In an earthquake, reinforced concrete ____.
A)can crumble and fail if it is not sheathed in steel
B)prevents lateral motion of building foundations
C)is affected by lateral, but not vertical motion
D)is affected by vertical, but not lateral motion
E)is responsible for most collapses involving a single floor in a building

Question

In an earthquake, reinforced concrete ____.
A)can crumble and fail if it is not sheathed in steel ​
B)prevents lateral motion of building foundations
C)is affected by lateral, but not vertical motion
D)is affected by vertical, but not lateral motion
E)is responsible for most collapses involving a single floor in a building

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Reinforced concrete can indeed crumble and fail if it is not properly sheathed in steel. The steel reinforcement provides the tensile strength that concrete lacks, making the combination more resistant to the stresses caused by earthquakes. Without adequate steel reinforcement, the concrete can crack and fail under seismic forces.

In an Earthquake, Reinforced Concrete ____