COSC 275 Final Exam Review with
Complete Solutions
Anchor bolt - - ANSWER-A plan view showing size and location of all anchor bolts for a
building's systems components. May be included in structural steel and shop drawings.
Anchor bolt - - ANSWER-A threaded bolt, usually embedded in a foundation, for
securing a sill, framework, or machinery.
Area - - ANSWER-A measurement of a given planar region or of the surface of a solid.
A particular part of a building that has been set aside for a specific purpose.
Area method - - ANSWER-A construction cost estimating system employing unitsquare
foot costs multiplied by the adjusted gross floor area of a building.
Balancing a site - ANSWER-fill condition - filling up into the site elevation
cut condition - cutting back the land to meet the site elevation
combination of both - combination of the previous 2 elements
Bar joist - - ANSWER-A light steel joist of open-web construction with a single zigzag
bar welded to upper and lower chords at the points of contact. Used as floor and roof
supports.
Base course - - ANSWER-A layer of material of specified thickness constructed on the
subgrade or sub-base of a pavement to serve one or more functions, such as
distributing loads, providing drainage, or minimizing frost action.The lowest course of
masonry in a wall, pier,foundation, or footing course
Baseplate - - ANSWER-A plate used to distribute vertical loads from structural columns
or machinery.
Beam - - ANSWER-1. A horizontal structural member, such as a girder,rafter, or purlin,
that transversely supports a load and transfers the load to vertical members, such as
columns and walls.
2. The graduated horizontal bar of a weighing scale.
Beam form - - ANSWER-A retainer or mold constructed to give the necessary shape,
support, and finish to a concrete beam.
Bearing plate - - ANSWER-A steel plate positioned under a beam, column, girder, or
truss to distribute a load to a support member.
Bolster - - ANSWER-In concrete, an individual or continuous support used to hold
reinforcing bars in position. Usually used in slab work.A short wood or steel member
, positioned horizontally on top of a column to support beams or girders. A mason's
blocking chisel. A piece of wood, generally a nominal 4" in cross section, placed
between stickered packages of lumber or other wood products to provide space for the
entry and exit of the forks of a lift truck.
Bolsters - - ANSWER-In concrete, an individual or continuous support used to hold
reinforcing bars in position. Usually used in slabwork.
Boring - - ANSWER-A hole drilled in the ground to obtain samples for subsoil
investigation. Borings are important in determining the load-bearing capacity of the soil
and the depth of the water table.
Brick ledge - - ANSWER-Refers to the portion of a foundation wall where brick (veneer)
rests.
Caisson - - ANSWER-A drilled, cylindrical foundation shaft used to transfer a load
through soft strata to firm strata or bedrock. The shaft is filled with either reinforced or
unreinforced concrete. A watertight box or chamber used for construction work below
water level.
Capillary action - - ANSWER-In subsurface soil conditions, the rising of water above the
horizontal plane of the water table.
Capillary break - - ANSWER-A space that is intentionally made large enough to prevent
moisture flow by capillary action.
Casing - - ANSWER-The exposed millwork enclosure of cased beams,posts, pipes,
etc.The exposed trim molding or lining around doors and windows.The pipe liner of a
hole in the ground, such as that used for a well, caisson, or pile.
Chair - - ANSWER-A frame built into a wall to provide support for a sink,lavatory, urinal,
or toilet. Also called a carrier.In concrete construction, a small metal or plasticsupport
for reinforcing steel. The support is used to maintain proper positioning during concrete
placement.
Chamfer strip/Cant strip - - ANSWER-The beveled edge formed at the right-angle
corner of a construction member. See also cant strip - A three-sided piece of wood, one
angle of which issquare, used under the roofing on a flat roof where the horizontal
surface abuts a vertical wall or parapet. The sloped transition facilitates roofing and
waterproofing. See also chamfer.
Column - - ANSWER-A long, relatively slender, supporting pillar. A column is usually
loaded axially in compression.
Complete Solutions
Anchor bolt - - ANSWER-A plan view showing size and location of all anchor bolts for a
building's systems components. May be included in structural steel and shop drawings.
Anchor bolt - - ANSWER-A threaded bolt, usually embedded in a foundation, for
securing a sill, framework, or machinery.
Area - - ANSWER-A measurement of a given planar region or of the surface of a solid.
A particular part of a building that has been set aside for a specific purpose.
Area method - - ANSWER-A construction cost estimating system employing unitsquare
foot costs multiplied by the adjusted gross floor area of a building.
Balancing a site - ANSWER-fill condition - filling up into the site elevation
cut condition - cutting back the land to meet the site elevation
combination of both - combination of the previous 2 elements
Bar joist - - ANSWER-A light steel joist of open-web construction with a single zigzag
bar welded to upper and lower chords at the points of contact. Used as floor and roof
supports.
Base course - - ANSWER-A layer of material of specified thickness constructed on the
subgrade or sub-base of a pavement to serve one or more functions, such as
distributing loads, providing drainage, or minimizing frost action.The lowest course of
masonry in a wall, pier,foundation, or footing course
Baseplate - - ANSWER-A plate used to distribute vertical loads from structural columns
or machinery.
Beam - - ANSWER-1. A horizontal structural member, such as a girder,rafter, or purlin,
that transversely supports a load and transfers the load to vertical members, such as
columns and walls.
2. The graduated horizontal bar of a weighing scale.
Beam form - - ANSWER-A retainer or mold constructed to give the necessary shape,
support, and finish to a concrete beam.
Bearing plate - - ANSWER-A steel plate positioned under a beam, column, girder, or
truss to distribute a load to a support member.
Bolster - - ANSWER-In concrete, an individual or continuous support used to hold
reinforcing bars in position. Usually used in slab work.A short wood or steel member
, positioned horizontally on top of a column to support beams or girders. A mason's
blocking chisel. A piece of wood, generally a nominal 4" in cross section, placed
between stickered packages of lumber or other wood products to provide space for the
entry and exit of the forks of a lift truck.
Bolsters - - ANSWER-In concrete, an individual or continuous support used to hold
reinforcing bars in position. Usually used in slabwork.
Boring - - ANSWER-A hole drilled in the ground to obtain samples for subsoil
investigation. Borings are important in determining the load-bearing capacity of the soil
and the depth of the water table.
Brick ledge - - ANSWER-Refers to the portion of a foundation wall where brick (veneer)
rests.
Caisson - - ANSWER-A drilled, cylindrical foundation shaft used to transfer a load
through soft strata to firm strata or bedrock. The shaft is filled with either reinforced or
unreinforced concrete. A watertight box or chamber used for construction work below
water level.
Capillary action - - ANSWER-In subsurface soil conditions, the rising of water above the
horizontal plane of the water table.
Capillary break - - ANSWER-A space that is intentionally made large enough to prevent
moisture flow by capillary action.
Casing - - ANSWER-The exposed millwork enclosure of cased beams,posts, pipes,
etc.The exposed trim molding or lining around doors and windows.The pipe liner of a
hole in the ground, such as that used for a well, caisson, or pile.
Chair - - ANSWER-A frame built into a wall to provide support for a sink,lavatory, urinal,
or toilet. Also called a carrier.In concrete construction, a small metal or plasticsupport
for reinforcing steel. The support is used to maintain proper positioning during concrete
placement.
Chamfer strip/Cant strip - - ANSWER-The beveled edge formed at the right-angle
corner of a construction member. See also cant strip - A three-sided piece of wood, one
angle of which issquare, used under the roofing on a flat roof where the horizontal
surface abuts a vertical wall or parapet. The sloped transition facilitates roofing and
waterproofing. See also chamfer.
Column - - ANSWER-A long, relatively slender, supporting pillar. A column is usually
loaded axially in compression.
