Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
sección útil
English translation:
usable cross-section / effective cross-section
Added to glossary by
Toby Wakely
May 16, 2017 14:33
6 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Spanish term
Spain
Natural sounding Translations
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish
sección útil
Spanish to English
Tech/Engineering
Construction / Civil Engineering
tunnel construction
Durante la asistencia técnica se ha realizado el control de la construcción de las siguientes actividades
Diez túneles excavados en mina con una sección útil de 125m2 cada uno y secciones de excavación de entre 134 and 154 m2 aproximadamente
This is about the building works for a high speed train link.
Diez túneles excavados en mina con una sección útil de 125m2 cada uno y secciones de excavación de entre 134 and 154 m2 aproximadamente
This is about the building works for a high speed train link.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +3 | usable cross-section / effective cross-section |
Charles Davis
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| 4 +1 | working section |
neilmac
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| 3 | clearance |
Erica Reiss (X)
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References
| Previous question |
philgoddard
|
Proposed translations
+3
3 hrs
Selected
usable cross-section / effective cross-section
"Usable cross-section" is what I've used for this in the past (I used to do regular tunnelling translation but I haven't done any very recently). The trouble with tunnelling is that it's a very international business and most of the sources you find were not written by native English speakers, but this describes what it means, which is what your friend says. The sección excavada (excavated cross-section or cross-sectional area) is the size of the hole you have to dig and the sección útil is the size of the hole you end up with when you've lined the tunnel.
Some sources also use "effective cross-section" in what I'm pretty sure is the same sense. Usable for útil is as in superficie útil for buildings: usable area.
It's not clearance, that's for sure, because that's how much bigger the inside of the tunnel is than a train (usually it refers to trains) passing through it.
Anyway, I think this will do the trick. If someone can come up with a more authentic term I'd be delighted to know.
When authors of different nationalities coincide they're probably using the right term. Here are a variety.
"Marseille Tunnel [...]
Usable cross-section = 63 m2"
http://www.aftes.asso.fr/contenus/upload/File/Publications/R...
"whereas the usable cross section of the tunnels was 41 m2"
https://books.google.es/books?id=RHdvtUpH1ZsC&pg=PA153&lpg=P...
"the usable height (and therefore the usable cross section of the tunnel) is increased by at least 16%..."
https://books.google.es/books?id=PjPWCQAAQBAJ&pg=PT34&lpg=PT...
"It has an influence on the size of the final cross-section, also the profile of the excavation and to a certain extent the usable cross-section."
http://docplayer.net/36756928-1-general-principles-for-the-d...
"The excavated cross-section of the twin-track tunnels ranges from 130 to 150 m² with an effective cross-section of 92 m²"
http://www.daub-ita.de/en/tunnel-projects/deutschland/new-eb...
"The excavation cross section area ranges from 116.35 sq m to 120.03 sq m when horse-shoe shaped and from 138.16 sq m to 149.44 sq m when approximately circular. The effective cross section is 78.95 sq m. "
http://tunnelbuilder.com/Archive/Projects.aspx?&keywords=Sho...
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Note added at 18 hrs (2017-05-17 09:03:51 GMT)
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By the way, en mina means bored as opposed to cut-and-cover:
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish_to_english/construction_ci...
Some sources also use "effective cross-section" in what I'm pretty sure is the same sense. Usable for útil is as in superficie útil for buildings: usable area.
It's not clearance, that's for sure, because that's how much bigger the inside of the tunnel is than a train (usually it refers to trains) passing through it.
Anyway, I think this will do the trick. If someone can come up with a more authentic term I'd be delighted to know.
When authors of different nationalities coincide they're probably using the right term. Here are a variety.
"Marseille Tunnel [...]
Usable cross-section = 63 m2"
http://www.aftes.asso.fr/contenus/upload/File/Publications/R...
"whereas the usable cross section of the tunnels was 41 m2"
https://books.google.es/books?id=RHdvtUpH1ZsC&pg=PA153&lpg=P...
"the usable height (and therefore the usable cross section of the tunnel) is increased by at least 16%..."
https://books.google.es/books?id=PjPWCQAAQBAJ&pg=PT34&lpg=PT...
"It has an influence on the size of the final cross-section, also the profile of the excavation and to a certain extent the usable cross-section."
http://docplayer.net/36756928-1-general-principles-for-the-d...
"The excavated cross-section of the twin-track tunnels ranges from 130 to 150 m² with an effective cross-section of 92 m²"
http://www.daub-ita.de/en/tunnel-projects/deutschland/new-eb...
"The excavation cross section area ranges from 116.35 sq m to 120.03 sq m when horse-shoe shaped and from 138.16 sq m to 149.44 sq m when approximately circular. The effective cross section is 78.95 sq m. "
http://tunnelbuilder.com/Archive/Projects.aspx?&keywords=Sho...
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Note added at 18 hrs (2017-05-17 09:03:51 GMT)
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By the way, en mina means bored as opposed to cut-and-cover:
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish_to_english/construction_ci...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Robert Carter
: Yes, I seem to remember something like this in a previous question, but was unable to find it for some reason.
34 mins
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Thanks, Robert. I vaguely remember something too, but I can't find it either.
|
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| agree |
Christian [email protected]
8 hrs
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Thanks, Christian :)
|
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| agree |
neilmac
: This sounds more appropriate for railway tunnels than my suggestion...
15 hrs
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Thanks very much, Neil :-)
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Ok, thanks Charles, I think this is it."
13 mins
clearance
Clearance is usually for vertical space where vehicles can pass, but it seems to be the same idea only taking into account horizontal clearance as well. Possibly "clearance area" if you want to specify that the clearance refers to two dimensions.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
philgoddard
: I think this is possible, but you haven't given any references showing the equivalence between the Spanish and English.
46 mins
|
+1
1 hr
working section
I.e. useful insofar as it's worthwhile mining in these areas.
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Note added at 18 hrs (2017-05-17 08:48:12 GMT)
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Phil is right, my suggestion is more suitable for mining contexts. I'd go with Charles for this one.
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Note added at 18 hrs (2017-05-17 09:27:48 GMT)
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NB: I was going to remove this suggestion, but looking at the context again, I think it could still work, so I'll leave it here, although Charles's answer is probably better.
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Note added at 18 hrs (2017-05-17 08:48:12 GMT)
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Phil is right, my suggestion is more suitable for mining contexts. I'd go with Charles for this one.
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Note added at 18 hrs (2017-05-17 09:27:48 GMT)
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NB: I was going to remove this suggestion, but looking at the context again, I think it could still work, so I'll leave it here, although Charles's answer is probably better.
Example sentence:
Also, the mine operator had not installed an additional means of communication from the surface to the working section of the mine.
One cache shall be placed at a readily available location in each working section of the mine.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Susana López Millot
20 mins
|
| neutral |
philgoddard
: It's not about mining, it's about train tunnels. "Mina" means gallery.
35 mins
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Okay, but it's still about tunnels, and the underground earthworks terminology should be the same... But I agree, so I'll pull this answer. Cheers ;)
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Reference comments
36 mins
philgoddard
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Six languages into flawless English
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English, Spanish to English, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
111
Reference:
Previous question
"Clearance" was rejected, but I think it may be the right answer.
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Note added at 38 mins (2017-05-16 15:11:45 GMT)
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And another question from Polish containing a definition of clearance:
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/polish_to_english/construction_civ...
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Note added at 43 mins (2017-05-16 15:16:51 GMT)
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"Sección útil" is measured in square metres. Does that rule out "clearance"?
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Note added at 38 mins (2017-05-16 15:11:45 GMT)
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And another question from Polish containing a definition of clearance:
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/polish_to_english/construction_civ...
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Note added at 43 mins (2017-05-16 15:16:51 GMT)
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"Sección útil" is measured in square metres. Does that rule out "clearance"?
Discussion