CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING

A specialized branch of civil engineering concerned with the planning, execution, and control of construction operations for projects such as highways, dams, utility lines, and buildings.

Related Terms

DEAD TIME

The time interval between a change in the input signal to a process control system and the response to the signal.
The time interval, after a response to one signal or event, during which a system is unable to respond to another. Also known as insensitive time.

control input_signal process signal dead_time system interval time input control_system

A cam-operated or spring-loaded reciprocating-engine mushroomtype valve used for control of admission and exhaust of working fluid; the direction of movement is at right angles to the plane of its seat.

poppet_valve working plane direction right valve control exhaust movement

POLE-POSITIONING

A design technique used in linear control theory in which many or all of a system's closed-loop poles are positioned as required, by proper choice of a linear state feedback law; if the system is controllable, all of the closed-loop poles can be arbitrarily positioned by this technique.

pole-positioning design system can linear feedback control state

PNEUMATIC CONTROL VALVE

A valve in which the force of compressed air against a diaphragm is opposed by the force of a spring to control the area of the opening for a fluid stream.

pneumatic_control_valve opening spring air diaphragm fluid compressed_air valve force area control

PLANT DECOMPOSITION

The partitioning of a large-scale control system into subsystems along lines of weak interaction.

plant_decomposition control_system system control

PIPE TAP

A small threaded hole or entry made into the wall of a pipe; used for sampling of pipe contents, or connection of control devices or pressure-drop-measurement devices.

pipe_tap pipe entry wall hole control

PIPELINE

A line of pipe connected to valves and other control devices, for conducting fluids, gases, or finely divided solids.

pipeline pipe line control

PILOT WIRE REGULATOR

Automatic device for controlling adjustable gains or losses associated with transmission circuits to compensate for transmission changes caused by temperature variations, the control usually depending upon the resistance of a conductor or pilot wire having substantially the same temperature conditions as the conductors of the circuits being regulated.

pilot_wire_regulator pilot transmission compensate conditions automatic resistance device wire temperature control

PHOTOELECTRICLOOPCONTROL

[CONTSYS] Aphotoelectric control system used as a position regulator for a loop of material passing from one stripprocessing line to another that may travel at a different speed. Also known as loop control.

photoelectricloopcontrol regulator loop line control_system system may material control position

PHOTOELECTRIC LIQUID-LEVEL INDICATOR

A level indicator in which rising liquid interrupts the light beam of a photoelectric control system; used in a tank or process vessel.

photoelectric_liquid-level_indicator process photoelectric_control level indicator tank photoelectric liquid light control