English For Engineering I 2022

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កលវិទយល័យ េប,ល-បយ
BUILD BRIGHT UNIVERSITY
ម0វិទយល័យវិសក 2 មម និង!ថបតយកមម
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
English for Engineering
Prepared by Lecturer: Lorm Thoum
Year 1 Semester 2
Academic Year 2022

Contents
Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1
Engineering-What’s it all about? ............................................................... 2
Choosing a Course..........................................................................................................7
Foundations ......................................................................................................... 13
Structural Analysis and Design .................................................................. 16
Surface Ways ...................................................................................................... 19
Bridges................................................................................................................... 23
Construction Materials ................................................................................... 27
Buildings............................................................................................................... 32
Class Activity ..................................................................................................... 35
Activity 1: Apply or Install .............................................................................. 35
Activity 2: Work as a Noun ............................................................................. 39
Activity 3: Brick Ties ....................................................................................... 44
Activity 4: Building Anatomy .......................................................................... 49
Activity 5: Top 20 Steel and Metal ................................................................... 57
Activity 6: Talking about concrete materials .................................................... 65
Activity 7: Made of or Made from .................................................................... 68
Activity 8: Materials and Methods verbs .......................................................... 69
Activity 9: Materials and Methods Nouns ........................................................ 70
Activity 10: Talking about Work ...................................................................... 71
Reading Task ...................................................................................................... 77

Types of Building ............................................................................................. 86
House Types........................................................................................................ 92
Reference .............................................................................................................. 97
Build Bright University English for Engineering
Introduction
Civil engineering is one of the oldest and broadest engineering professions. It
focuses on the infrastructure necessary to support a civilized society. The
Roman aqueducts, the great European cathedrals, and the earliest metal
bridges were built by highly skilled forerunners of the modern civil engineer.
These craftsmen of old relied on their intuition, trade skills, and experience-
based design rules, or heuristics, derived from years of trial and error
experiments but rarely passed on to the next generation.
In contrast, today's civil engineers bring to bear on these problems a
knowledge of the physical and natural sciences, mathematics, computational
methods, economics, and project management. Civil engineers design and
construct buildings, transportation systems (such as roads, tunnels, bridges,
railroads, and airports), and facilities to manage and maintain the quality of
water resources. Society relies on civil engineers to maintain and advance
human health, safety, and our standard of living. Those projects that are vital
to a community's survival are often publically funded to ensure that they get
done, even where there is no clear or immediate profit motive.
Prepared by Lecturer: Lorm Thoum 1|Page









Prepared by Lecturer: Lorm Thoum 10 | P a g e



3 FOUNDATIONS
Task 1: READING
Foundations are the structural elements used to transfer charges to the ground generated
by the weight of constructions.
Foundations must be calculated based on two main features: The magnitude of the loads
to be distributed on the surface, and the ground qualities.
Because of the above stated, it is essential to have an accurate knowledge of the ground on
which civil works will be carried out, since this aspect will determine its loading capacity
and therefore the design of foundations.
Foundations are classified into two categories: Low deep and deep foundations, being the
first ones used when soil has high loading capacity and/or when the charge to be
supported is not too heavy. Otherwise, deep foundations will be necessary.
Among low deep foundations, civil engineers use the following types: Shoes, continued
shoes and foundation slabs. Shoes are structural elements usually square or rectangular
and less frequently circular in shape, built of reinforced concrete to distribute the loads of
construction on a larger area. This kind of foundations is used to support one or more
columns. The continued shoes type is similar to the afore mentioned type, the only
difference being that their length is greater than their width. These shoes can be built of
reinforced concrete or masonry and they are utilized to support the weight of several
columns and/or walls.
Foundation slabs are built from reinforced concrete, their purpose is to distribute the
charges on the ground. They are either used when the weight of civil works is too heavy,
and/or when the soil loading capacity is not adequate.

Finally, deep foundations are used either under conditions of extremely high weights or
when the ground load capacity doesn't meet the requirements. Piles constructed from
either concrete, steel or wood joined on their top with foundation slabs are involved in its
design. Piles are slender elements with small cross section and big length.
A safety factor for the foundations must be included when civil works are to be done on
seismic places in order to protect the constructions against occasional overloading.
Task 2: VOCABULARY
Word
against foundations heavy
length low masonry
otherwise overloading piles
reinforced requirements seismic
shoes slabs slender
square steel therefore
too top under
walls weight width wood
Task 3: OTHER EXPRESSIONS

continued shoes
foundation slabs
loading capacity
safety factor
Task 4: VERBS
REGULAR VERBS
Infinitive Past and Past Participle
distribute distributed
generate generated
join joined
protect protected
transfer transferred
IRREGULAR VERBS
Infinitive Past Past Participle
Meet met met
Must had to had to
Put put put
Rise rose risen

Task 5: EXERCISES
Fill the blanks with the proper words to complete the sentences
1- ________________are structural elements used to transfer charges to the
______________generated by the weight of ________________.
2- __________________ are necessary to support heavy charges.
3- Shoes are usually ___________________ or _______________________ in shape.
4- When civil works are to be done on seismic places, a _________________ must be
included.
Task 6: QUESTIONS
1- What are foundations?

2- What are the factors to be considered to calculate foundations?
3- Why is it necessary to know the ground on which constructions will be built?
4- How are foundations classified?
5- When are low deep foundations used?
6- When are deep foundations necessary?
7- Name the 3 types of low deep foundations.
8- What are shoes?
9- What are continued shoes?
10- What are foundation slabs?
11- What are piles?
12- Why is it necessary to include a safety factor on seismic places?

4 STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS AND

DESIGN
Task 1: READING
Structural analysis and design are very important fields of civil engineering because any
construction needs an adequate structure to support loadings during its useful life. This
subject deals with the evaluation of existent structures - which is a step for analysis - and
the calculation of new structures - which is a corresponding step for design.
A structure can be defined as an assembly of parts that are allied in an ordered way to
carry out its function, which can be the saving of a clear space, as in the case of a bridge;
the containing of space, which case is a building; or the supporting of pressures, as is the
case of a dam.
Structures will always have as their main function to support high loads; therefore, they
need the best and most adequate design for their working conditions. Other factors that
engineers should keep in mind are the cost of the structure and the esthetic requirements.
Nowadays the most frequently used are the reinforced concrete and steel structures.
The loadings that a structure has to support can give place to three different types of
stresses: compression stress, that is, the effort of compacting or compressing the structure;
tensile stress, this is the effort for stretching the structure, and finally, torsion stress, that
represents the twisting effort.
The procedure of structural design should begin by having a very precise and defined
construction project. Likewise the designer should have a correctly specified architectural

plan. The following step is to calculate the loads the structure is going to resist; these
loadings are classified into two categories: live loadings, which are those weights that
change with time, when people go in and out of the construction making it very difficult
to estimate; and dead loadings, which are constant with time.
Finally the engineer has to calculate the structure dimensions according to the architectural
plan, taking into consideration the rules of design, so that structure works appropriately.
It is very important, in this step of design, to emphasize that calculations for structures
cannot be generalized, since there are too many parameters to consider. However an
engineer with experience on the subject will have the "know how" to be successful on
structure design.
Task 2: VOCABULARY
Word
appropriately assembly effort
esthetic likewise pressures
saving successful twist

clear space
compression stress
dead load
keep in mind
know how
live load
ordered way
tensile stress
torsion stress
too many
Task 4: VERBS
REGULAR VERBS
ally allied
compact compacted
emphasize emphasized
estimate estimated
generalize generalized
resist resisted
stretch stretched

IRREGULAR VERBS
give place gave place gave place
keep kept kept
Task 5: EXERCISES
1. _________________deals with the calculations of new structures.
2. A ________________is an assembly of parts to support high loads.
3. The calculation of _______________ cannot be generalized, because there are too

many parameters to be considered.
Task 6: QUESTIONS
1- What is structural analysis?

2- What is structural design?
3- Why are structure analysis and design very important for any construction?
4- What is a structure?
5- Name some functions of a structure.
6- What are the more common types of structures?
7- How are stresses divided?
8- What is compression stress?
9- What is tensile stress?
10- What is torsion stress?
11- What are the steps of the structural design procedure?
12- How are loadings classified?
13- What are live loads?
14- What are dead loads?
15- Why can structural design not be generalized?

5 SURFACE WAYS
Task 1: READING
Definition
Surface ways are the means used by man for his own transportation or for carrying
materials from one place to another.
Surface ways should be designed in an adequate manner in accordance to standards of
resistance, uniformity and safety, established by experience and research.
In order to build a surface way, some aspects such as location, cost, population effects, type
of traffic, environmental impact, property acquisition, construction materials availability,
weather conditions and qualities of soil should be considered by the engineer in charge.
Types of surface ways

There are two types of surface ways: Highways and Railroads:
Highways
Highways are the surface ways mostly used by man, to travel or to carry materials to and
from different places in the fastest manner.
Every highway is to have two fundamental parts:
1.- The foundation base or cover, is composed of a filling material, meant to level the
surface and to distribute evenly the loads of the way on the ground.
2.- The rolling surface, can be built of several materials such as cement mortar, paved
with tile or enameled asphalt, depending on its use.
A perfectly well compacted ground is a must if we are to obtain a highly resistant and
durable pavement. The most common pavement types are the following:

Asphaltic concrete Asphaltic macadum
Asphaltic treatments Block paving
Stone slabs Concrete
Pavement sheet Industrial pavement
Railroads
This is the most efficient manner to handle big volumes of freight, because of its low
energy requirements, its fewer terrain needs, its low pollutant features and low
frecuency, and severity rates of accidents.
The railroad system consists of rails, which are the guides on which the vehicles run. This
system includes the rail bed, bridges, fords, drains, yards, terminal stations, offices,
terrestrial signals, and safety devices.
The three most important types of systems of transportation are passenger and freight,
conmutator, and rapid transit type.
The vehicles for transportation on rails, depend on steel wheels, because they have good
resistance to rolling and can support heavier weights.
The power supply for this system is usually diesel-electric, electric, gas turbine, hydraulic
turbine, jet propulsion and pneumatic induction motor.
The levitating suspension can be that provided by an air cushion or by a magnet. This
last type is the most expensive one.
Rails are constructed of several types such as double rail, monorail and welded
continuous rail, which are designed according to the system requirements and its
characteristics.

Task 2: VOCABULARY
Word
acquisition asphaltic availability
bed cover cushion
drains evenly expensive
fastest filling ford
freight guides mostly
must pavement pollutant
population rails stone
tile traffic vehicle
weather yards

block paving
cement mortar
enameled asphalt
foundation base
in accordance to
in charge
jet propulsion
levitating suspension
rapid transit
rolling surface
severity rates of accidents
pavement sheet
welded continuous rail
Task 4: VERBS
REGULAR VERBS
handle handled
level leveled
pave paved
travel traveled
IRREGULAR VERBS
Run ran run
Task 5: EXERCISES
1. __________ are the surface ways mostly used by man.
2. The_______________ is used to distribute evenly the loads of the way on the
ground.
3. Five common pavement types are: _____________, ____________, _________,
______________, and _____________.
4. Railroads are the most efficient manner ___________________ of freight
Task 6: QUESTIONS
1. What are surface ways?
2. What are the factors to take into consideration for designing surface ways?
3. What are the types of surface ways?
4. What are highways?
5. What are the two fundamental parts of every highway?
6. What are the most common pavement types?
7. What are railroads?
8. What do railroad systems consist of?
9. What are the three most important railroad systems?
10. Why do railroad systems use steel wheels?
11. State some types of power supply for railroad systems.
12. Name some types of rails for railroad systems.

6 BRIDGES
Task 1: READING
Definition
Bridges are structures to facilitate motion of people, animals or materials over natural or
artificial obstacles. Bridges can be made of wood, masonry, concrete and steel.
Types of Bridges
There are two general types of bridges: Stationary and movable. They also can be
classified according to the following features:
Supported services or installations: For the use on highways, railroads, channels or
aqueducts, as a path for people or cattle, for the transportation of goods or as a tubing
support.
Bridges for natural accidents. For highways, railroads, bays, lakes, rivers, valleys and so
on.
Basic geometry: Bridges used at a ground level, can be curved, straight, L-shaped, square
and protractile; at elevated height (which can be of low level like the ones constructed
over swampy terrain), trestle bridges and high-level bridges.
Structural systems: Continuous girder bridges, arched bridges (which can be composed
of one or multiple arches), hanging bridges and steel-armor-plated bridges.
Design Considerations
Their design is always based on specific standards for highway bridges of the American
Association State Highway and Transportation Official (AASHTO), the manual for
Railway Engineering published by the American Railway Engineering Association
(AREA), standard plans for highway bridges, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

and other rules and regulations published by several highway administrations and
railroad companies.
The length, width, alignment and intersecting angles for bridges should satisfy the
functioning needs of the installations to be built.
The geometric requirements, hydraulic specifications, selection of structural systems and
construction materials, safety standards, esthetics, economical aspects and, ease for
operation and maintenance are other important factors to take into consideration.
Highway bridges should be of a smooth asphalt surfaces with sufficient drainage. Both
the longitude slope and the cross section are subject to similar restrictions as for those
used for open highways. Long bridges must be supplied with an adequate lighting, signs
and service, and emergency stations. The protective railings should keep vehicles within
the bridge and if

Task 2: VOCABULARY
Word
alignment arch away bays
cattle contraction curved ease
expansion height lighting movable
obstacle path pedestrians protractile
railing railway signs slope
smooth straight swampy tubing
valleys

continuous girder bridge
gravel beam
hanging bridge
intersecting angle
L-shaped
steel-armor-plated bridge
trestle bridge
Task 4: VERBS
REGULAR VERBS
absorb absorbed
facilitate facilitated
satisfy satisfied
Task 5: EXERCISES
1. ______________ are structures to facilitate motion of people, animals or materials
over natural or artificial ________________.
2. The geometric requirements, hydraulic specifications and selection of structural

systems are some of the factors to take into consideration to ______________.
3. The railroad bridges require a ________________ between structure and

______________ .

Task 6: QUESTIONS
1. What are bridges?
2. What are the materials more used for bridges?
3. What are stationary bridges?
4. What are movable bridges?
5. State some of the usual structural systems for bridges.
6. Name some factors to take into consideration to design a bridge.
7. What are highway bridges?
8. What are railway bridges?
9. Why is it necessary a gravel beam for railroad bridges?
10. Name some of the typical loads a bridge has to support.

7 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
Task 1: READING
Since the beginning of mankind, man has had housing needs, this fact caused the
primitive man to look for shelter so as to protect himself from wild beasts and extreme
weather. Centuries later, he began to construct his first houses, which were rudimentary
huts. Nowadays, man builds residential houses, mansions, edifications, skyscrapers and
other great civil works of a main importance for society development.
Among the constructions of our age, we have a wide variety of terrestrial ways, bridges,
hydraulic works and industrial buildings.
Safety, economical and esthetic aspects are the basis for the study and project of every
civil work and should have the following documents:
1. Architectural plans: They are the drawings to scale of the project to be built.
2. The calculation record: This is a log-book where technical estimations are kept.
3. Budget: It contains the economical considerations of the project.
4. Specifications: They contain all factors concerning the resistance, design and finishing
works.
Construction materials
The most common are the following:
Binders: Binders are materials which get plasticity properties when mixed with water,
and become of a greater mechanical resistance when dry. This feature makes them
appropriate for construction. The drying process is known as setting.
The more common binders are the following:
Clays: They are among the oldest materials used by man, because of their well known
qualities since early times. Clays are hydrated aluminum silicate of a variable chemical
composition. They are easily obtainable and have the quality of being very moldable
when mixed with water. Because of this fact, clays are the raw materials for bricks, some
types of floors and wall tiles in the construction industry.

Plaster: It is a very old construction material used since thousand of years ago. Egyptians
utilized it to build their pyramids. Greeks and Romans used plaster to build monuments,
and Arabians gave it an ornamental use.
Plaster is basically bihydrated calcium sulphate, obtained from semihydrated calcium

sulphate which produces the bihydrated calcium sulphate when mixed with water,
obtaining with this chemical reaction its binding qualities.
Currently its main use is for inside finishing works, making smooth surfaces appropriate
to absorb paints and other wall dressings.
Lime: Lime is mostly used in civil works, specially for finishing works. Chemically it is
calcium oxide, which reacts with water to produce hydrated lime or slaked lime, which is
the commercial form used for construction. The slaked lime reacts very slowly to the
contact with air, from which it takes the carbon dioxide to obtain calcium carbonate or
limestone, being this the final chemical compound form. In the presence of water, this
reaction is almost inhibited, so it is not fit for hydraulic works or for structures
supporting big loads.
Cement: It is the mixture obtained by baking clay and lime, getting by mean of this
process its binding qualities and very high resistance to support loads. It is the material
mostly used all over the world. Its chemical composition depending on the quality of raw
materials utilized, it generally contains calcium oxide, silica and alumina and in less
quantities iron oxide, magnesia and sulphur trioxide.
Nowadays, there are some processes to make cement, which are applied according to the
quality standards ruling in each country. In Mexico we have five different methods.
Asphalt: Asphalt is a mixture of hydrocarbons obtained by natural or artificial
distillation of oil, this is produced in several types and qualities which vary, from hard
and friable solids, to soft liquids.
The most common types of asphalts are: asphalt cement, light asphalts, of fast, medium
or slow setting and asphalt emulsions.
Aggregates: These are inert materials which are added to binders for economical reasons,
since they increase their volume without loosing their properties. They are classified into
fine and thick aggregates according to average particle size. The following table shows
their classification:

Stones and rocks: They are materials from mineral origin which are used in construction
for several purposes, such as resistance elements, ornamental purposes, and as raw
materials to elaborate others.
In order to be used, they only need to be given the appropriate shape and size.
Metals: The most used metals in construction are iron and steel, which are adequate as
structural elements because of their toughness and resistance. Aluminum is utilized as a
decorative metal, because of its resistance to corrosion and its lightness. Lead and copper
are used to convey water and carry electricity. Other metals occasionally used are tin and
zinc.
Wood: It has been utilized since early times in the construction industry because of its
resistance to traction, compression and flexure. It is also a light material of good
toughness and athermic as well. Being the only disadvantage, its swelling when in
contact with water and sun, which limits its use.
Task 2: VOCABULARY
Word
Aggregates lime athermic limestone
beasts liquids binders moldable
bricks oil budget paints
cement particle compound pebble
copper disadvantage plaster sand
distillation setting fit shelter
floors so friable soft
hard sun housing tin
hut toughness iron traction
lead wild lightness

calculation record drawings to scale
drying process finishing works
log-book pea gravel
raw materials slaked lime
so as to wall tiles
wall dressings well known

Task 4: VERBS
REGULAR VERBS
add added
bake baked
dry dried
inhibit inhibited
limit limited
look for looked for
mix mixed
react reacted
rule ruled
IRREGULAR VERBS
Become become became
Swell swelled swelled, swollen
Task 5: EXERCISES
1. _____________are the drawings to scale of a construction project.
2. The budget contains _______________of a construction project.
3. Chemically, clays are _______________.
4. Lime is mostly used for ___________________.
5. The aggregates are added to binders for___________________.
6. Iron and steel are _________________ used in construction.
Task 6: QUESTIONS
1. Which fact caused primitive man to look for housing?
2. What were first houses like?
3. What are houses of present times like?
4. What documents must be included in every civil work?
5. What are binders?
6. What is setting?
7. What are clays?
8. State some uses of clays.
9. What is plaster?

10. Name some uses of plaster.
11. What is lime?
12. State some uses of lime.
13. What is cement?
14. Name some uses of cement.
15. What is asphalt?
16. What are aggregates?
17. How are aggregates classified?
18. State some uses of stones and rocks.
19. Name some metals used in construction.
20. State some uses of wood.

8 BUILDING
Task 1: READING
Building is the planning of spaces assigned for construction. Constructions can serve for
several purposes such as residential, commercial, industrial, schools, religious, hospitals,
and other health facilities.
In order to get a well constructed building, the engineer in charge must consider important
aspects such as esthetic, acoustics, lighting, electrical systems, elevators, plumbing,
heating, air conditioning, gas installations, and structural design.
When selecting a terrain for a given building, the local zoning regulations must be
consulted, since they rule the use of spaces for the different applications.
The urban construction regulations include standards and specifications on the
functioning and intended use of the edifices. The standards point out the allowed
construction materials and the minimum sizes for each work, while the specifications
include the final result to be obtained, taking into consideration characteristics such as the
permitted forces, stability, permeability of ground, fire resistance, and others.
The design of gas installations must be in accordance to the respective safety regulations,
in order to keep accidents from happening

For seismic zones, rules and regulations are more strict about the safety of people,
buildings and general installations.
Demolitions also must be done in agreement to the urban construction regulations.
Urban edifications include a great variety of constructions such as fences, houses, parking
lots, posts, pavements, scaffoldings, hospitals, hotels, shopping centers, meeting places,
historical edifices, transport stations, dangerous constructions, and others.
Specifications regarding the foundations, height of walls and columns, allowed live loads,
bracing, installations of ducts and tubing must be clearly specified.
Some industrial buildings require points for the supporting of heavier weights, such as
hooks, trolley hoists, reels, traveling cranes and other load elements.
The walls built for several works can be structural, if they are intended for the use of
loading, or they can be architectural, when they are utilized for decorative purposes only
or for separating wards.
Slabs can be reticular (or light slabs), which can be used to cover greater clear spaces and
lighter loads or plane slabs used to support larger loads.
Columns are structural elements also used for ornamental purposes. They are divided
into short and long columns, according to their dimensions.
Task 2: VOCABULARY
allowed bracing clearly dangerous
demolitions ducts elevators fences
fire heating hooks planning
plumbing posts reels reticular
scaffoldings strict wards

air conditioning
health facilities
in agreement to
meeting places
parking lots
shopping centers
traveling cranes
trolley hoists
zoning regulations

Task 4: VERBS
REGULAR VERBS
assign assigned
consult consulted
cover covered
happen happened
point out pointed out
select selected
separate separated
serve served
Task 5: EXERCISES
1. ____________ is the planning of spaces assigned for construction
2. Some aspects to be considered to get a well constructed building are: ___________,
_______________, ___________________ and _____________________.
3. Hospitals, hotels, shopping centers, meeting places and historical edifices are
some examples of_______________________________.
4. __________________________ require points for supporting heavy weights.
Task 6: QUESTIONS
1. What is building?
2. Name some types of constructions.
3. State some aspects to take into consideration in the design of a building.
4. Who regulates urban constructions?
5. Why is it necessary to be careful in the design of gas installations?
6. Name some types of urban constructions.
7. Why does industrial buildings require special aspects to be considered?
8. How are slabs divided?
9. How are columns divided?

Class Activity
Activity 1: “APPLY” OR “INSTALL”?

PRO TIP
Use the verb APPLY for liquids, thin materials or sheets
Use the verb INSTALL for systems, parts, or large pieces of material
VOCAB PRIMER
Sealer is a liquid product that is applied to concrete. It is similar to paint, but is clear. It
helps protect the concrete from water, but is NOT waterproof and won’t prevent water
from passing through the concrete if it cracks.

Sealant: Sealant is different than ‘sealer.’ Sealant is a highly technical material used to
seal a joint between materials. It is used to make a durable, waterproof joint that allows
movement. It is installed according to strict specifications.
Finish can be any final, visible material that has a good appearance (wood panel,
wallpaper, paint, stucco, etc).
Fill and sand: often there are holes in wall and ceiling finishes after installation. The
painting subcontractor fills them with putty and then sands (rubs with sandpaper to
make a smooth finish) the area before painting.
Miscellaneous Metals: Miscellaneous metals typically include items of steel, and

sometimes aluminum that are not part of the building structure: Ladders, connectors,
railings, etc.

Dowels: are pieces of reinforcing steel used in concrete. They are cast in one piece of
concrete and connect it to the next piece of concrete poured on top or next to it.
Fireproofing: is a layer of material sprayed on structural steel members. It has different

thicknesses, according to the fire rating and steel members.
WORDS IN CONTEXT
Look at the nouns in blue after the blanks below. According to the rules above, which
is the best verb to use?
1. Many general contractors require the precast subcontractor to __________ the sealer to
all panels.
Sealer is a thin, liquid material applied to the surface of concrete.
2. Normally, the painting subcontractor will fill and sand any nail holes after the material
is in place, and then __________ the final finish.
A finish is a thin material applied over the surface of something.
3. The insulation subcontractor will always furnish and__________ the horizontal roof
insulation below the structural roof deck.
Roof insulation is a thick object that is placed on top or below the roof deck.
4. The flooring subcontractors will provide and __________ this small wood base trim.
wood trim is a thicker strip of material or object, not thin coating applied to the surface.

5. The metal panel subcontractor should __________ all caulking and sealants at the
perimeter of their panel systems.
This is a difficult question. Look at the photo of a sealant joint above. Is the sealant
applied to the surface? It’s actually between two objects. Is the sealant a thin
coating? It’s actually a system that includes backer rod or breaker tape and fits inside a
joint. Generally we use the word ‘install’ if the material is inside something.
6. The miscellaneous metals subcontractor should furnish and __________ all steel
railings.
railings are objects, not liquids or thin coatings.
7. The rebar subcontractor should always furnish and __________ the dowels for the
concrete masonry unit (CMU) work.
dowels are objects installed inside the concrete (not applied to the surface)
8. There is obviously no perfect time to __________ fireproofing.

Fireproofing is a thin coating applied to the surface of steel.

Activity 2: Work as a Noun
The English word 'WORK' is the single most important word in the design and
construction business. Let's explore why.
In an earlier mini-lesson, we talked about the word 'WORK' as a verb.
In this mini-lesson, we will learn a little bit about the word 'WORK' used as a noun on
projects.
Work Collocations
Work is a legal term used in contract documents. It's also used to describe many different
specific parts of a construction project.
Here are some common VERBS that are used with the noun work. These are strong
collocations. That means that these combinations are very common and useful.
They collocate like this: 'VERB '+ WORK.
1. perform work
2. coordinate work
3. begin work
4. complete work
5. include work
6. exclude work
7. schedule work
8. install work
For example:
1) Subcontractors performed the work on schedule.
2) A tower crane helps the contractor do their work more efficiently.
3) The subcontractors must coordinate their work to avoid conflicts.
4) After receiving a notice to proceed from the owner, the contractor began work.
5) The general contractor must complete their work on budget.

6) The contract documents include storm sewer work in the street.
7) The contractor's bid excludes work performed by the owner.
8) The project manager scheduled the foundation work for next week.
9) The plumbing sub installed their work before the electrical sub.
Scope of Work
Different people perform different work on a construction project.
This separate piece of work is called a scope of work.
SCOPE
from modern Latin -scopium, from Greek skopein ‘look at’.

Scope means to "see" or "look at." In construction, the meaning is similar.
Something can be inside or outside a scope of work; or is something you can see or
cannot see in a contract document.
Defining Scope
Contract documents define the scope of work for everyone on the project. The scope of
work is the specific part(s) of a project that firms need to work on, or what they
are responsible for. Contracts include some work (inside the scope of work)
and exclude other work (outside the scope of work).
The word 'work' is often used together with other words to generally discuss the
different scopes of work on a project. These are noun-noun collocations.
Work can be defined according to trade, discipline or specialty:
Electrical work
Utility work
Mechanical work

Demolition work
Civil work
MEP work
Structural work
Work can be generally discussed according to material:
Concrete work
Wood work
Sheet metal work
Masonry work
Another way to categorize work is by location:
interior work
underground work
exterior work
site work
And the word 'work' can work as an adjective. Here are some expressions that are used
to describe a project process.
Work progress
Work load
Work flow
Work day
Work hours
Here are the other important key words and expressions from the lesson:
• Be responsible for (something)
• Include
• Exclude
• Specific
• perform
• coordinate
• begin
• complete
• include
• exclude
• schedule
• install

Test your knowledge

Multiple choice: choose the best answer.
1. The owner made a change. The contractor needs to provide more concrete and steel.
These materials are ________________ the scope of work.
A. performed
B. inside
C. outside
D. complete
E. install
2. Contract documents (drawings and specifications) ________________ the scope of

work of a project.
A. coordinate
B. schedule
C. install
D. define
E. provide
3. Plumbing and piping is usually ________________ from an electrical contractor's scope

of work.
A. performed
B. inside
C. outside
D. excluded
E. installed
4. If a consultant or contractor is responsible for something, it means that it is

____________ their scope of work.
A. inside
B. within
C. included in
D. part of
E. all of the above
5. Which verb does NOT collocate with work?

A. perform
B. run
C. define
D. install
E. exclude
6. Schedule is a noun. Contractors make a schedule. Schedule is also a

verb. To schedule something most closely means:
A. write a calendar for a project
B. perform a scope of work
C. define a scope of work
D. set a specific time to perform work
E. coordinate the specific scopes of work

7. The subcontractors and consultants have different scopes of work. It's important that
they ________________ their work to ensure the project is completed successfully.
A. coordinate
B. schedule
C. install
D. define
E. provide

Activity 3: Brick Ties
Brick Ties
Of course we aren't talking about an article of clothing. 🙂
We're talking about an important part of masonry wall construction! Take a look a the
video below.
Then read the explanations below and try your best at the Construction English Mini-
Quiz!

Don't worry if you don't understand all the words- just pay attention to the main ideas and
images.
Review
In the cavity wall lesson, the relief angle is shown attached to the concrete slab edge
with a wedge anchor.
The relief angle (shelf angle) supports the weight of the brick veneer at each floor.
It's called a relief angle because it relieves the the weight from the brick courses below
and transfers it to the structure. Basically, the brick is hanging off of the structure at
each relief angle or shelf angle.

As mentioned above, relief angles (shelf angles), support the gravity load or weight of
the brick on multi-story buildings.
To prevent the brick veneer from falling off the building, we use masonry ties. Masonry
ties fit in the horizontal mortar joints and are attached to the backup wall or
structure. They tie the brick back to the structure and support it laterally.
Here's a dovetail masonry anchor that fits in a dovetail insert. It fits in the horizontal
masonry joint and ties the brick veneer to the backup wall or structure.
Dovetail refers to the shape. See our lesson about dovetails.

If the backup wall is concrete block, there are ladder-type systems that fit in the concrete
block mortar joints. Wire anchors are then attached to the ladder system. Here's a video:
Here's a list of key words and expressions from the lesson.

relief angle
wedge anchor
brick courses
supports
transfers
hanging off (of)
tie (something) back to
gravity load
multi-story
laterally
masonry ties
horizontal mortar joints
backup wall
dovetail insert
ladder-type systems
concrete block

Mini-Quiz
1. Which of the following is NOT masonry?
A. brick
B. concrete slab
C. concrete block
2. Concrete block is also called CMU. CMU is an abbreviation for Concrete Masonry
U_ _ _. What is the missing word?
3. A relief angle helps:

A. resist lateral forces
B. keep water out of the wall
C. support the weight of the wall
4. Which of the following is NOT a multi-story building:
A. A skyscraper in Beijing
B. A restroom building in a park
C. An apartment complex
5. Which of the following transfers loads?
A. A relief angle
B. A beam attached to a girder.
C. A spread footing.
D. All of the above.
6. Where can masonry ties be placed?
A. In a dovetail insert
B. In the horizontal mortar joints
C. In the backup wall
D. All of the above.
7. What is something that is usually NOT hung off (past for hang) of the structure?
A. A column
B. A sign
C. A brick cavity wall
D. A sprinkler pipe

8. Lateral support or bracing prevents _______ movement.

A. diagonal
B. vertical
C. sideways
D. upward

Activity 4: Building Anatomy: brick cavity wall
Here are some important parts of a brick cavity wall.

Listen and try to guess where each part is located in the assembly!
Brick
Compressible filler
Concrete
Continuous reglet and through-wall flashing
Continuous steel relief angle
Intermittent weep holes
Sealant and backer rod
Wedge anchor insert
Keyword definitions
Cavity
is a void or empty space in something solid. The most common use is in dentistry. A
tooth 'cavity' is a space in the tooth caused by decay.

A cavity generally means any space inside a solid object. A sinkhole is a cavity in the
road.
Cavity walls have a cavity (void, or space) between the exterior finish and the backup
wall. This also called an 'air space'
This system is often called a rainscreen system. This means that the exterior brick
wythe (layer) isn't waterproof. It helps protect the building from rain and snow, but any
moisture or condensation that enters the cavity is stopped by the waterproof
membrane. It then drains down and exits the building through the weep holes along the
face of the building.

Weep
is a synonym for 'cry'

'Weep' also means to drip water.
Weep holes allow water to escape the wall cavity.
Continuous
Means that it is a long piece that continues horizontally. In construction drawings, it is
noted using the abbreviation "cont".
Intermittent
Means that it occurs in specific locations in short segments.
Wedge insert
A wedge insert is a piece of metal that is placed in the concrete when it's cast. This insert
receives a variety of anchors and pieces.
In this photo, you can see the wedge-shaped anchors fit in an insert in the concrete slab
edge.

Test your knowledge

Match the names of the components with the letters in the drawing.
• Brick
• Compressible filler
• Concrete
• Continuous reglet and through-wall flashing
• Continuous steel shelf angle (relief angle)

• Intermittent weep holes
• Sealant and backer rod
• Wedge anchor insert
Bonus question
There is (at least) one important thing missing in this drawing. Can you find it? What is
missing and where should it be located?
CLICK HERE FOR THE ANSWERS
Missing in the drawing was a waterproof membrane (in red) and rigid insulation (in
yellow). The specifications for these materials might vary depending on the climate and
location.
If you haven't already, look at these lessons too, because they cover this topic in a
different way:
• Dovetails: anchors and joints
• Brick Ties: anchoring brick to the structure

Dovetail Connections
Q: What do a white bird and construction connections have in common?
A: Dovetails!
As mentioned in our masonry tie lesson, there are different types of anchors that tie the
brick to the building.
Here's a dovetail masonry anchor.
Dovetail refers to the shape. A dove is a bird- you can see the shape of its tail here:

You can see these concrete inserts are shaped like a dove's tail.
The dovetail insert receives a variety of different anchors.

Wood Dovetails!
Dovetail joints have been used for thousands of years in wood construction. Read more
about dovetail joinery here.
Dovetail joints were the only way to connect pieces of wood before the invention of
modern steel fasteners and adhesives.
Be sure to check out this lesson about different parts of brick cavity walls. It's a great
review for this lesson and shows how these dovetail joints are used in an assembly.

Activity 5: TOP 20 Steel and Metal Collocations
Based on the computer analysis of millions of words from construction books and
publications, here are the Top 20 noun-noun collocations that describe different steel
materials.
Collocations help make your communication clear and simple.
Read a mini lesson about collocations here.
• Scroll down for a closer look at some images
1. Metal channel
2. Metal decking
3. Metal framing
4. Steel framing
5. Metal panel
6. Metal rod
7. Steel rod
8. Metal roofing
9. Metal stud
10. Metal tubing
11. Metal grating
12. Steel angle
13. Steel beam
14. Steel column
15. Steel joist
16. Steel plate
17. Steel reinforcement
18. Steel reinforcing
19. Steel member
20. Steel sections
PRO TIP
Native English speakers often use the words 'Metal' and 'Steel' to describe the same
thing.
Just to be careful, here are some general rules to follow.

Metal
Is a general term. Depending on the context, it could be structural or non-structural.
Try to use the term 'Metal' when:
1. you want to describe the general properties of something (a metal chair)
2. you are referring to something that's NOT part of the PRIMARY STRUCTURE. (metal
panel, metal roofing, metal framing, etc)
Steel
Is a specific term.
Try to use the term 'Steel' when:
1. you want to describe the general properties of something (a steel fastener)
2. you want to make sure it's understood that the material is STEEL.
3. you are referring to something that IS part of the PRIMARY STRUCTURE. The primary
structure consists of beams, columns, bracing, connections, and all other parts of the
structure that support the design.
A CLOSER LOOK
Metal channel
Metal channels are light gauge and cold formed.
Light gauge means thin.
Cold formed means that they are made by bending thin steel without heating.
Steel channel
Steel channels are structural.
Steel channels are hot rolled (made by heating metal at a high temperature and rolling
through a machine)

Metal decking (also steel decking)

Metal decking is structural. It is most often covered with concrete to form floor or roof
slabs.
Sometimes it isn't covered with concrete and just spans between secondary roof framing
members and supports the roof insulation and roofing materials.
Metal framing
Metal framing usually refers to cold-formed, light gauge studs, channels and other
shapes.
Metal framing can be structural if it is engineered.
Steel framing
Steel framing is a general term. It could be structural or non-structural shapes.

Metal rod
Also called
Steel rod
Steel reinforcement
Steel reinforcing
Reinforcement is the general action or function of something.
Reinforcing describes the actual system or object.
Metal panel
Metal panel is a general term describing any flat, thin sheet of metal. It can be any type
of metal (stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, etc)

Metal roofing
Metal stud (also steel stud)

Studs are metal framing.

Metal tubing (also steel tubing)
Tubing is any shape that's hollow. (open in the middle)
Metal grating (also steel grating)

Grating can be structural or non-structural.
Steel angle
Steel angles are hot rolled, and are most often structural.

Steel beam
Steel beams are hot rolled, horizontal steel structural framing members.
Steel column
Steel columns are hot rolled, vertical steel structural framing members.

Steel joist
Also called open web joists.
Steel plate
Steel plate is often structural.
Steel member
Member is a general term. Steel members are any part of a primary structural
system. Beams, columns, girts, joists, etc.
Steel sections
Steel section describes the profile or shape of a structural steel member. Engineers use
the section properties for their calculations.

Activity 6: Talking about concrete materials

PRO TIP
A collocation is a combination of two or more words that have a combined meaning.
One common collocation pattern is ADJECTIVE+NOUN
First floor
Waterproof membrane
Structural steel
Collocations are the secret to making your communication clear and simple!
Here's an example:
"its important to avoid driving on concrete which has not finished curing yet...."
The expression "concrete which has not finished curing yet" has excellent form and
grammar. However, it is possible for the meaning to be unclear:
perhaps the concrete is not finished? (finished concrete has a different meaning)
"has not" could also be misunderstood. (try to avoid negative grammar if possible.)
Let's use a collocation instead.
"uncured concrete" or "green concrete"
"its important to avoid driving on uncured concrete."
"its important to avoid driving on green concrete."
As you can see, using collocations is simpler, clearer, and avoids complicated grammar.
Construction Idiom
"Green concrete" refers to fresh concrete that is uncured or isn't strong yet. It comes
from the term "green lumber." Green lumber is wood that has been freshly cut, and isn't
dry or ready to use yet.
These days "Green" means sustainable or eco-friendly. "Green concrete" can also mean
concrete that is made from recycled stone or has other eco-friendly materials or
properties.
CONCRETE COLLOCATIONS
Here's a list of some of the more popular 2-word (Adjective+Noun) collocations about
concrete.
Which do you already know? Which do you want to learn more about?
Reinforced concrete
Prestressed concrete
Precast concrete
Architectural concrete
Asphaltic concrete
Cellular concrete
Green concrete
Exposed concrete
Insulating concrete
Cured concrete
Air-entrained concrete
Porous concrete
Unreinforced concrete
Colored concrete

Test your knowledge!

Take a look at the questions below and try to answer them as best you can.
Level 1- easier
1. Which 2 expressions describe the age of concrete?
Cellular concrete
Green concrete
Insulating concrete
Cured concrete
2. Which one type of concrete is most commonly used for roads?
Precast concrete
Asphaltic concrete
Porous concrete
3. Which one type of concrete is usually made in a factory?
Precast concrete
Asphaltic concrete
Porous concrete
Level 2- more difficult

4. Which two types of concrete are often used on roofs?
Cellular concrete
Cured concrete
Insulating concrete
5. Which one type of concrete allows water to pass through and is often used in
landscaping?
Precast concrete
Asphaltic concrete
Porous concrete
Level 3- challenging
6. Which three expressions refer mainly to the APPEARANCE of concrete, or it’s
visible properties (non- structural properties?)
Fresh concrete
Cellular concrete
Green concrete
Exposed concrete
Insulating concrete
Cured concrete
Colored concrete
7. Which 4 types of concrete are NON-STRUCTURAL?
Reinforced concrete
Porous concrete
Prestressed concrete
Precast concrete

Insulating concrete
Cellular concrete
Activity 7: MADE OF or MADE FROM?
PRO TIP
MADE OF is used to describe the basic general material or physical characteristics of
something. It does not describe a process, assembly, or change.
Examples:
"The chair is made of wood"
"The door is made of metal"
MADE FROM is used to describe the materials used to make something; these
materials are changed, assembled, or processed in some way.
Examples:
"The chair is made from 3 pieces of recycled wood and a flat piece of metal"
(different materials were processed and assembled to make the chair)
"Gasoline is made from oil" (the oil was changed or processed to make gas)
WORDS IN CONTEXT
See if you can use the rules above to choose the correct answers.
1. Architectural concrete and structural concrete are both_________________ portland
cement, aggregate, and water, but they have entirely different concrete mix designs.
2. Flashing may be_________________sheet metal, copper, lead, stainless steel, galvanized
steel, or aluminum, plastic, or composite materials.
3. Garden retaining walls are generally_________________small units of stone, masonry, or
wood.
4. Tempered Glass is_________________ plate glass by reheating and sudden cooling and is 3
to 5 times stronger than plate glass.

5. The bulb of halogen lamps is usually_________________quartz to resist high internal
temperatures.
6. Thresholds in doorways that lead to rooms with a ceramic tile floor are
often_________________marble or another stone.
Activity 8: Materials and Methods Verbs
1. provide
2. make
3. require
4. form
5. include
6. apply
7. support
8. set
9. cut
10. install
11. contain
12. build
13. place
14. design
15. produce
16. cover
17. call
18. consist
19. prevent
20. allow
Based on the analysis of millions of words in construction publications, these are the TOP
20 most common verbs used in construction.
Which do you know? Which do you need to learn more about?

Activity 9: TOP 20 Materials and Methods Nouns
Based on the analysis of millions of words in construction publications, these are the
TOP 20 most common nouns used in construction.
Which do you know? Which do you need to learn more about?
1. wall
2. building
3. water
4. material
5. system
6. work
7. door
8. surface
9. roof
10. metal
11. construction
12. wood
13. air
14. concrete
15. steel
16. floor
17. glass
18. type
19. window
20. joint

Activity 10: Talking About Work
Work
Work is a common word, especially in design and construction. However, common
words we already know are often used in different ways. These combinations can often
mean different things.
Work is both a noun and a verb. This lesson talks about using work as a verb. Be sure to
visit the other lesson that talks about work as a noun.
When used as a verb, work is commonly used with a preposition. WORK AS, for
example.
When used with a preposition, it is usually followed by a NOUN or NOUN
PHRASE. This use is transitive, which means the verb carries an object. Example: Work
on a project (Verb + Preposition + Object)
Here's a list of the verb phrases in this lesson. Which ones do you know and which ones
do you want to learn more about?
WORK FOR
WORK AS
WORK ON
WORK WITH
WORK FROM
WORK THROUGH
WORK TOWARD
WORK INTO
WORK AT
WORK UNDER
WORK OUT

PEOPLE and ORGANIZATIONS
When describing how people or organizations work, here are some useful expressions.
People WORK FOR organizations, clients, or employers.

He works for a client or company
People can WORK AS something. This usually describes the role or job title.
We work as a team.
She works as project manager.
People WORK ON tasks, projects, assignments, etc.

The engineer works on the project.
The architect works on the plans.
People WORK WITH a group or person.

Superintendents work with subcontractors
People WORK WITH a material, system or thing. This describes what they are using to
complete their work.
Formwork installers work with site cast concrete.
Engineers work with BIM to avoid conflicts.

People WORK FROM something. This describes a source of information or something they
need to refer to.
Contractors must work from the same information.
Framers work from a floor plan to lay out the walls.
People WORK THROUGH a situation or problem. It describes a process.

During the meeting, the team worked through coordination issues.
The design team and contractor worked through their misunderstanding and agreed.
People WORK TOWARD a goal or milestone.

The owner works toward an agreement with the contractor.
The design team is working toward a Friday deadline.
People can WORK (something) INTO a schedule, budget, or other measurable things.
The metal subcontractor worked the changes into their estimate.
The owner worked the appointment into their busy schedule. The keyword here is ‘busy’.

People WORK AT doing something. This is used when somebody is making great efforts
to achieve something or do something well. This is almost always used with the GERUND
form of the verb. (V+ing)
Let’s work at improving project communication.
The glass supplier is working at reducing the cost.
The project manager must work at gaining the trust of his team.
People WORK UNDER other people in an organization. This is used to describe

one’s role in an organization.
The engineers work under the supervision of the superintendent.
The subcontractors work under the general contractor.
People WORK UNDER difficult conditions or situations. This emphasizes hardship or

challenging work conditions.
The project manager was working under extreme pressure from the owner.
The excavation crew worked under difficult weather conditions.
MATERIALS and SYSTEMS

Some expressions describe the properties or performance of something; or whether
something is appropriate for use in a specific situation.
Something can WORK OUT.

Something can NOT WORK OUT.
This means the same as 'resolve.' Its meaning is a little different, however. We usually
say something works out when the end result was not expected, or the process is not
100% easy, smooth or perfect. Note: This is different from the other phrasal verb 'work out',
meaning exercise.
SYNONYMS
settle, sort out, solve, find a solution to, find an answer to, fix, straighten out, deal with, put right,
set right, put to rights, rectify, iron out, reconcile
The decision to change the schedule worked out in the end, but it was very challenging
for the team.
The new roofing subcontractor was 2 weeks behind schedule. They did not work out, so
the general contractor fired them.
The owner and contractor are working out their problems in the meeting right now.
Something can WORK FOR something.

This means 'suitable' or 'compatible' or 'appropriate for'
Rammed earth doesn’t work for commercial buildings.
Stainless steel works perfectly for kitchen projects.
Something can WORK ON something.

This means the same as 'work for', except it's more commonly used for objects or things.
Wood windows don’t work on high-rise buildings.
PVC roofing works well on flat roofs.
Something can WORK WITH something.

This means 'suitable' or 'compatible with' or 'appropriate for'
Aluminum bolts don’t work with structural steel.
Asphalt shingles work with pitched roofs.
Other expressions describe a material’s or system’s function or role.

Something can WORK AS something.
This means 'the same as 'function as'
Columns work as a structural support.
EPDM works as a water barrier.
Brick veneer works as a rain screen.

PRO TIP
Take a look at work in the dictionary and study some other uses for the
word. Dictionaries work great for learning new word combinations while
you're working towards becoming a better English speaker. Working with dictionaries
is very helpful if you can work it into your schedule.
Here's a link to the word 'work' as a verb in the Oxford learner's dictionary.
In another lesson, we explore using the word work as a noun.
Until then, I'm going back to work. I have lots to work on... 🙂
Based on a computer analysis of millions of words in construction contracts and project

management manuals, here are the TOP 20 VERBS used most frequently.
Which do you already know? Which do you want to learn more about?
click the buttons to listen to the words

1.include 2.require 3.provide
4.perform 5.prepare 6.complete
7.determine 8.specify 9.involve
10.establish 11.identify 12.follow
13.ensure 14.submit 15.develop
16.affect 17.define 18.obtain
19.describe 20.cover
Here are some more basic/easy verbs that were common, but not included:
1) have
2) use
3) make
4) do
5) need
6) take

Reading Task
What is Civil Engineering?

Before talking about Civil Engineering, let’s consider what is meant by
“Engineering” at large. This word comes from the Latin term “ingenerare”,
which means to invent, to create or to regulate. Therefore, Engineering can be
defined as the professional art of applying scientific principles to everyday
things to help make life easier.
In particular, Civil Engineering is about designing, making and maintaining
built environments, and helping sustain natural landscapes. Every road,
bridge, building, harbour, airport or energy facility depends upon the
creativity, imagination and skill of civil engineers.
If you choose a career in civil engineering you could be working across the
globe to construct sustainable buildings, develop transport systems and to
provide clean water.

The main branches of Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering is regarded as one of the most important engineering fields
across the globe. It is the second-oldest engineering discipline after military
engineering and is about solving real world problems through designing,
constructing, managing and maintaining the infrastructure that plays a vital
role in the development of countries and supports modern society. This
includes buildings, bridges, roads, airports, dams, sewage systems, flood
mitigation works and so on; the list is endless. Civil engineers are at the
forefront of innovation in our societies.
As you can see, although Civil Engineering is a profession that generally
focuses on creating physical manmade structures, it is an extremely broad field
that encompasses multiple sub-disciplines.
Here are some of the key areas of this sector.
Structural Engineering
Structural Engineering involves studying and
analysing the design of bridges, flyovers,
marine structures and other buildings. These

engineers are responsible for ensuring these
buildings aren’t just aesthetically pleasing,
but also safe, durable and serviceable. This
requires the identification of the loads,
forces and stress which might act upon a structure.
When designing a building, the engineers must
consider multiple factors. For example, the cost and
constructability, as well as its strength and stability.
They also need to make sure the building is designed to withstand environmental
factors like earthquakes, floods and aggressive winds. Competent maths and physics
skills are essential, as well as sound knowledge of materials such as concrete, stone,
steel and so on.

Transportation Engineering
Transport engineering is still one of the most pivotal civil engineering
disciplines. Engineers in this sector design, construct and maintain all
forms of public transportation systems across the world, including roads,
railways, ports and airports.
Their aims are to improve the overall traffic movement, reduce traffic
congestion and minimise the risk of accidents from happening. This can
be achieved by either designing a completely new system, or by altering
an existing one.
However, in order to effectively improve transportation links, engineers
need to take into consideration a variety of factors, such as the economic,
political and ethical impact the new system will have.
With automobiles and other future transportation advancements
planned to be introduced in the upcoming years, transportation
engineers will always be in demand.
Geotechnical Engineering
Another important branch of Civil Engineering
is Geotechnical Engineering. Specialists who
work in this field study and analyse the rock
and soil of the area where a civil structure
is currently standing or where construction is

planned. These engineers must have vast
knowledge of soil science, material science as
well as the mechanics and hydraulics involved
in safely designing a range of structures and
buildings.

Water Resources Engineering
Water resources engineers try to

improve the quality and quantity
of water resources in a specified
area. They design and construct
hydraulic structures (typically
dams, canals, water distribution
systems) that collect and manage
water as a natural resource.
This area of engineering adopts principles of hydrology, meteorology and resource
management (among other elements), so extensive knowledge is required. These engineers
usually focus on flood and storm water analysis, wastewater treatment procedures and
ground water remediation.
Environmental Engineering
This sub-discipline focuses on creating ways to conserve highly populated areas and
preventing pollution from effecting the natural environment. Environmental engineers
conduct detailed analysis on a wide range of environmental problems and develop
solutions to these issues. Some of the tasks they are responsible for include solid waste
treatment/management, treatment of water sources and improving the quality of water
and air. Understanding of atmospheric sciences and hydrology is needed in order to
excel in this career.
Who are civil engineers?

The expression ‘Civil engineer’ covers a huge range of jobs and all types of engineering.
Civil engineers come from all different backgrounds, but they all spend years training,
learning and getting qualifications.
They are responsible for the basic needs and facilities (or infrastructure) of modern
society. They improve systems and processes that allow humans and nature to coexist
with minimal impact. Modern society could not function without them. We need civil
engineers to design and build higher-capacity transportation systems. We need them to
construct larger commercial and industrial complexes. We need them for water supply
and pollution control. We need efficient, cost- effective and innovative repair or
replacement of civil infrastructure such as roads, bridges and buildings.

The future of Civil Engineering
What skills will civil engineers need in the future?

Considering the growing digital transformation
within the construction industry, new skills
may be necessary to civil engineers in the future in order to adapt to changing
technologies.
What will the civil engineering world be like in the next few years?
What roles will civil engineers play in that radically transformed world?
ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineering) asked those questions to a

gathering of 60+ thought leaders from diverse backgrounds and countries —
civil engineers, engineers from other disciplines, architects, educators, and
other leaders. The result was “The Vision for Civil Engineering in 2025”, which
challenges the civil engineer to rise to a new level of leadership and
professionalism — to be entrusted by society to create a sustainable world and
raise the global quality of life.
Consequently, civil engineers, as a body of professionals, should exhibit
mastery in five key areas:
planners, designers, constructors, and operators of society’s economic and
social engine — the built environment: as masters of a new, more expansive
body of knowledge and skill base, civil engineers will lead global, multi-
disciplinary teams made up of professional engineers, technologists, and
technicians, all with well-defined roles;
stewards of the natural environment and its resources: they will introduce new
technology, techniques, and financial methods for sustainable planning,
design, construction, operation, and maintenance. Civil engineers will
routinely encourage owners to adopt new, sustainable approaches to the built
and natural environment;
innovators and integrators of ideas and technology across the public, private,
and academic sectors: You will define the strategic research direction for

leading-edge infrastructure and environmental technologies and promote
faster application of new approaches. Multi-national knowledge exchange will
become your staple, along with faster integration of technology through
spirited partnerships;
managers of risk and uncertainty caused by natural events, accidents, and other
threats; civil engineers will need to gain mastery in assessing and managing
risk and forge new tactics for reducing the incidence and effects of natural and
man-made disasters;
leaders in discussions and decisions shaping public environmental and
infrastructure policy: they will greatly expand their role as public policy
leaders for broad-based policy discussions and serve as opportunity finders as
well as problem solvers. You will be the go-to professionals for insights on
public policy decisions that shape the built and natural environment.
(Source: https://www.asce.org/vision2025/)
Building Tomorrow: The Future of Civil Engineering

by James Patefield
Published: 22 February 2021

The future is approaching us at an accelerating pace, with technology and innovations
shaping the way we think, act, and interact with the world around us. We’re becoming
accustomed to fast processors and rapidly growing cities. But their integration has been
limited by innovation in the civil engineering sector.
Of course, budgeting and time constraints have limited new approaches to

create environments that are symbiotic with smart technology. But with
significant investment being poured into public construction, civil engineering
now has the opportunity to create a bright future for everyone. Here, we look
at how civil engineers will build the future.
Smart cities
Technological development and civil engineering have sustained a close

relationship in their ability to continue fresh approaches to cities. But the future

of civil engineering will utilise technological integration rather than its use in
construction alone.
The United Nations believes that 68 per cent of the world population will live
in a city by 2050. This demonstrates the need for cities that can sustain a high
population safely. For this reason, experts expect anticipate that future cities
will be integrated with technology to match their growing needs. So how will
our cities become smart?
Artificial intelligence will be responsible for most transport usage in smart
cities. Driverless cars will be connected to each other, traffic lights, and parking
locations to measure how to deal with congestion on our roads and increase
efficiency in cities while increasing safety for pedestrians.
Waste in cities can also be approached with technology, indicating when a
collection is needed as opposed to a regular schedule. In the long run, this
may have more economic benefits, especially for taxpayers.
Cities, councils, and nations may embrace this technological transformation by
allowing important information to be placed in the hands of the public.
Licenses and IDs may be accessed on mobile phones. People could have the
ability to control their town — reserving a bench in the park or requesting a
public transport pickup.
Of course, civil engineering must facilitate these changes. When roads are
constructed, do they consider the use of driverless vehicles? When a building
is created, can smart waste facilities be included in the building’s
infrastructure? Reclaimed land for park use can also present civil engineers the
unique opportunity to create more than a natural reserve in city centres, with
smart use being a focus of their construction.
Sustainability first
The changing attitudes of the public do not only shape how civil engineers are
constructing buildings, but which materials are used in the process. Certainly,
the past five years has created a deep perception of the need for sustainable
practices in every aspect of our lives. Never has this been more important for
the construction industry, where reports indicate that they contribute 32 per
cent of landfill waste in the UK.
A connected world
Advancements in Civil Engineering are not only helping to create
infrastructure within and between the cities of the future but are showing signs
of connecting the wider world. While infrastructure such as the Eurotunnel
was considered
groundbreaking for its grand engineering feat, one that seemed inconceivable
before it was attempted, the future of international connection belongs to
bridges.
Already, engineers across the globe have connected countries through
bridges. The Rainbow International Bridge connects the Unites States and
Canada over the Niagara River, and the New Europe Bridge

connects Bulgaria and Romania over Danube River. However,
new engineering capabilities are now connecting countries separated by
seas.
In 2018, Chinese President Xi Jingping opened a
bridge that connected Hong Kong to Macau, securing
the bond between the mainland nation and the
Special Administrative Region. At 34 miles, it’s
the largest sea-crossing bridge ever constructed.
This bridge creates a metaphorical connection
between these regions as well as a physical one,
emphasising their ties.
In the future, some engineers are looking ahead to see how similar bridges can
help connect the British Isles. While the Prince of Wales Bridge exists to create
more links between England and Wales over the River Severn, we should
expect bridges to connect Northern Ireland to the UK mainland at some point.
The idea has a mythical origin in the Giant’s Causeway, but realistic proposals
have been made to connect the island of Ireland to the UK since 1799.
Only in February 2020 has UK Government officials began looking into the
potential type of crossing that could be constructed over the Irish Sea. It’s been
estimated to cost between £15 billion to £20 billion. While a significant
investment, the UK hopes that such a bridge could benefit trade relations with
the Republic of Ireland. It would also allow a more physical union between
Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK to be created.
With more aspects of our lives moving online, it’s easy to forget the importance
of the physical world. Whether you’re experiencing the engineering prowess
of a sea bridge, enjoying smart technology in a public park, or navigating
yourself across an autonomous city, the process of creating experiences for the
future begins with civil engineers and creating a vision of what can be created
going forward.
Loads
Structural Loads: a load is a force which applies to a structure tending to produce
deformations, stresses or displacements in the structure and it must withstand these
types of generated actions.
All structures must be able to withstand various different loads or they will
fall apart. Structural load can be caused by gravity (which gives physical
structures their weight) or it can have a dynamic source like wind flow,
rainfall, snowfall, seismic tremors.
If the loads acting on the structure exceed the load bearing capacity of the
construction, it has a negative impact on the structure. The forces that are
released when a structure is subjected to different loads can change the shape
of structural components or of the entire construction.
The weight of the structure itself is called dead load while the weight of
anything or anyone on the structure (e.g. people or furniture in a house,
vehicles on a bridge) is called the live load. In a hurricane, typhoon or tornado,
a structure is exposed to very strong wind load. When the soil beneath a
structure sinks unevenly, the structure is subjected to settlement problems.
During an earthquake, the ground beneath a structure moves backwards and
forwards due to seismic tremors, in other words, earthquake load.
Dead loads and live loads are vertical loads because they push downwards a
structure whereas environmental loads can be vertical (e.g. snow or rain) or
horizontal/lateral (e.g. wind).
Environmental loads (wind, rain, snow, eartquake) are also called dynamic
loads as they aren’t always present and they vary in intensity. They are
considered unpredictable sources because they can suddenly become very
intense resulting in severe damage even to otherwise stable constructions.
Dead Loads: Vertical loads that are fixed in

position and are produced by the weight of
the elements of the structure or the whole
structure with all its permanent components.
Examples are: own weight of structural
member and super imposed loads (e.g. walls
and flooring cover)
Live Loads: consist mainly of occupancy

loads (e.g. people and furniture) in
buildings and traffic loads on bridges.
They may be either fully or partially in
place or not present at all, and may also
change in location.
Forces
When a structure is subjected to different loads, forces are released that have
an impact on the shape and the integrity of the structural components (or of
the entire structure).
Compression causes the structure to be squeezed together; when it is
squeezed, it tends to become shorter;
tension makes a material stretch; when a material is pulled apart, it tends to
become longer;
bending occurs when a structure is subjected to compression from above and
tension from below;
shearing is a force that causes parts of a structure to slide past one another in
opposite directions;
torsion is the force that causes a structural member to twist about a
longitudinal axis.
Forces cause deformation on the materials. If a material is quite flexible and

gets back to its original shape after the impact of a certain force, the structure
experiences elastic deformation.
If a material is more rigid and the structure does not gain back its original
shape after the force is removed, the structure experiences permanent change
due to plastic deformation.
Since the different loads acting on the structure and the forces released during
the interaction can greatly inlfuence the stability of a construction, engineers
must take into consideration the impact of these loads and forces prior to
construction, during structural design.
Types of buildings and structure classifications used

throughout the world
Office Buildings
The main types of office buildings include:
office towers: office buildings which can rise
up to 60 storeys in many cities throughout the
world.
walk-up: Many smaller towns build 2, 3 or 4-
floor office buildings because there isn’t
demand for hundreds of office spaces in a
high-rise tower.
Residential Buildings
There are many different types of residential buildings. The most common
include: detached single-family; townhouse; apartment; condominium.
Retail Buildings
Retail buildings can be single shop or multi-shop
structures. The types of retail buildings you find in
most towns and cities are:
Shops/Boutiques/Services: single business buildings
that house a retail outlet or service-based business.
Big Box: these are the huge retail stores that cover
all kinds of stuff within a particular sector.
Malls: they come in the strip mall and indoor mall variety. There are also
outdoor malls in warmer climates. A mall is a building that houses multiple
businesses and services in one place. The concept is to create a place that
attracts more people on account of having a large group and variety of stores,
retailers and services.

Hospitality Buildings
Hospitality buildings are structures built to house
and/or feed people. These are often stand-alone
buildings except for hotels often include
restaurants.
Here are the different types of hospitality
buildings: hotels; motels; resorts; bed and
breakfasts (B&Bs); hostels; restaurants.
Gathering Buildings
Gathering or assembly style buildings are venues that host sporting events,
concerts, various shows (i.e. home shows, auto shows, boat shows), etc. They
include: stadiums; arenas; theaters; auditoriums; conference centers.
Religious Buildings
Examples of different types of religious buildings include: church; temple;

mosque; cathedral; monastery; synagogue.

Multi-Purpose Buildings
A fairly new type of building is a multi- purpose building that incorporates

several functions.
Multi-purpose skyscraper: the most common multi-purpose is the skyscraper that
includes retail, office, hospitality and residential spaces.
Mall/Office space: another multi-purpose building that includes a section with offices.

Institutional Civic Buildings

Most towns and cities have one or many civic buildings that
are built to serve the community. Most are owned by the
government, but not all. Among the various types of civic
buildings are:
hospitals and clinics; libraries: community centers;
museums; courthouses; police/fire; prisons; post offices.
Educational Buildings
Educational buildings are schools. Most towns have

one or more. There are many types of schools. The
main ones are: pre-school; elementary; middle; high
school; college; university; technical.

Industrial Buildings
Many towns have sections zoned for industrial buildings which include manufacturing
facilities such as a factory and warehousing facilities. Arguably, infrastructure buildings
fall in this category as well (various types of plants such as power plants, nuclear plants,
water treatment plants, etc.). The different types of industrial buildings include:
manufacturing plant; factory; warehouse; distribution center; storage facilities.
Agricultural Buildings
Another building concept are those used in agriculture. These structures usually house
animals, but can also store produce and/or food for animals. Some types of agricultural
buildings are: barns; greenhouses; silos; chicken coop.
Terminals (Transportation Buildings)

Many different types of structures are designed and built to facilitate travel. Broadly
speaking, they’re terminals that serve all kinds of transportation methods. The main
types of terminals are: ferry; airport; train; bus.

Recreational Buildings
Recreational buildings are those where you can engage in various activities and/or be
entertained. Here’s an overview listing some of the different types of recreational
buildings: fitness centers; bowling alleys; indoor climbing gyms; ice rinks; public
swimming pools; indoor trampoline parks.

House types
Since time began, people have been making a home for themselves. No matter the culture
or the country, the concept of home has always been important. Whether it’s a place or a
feeling, humans are constantly reimagining and redefining what a home means.
A basic division is between free-standing or single-family detached homes and various
types of attached or multi-family residential dwellings. Both may vary greatly in scale
and the amount of accommodation provided.
Here is a list of some common house types.
Apartment
An apartment is part of a collection of similar units in one building structure. An

important feature is that you have to rent the place from a landlord.
Apartments can have many convenience factors like an on-site repair worker, laundry,
gym facilities or a pool. Though you don’t get as much privacy, there are many
additional pros and cons to weigh when deciding whether to buy or rent.
Condo
If you like the conveniences that come with an
apartment but are looking to own, a condo might be a
great fit for you. Instead of having a building
manager or landlord oversee your unit, you’re in
charge of all the repairs and the upkeep. Condos are
a great option for city living and for older adults
who want to own and have a mortgage but don’t want to
deal with the upkeep of a single-family home.

Co-Op
A co-op (or housing cooperative) is quite different
from the others. When you buy into a co-op, you’re
buying a share of the company that owns the building
rather than actual property. The number of shares you
own typically correlates to how much space you’re
afforded in the co-op. Once accepted into a co-op and
after purchasing shares, you’ll have a vote on common
spaces, and you’ll split maintenance costs and other
fees.
Single-Family (Detached)
The key feature of a single-family home is that it’s
completely detached from other housing units, unlike
condos, apartments or townhomes. The majority of
homes in the U.S. are single-family homes. They’re
less common in highly populated areas and are
typically found in suburbs. Single-family homes are
usually more private and there are more options for
personalization.
Townhome
A townhouse or townhome is an individually owned dwelling that shares at

least one wall with another unit and has its own entrance from the street. They
are most popular in big cities where space is limited. Townhomes typically
make use of vertical space with multiple stories but save horizontal space by
sitting side by side with other homes.

Rowhouse
A rowhouse is one of a group of low-rise residential buildings that shares one

or both side walls and a roofline with the structures next door. A rowhouse is
typically just two to five stories in height and home to one or two families.
However, some of Brooklyn’s rowhouses have been converted into a greater
number of apartments.
Cottage
Cottage-style houses are often described as cozy and
charming. They are typically small but have a big
personality. The style was brought over from Europe,
specifically England, where cottages were the home to
working-class farmers. In the US, some people buy
them for use as vacation homes, though many people use
them as primary residences. They often feature wood
siding or wood shingle siding (sometimes made from
brick or stone), small porches and a fireplace.

Farmhouse
Farmhouse-style homes typically have tall ceilings, exposed beams, a large front
porch, a rectangular layout and a central fireplace. Some farmhouse-
style homes have barn-shaped roofs while others aren’t as on the nose. The
details are typically rustic, often featuring exposed brick and stone. Modern
farmhouse style takes a rustic look and combines it with more clean lines and
other updated features.
Ranch
Ranch-style houses appeared in the 1930s, but their popularity boomed in the
1950s. These homes are typically one story and feature low-pitched roofs,
large windows, sliding glass doors, large backyards, open living spaces and
attached garages. They come in a variety of iterations like split-level,
storybook, California and raised ranch. ‘

Split-Level
Split-level homes emerged from the ranch-style home design and became
popular in the 1950s and ’60s. What sets a split-level home apart is how the
living spaces of the home are separated. They have multiple floors connected
with short flights of stairs.

Reference:
- Juan M. Izar Landeta, Technical English for Civil Engineering, October 1999
- Eric H. Glendinning, Norman Glendinning, English for Electrical and Mechanical

Engineering, Oxford
- David L. (2008), Metric Handbook Planning and Design Data, Third Edition, Oxford,
UK, The Architectural Press.
- Webpage: Construction English, 2022
- Prof.ssa Elena INTORCIA, English for Civil Engineering

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English for Engineering

Prepared by Lecturer: Lorm Thoum

Academic Year 2022

Reading Task ...................................................................................................... 77

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Task 3: OTHER EXPRESSIONS

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1- What are foundations?

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4 STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS AND

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Task 3: OTHER EXPRESSIONS

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2. A ________________is an assembly of parts to support high loads.

3. The calculation of _______________ cannot be generalized, because there are too

1- What is structural analysis?

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Types of surface ways

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Task 3: OTHER EXPRESSIONS

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Task 3: OTHER EXPRESSIONS

2. The geometric requirements, hydraulic specifications and selection of structural

3. The railroad bridges require a ________________ between structure and

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Plaster is basically bihydrated calcium sulphate, obtained from semihydrated calcium

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Task 3: OTHER EXPRESSIONS

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Task 3: OTHER EXPRESSIONS

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Activity 1: “APPLY” OR “INSTALL”?

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Miscellaneous Metals: Miscellaneous metals typically include items of steel, and

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Fireproofing: is a layer of material sprayed on structural steel members. It has different

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8. There is obviously no perfect time to __________ fireproofing.

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Activity 2: Work as a Noun