| Work breakdown structure (WBS) - | (Software Engineering) the set of work tasks required to build the software; defined as part of the process model |
| Work flow - | (Software Engineering) the sequence of tasks that are required to accomplish some activity or action; often (but not always) used in conjunction with software process models |
| Work product - | (Software Engineering) any cohesive and persistent information that is produced as a consequence of one or more software engineering actions of tasks |
| AAC - Autoclaved Aerated Concrete | (Concrete Engineering) Exceptionally lightweight precast concrete with high thermal qualities and fire resistence. Suitable for cutting with ordinary hand tools. Mix design is composed of portland cement, sand or siliceous material, lime, gypsum, finely powdered aluminum, and water. Initial mix is a combination of portland cement, sand, lime and gypsum to produce a slurry. Finely powdered aluminum mixed into a paste is added prior to placement into large, rail-like forms. The finely powdered aluminum reacts with the alkaline components of the cement and lime to produce hydrogen gas, which increases the volume approximately five times producing a uniformly, dispersed cellular structure. Units are cut to required shape. Units are placed in an autoclave, an enclosed pressurized chamber, and steam cured at 3500 F. Approximately 80% of the ultimate volume consists of air voids. |
| Absolute Volume | (Concrete Engineering) The volume of an ingredient in its solid state, without voids between individual pieces or particles, in the case of fluids, the cubic content occupied. In concrete, the actual volume occupied by the different ingredients determined by dividing the weight of each ingredient pounds, by ifs specific gravity, times the weight of one cubic foot of water in pounds. Example: Absolute Volume of one sack of cement equals: 94 ๗ (3.15X62.4) = 0.478 cubic feet |
| Alkali-Aggregate Reaction | (Concrete Engineering) Older terminology for Alkali-Silica Reactivity (ASR). |
| ASR - Alkali-Silica Reactivity | (Concrete Engineering) The reaction of aggregates, which contain some form of silica or carbonates with sodium oxides or potassium oxides in cement, particularly in warm, moist climates or environments, causing expansion, cracking or popouts in concrete. |
| Blast Furnace Slag | (Concrete Engineering) A non-metallic waste product developed in the manufacture of pig iron, consisting basically of a mixture of lime, silica and alumina, the same oxides that make up portland cement, but not in the same proportions or forms. It is used both in the manufacture of portland blast furnace slag cement and as an aggregate for lightweight concrete. |
| Bleeding, Bleed Water | (Concrete Engineering) A form of segregation in which some of the water in a mix tends to rise to the surface of freshly placed concrete. Known also as water gain. |
| Calcium Aluminate Cement | (Concrete Engineering) The product obtained by pulverizing clinker consisting essentially of hydraulic calcium aluminates resulting from fusing or sintering a suitable proportioned mixture of aluminous and calcareous materials. |