Exercise 4

Match the words in A with the words in B.

A B

1. techniques	a) плита
2. beam	b) ковш
3. reinforced concrete	c) сборный бетон
4. slab	d) методы
5. precast concete	e) скрепер
6. bucket	f) балка
7. scraper	g) железобетон

Exercise 5

Choose the correct definition that best keeps its meaning in the right hand column.

1. foundations 2. girder 3. rod 4. bucket 5. bulldozer

a) a powerful tractor used for shifting large loads of earth saud. b) a container with a handle for holding c) a long heavy piece of metal or wood used to strengthen buildings d) a long thin stick or bar, usually of wood or metal e) the solid part of a building be low ground level

Exercise 6

Translate the following word combinations.

1.finishing

conventional } materials

structural

raw

2.lifting

building } operation

port

3.lift-slab

building } construction

residential

4. reinforced

pre-stressed } concreat

structural

Exercise 7

Find synonyms

Beam; conduit; formwork; storey; girder; duct; shuttering; floor.

Exercise 8

Read the text and try to understand its content.

Technology of building construction

Almost everyone saw the construction of a building and followed its progress with interest. First the excavation is dug for the basement, then the foundation walls below ground level are constructed: after this the framework is erected and clothed with various finishing materials and protected by several coats of paint.

The part upon which the stability of the structure depends is the framework. It is intended for safety carrying the loads imposed. The floors, walls, roofs and other parts of the building must be carefully designed and proportioned.

The architect or designer must decide what the size of the walls, the floors, the beams, the girders and the parts which make up the framework will be and how they will be placed and arranged. The lift-slab construction technique uses conventional materials in a new way. Buildings constructed by this method consist of reinforced or prestressed concrete floors supported by steel column. The concrete slab floors and roofs are all cast at ground level and lifted to the desired elevation by hydraulic jacks supported on the steel column.

The first step is the clearing and grading of the site area. Then foundations are prepared to support the steel column which will carry the weight of the floors. The first slab to be constructed is the ground slab which is usually placed on the levelled or lifted ground. Before the concrete is poured all service pipes and ducts must be placed in the position.

Formwork for the ground slab is placed in position and only edge shuttering is required as the slab is resting upon the prepared fill. When the ground floor slab has hardened and the surface of the concrete has been cleaned, work is begun on the first floor slab. Collars are placed and the steel reinforcement fixed in position. Any electrical conduits or other pipes should also be incorporated in the slab before the concrete is placed. According to the number of floors the process is repeated, each slab being separated by a layer of wax base material for it not to adhere to the slab below it. After sufficient time for curing has elapsed and the required strength reached hydraulic jacks are attached to the heads of columns and specially threaded lifting rods are connected between the jacks and the collars cast into the concrete, and lifting operation begins. When a small clearance has been obtained the slab is levelled and lifting goes on.

The building operations on the site also depend on such factors as pre-assembly of materials and components in the factory according to special systems, dry assembly on the site, dimensional co-ordination and standardization.

A traditional method has been cast aside for the building of a new building – the roof is cast as soon as the steel structure is completed. A new development is that building from the top downwards and from the bottom upwards is taking place simultaneously, whereas when a building is erected in the traditional manner, work begins from the ground floor upwards, and all floors must be constructed before the roof' is put on and waterproofed to enable finishing work to begin.

Work has been planned to ensure maximum time-saving repetition of building processes from floor to floor. Perimeter beams are designed to enable the brick walls to be built without support from below. Very great significance is attached in our country to the high mobility of heavy building equipment. A lot of excavators, scrapers, bulldozers, travelling cranes and many other machines are available all over the country to speed up construction work. Earth moving on a large scale is carried out by walking excavators having very large bucket capacities. New models of up-to-date building equipment are being continuously introduced at our construction sites.

The need for buildings of all kinds is great and in many cases urgent. An increase in the volume of building can only be achieved by greater productivity. Among the most important economic results of this could be much faster building. It goes without saying that to industrialize building is not simply to substitute prefabrication for the traditional methods. It is convenient shorthand for the wide variety of techniques which enable modem industrial methods to be applied to building. It embraces the organization of work, programming, design and execution as well as the factory production of complete dwellings and dwelling parts, and includes the increased use of standardized of prefabricated components.

Notes to the text:

finishing materials - отделочные материалы

finished materials - обработанные материалы

to be intended for - предназначаться

the number of - количество

lift-slab method - способ возведения сооружений с подъемом

готовых плит для укладки в перекрытиях

in a new way - по-новому

for it not to adhere - чтобы она не прилипла.