Civil Engineering Professional Engineer Practice Exam

Shear force primarily affects a structure by causing it to:

1. Compress

2. Twist

3. Slide or cut

4. Bend

The correct answer is: Slide or cut

Shear force primarily affects a structure by causing it to slide or cut along a plane. This occurs when two parallel forces act in opposite directions on a material, leading to a deformation where the material layers slide past each other. In the context of structural engineering, shear forces are significant in elements such as beams, where they can cause lateral movement that may ultimately lead to structural failure if not properly accounted for in design. Structures must be designed to resist these shear forces to ensure stability and integrity, particularly in areas like connections, beams, and columns where shear is prevalent. The other options refer to different types of stress or deflection: compression results in shortening or bulging of the material, twisting corresponds to torsional effects caused by moment loads, and bending involves the formation of a curve or arc in the element under loading. Each of these different stresses must be considered in a comprehensive analysis, but shear force specifically induces cutting or sliding effects in a structure.