Glossary

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A B C D E F G H I L M N O P Q R S T U V W Z

Glossary terms for letter: C

Cellular Concrete Walls:

Cellular concrete walls function similar to concrete gravity walls. However, instead of a solid mass of concrete, the weight of the wall is a combination of the concrete cell and the weight of the soil contained by the cell.

Cellular Sheet Pile Wall:

A cellular sheet pile wall consists of interlocking steel-sheet piling driven as a series of interconnecting cells; cells may be of circular type or of straight-wall diaphragm type. The cells are filled with material which provides weight (mass) for stability.

Channel:

A natural or artificial watercourse withdefinite bed and banks to confine and conductflowing water.

Channel Capacity:

The maximum flow which canpass through a channel without overflowing thebanks.

Channelization:

Closure Structures:

Structures to close off openings in levee and floodwall systems when facilities such as railroads, roadways, and pedestrian walkways pass through levee and floodwall systems at elevations below the level of protection provided..

Closure Structures: Miter Gates:

Miter gates consist of two leaves that form a three-hinged arch when the gates are in the closed position. Each gate leaf is composed of: horizontal girders, vertical intercostals, vertical end diaphragms, a skin plate, and adjustable diagonal tension rods. The gate leaves are attached to support piers by top and bottom hinges.

Closure Structures: Rolling Gate:

Rolling gates are operated with a single line of wheels and stabilizing trolleys. The gates are usually composed of a trussed steel frame covered with skin plate or bridge planks. The gates are supported at the bottom by a single line of wheels and are stabilized laterally by an extended top girder supported by trolleys attached to the top of the floodwall.

Closure Structures: Swing Gates:

Swing gates are composed of two or more horizontal girders, vertical intercostals, vertical end diaphragms, a skin plate, and diagonal braces. Swing gates are supported on one side by top and bottom hinges attached to a support structure.

Closure Structures: Trolley Gates:

Trolley gates are usually composed of top and bottom horizontal girders, other secondary framing members, and a skin plate. Trolley gates are suspended from trolleys running on an overhead rail and beam supported by the floodwall.

Concrete Dam:

Basically, gravity dams are solid concrete structures that maintain their stability against design loads from the geometric shape and the mass and strength of the concrete. Generally, they are constructed on a straight axis, but may be slightly curved or angled to accommodate the specific site conditions. Gravity dams typically consist of a nonoverflow section(s) and an overflow section or spillway. The two general concrete construction methods for concrete gravity dams are conventional placed mass concrete and RCC.

Cross Section:

A graph or plot of ground elevationacross a stream valley or a portion of it, usuallyalong a line perpendicular to the stream ordirection of flow.

Cubic feet per second:

Used to describe theamount of flow passing a given point in a streamchannel. One cubic foot per second is equivalent toapproximately 7.5 gallons per second.

Current, littoral:

Any current in the littoral zone caused primarily by wave action, e.g., longshore current, rip current.

Current, longshore:

The littoral current in the breaker zone moving essentially parallel to the shore, usually generated by waves breaking at an angle to the shoreline.