the purpose of this glossary is to provide an overview of the elements of urban legibility.
Air-entrained concrete
Concept
contains billions of microscopic air cells per cubic foot. These air pockets relieve internal pressure on the concrete by providing tiny chambers for water to expand into when it freezes.
Example: texture used in construction
en: Concreto con aire incorporado
Architectural concrete
Concept
refers to concrete that while providing an aesthetic finish to the building also serves a structural function. Decorative concrete typically refers to concrete flatwork or building elements such as panels, that while enhanced with texture or color, are not structural building members.
Example: Used to decorate facades
en: hormigón arquitectónico
Asphaltic concrete
Concept
usually refers to stabilized granular soil, where sand or well-graded aggregate is mixed with between 3% and 10% bitumen to provide a durable water- and abrasion-resistant structural layer.
Example: Avenues
en: hormigón asfáltico
Axes
concept
are main streets that have gained importance as a communicating element, capable of rationalizing space and urbanizing the city around it. They create a great influence on the architecture that is projected around it, capable of supporting the great movements that are created from it.
Example: The invisible line of your colony that makes you reach a point of reference always
en: Eje
Backup Wall
Concept
division of a geographic space by means of a material construction, exerting some kind of control over the things or people that cross that division
Example: the courtyard walls that divide the house from the other buildings
en: Pared de respaldo
Brick courses
Concept
Brick is the material chosen by the architects, because it is a traditional material, capable of being produced in all parts of the world given the availability of its raw material.
Example: They are used to make walls
en: Cursos de ladrillo
Cellular concrete
Concept
Is specially formulated cellular concrete is the self-compacting property wherein no compaction is required and it steadily flows out of a pump outlet to fill the mould. Due to this property, it can be pumped over major height and distances.
Example: provides structure, insulation, and fire and mold-resistance. Cellular concrete products include blocks, wall panels, floor and roof panels, and lintels.
en: hormigón celular
Colored concrete
Concrete
Colored concrete, also known as decorative concrete, allows traditional grey concrete to be stained and dyed different colors. Concrete has been colored as far back as the early 1900s and was primarily used by companies who made precast structures for building facades.
Example: Used in facades generally from other countries
en: Hormigón coloreado
Concrete block
Concept
Concrete Blocks are prefabricated modular elements designed for confined and reinforced masonry. The block is made from cement, sand and aggregates, they are of great structural resistance. As a construction system it is excellent as it is a very versatile product.
Example: a type of brick but with holes and made of concrete
en: Bloque de concreto
Cured concrete
Concept
is defined as providing adequate moisture, temperature, and time to allow the concrete to achieve the desired properties for its intended use.
Example: your house siding was cured
en: hormigón curado
Dovetail Insert
concept
The indexable dovetail mill allows you to remove metal with high efficiency. The XV cutter allows the fabricator to mount it with a standard face milling spindle. The insert geometry design is effective for chip breaking and chip evacuation.
Example: a type of cutter
en: Inserto de cola de milano
Edges
concept
are linear elements that the observer does not use or does not consider as paths.
They are the limits between two phases or linear breaks in continuity.
Example: the avenue of your colony
en: Borde
Exposed concrete
Concept
refers to concrete whose surface is a visible part of the architectural and interior design of the building. Strictly speaking, this refers to concrete surfaces that were in contact with the formwork shell when they were produced.
Example: Used in house facades
en: hormigón visto
Gravity load
concept
They are body loads that simulate the force of gravity that affects the model. When defining a gravity load, the components of gravitational acceleration in each coordinate direction are specified.
Example: The Leaning Tower of Pizza in Italy
en: Carga de gravedad
Green concrete
Concept
is defined as a concrete which uses waste material as at least one of its components, or its production process does not lead to environmental destruction, or it has high performance and life cycle sustainability.
Example: biological concrete is considered.
en: hormigón verde
Hanging off
Concept
It is not considered some term, but the complementation of a sentence, however, it could refer to some sign that hangs from some structure or something else.
Example: a sign hanging from a lock
en: Colgando de / colgar de
horizontal mortar joints
Concept
are the spaces between bricks, concrete blocks, or glass blocks, that are filled with mortar or grout. If the surface of the masonry remains unplastered, the joints contribute significantly to the appearance of the masonry.
Example: Any wall
en: Juntas de mortero horizontales
Insulating concrete
Concept
is a system of formwork for reinforced concrete usually made with a rigid thermal insulation that stays in place as a permanent interior and exterior substrate for walls, floors, and roofs.
Example: Insulating materials such as airgel
en: hormigón aislante
Journey
Concept
refers to the route a person takes to get from one place to another.
Example: The daily tour you take to get home
en: Trayecto
ladder type systems
concept
construction designed to communicate several spaces located at different heights
Example: The conventional staircase of the two-story house
en: Sistemas tipo de escalera
Landmark
concept
is a building that because it is popularly known, and valued for its construction technique, its symbolism, its history, can be used as a reference for recognition and orientation of visitors or as a tourist attraction.
Example: A monument
en: Hito
Laterally
Concept
Load acting horizontally on a structural element or structure.
en: Lateralmente
Masonry ties
Concept
A close-up of a masonry wall tie, mesh wall wire to bond face brickwork, and concrete blockwork walls.
Example: foundation reinforcement
en: Lazos de albañileria
Metal channel
Concept
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.
Example: used as structures in dividing walls, skirts, ceilings, boxes and covers.
en: Canal de Acero
Metal decking
Concept
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.
Example: that's used as a structural roof deck or composite floor deck. It will be supported by steel beams
en: Tarima metálica
Metal framing
Concept
metal framing usually refers to cold-formed, light gauge studs, channels and other shapes.
Metal framing can be structural if it is engineered.
Example: are used in load bearing walls and structural applications such as exterior walls.
en: estructura metálica
Metal grating
Concept
Grating can be structural or non-structural.
Example: It helps keep workers and visitors in a facility safe, providing a stable flooring base and traction when walking at ground level and, especially, at heights
en: rejilla metalica
Metal panel
Concept
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)
Example: they can replace heavy wall cladding such as concrete or masonry products,
en: Panel metalico
Metal rod/ Steel rod
Concept
An iron bar is a length of iron that is primarily used in heavy construction projects.
Example: Reinforced concrete is interlocked with iron rods, also called reinforcing bars, to strengthen the tension of the construction
en: barra de metal
Metal roofing
Concept
system made from metal pieces or tiles characterized by its high resistance, impermeability and longevity. It is a component of the building envelope. Zinc, copper and steel alloys are commonly used.
Example: roofs mainly used in the USA
en: techo de metal
Metal stud
Concept
Studs are metal framing.
Example: It is used to hold or support one or more parts of the mechanism itself.
en: Perno de metal
Metal tubing
Concept
Tubing is any shape that's hollow.
Example: Steel tube piles are used for construction in areas where the foundation is unstable or the load that construction will support is heavy.
en: tubería metálica
multi-storey
Concept
building has several floors at different levels above the ground.
Example: a building
en: De varios pisos
Neighborhood
concept
is a subdivision of a city or town, which usually has its own identity and whose inhabitants have a sense of belonging.
Example: Blocks of the colony where things have similar facades
en: Barrio
Node
concept
are street confluences, strategic points, path junctions, crossroads, essential to move around the city.
Example: As an Informal Series of Steps If a non-existing NODE is referenced, its value is automatically NUL
en: Nodo
Path
concept
refers to the roads and routes through which people travel: streets, avenues, walks, roads... through which every citizen moves throughout his life.
Example: The sidewalks of your colony
en: Senda
Porous concrete
Concept
Porous or permeable concrete is a type of pavement with a porous surface that is composed of concrete, it is also considered as green pavement, it allows water to run through it instead of pooling or draining out of it.
Example: usually used in gardens
en: hormigón poroso
Precast concrete
Concept
is a construction product produced by casting concrete in a reusable mold or "form" which is then cured in a controlled environment, transported to the construction site and lifted into place ("tilt up").
Example: Used to speed up constructions
en: Concreto prefabricado
Prestressed concrete
Concept
is a form of concrete used in construction. It is substantially "prestressed" (compressed) during production, in a manner that strengthens it against tensile forces which will exist when in service.
Example: used in large buildings
en: Hormigón pretensado
Reinforced concrete
Concept
Is a composite material in which concrete's relatively low tensile strength and ductility are compensated for by the inclusion of reinforcement having higher tensile strength or ductility.
Example: Pre-cast concrete floor systems - beams, slabs, double tees, and single tees
en: Concreto reforzado
relief angle
Concept
The relief angle on a machine tool is the angle edge of the tool nearest the work piece (part being machined) makes with the work piece. That face is usual tilted away from the work piece - Positive relief angle
Example: you need a good angle to have a good structure
en: ángulo de relieve
Steel angle
Concept
Steel angles are hot rolled, and are most often structural.
Example: Structural usage of Steel Angles is maximum compared to any other sector. Examples include riveted, bolted, or welded construction of buildings, bridges, machinery etc.
en: Ángulo de acero
Steel beam
Concept
Steel beams are hot rolled, horizontal steel structural framing members.
Example: They are often used as critical support trusses, or the main framework, in buildings.
en: Viga de acero
Steel channel
Concept
Steel channels are structural.
Steel channels are hot rolled (made by heating metal at a high temperature and rolling through a machine)
Example: They are used for the support of slabs, for complements of agricultural spaces and in the manufacture of bodies.
en: Canal de acero
Steel column
Concept
Steel columns are hot rolled, vertical steel structural framing members.
Example: They may carry loads in compression or they may transfer loads from things like beams, ceilings, floor slabs or roof slabs to floors or foundations.
en: Columna de acero
Steel framing
Concept
Steel framing is a general term. It could be structural or non-structural shapes.
Example: used in large and vertical constructions
en: estructura de acero
Steel joist
Concept
Also called open web joists.
Example: an efficient framing system for supporting floors and ceilings in a wide variety of building types.
en: Vigas de acero
Steel member
Concept
support that is a constituent part of any structure or building
Example: used in large structures and buildings
en: Miembro de acero
Steel plate
Concept
Steel plate is often structural.
Example: used to strengthen foundations and uphold mass units of weight like bridges.
en: placa de acero
Steel reinforcement/ reinforcing
Concept
Reinforcement is the general action or function of something.
Reinforcing describes the actual system or object.
Example: It is used in bridges, buildings, skyscrapers, homes, warehouses, and foundations to increase the strength of a concrete structure.
en: refuerzo de acero
Steel sections
Concept
Steel shaped for use in construction.
Example: used in many buildings as steel is very versatile
en: secciones de acero
Supports
Concept
It is the action that some structural elements perform to maintain a building
Example: beam supports
en: Soporte
Tie something back to
Concept
Tie something so it doesn't move
Example: Tie the columns to the foundation
en: Atar algo
Tranfers
Concept
Action performed by some structural elements
Example: columns transfer loads to foundation
en: Transferencia
Unreinforced concrete
Concept
Plain, unreinforced concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension, which limits its applicability as a structural material.
en: hormigón no armado
Urban fabric
Concept
can be understood as the organization of spatial and nodal elements that are intertwined with each other and that together with the interstitial space, empty or built, make up the structure of the city.
Example: A good accommodation in the apples that attracts attention in the satellite view
en: Trama urbana
Wedge Anchor
Concept
is a generic term for a type of anchor used to fasten a variety of materials to concrete. Some companies have different brand names for their wedge anchors such as Kwik Bolt, Power Stud, and Thunderstud.
