Architectural and Engineering Glossary

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Stepped Foundation

A foundation cut in a series of steps in a sloping bearing stratum,to prevent sliding when subject to the bearing load.

Stepped Gable

Same as corbie gable.

Stepped Ramp,ramped Steps

A series of ramps which are interconnected by steps.

Stepped String

Same as open string.

Stepped Voussoir

A voussoir which is squared along its upper surfaces so that it fits horizontal courses of masonry units.

Stepped Windows

A series of windows set in an exterior wall adjacent to a staircase,arranged in a stepped pattern that generally follows the ascent of the steps.

Sticker Machine,sticker Molder

A machine for shaping moldings.

Sticking Board

A frame used to position a piece of wood while a molding is being cut in it. 

Sticky Cement

Cement having reduced ability to flow freely as a result of pack set,or ware house set.

Stiff Frame

See rigid frame.

Stiff Leg Derrick

A derrick comprised of a mast and boom,with two (relatively short) sloping fixed legs supporting the mast.

Stiff-mud Brick

Brick produced by extruding a stiff,but plastic,clay (12 to 15% moisture) through a die.

Stiffback

Same as strongback.

Stiffening Angle

An angle iron connected to the web of a girder to stiffen it against buckling.

Stiffness

The ratio of the force applied to a structure (or a structural element) to the corresponding displacement.

Stiffness Factor

Of a member,the ratio of the moment of inertia of the cross section to its length.

Straight Lock

A lock which is designed to be fixed on the face of a door,requiring no preparation other than the cutting of a keyhole.

Straight Nailing

Same as face nailing.

Straight Stair

See straight flight.

Straight Tee

A tee having all openings of the same size.

Straight Tongue

A tongue along one edge of a board.

Straight Tread

Same as flier.

Straight-line Edger,straight-line Ripsaw

A mechanically fed saw used to straighten the edges of veneer and lumber.

Straight-line Gable

A term descriptive of a parapeted end gable,the face of which rises above the roof line;the edge of the parapet forms a straight line at a steep pitch with respect to the horizontal;especially found in Dutch Colonial architecture and Jacobethan architecture; occasionally called a straight edge gable.

Straight-line Theory

In the analysis of reinforced concrete members,theory based on the assumption that stresses and strains in a member under flexure vary in proportion to the distance from the neutral axis.

Straight-peen Hammer

A hammer having a blunt chisel shaped peen whose edge is parallel to the handle.

Straight-run Stair

Same as straight-flight stair.

Strain

A change in the form or shape of a body or material which is subjected to an external force.

Strain Energy

The work which is done in deforming a body.

Strain Gauge

A very fine wire or thin foil which exhibits a change in resistance proportional to the mechanical strain imposed on it;usually mounted on or bonded to some type of carrier material or wound on a jig or fixture;used in the experimental determination of stresses.

Strain Hardening

The hardening of a metal produced by cold working it.

Strainer

A device for withholding foreign matter from a flowing liquid or gas;a sieve.

Strainer Arch

An arch placed between two walls to prevent them from leaning toward each other.

Strainer Beam

Same as straining beam.

Straining Arch

An arch used as a strut,as in a flying buttress.

Straining Beam,straining Piece,strutting Piece

In a truss,a horizontal strut above the tie beam or above a line joining the feet of the rafters,commonly between the joists at midspan;esp.in a queen post truss,the strut between the upper ends of the two queen posts.

Straining Piece

1.Same as straining beam.2.Any member which is fixed between opposing struts to take their thrusts.

Straining Sill

In a timber roof,a straining beam which is placed on the upper surface of the tie beam of a roof truss,between posts,to resist the inward thrust from struts.

Strake

1.On the siding of a house,a run of clap board.2.In a tall steel chimney,a row of steel plates.

Strand

1.A number of individual steel wires twisted together.2.A number of individual steel wires laid together (not twisted).3.In prestressed concrete,a type of prestressing tendon.

Strand Grip

In prestressed concrete construction,a device used to anchor a prestressing tendon.

Stranded Wire

A group of small wires which is used as a single wire.

Strap

1.A metal plate placed across the junction of two or more timbers to which it is bolted or screwed.2.See tie beam,1.3.See pipe strap.4.A metal component designed to join a truss and wall plate to a wall.
 

Strap Anchor

Same as strap.

Strap Bolt

1.Same as lug bolt.2.A bolt having the middle part of its shank flattened,so that it can be bent in a U-shape.

Strap Footing,strip Footing

A continuous foundation in which all loads occur in a straight line.

Strap Hinge

A  surface mounted hinge with long flaps of metal on each side,by which it is secured to a door and adjacent post or wall.

Strap Joint

A butt joint between two pieces that are secured by a riveted strap between them.

Straphanger

A hanger,1 in the form of a strap.

Strapped Elbow

Same as drop elbow.