In what ways is steel's strength used?

• A. Shear and Torsion
• B. Tension and Compression
• C. Bending and Torsion
• D. Compression and Shear

Answer: (B)

Steel’s strength is used primarily to resist axial forces—pulling and pushing along the length of a member. When steel is in tension, its high tensile strength prevents it from stretching too much, which is why cables, rods, and reinforcing bars rely on this property. When steel is in compression, its ability to resist being crushed supports columns and frames, letting structures bear vertical loads without buckling.

In bending, a beam experiences both tension and compression at the same time, but that effect is still governed by the material’s ability to withstand axial stresses. Torsion and shear do occur in some connections and components, but they are not the main ways steel’s strength is utilized in typical members. That’s why the best answer is tension and compression.