Question

Cracking of the concrete section is nearly impossible to prevent.

(a) True

(b) False

I have been asked this question at a job interview.

I'd like to ask this question from Structural Designing and Thumb Rules topic in portion Valuation, Reports Technical and Design Data of Civil Engineering Drawing

Answer 1

Right choice is (a) True

To explain I would say: However, the size and location of cracks can be limited and controlled by appropriate reinforcement, control joints, curing methodology and concrete mix design. Cracking can allow moisture to penetrate and corrode the reinforcement. This is a serviceability failure in limit state design. Cracking is normally the result of an inadequate quantity of rebar, or rebar spaced at too great a distance. The concrete then cracks either under excess loading, or due to internal effects such as early thermal shrinkage while it cures.

Ultimate failure leading to collapse can be caused by crushing the concrete, which occurs when compressive stresses exceed its strength, by yielding or failure of the rebar when bending or shear stresses exceed the strength of the reinforcement, or by bond failure between the concrete and the rebar.