Structural Engineering Concepts

noun a device that holds things tightly together or that gives support, such as a brace on a broken leg

verb to make stronger by giving support

• She wore a brace on her ankle to support it during physical therapy.
• I need to wear a brace on my knee after twisting it playing basketball.
• I heard he's getting a new set of braces for his teeth next month.
• The small town had to brace itself for the impact of the upcoming storm.

noun the condition of being worsened or impaired

• The continuous exposure to harsh weather conditions led to the deterioration of the building's facade.
• Leaving your bike out in the rain will cause it to deteriorate quickly.
• If you keep skipping meals, your health will deteriorate.
• The lack of communication in their relationship caused a slow deterioration of their bond.

noun a straight line that is sloping and not horizontal or vertical

adjective slanting or oblique; not horizontal or vertical

• The architect drew a diagonal line to represent the slope of the roof.
• She cut the cake into diagonal slices for easy serving.
• I saw him take a diagonal shortcut through the park.
• Their relationship took a diagonal turn when they started working together.

noun a horizontal beam supporting the weight above a door or window

• The lintel above the doorway was intricately carved with symbols of prosperity and good fortune.
• Make sure to watch your head when passing under that lintel, it's a bit low.
• I bumped my head on the dang lintel again, I swear it's out to get me.
• The lintel of tradition and expectations weighed heavily on her as she tried to forge her own path.

noun the ability to be easily modified or adapted

• The concept of neural plasticity is crucial in understanding how the brain adapts and changes over time.
• I learned about the plasticity of materials in my science class - it's pretty cool!
• Dude, your brain's plasticity is off the charts - you pick up new skills like it's nothing!
• The plasticity of her personality allowed her to easily adjust to different social situations.

noun a four-sided polygon

adjective relating to or having four sides

• A quadrilateral is a polygon with four sides and four angles.
• Hey, did you know that a quadrilateral is just a fancy word for a four-sided shape?
• I aced that math test because I knew how to classify a quadrilateral.
• The team's strategy was like a quadrilateral, with each side representing a different aspect of the plan.

noun A sloping beam that supports a pitched roof

• The carpenters carefully measured and cut each rafter to ensure a precise fit in the roof structure.
• I almost tripped over a loose rafter in the attic while looking for the holiday decorations.
• I can't believe how strong those rafters are holding up the roof!
• The rafter of support from his friends helped him get through a difficult time in his life.

noun a reddish-brown or orange coating that forms on iron or steel as a result of oxidation

verb to deteriorate or become impaired due to neglect or lack of use

• The metal gate had started to show signs of rust due to prolonged exposure to the elements.
• I need to clean off the rust from my bike before I can start riding it again.
• That old car is so rusty, it's practically falling apart!
• Time had a way of rusting away at the memories, leaving them faded and worn.

noun the quality or state of being solid, firm, or stable

• The architect ensured the building's solidity by using high-quality materials.
• I trust his advice because of his track record of solidity in decision-making.
• That car is built like a tank, it's got some serious solidity.
• Her convictions were like a rock, unyielding in their solidity.

verb to make or become stable, steady, or unchanging

• The government implemented policies to stabilize the economy during the recession.
• I need to stabilize my grades before the end of the semester.
• I'm trying to stabilize my sleep schedule, but it's tough.
• She tried to stabilize her emotions after receiving the bad news.

noun a closed plane figure having three sides and three angles

adjective relating to or shaped like a triangle

• The architect used a compass and ruler to accurately draw a triangle on the blueprint.
• I can never seem to draw a perfect triangle freehand.
• That guy's haircut makes his head look like a triangle.
• The love triangle between the three coworkers caused tension in the office.

noun a polyhedron with 20 equilateral triangular faces, 30 square faces, 12 regular pentagonal faces, 60 vertices, and 120 edges

• The rhombicosidodecahedron is a polyhedron with 62 sides.
• Have you seen that crazy rhombicosidodecahedron shape? It's so cool!
• That rhombicosidodecahedron thingamajig looks like a bunch of triangles and squares stuck together.
• Her mind was like a rhombicosidodecahedron, complex and multifaceted.

noun a steel bar or mesh of steel wires used as a tension device in reinforced concrete and masonry structures

• The construction workers used rebar to reinforce the concrete foundation.
• Hey, can you pass me that rebar so I can start working on this project?
• I found some old rebar in the shed, let's see if we can use it for something.
• She used her sense of humor as rebar to strengthen her relationships with others.

adjective relating to or in the form of a plane; flat or level

• The engineer designed a planar surface for the new building facade.
• I think a planar layout would work best for the living room.
• Let's keep it planar and simple for this project.
• Her emotions were planar, showing no signs of depth or complexity.

noun a person's name or a character's name

adjective used to describe something evil or wicked

• The committee discussed the implications of the new EVEL legislation.
• Have you heard about the new EVEL rules that were passed?
• I don't really understand all this EVEL stuff, do you?
• The EVEL of the situation became clear once all the facts were revealed.

noun a type of structure or architectural design resembling the letter A, with steeply sloping sides meeting at a ridge in the middle

• The architect designed a-frame cabins for the new resort.
• We rented a cute a-frame cabin for our weekend getaway.
• Check out that cool a-frame house on the hill!
• Her mind was like an a-frame structure, strong and well-balanced.