Question

Partial safety factor for concrete and steel are 1.5 and 1.15 respectively, because

• A. concrete is heterogeneous while steel is homogeneous
• B. the control on the quality of concrete is not as good as that of steel
• C. concrete is weak in tension
• D. voids in concrete are 0.5% while those in steel are 0.15%

Answer 1

The correct option is B the control on the quality of concrete is not as good as that of steel

The partial safety factor for concrete (1.5) is higher than that of steel (1.15) because of higher variability associated with concrete i.e. quality control of concrete is not as good as
that of steel.