| Linear: | (english) A structure is said to behave linearly when its the deformation response is directly proportional to the loading (i.e. doubling the load doubles the displacement response). For a material, linear means that the stress is directly proportional to the strain. |
| Linear Elastic: | (english) A force-displacement relationship which is both linear and elastic. For a structure, this means the deformation is proportional to the loading, and deformations disappear on unloading. For a material, the concept is the same except strain substitutes for deformation, and stress substitutes for load. |
| Load: | (english) An external force. The term load is sometimes used to describe more general actions such as temperature differentials or movements such as foundation settlements. |
| Rigid: | (english) An idealized concept meaning something which does not deform under loading. In fact, all objects deform under loading, but in modelling it can be useful to idealize very stiff objects as rigid. |
| 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. |
| Yield stress: | (english) A material loaded beyond its yield stress, no longer exhibits linear elastic behavior. Metals, particularly mild steel, generally have a very well defined yield stress compared to other materials. Yield stress is sometimes called yield strength. |
| Shock load | (Environmental Engineering) Influent wastewater entering the plant which has an unusually high organic content and/or high flow rate. |
| Load testing - | (Software Engineering) a testing task that determines how software (often a WebApp) will respond to various loading conditions |
| Plane of Weakness | (Concrete Engineering) The plane along which a structure under stress will tend to fracture; may exist because of the nature of the structure and its loading, by accident, or by design. |
| Pumping (of Pavements) | (Concrete Engineering) The ejection of a mixture of water and solid materials such as clay or silt along cracks, transverse or longitudinal joints, and along pavement edges caused by downward slab movement due to the passage of heavy loads, machinery or equipment over the pavement after free water has accumulated in or on the subbase, subgrade or basecourse. |