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  3. Construction / Civil Engineering

couche de forme

English translation: improved subgrade

09:53 Mar 19, 2004
French to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Construction / Civil Engineering
French term or phrase: couche de forme
Unfortunately, that't the entire context available (it's a list of works). Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
Cristina_P
Local time: 22:42
English translation:improved subgrade
Explanation:
selon Termium
Selected response from:

GILLES MEUNIER
France
Local time: 21:42
Grading comment
thank you.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2subgrade layer
CMJ_Trans (X)
5capping layer
Bourth (X)
3 +1improved subgrade
GILLES MEUNIER


  

Answers


1 min   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
improved subgrade


Explanation:
selon Termium


GILLES MEUNIER
France
Local time: 21:42
Native speaker of: French
PRO pts in category: 32
Grading comment
thank you.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Joanne Panteleon: Just "Subgrade" is enough.
3 mins
neutral  Bourth (X): Possibly ex-term.
7 mins
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20 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
subgrade layer


Explanation:
if it's railways - this is the term used by engineers in meetings where I was the interpreter

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 21:42
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 139

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  forli: http://www.cg78.fr/Routes_Transports/triel/dossier_tech/coup...
20 mins
agree  Vicky Papaprodromou
27 mins
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8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
capping layer


Explanation:
From my notes (terms encountered in reading and confirmed by dictionary type sources):

Couche de forme (to improve bearing capacity) Capping layer [BS241-3413 (new definition], improved subgrade (US), improved formation [PIARC, deprecated by BS], formation blending course, ***subgrade improvement layer***(old definition) [BS241-3413]; subgrade, for some at (client name)

For a time BSI gave "subgrade improvement layer", but I had already encountered "capping layer" at that time. Subsequently they changed the term to "capping layer". I don't know if the Americans changed their term at the same time.
[BS = British Standards Institution]

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Note added at 1 hr 7 mins (2004-03-19 11:00:52 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

capping layer - Layer of granular or treated material at the top of the subgrade to provide improved foundation for the pavement. [BSI]

couche de forme - Couche située sous la couche de fondation*. Lorsque le terrain naturel est impropre a supporter la chaussée, on intercale entre celui-ci et la chaussée proprement dite une couche de matériaux sélectionnés ou traités [Dico-TP]

*couche de fondation - Une des couches du corps de la chaussée, située entre la couche de base et la couche de forme (ou éventuellement la sous-couche de fondation ...\" [Dico-TP]



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr 10 mins (2004-03-19 11:03:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Formation level is, according to PIARC, the INTERFACE (level) between the capping layer and the \"sous-couche) (no English equivalent!) or couche de fondation (sub-base).

I\'m not familiar with the term \"formation bed\", but imagine it could well be an alternative term for \"capping layer\".

Bourth (X)
Local time: 21:42
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4135

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Joanne Panteleon: Is this the "formation level/bed" Bourth? Just asking/ The Penguin C.E dictionary I think explains what the "formation level" is. "Bed" is used in Am. English.
13 mins
  -> See complement above
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