Civil Engineering Professional Engineer Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Civil Engineering Professional Engineer Test. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions, complete with hints and detailed explanations. Achieve success on your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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What can be a disadvantage of steel as a structural material?

High tensile strength
Susceptibility to corrosion
Lightweight nature
Stable under all loads

The correct answer is: Susceptibility to corrosion

Steel is known for its many advantageous properties, but one notable disadvantage is its susceptibility to corrosion. In environments where moisture, salt, or other corrosive agents are present, steel can undergo oxidation, leading to rust formation. This deterioration can compromise the structural integrity of steel elements over time. It necessitates protective measures such as galvanization, painting, or the use of corrosion-resistant alloys to enhance durability and longevity. Other properties of steel, such as high tensile strength, lightweight nature, and stability under loads, are generally considered advantages in construction and engineering. These characteristics make steel a popular choice in structural applications, allowing for efficient designs and high performance under various conditions. However, the need to address corrosion points to a critical consideration in the selection and application of steel in construction and infrastructure projects.