| Stability: | (english) Stability is best defined as the opposite of instability, which is the occurrence of large structural deformations which are not the result of material failure. |
| Stiffness: | (english) This is a general term which may be applied to materials or structures. When a force is applied to a structure, there is a displacement in the direction of the force; stiffness is the ratio of the force divided by the displacement. High stiffness means that a large force produces a small displacement. When discussing the stiffness of a material, the concept is the same, except that stress substitutes for force, and strain substitutes for displacement; see modulus of elasticity. |
| 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. |
| Yield strain: | (english) A material deformed beyond its yield strain, no longer exhibits linear elastic behavior. See yield stress. |
| Adsorption | (Environmental Engineering) A surface phenomena in which a solute (soluble material) concentrates or collects at a surface (the adsorbent). |
| Anabolism | (Environmental Engineering) Biosynthesis, the production of new cellular materials from other organic or inorganic chemicals. |
| Biosynthesis | (Environmental Engineering) Catabolism, the production of new cellular materials from other organic or inorganic chemicals. |
| Chemical fixation (or stabilization/solidification) | (Environmental Engineering) A term for several different methods of chemically immobilizing hazardous materials into a cement, plastic, or other matrix. |
| Composting | (Environmental Engineering) The controlled aerobic degradation of organic wastes into a material which can be used for landscaping, landfill cover, or soil conditioning. |