What bridge deck material can withstand relatively large loads over a short period of time?

What bridge deck material can withstand relatively large loads over a short period of time?

• A. Concrete
• B. Timber
• C. Steel
• D. Glass

Answer: (B)

When a deck is subjected to a short, intense load, the material’s ability to resist peak stresses and absorb energy matters more than its long-term behavior. Timber can handle large instantaneous forces because it combines strength with ductility and toughness, allowing it to bend and distribute the load without immediate brittle failure. This makes timber decks well-suited to withstanding brief overloads or impact-like loads. Concrete tends to crack under bending and is more sensitive to long-term effects like creep, even though its compressive strength is high. Glass is brittle and can fail catastrophically under shock loads. Steel has excellent strength and toughness, but a deck primarily of steel often involves heavier construction and more maintenance considerations; the question highlights a material that excels in withstanding short-term peak loads in a deck, which timber provides in this context.

When a deck is subjected to a short, intense load, the material’s ability to resist peak stresses and absorb energy matters more than its long-term behavior. Timber can handle large instantaneous forces because it combines strength with ductility and toughness, allowing it to bend and distribute the load without immediate brittle failure. This makes timber decks well-suited to withstanding brief overloads or impact-like loads.

Concrete tends to crack under bending and is more sensitive to long-term effects like creep, even though its compressive strength is high. Glass is brittle and can fail catastrophically under shock loads. Steel has excellent strength and toughness, but a deck primarily of steel often involves heavier construction and more maintenance considerations; the question highlights a material that excels in withstanding short-term peak loads in a deck, which timber provides in this context.