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tube

English translation: tubing/tube

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:tube
English translation:tubing/tube
Entered by: Rebecca Parker - Into English Ltd. (X)

16:32 Mar 6, 2007
French to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Construction / Civil Engineering / (Offshore) construction/architecture
French term or phrase: tube
PIPE Vs. TUBE

This term is used throughout my text to describe the steel construction components of an offshore rig. They are purely structural and do not refer to the ones used for transporting the oil. Size-wise they are described in the text as "no less than 12" in diameter".

The question is, do we say "oil rigs are constructed of steel pipes" or "oil rigs are constructed of steel tubes" or indeed something else?

I've become too influenced by the original to make a good judgement and google gives results for both usages.

Do any English speaking engineers/architects have any thoughts or input?
Rebecca Parker - Into English Ltd. (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:19
Steel tubing
Explanation:
"tubing" covers a lot of contexts, and "steel tubing" gets more googles than "steel tubes", funnily enough.

"tubular steel" is also used here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_platform .

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Note added at 1 hr (2007-03-06 17:32:47 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

...in a constructional context!
Selected response from:

Frank Foley
Local time: 04:19
Grading comment
Thanks for the second opinion! I went for tubing and tube where appropriate throughout my text.


3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3Steel tubing
Frank Foley


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


58 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Steel tubing


Explanation:
"tubing" covers a lot of contexts, and "steel tubing" gets more googles than "steel tubes", funnily enough.

"tubular steel" is also used here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_platform .

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2007-03-06 17:32:47 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

...in a constructional context!

Frank Foley
Local time: 04:19
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 3
Grading comment
Thanks for the second opinion! I went for tubing and tube where appropriate throughout my text.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  David Goward: "Tubing" (or "tubular steel") for me too!
1 hr
agree  jacqueb: I agree with David's "tubing" or "tubular", but I'd replace the "steel" by something to the tune of "structural tubing" or "tubular structure" unless you know for a fact that it's steel.
7 hrs
agree  B D Finch: I think that a **tube** is a finite object that has a limited length, while **tubing** goes on for ever.
15 hrs
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