Technical English and Terminology for Civil

Engineering

By
Dr, Guendouz Ilies
Department of civil engineering
University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB)
Semester : 1 _ 2024/2025
Unit A - Materials
1. Engineering Materials
I. Reading and Comprehension
1Engineers have to know the best and most economical materials to use. 2Engineers must also
understand the properties of these materials and how they can be worked. 3There are two kinds
of materials used in engineering metals and non-metals. 4We can divide metals into ferrous
and non-ferrous metals. 5The former contain iron, and the latter do not contain iron. 6Cast iron
and steel, which are both alloys, or mixtures of iron and carbon, are the two most important
ferrous metals. 7Steel contains a smaller proportion of carbon than cast iron contains. 8Certain
elements can improve the properties of steel and are therefore added to it. 9For example,
chromium may be included to resist corrosion and tungsten to increase hardness. 10

Aluminium, copper, and the alloys, bronze and brass, are common non-ferrous metals. 11

Plastics and ceramics are non-metals; however, plastics may be machined like metals. 12

Plastics are classified into two types thermoplastics and thermosets. 13Thermoplastics can be
shaped and reshaped by heat and pressure, but thermosets cannot be reshaped because they
undergo chemical changes as they harden. 14Ceramics are often employed by engineers when
materials which can withstand high temperatures are needed.

Study the following statements carefully and write down whether they are true or not
true according to the information expressed above.
(a) Non-metals are used by engineers.
True. The text states that engineers use both metals and non-metals.
(b) Cast iron contains more carbon than steel.
(c) Chromium improves the properties of steel.
(d) Copper contains iron.
(e) Bronze is an alloy.
(f) Thermosets can be machined.
(g) Thermoplastics are metals.
(h) Ceramics can withstand high temperatures.
Contextual Reference:
1. In sentence 2, they refers to
(a) The engineers
(b) The materials
2. In sentence 5, the former refers to
(a) Ferrous metals
(b) Non-ferrous metals
 3. In sentence 5, the latter refers to
(a) Ferrous metals
(b) Non-ferrous metals
4. In sentence 8, 'it' refers to
(a) Steel
(b) Iron
5. In sentence 13, 'they' refers to
(a) Plastics
(b) Thermosets
(c) thermoplastics
Ⅱ. Use of Language
1- Classification of engineering materials

Note that this diagram classifies engineering materials at four levels of generality. Look at the
following sentences:
1. Steel is a ferrous metal.
2. Iron and steel are ferrous metals.
3. Steel is an engineering material.
4. Steel is a metal.
5. Ferrous metals are engineering materials
6. Metals are engineering materials.
2- Classification (continued)
a) Draw diagrams to classify the items in the following lists. Each diagram should have three
(3) levels:
1. Alloys, copper, brass, pure metals, aluminium, metals.
2. Units of area, cubic metre, metric units, millimetre, square metre, linear units, kilometre,
units of volume.
3. Regular shapes, square, triangle, oval, irregular shapes, shapes.
b) Use the diagrams you have made to write paragraphs like the following.
Example : Metals can be classified as pure metals and alloys. Copper and aluminium are
examples of pure metals and brass is an example of an alloy.
3- However, therefore, because
In this course you will meet many words which can be used to connect statements. Three of the
most common are: (1) However (2) therefore (3) because
Look at these examples:
(1) (a) Copper does not rust.
(b) Copper corrodes,
(a+b) Copper does not rust; however it corrodes.
(2) (a) Cast iron is a brittle metal.
(b) Cast iron is not used to withstand impact loads.
(a+b) Cast iron is a brittle metal, therefore it is not used to withstand impact loads.
(3) (a) Titanium is used for aircraft frames.
(b) Titanium is light and strong
(a+b) Titanium is used for aircraft frames because it is light and strong.
In (1), statement (b) qualifies statement (a)
In (2), statement (b) is a result of statement (a)
In (3), statement (b) gives the reason why statement (a) is true.
Practice:
Join each of the following pairs of statements. Write down your answers in your notebook,
using ‘However', ‘Therefore' or ‘Because' as in the examples.
1. Chromium resists corrosion / Chromium is added to steels to make them rust proof.
2. Cutting tools are made from high-speed steels / High-speed steels retain their cutting
edge at high temperatures
3. Under normal conditions aluminum resists corrosion / Serious corrosion occurs in salt
water.
4. Manganese steel is very hard / Manganese steel is used for armor plate.
5. Bronze has a low coefficient of friction / Bronze is used to make bearings.
6. Nylon is used to make fibers and gears / Nylon is tough and has a low coefficient of
friction.
Ⅲ GUIDED WRITING
Sentence building
Join the following groups of sentences to make ten (10) longer sentences, using the
connecting words printed at the beginning of each group . You may omit words and make
whatever changes you think are necessary in the word order and punctuation of the
sentences.
Example
BECAUSE/AND/HOWEVER

• Plastics are widely used in engineering.

• They are cheap.
• They have a resistance to atmospheric corrosion.

• Plastics are not particularly strong.

= Plastics are used widely in engineering because they are cheap and have
a resistance to atmospheric corrosion; however they are not particularly
strong.
1. AND
There are two types of plastics.
Thermoplastics are plastics.
Thermosets are plastics.

2. AND/WHEREAS/AND
Thermoplastics will soften when heated.
Thermoplastics will harden when cooled.
Thermosets set on heating.
Thermosets will not remelt.

3. FROM/TO
Plastics are used to make a great variety of products.
Plastics are used to make textiles.
Plastics are used to make engineering components.
4. SUCH AS
Plastics are available in many forms.
Plastics are available in the form of sheets, tubes, rods, moulding
powders and resins.

5. TO
Various methods are used.
These methods convert raw plastic into finished products.
6. WITH/WHICH
The equipment consists of a press.
The press has two heated platens.
The two heated platens carry an upper and a lower mould.
7. THEN
Powder is placed in the lower mould.
This is moulding powder.
The upper mould is pressed down on the lower
mould.

8. TO/WHICH
The pressure and the heat change the powder.
The powder becomes liquid plastic.
The liquid plastic fills the space between the moulds.

9. WHEN/AND
The chemical changes have taken place.
The mould is opened.
The moulding is extracted.

10. BY
Plastic bowls are made.
The compression moulding method is used.
2. Material properties
Here are some properties of materials which are important in engineering:

Plastic materials can be divided into two different groups: malleable and ductile materials
Look at this table and the example (1):
In this table properties of materials are graded on a scale from A (maximum) to
E (minimum): e.g. the property of heaviness is graded from very heavy (A) to
very light (E).

Copper Aluminium Cast iron Glass Nylon Rubber

Heavy (A) A D B C E E
Light (E)

Tough (A) D
Brittle (E)

Hard (A)
Soft (E)

(1) - Copper is very heavy.

- Nylon and rubber are very light.
- Cast iron is heavy, but lighter than copper.
- Glass is lighter than copper and cast iron, but heavier than aluminium.
- Aluminium is light, but it is heavier than nylon and rubber.
Now complete the table with information from these sentences:
(2) - Copper is the toughest of the materials.
- Aluminium, nylon and rubber are tough, but less tough than copper.
- Cast iron is much more brittle than these materials but less brittle than glass.
(3) - Rubber is a very soft material.
- Glass is a very hard material.
- Cast iron is a hard material but it is not as hard as glass.
- Nylon is harder than rubber.
- Copper and aluminium are softer than cast iron and glass but harder than nylon and
rubber.
Look at this sentence:
Glass is light compared with copper but heavy compared with nylon.
Now make 6 similar true sentences from these groups:
G 1: Copper, aluminium, Cast iron, Glass, Nylon, Rubber
G2: is
G3: light, heavy, brittle, tough, soft, hard,
G4: compared with
G5: copper, aluminium, cast iron, glass, nylon, rubber.
G6: But
G7: light, heavy, brittle, tough, soft, hard.
G8: compared with
G9: copper, aluminium, cast iron, glass, nylon, rubber.

3. Look at this table:

Copper Aluminium Cast iron Glass Nylon Rubber

Elastic (A)
D D D B C A
Plastic (E)

Ductile (A)
A B E E E E
Not ductile (E)

Malleable (A)
A A D E E E
Not malleable (E)

Now say whether the following statements are true or false. Correct the false statements.

a) Rubber is more elastic than nylon.

b) Glass is not a malleable material.
c) Copper is not very ductile.
d) Aluminium is a ductile but it is less ductile than copper.
e) Copper is a very elastic material.
f) Cast iron is very malleable.

1. Read the following definitions:

A material which changes shape under load and returns to its original shape

possesses

has the property of elasticity

exhibits

Now make six sentences from this table:

under a
compressive
which changes shape Possesses Malleability
load

A material under a tensile Has the property of Plasticity

load
exhibits ductility
under load and
which exhibits plasticity
keeps its shape
Unit B- Stress and Strain
I. Reading and Comprehension
1A body is in stress when forces are applied to it which cause its size and shape to change. 2 In
other words, stress causes distortion. 1 3The intensity of stress depends on the size of the force
and the cross-sectional area (c.s.a) of the body which resists the force. 4That is,

applied force
Stress =
c.s.a. of the body
5Distortion due to stress is called strain. 6 Different forces will distort bodies in different ways.
7A tensile force will lengthen a body. 1 8One subjected to a compressive force will contract. 9 If
a body has a uniform c.s.a., that is if it has the same c.s.a. throughout its length, we calculate
strain as change of length
Stress =
original length

10 Most materials used in engineering are elastic. 11 A material which has the property of
elasticity will return to its original size and shape when the forces producing strain are removed.
12 However, if these forces go beyond a certain limit, called the elastic limit, an elastic material
will not regain its original dimensions. 13 If we take a bar of uniform c.s.a. of an elastic material
like mild steel, and apply gradually increasing tensile forces to it, it will extend. 14 If we measure
each extension produced by each increase in force, we will find that the bar’s increase in length
is in proportion to the increase in force. 15 In other words, strain is proportional to stress. 16 A
graph of stress against strain would therefore be a straight line like that in diagram 1:

17 Another way of expressing this is:

stress
= a constant
strain
18 The value of this constant is different for each elastic material. 19It is called the Modulus of
Elasticity. 20 If we exceed the elastic limit, then strain is no longer proportional to stress and
there is permanent deformation. 21 These findings illustrate Hooke’s law which states that within
the elastic limit, the strain produced is proportional to the stress producing it.
Unit B- Stress and Strain
I. Reading and Comprehension
1A body is in stress when forces are applied to it which cause its size and shape to change. 2 In
other words, stress causes distortion. 1 3The intensity of stress depends on the size of the force
and the cross-sectional area (c.s.a) of the body which resists the force. 4That is,

applied force
Stress =
c.s.a. of the body
5Distortion due to stress is called strain. 6 Different forces will distort bodies in different ways.
7A tensile force will lengthen a body. 1 8One subjected to a compressive force will contract. 9 If
a body has a uniform c.s.a., that is if it has the same c.s.a. throughout its length, we calculate
strain as change of length
Stress =
original length

10 Most materials used in engineering are elastic. 11 A material which has the property of
elasticity will return to its original size and shape when the forces producing strain are removed.
12 However, if these forces go beyond a certain limit, called the elastic limit, an elastic material
will not regain its original dimensions. 13 If we take a bar of uniform c.s.a. of an elastic material
like mild steel, and apply gradually increasing tensile forces to it, it will extend. 14 If we measure
each extension produced by each increase in force, we will find that the bar’s increase in length
is in proportion to the increase in force. 15 In other words, strain is proportional to stress. 16 A
graph of stress against strain would therefore be a straight line like that in diagram 1:

17 Another way of expressing this is:

stress
= a constant
strain
18 The value of this constant is different for each elastic material. 19It is called the Modulus of
Elasticity. 20 If we exceed the elastic limit, then strain is no longer proportional to stress and
there is permanent deformation. 21 These findings illustrate Hooke’s law which states that within
the elastic limit, the strain produced is proportional to the stress producing it.
1- True or False

Study the following statements carefully and write down whether they are true or false
according to the information expressed in the text.

(a) Stress on bar X is greater than stress on bar Y.

(b) (b) A tensile force can cause distortion.

1000.4
(c) (c) For this bar of steel, strain is equal to 1000

(d) Tensile forces and compressive forces have opposite effects on bodies.
(e) Distortion causes strain.
(f) All engineering materials are elastic.
(g) Mild steel is an elastic material.
(h) Elastic materials cannot be in state of stress.
(i) A mild steel bar will always extend in proportion to the forces which extend it.
(j) Within the elastic limit, if we double the stress on a body we double the strain produced.
(k) The value of the Modulus of Elasticity varies according to the stress an elastic material
is subjected to.
(l) Mild steel has a uniform c.s.a.

2- Contextual reference:

1. In sentence 1, ‘it’ refers to

(a) stress

(b) a body

2. In sentence 1, ‘its’ refers to

(a) the force’s

 (b) the body’s

3. In sentence 8, ‘one’ refers to

(a) a body

(b) a tensile force

4. In sentence 9, ‘it’ refers to

(a) the body’s
(b) a force’s
5. In sentence 12, ‘its’ refers to
(a) the elastic limit’s
(b) an elastic material’s
6. In sentence 16, ‘that’ refers to
(a) the graph
(b) the straight line
7. In sentence 19, ‘it’ refers to
(a) a constant
(b) an elastic material
8. In sentence 21, ‘it’ refers to
(a) the strain
(b) the stress
3- Relationship between statements
Place the following expressions in the sentences indicated. Replace or reorder the words in the
sentences where necessary.
In more general terms (2)
Whereas (7+8)
For instance (13)
Such as (13)
In more general terms (15)
For this reason (16)
We can conclude that (21)
II USE OF LANGUAGE

1- Definitions

Make a definition for each item in column (a).

Example:
An organic material is a material which is based chemically on carbon.

2- If-sentences
From each of the definitions in exercise 1, we can make an if-sentence.
Look at this example:
Definition: An organic material is a material which is based chemically on carbon.
If-sentence: If a material is organic, it is based chemically on carbon.
Sentences like this consist of two parts joined by if:
Part 1 Part 2
If a material is organic, / it is based chemically on carbon

Now make if-sentences like this for each of the definitions you have written in paragraph II 1.
3- Predictions based on the properties of materials

When we know what the properties of a material are we can predict how it will behave under

different conditions. To make predictions of this type, we use an if-sentence with will in part

2.

Look at this example:

If a material is flexible, it will bend easily.

Now write similar predictions for materials which have the properties listed in column (a).

Match each property in column (a) with an appropriate expression from column (b).
Unit C- STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
I. Reading and Comprehension
Strength of Materials is a very important part of Engineering, it deals with the relationship
between the external loads and their effects on solid materials. Strength of Materials is very
important for the adequate design of structures, machines and other engineering works like
buildings, cars, airplanes, bridges and so on, in order to fulfill the objectives for which they are
attempted. Because of this, it is of vital importance to know the qualities of the materials to be
used, since a failure could be of serious consequences in the safety and economical concerns.
Strength of Materials deals with the causes affecting solids due to loads on them, watching
carefully the occurring deformations which can be either of two types: Temporary
deformations, which occur when materials get back to their original size and shape after they
are released of the load or loads. This is not the case for the second type; that is to say,
permanent deformations. Sometimes when the forces are over exceeded, the material can
break.
Robert Hooke (1638-1702) developed the famous law which is the basis for Strength of
Materials, it states that "the deformation of a body is in direct proportion to the stress applied
onto it". The mathematical equation for this law is as follows:

Another important fact about this aspect of engineering is the Flexure Equation, which is useful
to calculate the normal stress onto the parts of a solid when its dimensions and mechanical
characteristics are known.
As we can see, Strength of Materials is extremely important for civil engineering, since every
work involves efficient and well designed structures.

QUESTIONS
1. What does Strength of Materials deal with?
2. Why is Strength of Materials important?
3. When did Strength of Materials begin?
4. What are the two types of deformations?
5. What is a temporary deformation?
6. What is a permanent deformation?
7. State Hooke´s law.
8. What is the elasticity constant?
9. Why is flexure equation useful?

1- Types of Supports, Beams, Loads, and Reactions

Types of supports
Pin support (a), A: allows rotation but prevents movement (prevents horizontal and vertical
movement ).
Roller support (a), B: prevents movement in the vertical direction,
Fixed support (or clamped support) (b), A: The beam can neither translate nor rotate,
Types of Beams
Simply supported beam or a simple beam (a): (a beam with a pin support at one end and a
roller support at the other),
A cantilever beam (b): (which is fixed at one end and free at the other)
An Overhanging beam (c): (that is, it has a pin support at A and a roller support at B) but it
also projects beyond the support at B.
Types of Loads
A concentrated load: (which is a single force. Examples are the loads P1, P2, P3, and P4)
A uniformly distributed load or uniform load (a): (has constant intensity q per unit distance)
A linearly varying load (b): (has an intensity that varies linearly from q1 to q2)
A couple (c): (illustrated by the couple of moment M1 acting on the overhanging beam)
Reactions
(RA,RB,HA,MA It's called reactions)
2- Shear Forces and Bending Moments
Shear Force: The internal force in a beam that acts along the cross-section to resist sliding
between different parts of the beam.
Bending Moment: The rotational effect or torque caused by external forces that make the beam
bend.
Sign Conventions
A positive shear force acts clockwise against the material (Fig 2. Fig 3 a and b) and a negative
shear force acts counterclockwise against the material. Also, a positive bending moment
compresses the upper part of the beam (Fig 2. Fig 3 a and b) and a negative bending moment
compresses the lower part.

Fig 2. Sign conventions for shear force

V and bending moment M ( before
deformation)

Fig 1. Shear force V and

bending moment M in a beam

Fig 3. Deformations of a beam element

caused by (a) shear forces and (b) bending
moments
3- Mathematical Symbols
 Unit D- Measurements
I. Measurements Comprehension

Look at this table

Average tensile
Density [kg/m³] Melting point strength [N/mm²]
Element or alloy Chemical symbol (kilograms per [°C] (degrees (Newtons per
metre cubed) Celsius) millimetre
squared)

Aluminium Al 2,700 660 90

Magnesium Mg 1,700 651 248

Copper Cu 8,950 1,083 340

Cast iron Fe 7,860 1,535 15

Lead Pb 11,300 327 172

Nickel Ni 8,900 1,458 216

Titanium Ti 4,500 1,725 110

Zinc Zn 7,100 420 110

1- Look at these sentences:

Aluminium has a density of 2,700kg/m³ (two thousand seven hundred kilograms per metre
cubed).
Lead has a tensile strength of 15N/mm² (fifteen Newtons per millimetre squared).
Copper has a melting point of 1,083°C (one thousand and eighty-three degrees Celsius).

Question: make similar statement about other metals.

2- Look at these sentences which show how the densities may be compared for the various
metals:
Magnesium has a very low density.
Aluminium has a low density.
Titanium has a fairly low density.
Cast iron has a fairly high density.
Lead has a very high density.

Question: name these metals:

a) A metal with a fairly high density, a very high melting point and a fairly low tensile
strength.
b) A metal with a fairly high density, high tensile strength, and a very high melting point.
c) A metal with a low density, a fairly low melting point and low tensile strength.
d) A metal with a very low melting point, fairly low tensile strength and a fairly high density.
e) A metal with very low density, a fairly low melting point and very high tensile strength.
f) A metal with high density, a fairly high melting point and very high tensile strength.
g) A metal with high tensile strength. A high melting point and a high density.
h) A metal with a very low melting point, very high density and very low tensile strength.

3- Look at these examples:

The lowest melting point of soft solders is 183°C.

The highest melting point of soft solders is 310°C.
So the melting points of soft solders range from 183°C to 310°C.
The melting points of soft solders have a range of 127°C.

Question: complete these sentences:

a) The lowest melting point of silver solders is 620°C.
The highest melting point is 740°C.
The melting point of silver solders ranges from 620 to 740.
b) The ...... melting point of brasses is 850°C.
The ...... melting point of brasses is 1,000°C.
The melting points of brasses ........
c) The lowest ...... of Monel metal is 1,300°C.
It has a range of 150°C.
Therefore the highest ......
Ⅱ. Comparison
1- Look and read:

B is slightly bigger than A.

C is considerably bigger than A.
D is much bigger than A.
B is approximately ¼ times as big as A.
C is approximately 6 times as big as A.
D is approximately twelve times as big as A.

2- look at this table:

Typical tensile
Element or alloy Density [kg/m³] Melting point [°C]
strength [N/mm²]

Aluminium 2,700 660 90

Magnesium 1,700 651 248

Copper 8,950 1,083 340

Cast iron 7,860 1,535 116

Lead 11,300 327 15

Nickel 8,900 1,458 172

Titanium 4,500 1,725 216

Zinc 7,100 420 110

Question: Identify these metals from the table:

a) This metal has a slightly higher density than nickel.
b) This metal has a slightly lower melting point than cast iron.
c) This metal has a tensile strength much greater than lead, but slightly lower than cast iron.
d) This metal is considerably lighter than aluminium but is much stronger in tension.

e) This metal has a considerably higher density than the other metals, but a much lower tensile
strength.

f) This metal has a tensile strength approximately twice that of aluminium.

g) The melting point of this metal is approximately ½ times as high as that of copper.

h) The density of this metal is approximately half that of copper.

i) This metal is three times as strong as zinc in tension.

j) These two metals have very nearly the same tensile strength.

3- Look at this example

Magnesium has a much higher tensile strength than aluminium.

Question: compare the following:

a) Copper and aluminium with regard to their densities.
b) Cast iron and zinc with regard to their tensile strength.
c) Copper and nickel with regard to their densities.
d) Aluminium and magnesium with regard to their melting points.

4- Look at this sentence:

Copper and nickel have very similar densities, but significantly different melting points and
tensile strength.

Note: density and melting point can become plural, i.e. densities and melting points, but
tensile strength normally remains singular.

Question: compare the following in the same way:

a) Cast iron and zinc.
b) Aluminium and magnesium.
c) Nickel and cast iron.
d) Lead and zinc.
1. Area and perimeter

All corners of a rectangle are right angles.

A rectangle is defined as a quadrilateral with opposite
sides equal and parallel and whose corners are right
angles.

Area = a × b

The area of a rectangle calculated by

multiplying its length by its width.

Perimeter = 2a + 2b

The perimeter calculated by adding

together the length of all the sides i.e. 2 length + 2

width ,

Question: make similar statements about the

following:

a) Opposite sides of a parallelogram are parallel and

its corners are not at right angles.
Area = a×h (where h is the perpendicular height).
perimeter = 2a + 2b

b) Two sides of a trapezium are parallel and their

corners are not at right angles.
𝑎+𝑏 𝑎+𝑏
Area = ×h (where is the average length).
2 2

Perimeter = a+b+c+d
c) All sides of an equilateral triangle are
equal.
1 1
Area = base × height = (b × h)
2 2

perimeter = a + b + c

d) The circle

Area = 𝜋𝑟 2 = 𝜋𝐷2 /4
Circumference = 𝜋𝐷= 2𝜋𝑟

2. Area and volume

Like in 1. make statements about the

following:

a) Area (of side) = l×h

Area (cross sectional) = w×h
Surface area = total area of all surfaces
Volume = w×l×h

Question: look at this diagram and complete

the measurements. Then make statements like

the following:

The rectangular prism has a length of

100mm (one hundred millimetres).

Length ..100mm ..........

Height ..........................
Width ..........................
Cross sectional area ......
Surface area .................
Volume ..........................
b) Cylinder
𝜋
Cross-sectional area = (𝐷2 − 𝑑2 )
4

Surface area of bore =

circumference × length = πdl

Volume = cross-sectional area × length

Now complete these measurements. Then make

statements about the outside diameter, inside diameter,
etc.

Outside diameter ……….

Inside diameter …………
Length …………………
Cross-sectional area ……
Surface area of bore …..
Volume …………………..