Glossary

French: poultre

German: Balken

Spanish: viga, vigueta

Italian: trave

Portuguese: viga

Dutch: balk

The maximum load a pile can sustain by soil/rock resistance at the bottom of the pile. For shallow foundations, it is the capacity of the soil/rock to carry load without excessive deformation.

French: capacité portante, portance

German: Tragfähigkeit

Spanish: capacidad de sustentación

Italian: capacità portante

Portuguese: capacidade de carga

Dutch: draagvermogen

A supporting pile for a structure that can be of wood, concrete or steel in any number of shapes and whose bearing is reached by toe or end bearing, friction, or friction and compaction, or a combination. See End Bearing Pile

French: pieu porteur

German: Tragpfahl, Druckpfahl

Spanish: pilote de compresión

Italian: palo portante

Portuguese: estaca de suporte

Dutch: paal op druk belast

French: charge/pression sur les appuis

German: Bodenpressung, Auflagedruck

Spanish: presión unitaria ejercida

Italian: pressione di appoggio

Portuguese: carga

Dutch: funderingsdruk

The maximum pressure that may be safely applied to a soil or rock by the foundation unit considered in design under expected loading and subsurface conditions.

French: charge de sécurité, autorisée

The pressure applied to a soil or rock by a foundation unit; it is equal to or smaller than the allowable bearing pressure.

The contact surface between a foundation unit and the soil or rock upon which it bears.

French: surface de fatigue/de roulement

A wall that supports vertical load, as floors or roof.

French: cloison portante

Solid rock as distinguished from boulders or layers.

French: fond rocheux, assise rocheuse

German: Felsuntergrund

Spanish: roca firme

Italian: roccia di base

Portuguese: firme, sào

Dutch: (diepe, draagkrachtige) rotslaag

Enlargement of the lower end of an augered or drilled pile, shaft or caisson to increase its bearing area. Also called Under-ream.

French: cloche