ACI Code 315-14

Terminology 2.3
AdmixtureMaterial other than water, aggregate, or hydraulic
cement, used as an ingredient of concrete and added to
concrete before or during its mixing to modify its properties.
AggregateGranular material, such as sand, gravel, crushed
stone, and iron blast-furnace slag, used with a cementing
medium to form concrete or mortar.
AnchorA steel element either cast into concrete or postinstalled into a hardened concrete member and used to
transmit applied loads to the concrete.
Anchor, adhesiveA post-installed anchor, inserted into
hardened concrete with an anchor hole diameter not greater
than 1.5 times the anchor diameter, that transfers loads to
the concrete by bond between the anchor and the adhesive,
and bond between the adhesive and the concrete.
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Terminology 2.3
Base of structureLevel at which horizontal earthquake ground motions
are assumed to be imparted to a building. This level does not
necessarily coincide with the ground level.
BeamMember subjected primarily to flexure and shear, with or
without axial force or torsion; beams in a moment frame that forms part
of the lateral-force-resisting system are predominantly horizontal
members; a girder is a beam.
Building officialTerm used to identify the Authority having jurisdiction
or individual charged with administration and enforcement of provisions
of the building code. Such terms as building commissioner or building
inspector are variations of the title, and the term building official as
used in this Code, is intended to include those variations, as well as
others that are used in the same sense.
Cementations materialsMaterials that have cementing value if used in
concrete either by themselves, such as portland cement, blended
hydraulic cements, and expansive cement; or such materials in
combination with fly ash, other raw or calcined natural pozzolans, silica
fume, and slag cement.
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Terminology 2.3
Columnmember, usually vertical or
predominantly vertical, used primarily to
support axial compressive load, but that
can also resist moment, shear, or torsion.
Columns used as part of a lateral-forceresisting system resist combined axial
load, moment, and shear.
Column capital Enlargement of the top
of a concrete column located directly
below the slab or drop panel that is cast
monolithically with the column.
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Terminology 2.3
Composite concrete flexural members
Concrete flexural members of precast or
cast-in-place
concrete
elements,
constructed in separate placements but
connected so that all elements respond to
loads as a unit.
Compression-controlled section Cross
section in which the net tensile strain in
the extreme tension reinforcement at
nominal strength is less than or equal to
the compression controlled strain limit.
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Terminology 2.3
Concrete Mixture of Portland cement or any other
cementitious
material,
fine
aggregate,
coarse
aggregate, and water, with or without admixtures.
Concrete, Plain Concrete with no reinforcement or
with reinforcement less than the minimum amount
specified for reinforced concrete.
Concrete, Precast Concrete element cast elsewhere
than its final position in the structure.
Concrete, Pre-stressed Concrete in which internal
stresses have been introduced to reduce potential
tensile stresses in concrete resulting from service loads.
Concrete, Reinforced Concrete reinforced with at
least the minimum amounts of non-pre-stressed or prestressed reinforcement required by this Code.
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Terminology 2.3
Concrete Strength, Specified Compressive, (fc)
Compressive strength of concrete used in design and
evaluated in accordance with provisions of this Code, psi;
wherever the quantity fc is under a radical sign, the
square root of numerical value only is intended, and the
result has units of psi.
Connection Region of a structure that joins two or
more members; a connection also refers to a region that
joins members of which one or more is precast.
Construction Documents Written and Graphic
Documents and specifications prepared or assembled for
describing the location, design, materials, and physical
characteristics of the elements of a project necessary for
obtaining a building permit and construction of the
project.
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Terminology 2.3
Cover, Specified Concrete Distance between the
outermost surface of embedded reinforcement and the
closest outer surface of the concrete.
Design Displacement Total calculated lateral
displacement expected for the design-basis earthquake.
Design Information Project-specific information to
be incorporated into construction documents by the
licensed design professional, as applicable.
Design Load Combination Combination of factored
loads and forces.
Design Story Drift Ratio Relative difference of
design displacement between the top and bottom of a
story, divided by the story height.
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Terminology 2.3

Development
Length

Length
of
embedded
reinforcement, including pre-tensioned strand, required to
develop the design strength of reinforcement at a critical
section.
Discontinuity Abrupt change in geometry or loading.
Drop Panel Projection below the slab used to reduce the
amount of negative reinforcement over a column or the
minimum required slab thickness, and to increase the slab
shear strength.
Duct Conduit, plain or corrugated, to accommodate prestressing reinforcement for post-tensioning applications.
Durability Ability of a structure or member to resist
deterioration that impairs performance or limits service life
of the structure in the relevant environment considered in
design.
Effective Depth of Section Distance measured from9

Terminology 2.3
Extreme Tension Reinforcement Layer of prestressed or non-pre-stressed reinforcement that is the
farthest from the extreme compression fibre.
Inspection Observation, verification, and required
documentation
of
the
materials,
installation,
fabrication, erection or placement of components and
connections
to
determine
compliance
with
construction documents and referenced standards.
Inspection, Continuous The full-time observation,
verification and required documentation of work in the
area where the work is being performed.
Inspection, Periodic The part-time or intermittent
observation, verification, and required documentation
of work in the area where the work is being performed.
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Terminology 2.3

Licensed Design Professional An individual who is

licensed to practice structural design as defined by the
statutory requirements of the professional licensing laws of
the state or jurisdiction in which the project is to be
constructed, and who is in responsible charge of the
structural design. May also be referred to as Registered
Design Professional.
Load Forces or other actions that result from the weight
of all building materials, occupants, and their possessions,
environmental
effects,
differential
movement,
and
restrained dimensional changes; permanent loads are those
loads in which variations over time are rare or of small
magnitude; all other loads are variable loads.
Load, Dead (a) The weights of the members, supported
structure, and permanent attachments or accessories that
are likely to be present on a structure in service; or (b)
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loads meeting specific criteria found in the general building

Terminology 2.3
Load, Factored Load, multiplied by appropriate load factors.
Load, Live (a) Load that is not permanently applied to a
structure, but is likely to occur during the service life of the
structure (excluding environmental loads); or (b) loads meeting
specific criteria found in the general building code; without load
factors.
Load, Roof Live A load on a roof produced: (a) during
maintenance by workers, equipment, and materials, and (b)
during the life of the structure by movable objects, such as
planters or other similar small decorative appurtenances that
are not occupancy related; or loads meeting specific criteria
found in the general building code; without load factors.
Load, Service All loads, static or transitory, imposed on a
structure or element thereof, during the operation of a facility,
without load factors.
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Terminology 2.3
Manufacturers Printed Installation Instructions (MPII)
Published instructions for the correct installation of an
adhesive anchor under all covered installation conditions as
supplied in the product packaging.
Modulus of elasticity Ratio of normal stress to
corresponding strain for tensile or compressive stresses
below proportional limit of material.
Moment frame Frame in which beams, slabs, columns,
and joints resist forces predominantly through flexure, shear,
and axial force; beams or slabs are predominantly horizontal
or nearly horizontal; columns are predominantly vertical or
nearly vertical.
One-Way Construction Members designed to be capable
of supporting all loads through bending in a single direction.
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Terminology 2.3
Seismic Design Category Classification assigned to a
structure based on its occupancy category and the severity
of the design earthquake ground motion at the site, as
defined by the general building code.
Seismic-force-resisting system Portion of the structure
designed to resist earthquake effects required by the general
building code using the applicable provisions and load
combinations.
Seismic hook Hook on a stirrup, hoop, or crosstie having
a bend not less than 135 degrees, except that circular hoops
shall have a bend not less than 90 degrees; hooks shall have
an extension of at least 6 db, but not less than 3 in. The hooks
shall engage the longitudinal reinforcement and the
extension shall project into the interior of the stirrup or hoop.
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Terminology 2.3
Spacing

Centre-to-centre
distance
between adjacent items, such as longitudinal
reinforcement, transverse reinforcement,
pre-stressing reinforcement, or anchors.
Spacing, clear Least dimension between
the outermost surfaces of adjacent items.
Span length Distance between supports.
Special seismic systems Structural
systems that use special moment frames,
special structural walls, or both.
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Terminology 2.3
Spiral Reinforcement Continuously
wound reinforcement in the form of a
cylindrical helix.
Stirrup Reinforcement used to resist
shear and torsion forces in a member;
typically deformed bars, deformed wires,
or welded wire reinforcement either single
leg or bent into L, U, or rectangular
shapes and located perpendicular to, or at
an angle to, longitudinal reinforcement.
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Terminology 2.3
Strength, Design Nominal strength
multiplied by a strength reduction factor .
Strength, Nominal Strength of a member
or cross section calculated in accordance with
provisions and assumptions of the strength
design method of this Code before application
of any strength reduction factors.
Strength, Required Strength of a member
or cross section required to resist factored
loads or related internal moments and forces in
such combinations as stipulated in this Code.
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Terminology 2.3
Structural Concrete Concrete used for structural
purposes, including plain and reinforced concrete.
Structural Diaphragm Member, such as a floor
or roof slab, that transmits forces acting in the plane
of the member to vertical elements of the lateralforce-resisting system. A structural diaphragm may
include chords and collectors as part of the
diaphragm.
Structural Integrity Ability of a structure through
strength, redundancy, ductility, and detailing of
reinforcement to redistribute stresses and maintain
overall stability if localized damage or significant
overstress occurs.
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Terminology 2.3
Structural System Interconnected members
designed to meet performance requirements.
Structural Truss Assemblage of reinforced
concrete members subjected primarily to axial
forces.
Structural Wall Wall proportioned to resist
combinations of shears, moments, and axial
forces in the plane of the wall; a shear wall is a
structural wall.
Strut Compression member in a strut-and-tie
model representing the resultant of a parallel or a
fan-shaped compression field.
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Terminology 2.3
Tendon In post-tensioned members, a tendon is a
complete assembly consisting of anchorages, prestressing reinforcement, and sheathing with coating for
un-bonded applications or ducts filled with grout for
bonded applications.
Tension-Controlled Section A cross section in which
the net tensile strain in the extreme tension steel at
nominal strength is greater than or equal to 0.005.
Tie (a) Loop of reinforcing bar or wire enclosing
longitudinal reinforcement; a continuously wound
transverse bar or wire in the form of a circle, rectangle,
or other polygonal shape without re-entrant corners
enclosing longitudinal reinforcement; (b) tension element
in a strut-and-tie model.
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Terminology 2.3
Two-Way Construction Members designed to be
capable of supporting loads through bending in two
directions; some slabs and foundations are considered
two-way construction.
Wall A vertical element designed to resist axial
load, lateral load, or both, with a horizontal length-tothickness ratio greater than 3, used to enclose or
separate spaces.
Water-Cementitious Materials Ratio Ratio of
mass of water, excluding that absorbed by the
aggregate, to the mass of cementitious materials in a
mixture, stated as a decimal.
Work The entire construction or separately
identifiable parts thereof that are required to be
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furnished under the construction documents.

Terminology 2.3

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