In structural engineering, which internal responses resist loads?

In structural engineering, which internal responses resist loads?

• A. Shear and Torsion
• B. Stress and Strain
• C. Moment and Load
• D. Fatigue and Elasticity

Answer: (B)

The main concept here is how a material internally resists an applied load. The quantities that describe that internal resistance are stress and strain. Stress is the internal force per unit area that develops within a material as it fights against the external load. Strain is the resulting deformation of the material relative to its original size. Together, they capture how a member carries and withstands loads: stress tells you about strength limits, and strain tells you how much deformation occurs. While you can talk about shear stress or torsional stress as specific internal stress states that occur under certain loading, the broad internal-resistance description is stress and strain. External actions like loads and moments drive the response, and concepts like fatigue describe damage from cycles, while elasticity is a material property governing reversible deformation.

The main concept here is how a material internally resists an applied load. The quantities that describe that internal resistance are stress and strain. Stress is the internal force per unit area that develops within a material as it fights against the external load. Strain is the resulting deformation of the material relative to its original size. Together, they capture how a member carries and withstands loads: stress tells you about strength limits, and strain tells you how much deformation occurs.

While you can talk about shear stress or torsional stress as specific internal stress states that occur under certain loading, the broad internal-resistance description is stress and strain. External actions like loads and moments drive the response, and concepts like fatigue describe damage from cycles, while elasticity is a material property governing reversible deformation.