SPD Terms

Question 1

Proctor test

Answer 1

Determines the optimum compaction of site fill based on its density and optimum moisture content

Question 2

a soil load test

Answer 2

Determines the design load of soul by applying steadily increasing loads on a platform placed on the site.

Question 3

Probable maximum flood (PMF)

Answer 3

The most severe flood that may reasonably be possible for a particular location. It is used for designing facilities and structures that must be subject to almost no risk of flooding.

Question 4

Standard protection flood ( SPF)

Answer 4

A flood that may be expected from the most severe combination of meteorological and hydrological conditions in a particular location. It is usually expressed as a probability as in 50- year flood or 2% probability.

Question 5

Earthwork diagram

Answer 5

Used to show how much of a building site needs to be regraded.

Question 6

Foundations

Answer 6

Reach bedrock or soil competent enough to bear the weight of the building. Below the frost line.

Question 7

Bouyant Upload Forces

Answer 7

Underground water pushing upward on foundations

Question 8

Liquid Limit

Answer 8

The water content at which the soil transitions from solid to plastic

Question 9

Plastic Limit

Answer 9

How much water a soil can absorb before starting to expand

Question 10

Well graded soil

Answer 10

Compact more for better foundations / poorly sorted or no support

Question 11

Poorly graded soil

Answer 11

Better for drainage, more gaps/ well supported

Question 12

Sheet Excavation

Answer 12

Sheets driven into ground create an underground wall, soil is removed in between sheets.
Materials used: steel, wood, aluminum, plastic, composites, pre-cast concrete.

Question 13

Benched Excavation

Answer 13

Uses the soil and angle of repose to hold back the soil.

Question 14

Soil Mixing

Answer 14

Mixing the soil in columns with cement and water (strengthened soil)

Question 15

Slurry Wall

Answer 15

Bentonite Clay and water holds earth from collapsing temporarily then rebar is added to trench and then filled with concrete and excavated.

Question 16

Tremie

Answer 16

The funnel that delivers the concrete into the slurry wall

Question 17

Crosslot Bracing

Answer 17

Bracing goes across entire excavated trench

Question 18

Rakers

Answer 18

Only reach halfway across entire excavated trench

Question 19

Tiebacks

Answer 19

Giant nails that hold back soil; holes are drilled then filled with grout, steel nails are added and anchored against waler and then jacked.

Question 20

Mini piles

Answer 20

“Giant Nails”

Question 21

Helipiles

Answer 21

Piles with discs on them or screw piles

Question 22

Aggregate Piers

Answer 22

Crushed Stone drilled into holes in the earth

Question 23

Drainage Mat

Answer 23

Plastic material with a filter fabric

Question 24

Gravel Fill

Answer 24

Provides a break or a gap from the foundation to resist water

Question 25

Cofferdam

Answer 25

Structure used to keep out water

Question 26

Check Dam

Answer 26

Slows down rain water and erosion in the event of a heavy rain

Question 27

Rip Rap

Answer 27

Rocks used to protect the shoreline where water meets land

Question 28

First Right of Refusal

Answer 28

First opportunity to bid on a property up for sale

Question 29

Retention pond

Answer 29

Holding pond or catch basin prevents excessive storm water runoff on a site from over loading the storm sewer system by temporarily holding the water and releasing it.

Question 30

Bioswale

Answer 30

Construction that is designed to allow sediment to settle while water drains into the ground

Question 31

Infiltration basin

Answer 31

Construction designed to retain stormwater until it can seep into the ground

Question 32

Catch basin

Answer 32

Storm drainage structure that is designed to collect grit and trash while allowing the stormwater to flow out the drainage pipes.

Question 33

Township

Answer 33

A square unit of land 6 miles on a side

Question 34

Sections

Answer 34

A township is divided into 36 sections, each a square mile

Question 35

Check

Answer 35

A 24 mile on a side consisting of 16 townships

Question 36

Standoff distance

Answer 36

The space between a building and potential location of a blast threat

Question 37

Contour area method

Answer 37

Based on a contour drawing showing the areas to be cut and filled.

Question 38

The end area method

Answer 38

Individual volumes to be calculated are assumed to have parallel vertical faces rather than horizontal faces like the contour method

Question 39

Calculation by grid

Answer 39

Drawing a square grid over the site and determining the existing and new elevations at each grid can be calculated with positive amounts representing fill and negative amounts representing cut

Question 40

Photolysis

Answer 40

the chemical decomposition of materials under the influence of light.

Question 41

Biodegradation

Answer 41

the disintegration of materials by bacteria, fungi, or other biological means. Although often conflated, biodegradable is distinct in meaning from compostable.

Question 42

Gas chromatography

Answer 42

is a common type of chromatography used in analytical chemistry for separating and analyzing compounds that can be vaporized without decomposition.

Question 43

Deciduous

Answer 43

Trees for shade because they block harsh summer sun with their leaves, lose leaves in the winter allowing sun to heat the building in colder climate.

Question 44

Coniferous

Answer 44

Trees good for blocking wind and view keep leaves year round

Question 45

Winter solstice

Answer 45

The day with the minimum hours of sunlight

Question 46

Summer solstice

Answer 46

The days with the most amount of daylight

Question 47

Spring and Fall Equinox

Answer 47

The day when the length of the day and night are equal

Question 48

Concave slope

Answer 48

Parallel contours spaces closely together going uphill

Question 49

Convex slope

Answer 49

Parallel contours spaces further apart going uphill