Worlds of David Darling > Children's
Encyclopedia of Science > Spiderwebs to Skyscrapers > Glossary
SPIDERWEBS TO SKYSCRAPERS:
The Science of Structures
a book in the eXperiment! series by David Darling
A curved structure resting on upright supports that is used for bearing
A straight, flat piece of material supported at either end.
An arm that sticks out from a central support and that can be used to bear
A gray, powdery substance made up of certain kind of ground-up rocks. When
mixed with sand and water, it hardens to form concrete.
A water-tight enclosure, from which the water can be pumped, to give a dry
foundation for bridges and piers.
A hardened mixture of cement, sand, and water which may also include small
stones and steel rods for extra strength.
A dam that curves both from side to side and from top to bottom.
A building that is partly or completely covered by soil.
A hard base, below ground level, upon which a building rests.
A dome-shaped structure built from flat, interlocking panels of identical
A long beam, usually made of iron or steel, used for structural support.
A dam that is much wider at the bottom than at the top. It relies on its
own weight, rather than a curved shape, to hold back the water.
Columns of steel and concrete that are driven deep into the ground to provide
a firm foundation for buildings such as skyscrapers.
Concrete containing steel rods that are held tightly stretched while the
concrete is setting. This is the strongest type of concrete.
Concrete that has been strengthened inside with steel rods.
A piece of equipment used by scientists to study how earthquakes might affect
a building. It consists of a platform that can be loaded and vibrated in
A metal made by mixing molten iron with a small amount of carbon. This makes
it stronger than iron alone.
A bridge whose weight is supported by steel cables slung over the top of
tall metal piers.
A framework of wood or iron, usually in the form of interlocking triangles,
that provides support.