Strength: |
(english) A very general term that may be applied to a material or a structure. In a material, strength refers to a level of stress at which there is a significant change in the state of the material, e.g., yielding or rupture. In a structure, strength refers to a level of level of loading which produces a significant change in the state of the structure, e.g., inelastic deformations, buckling, or collapse. |
Stress resultant: |
(english) A system of forces which is statically equivalent to a stress distribution over an area. |
Stress: |
(english) The intensity of internal force acting at a point in an object. Stress is measured in units of force per area. See shear stress and normal stress. |
Structural model: |
(english) An idealization for analysis purposes of a real or conceived structure. A structural model includes boundaries limiting the scope of the analysis. Supports occur at these boundaries, representing things which hold the structure in place. |
Support: |
(english) A support contributes to keeping a structure in place by restraining one or more degrees of freedom. In a structural model, supports represent boundary entities which are not included in the model itself, e.g., foundations, abutments, or the earth itself. For each restrained translation degree of freedom at a support, there is a corresponding reaction force; for each restrained rotation degree of freedom, there is a reaction moment. |
Surface force: |
(english) A force applied to the surface of an object. |
System of Forces: |
(english) One or more forces and/or moments acting simultaneously. |
Saltwater intrusion |
(Environmental Engineering) The gradual replacement of freshwater by saltwater in coastal areas where excessive pumping of groundwater occurs. |
Secondary standards |
(Environmental Engineering) Recommended drinking water quality standards which relate to aesthetics and/or health. These standards are recommended, not required. See primary standards. |
Secondary treatment |
(Environmental Engineering) In wastewater treatment, the conversion of the suspended, colloidal and dissolved organics remaining after primary treatment into a microbial mass with is then removed in a second sedimentation process. Secondary treatment included both the biological process and the associated sedimentation process. |