of-life....
The practice of reclaiming beams or columns from dismantled structures to use them in new projects without melting the steel again....
An area in the building envelope that has higher heat transfer than the surrounding materials....
Tensile stress acting tangentially to the wall of a cylindrical tank caused by internal pressure from fluid or bulk solids....
A closed container designed to hold gases or liquids at a pressure substantially different from the ambient pressure....
A vertical storage structure for bulk solids, designed to withstand friction pressures and material flow loads....
Internal truss members connecting the chords. Diagonals resist shear forces, and posts maintain the spacing....
The main horizontal or inclined members forming the upper and lower edges of a truss, resisting global bending....
A framework composed of members joined at nodes forming triangles, ideal for long spans with minimal weight....