Beams and their types

Texts: Beams and their types

Lightweight steel beams and joists introduced

Grammar: Participle I, Participle II (Синявская, p. 383-385)

New words:

1. anchor, n. [´æNkq] анкер

2. appropriate, adj. [q´prqVrprııt] подходящий, соответствующий

3. beam, n. [bi:m] балка

4. brace, n. [breıs] связь, скоба

5. girder, n. [´gE:dq] прогон, главная балка

6. groove, n. [gru:v] канавка, желоб, паз

7. joist, n. [GOıst] балка

8. overall, adj. [´qVvqrql] полный, всеобщий

9. span, n. [spæn] пролет

10. stiffness, n. [´stıfnıs] жесткость

11. versatile, adj. [´vE:sqtaıl] универсальный

12. bridging anchor анкерное крепление

13. cast iron чугун

14. compressive strength прочность на сжатие

15. tensile strength прочность на растяжение

16. floor joist ригель

17. roof joist стропильная балка

1. Read the following international words. What Russian words do they associate with?

Control, designer, diagonal, element, form, geometry, horizontal, material, parallel, perpendicular, transport.

2. Find the synonyms.

1. overall a) opening

2. appropriate b) support

3. versatile c) hardness

4. span d) channel

5. stiffness e) total

6. anchor f) suitable

7. groove g) flexible

3. Build up Participles I (Indefinite Active) and translate them into Russian.

To build, to support, to use, to carry, to call, to bring, to give, to span, to permit, to provide.

4. Build up Participles II and translate them into Russian.

To build, to support, to give, to reinforce, to add, to develop, to attach, to carry, to make, to produce, to roll.

5. Read and translate the following word-combinations into Russian, paying attention to the participles.

a) the element providing the anchorage

the beam spanning the opening

the workers building the bridge

the joist supporting the floor

the wall carrying the loads

b) the method developed by the builders

the material used in the 18^th century

the element attached to the walls

the type of beam called the girder

the floor slab reinforced by the iron rods

6. Read and translate the following sentences.

1. The new materials recommended for the construction of this building were reinforced concrete and glass.

2. These beams spanning an opening and carrying loads are of prestressed concrete.

3. Large beams carrying the ends of other beams perpendicular to them have been already brought to the construction site.

4. Supporting the above construction the beam experiences different types of loads.

5. Floor slabs reinforced by the iron rods are manufactured at the factory.

6. Floor joists are attached to the walls by metal supports called anchors.

7. The opening spanned by beams permitted the assembly of the next floor.

7. Read and translate the text.

Beams and their types

In building construction a beam is a horizontal member spanning an opening and carrying a load that may be a brick or stonewall above the opening. The load may be a floor or roof in a building, in which case the beam is called a floor joist or a roof joist. Joists – of timber, steel, or reinforced concrete – are laid in a parallel series across abutting girders or a bearing wall, to which they are attached, usually by metal supports called joist anchors.

The ends of the joists are grooved so that they are leveled with the load-bearing elements to provide a smooth horizontal. Before the floor is laid above additional strength may be given in the form of bridging anchors – diagonal braces between the horizontal beams.

Large beams carrying the ends of other beams perpendicular to them are usually called girders. Metal girders may be single rolled pieces to provide greater stiffness and longer spans. Concrete girders are also widely used.

Beams may be of wood, steel or other metals, reinforced or prestressed concrete, plastics, and even brickwork with steel rods in the bond between bricks. Timber is easier to cut and transport. Apart from its inferior durability, it is also a more appropriate material because timber has a tensile strength along the grain to match its compressive strength. With stone there was only one possibility – the use of metal reinforcement at the bottom to improve the tensile strength.

Iron beams became structurally important elements only in the late 18th century with the widespread introduction of cast iron. Reinforced concrete became a highly versatile structural material, since the strength of the concrete, the overall geometry of the element, and the quantity and placement of the reinforcement rods were all under the designer's control.

8. Match the definitions with the appropriate words.

1. a girder a)a horizontal member spanning an opening and

carrying a load

2. a bridging anchor b) a horizontal member carrying a load of a floor

3. a floor joist c) a diagonal brace between the horizontal beams

4. a roof joist d) a large beam carrying the ends of other beams

5. a beam e) a horizontal member carrying a load of a roof

9. Agree or disagree with the following statements.

1. Joists are laid in a parallel series across the girders or a bearing wall to which they are attached.

2. To provide a smooth horizontal the ends of the joists are grooved.

3. Additional strength may be given in the form of joist anchors between the horizontal beams.

4. Beams may be of wood, steel or other metals, reinforced or prestressed concrete, plastics.

5. Stone is easier to cut and transport in comparison with timber.

6. Timber has a good tensile as well as compressive strength.

7. Iron beams became structurally important elements only in the late 18th century with the widespread introduction of prestressed concrete.

8. Reinforced concrete became a highly versatile structural material.

10. Fill in the gaps with the words from the text.

1. In building construction a beam is a horizontal member … an opening and … a load

2. The load may be a floor or roof in a building, in which case the beam is called a floor … or a roof … .

3. Bridging anchors are diagonal … between the horizontal beams.

4. Beams may be even brickwork with steel … in the bond between bricks.

5. Timber has a … strength along the grain to match its … strength.

6. Reinforced concrete became a highly … structural material.

11. Answer the following questions.

1. What is a beam?

2. What types of beams do you know?

3. What are joist anchors used for?

4. How may the additional strength to the floor be given?

5. What materials are beams made of?

6. Why is timber better material than stone?

7. When did iron become important?

8. What are the advantages of reinforced concrete beams?

12. Give the English equivalents.

• более подходящий материал

• универсальный строительный материал

• металлическая арматура

• широкое распространение чугуна

• размещение стержней арматуры

• по направлению волокна

• обеспечивать большую жесткость

• под контролем проектировщика

13. With your partner compare the structural characteristics of timber and stone beams. Speak on the usage of iron and reinforced-concrete beams.

14. Read the text and describe Light Beams. Say what projects they are designed for.