Iran Nezam Civil Supervision Exam key terms

A framework of straight members joined at pin nodes into triangles, so loads travel as axial tension or compression. Triangular bracing makes the assembly stable without bending resistance at joints.

A connection that transmits force but not bending moment, allowing free rotation between joined members. Idealized pins simplify analysis and are assumed at truss nodes and simple beam supports.

The number of unknown reactions or internal forces beyond those solvable by equilibrium alone. Determinate structures need only statics; indeterminate ones require compatibility and stiffness assumptions.

The force required to produce unit displacement in a structural member or frame. Higher stiffness attracts more load in indeterminate systems and controls deflection and drift under service conditions.

Horizontal displacement of a storey relative to the one below, usually expressed as a ratio of storey height. Codes limit drift to protect non-structural elements and occupant comfort during earthquakes.

A reduction factor applied to elastic seismic demand to account for ductility and overstrength of a lateral system. Larger values permit lighter design but demand detailing that sustains inelastic deformation.

Dead load is the self-weight of permanent construction; live load is the movable occupancy load. Both are combined with other actions in code load combinations for strength and serviceability checks.

The maximum foundation pressure considered safe, obtained by dividing ultimate bearing capacity by a factor of safety. It must also satisfy settlement limits, which often govern on soft cohesive soils.

A field test dropping a standard split sampler and counting blows per 300 mm penetration. The blow count N correlates with soil density, consistency, and strength for preliminary foundation design.

Time-dependent volume decrease of saturated clay as excess pore water drains under sustained load. It is estimated from compression index and layer thickness and may continue for years after construction.

Mechanical densification of soil by removing air voids at a controlled moisture content. Density is verified in the field by sand replacement or nuclear methods against a specified percentage of maximum dry density.

Pressure exerted by soil on a retaining wall, classified as at-rest, active, or passive depending on wall movement. Active pressure is lowest and develops as the wall yields away from the fill.

A structure that resists lateral earth pressure and prevents soil from moving. Stability is checked against overturning, sliding, bearing failure, and overall slope failure.

Deliberate introduction of compressive stress into concrete by tensioned tendons before or after casting. It offsets tensile stresses from loading, allowing longer spans and thinner sections with controlled cracking.

The mass ratio of mixing water to cementitious material. Lowering it raises strength and reduces permeability, but workability must be maintained with admixtures rather than extra water.

A simple field measure of fresh concrete consistency using a standard cone. It indicates workability and helps detect batch variations, though it does not measure strength directly.

A standard molded specimen tested in compression at a specified age to verify concrete strength. Cylinders are cured under controlled conditions and results are compared with the specified characteristic strength.

The clear distance from the outer concrete surface to the nearest reinforcement. Adequate cover protects steel from corrosion and fire, and must be checked with spacers before every pour.

Maintaining adequate moisture and temperature in young concrete so cement hydration continues. Proper curing develops design strength and durability; early drying causes surface cracking and weak cover.

The embedded length of reinforcement needed to transfer bar force into surrounding concrete without pullout. It depends on bar diameter, concrete strength, cover, and confinement by transverse steel.

Overlapping two bars so force transfers through bond over the lap length. Splices should be staggered and located away from zones of maximum stress wherever practical.

A steel joint made with bolts, classified as bearing or friction type. Bearing connections transmit shear through bolt bearing and plate pressure, while slip-critical joints rely on clamped friction.

A steel joint formed by fused weld metal, commonly fillet or groove welds. Quality depends on welder qualification, procedure, fit-up, and inspection by visual and nondestructive methods.

Examination of welds for defects such as porosity, undercut, and lack of fusion. Methods include visual inspection, dye penetrant, magnetic particle, ultrasonic, and radiographic testing.

Failure of an unrestrained steel beam in which the compression flange buckles sideways while the section twists. Bracing or reduced unbraced length raises the member's bending resistance.

Electrochemical deterioration of steel reinforcement, typically triggered by chloride ingress or carbonation. It expands the bar, cracks cover concrete, and reduces bond and section area.

Planned inspection and testing activities that verify materials and workmanship meet specification. Results are documented so nonconforming work can be rejected, reworked, or accepted with justification.

The ratio of available resistance to applied demand, expressing how much margin a design carries. It covers uncertainty in loads, material strength, and analysis assumptions.

A written record of decisions, instructions, and responsibilities agreed at a site meeting. Signed minutes form part of the contract record and support later claims or disputes.

A formal written instruction authorizing a change in scope, cost, or time. Without an approved order, extra work may be unpayable and the supervisor cannot enforce it.

A time-based plan of activities, durations, and dependencies, often shown as a bar chart or network. Progress is tracked against it to forecast delays and justify time extensions.

The longest sequence of dependent activities through a network, fixing the shortest possible project duration. Any delay on this path delays completion unless the plan is revised.

The Iranian national building regulation chapter governing execution of building works, including site preparation, structural and non-structural construction, and inspection duties of the supervisor.

A licensed engineer responsible for checking that construction follows approved drawings and regulations. Duties include staged inspections, reporting violations, and confirming compliance before key milestones.

An instrument establishing a horizontal line of sight for measuring height differences between points. Combined with a leveling staff, it sets elevations and controls earthwork and foundation levels.

A fixed reference point of known elevation or coordinates used as the datum for site surveying. Benchmarks must be stable and protected so later measurements remain consistent.

Transferring design positions from drawings to the ground using control points, offsets, and batter boards. Accurate setting out fixes gridlines, foundation locations, and finished floor levels before construction.

Removal of surface and subsurface water through graded slopes, ditches, pipes, and permeable layers. Good drainage prevents pavement damage, slope instability, and water pressure behind walls.

Longitudinal grade follows the road alignment; cross slope (camber) sheds water from the carriageway. Both are set to drain the surface while keeping vehicle control and ride comfort safe.