Structure Vocabulary

Forces on the object; people, furnishings, wind, waves, snow, etc. 

• Total Load

• Dead Load

• Live Load

• Safety Factor

The sum of all loads.

• Total Load

• Dead Load

• Live Load

• Safety Factor

The weight of the structure itself.

• Total Load

• Dead Load

• Live Load

• Safety Factor

The number of times greater than the maximum total load that a structure is designed to support.

• Shear

• Tension

• Compression

• Safety Factor

Twisting force.

• Shear

• Tension

• Compression

• Torque

A force that causes one part of a material to slide past another.

• Shear

• Tension

• Compression

• Torque

A stretching force.

• Shear

• Tension

• Compression

• Torque

Pressing something into a smaller space.

• Shear

• Tension

• Compression

• Torque

An upright pillar, typically cylindrical and made of stone or concrete, supporting another structure.

• Footing

• Column

• Compression

• Building Code

Regulations adopted by a city to govern the construction of buildings.

• Footing

• Column

• Safety Factor

• Building Code