grillage

grillage

The engineer inspects the grillage foundation at the construction site.

Definition

Grillage (noun): 1. A foundation structure: In civil engineering and architecture, "grillage" refers to a framework of intersecting beams, typically made of steel or timber, used as a base to distribute heavy loads over a wider area of soil or a pile foundation. It functions like a reinforced mat or grid that transfers the load from columns or walls to the ground or piles.

Usage Examples
  • (A load-distributing framework for a bridge foundation.)
  • (A wooden grid foundation used to spread weight.)
Advanced Usage
  • "Grillage footing": A specific type of shallow foundation that uses a grillage system to spread concentrated loads from columns or walls.

    • The architect specified a grillage footing for the factory's heavy machinery to prevent soil settlement. (A foundation using intersecting beams to distribute load.)
  • "Grillage beam": One of the individual beams that make up the grillage structure.

    • Each grillage beam was carefully aligned and bolted together on site. (A single beam in the load-distributing grid.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Grillage foundation (noun phrase): A foundation system that incorporates a grillage.

    • The grillage foundation was chosen because the soil had low bearing capacity. (A foundation using a beam grid.)
  • Grillaged (adj): Having a grillage structure or being supported by a grillage.

    • The grillaged platform provided stable support for the crane. (Supported by a grid framework.)
Synonyms
  • Grid foundation: A foundation shaped like a grid.
  • Beam grid: A set of intersecting beams used for load distribution.
  • Raft foundation: A similar concept, though a raft is usually a solid slab rather than a grid.
Related Idioms
  • (No common idioms exist for "grillage" due to its technical nature.)
Phrasal Verbs
  • (No phrasal verbs are associated with "grillage," as it is a technical noun.)