Structural stresses are stresses produced in structural members due to what?

• A. The weights they support
• B. Temperature gradients
• C. External impacts
• D. Corrosion

Answer: (A)

Structural stresses are the internal forces that develop in a structural member when it resists the external loads it must carry. The weights a member supports—its dead loads and any live loads such as equipment, occupants, or snow—create reactions and bending, compression, tension, and shear within the material. These internal forces, divided by the cross-sectional area, are the stresses designers must check to ensure safety and performance.

Other factors can influence stresses, but they are not the primary source of structural stresses in the common sense. Temperature differences can cause thermal stresses if movement is restrained, external impacts generate additional dynamic loads, and corrosion can weaken sections or introduce defects; however, the fundamental stresses arise from the loads the member is designed to support.