Constructaquote Glossary of Terms - U
Glossary home
u bolt
a bolt in the form of a u with threads on each end; usually used to make a connection to a round pipe.
ultimate bearing capacity of a pile
the load that causes it to settle one tenth of its diameter, unless some other definition be found from the load settlement curve.
ultimate bearing pressure
a pressure at which a foundation sinks without increase of load.
ultimate compressive strength
the stress at which a material crushes, the usual way of defining the strength of a brick, stone, or concrete.
ultimate strength
the highest stress which a material can withstand before breaking.
ultimate stress
the maximum stress a material can withstand before failing.
ultimate tensile strength
the load at which a specimen breaks, divide by its original area before breaking.
underlay
felt, rubber etc, laid beneath a carpet to increase insulation and resilience.
underpinning
improving an existing foundation, such as to provide for an added load, by constructing a new and larger foundation underneath.
underpinnings
any supporting structure.
unstable
a description of a structure which lacks stability.
upvc
abbreviation for unplasticised polyvinyl chloride. Used in double glazing frames.
utilities
a term referring to services to a building, which include telephone, gas, electric, water and sewage.