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ICC Reinforced Concrete SI practice questions

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Question 1Reinforced Concrete Inspection

Before a concrete placement is accepted, which document should the inspector verify has been approved for the reinforcing steel, covering bar size, grade, spacing, and lap lengths?

  1. The concrete delivery tickets
  2. The curing method statement
  3. The site safety plan
  4. The placing drawings and bar lists Correct answer.

Explanation

Reinforcement is checked against approved placing drawings and bar lists, which state bar size, grade, spacing, lap and development lengths. Delivery tickets and curing documents relate to concrete, not to the reinforcing steel layout.

Question 2Reinforced Concrete Inspection

What is the primary function of transverse reinforcement (stirrups or ties) in a reinforced concrete beam?

  1. To resist diagonal tension and confine the longitudinal bars Correct answer.
  2. To reduce the unit weight of the hardened concrete
  3. To carry the entire bending moment at midspan
  4. To provide the required concrete cover over the bars

Explanation

Stirrups resist diagonal tension near supports and hold the longitudinal bars in position while confining the concrete core. Bending moment is carried mainly by the longitudinal steel acting with the compression zone.

Question 3Reinforced Concrete Inspection

An inspector measures a clear cover of 30 mm on a slab cast against formwork, but the approved drawings specify 40 mm. What is the correct action?

  1. Direct the crew to add a second layer of bars to compensate
  2. Accept the slab because the concrete will protect the bars regardless
  3. Accept the slab because cover tolerances are never enforced in the field
  4. Record the deficiency and require the bars to be repositioned before placement Correct answer.

Explanation

Cover below the specified value is a nonconformance that reduces durability and fire resistance, so the bars must be repositioned and the item documented. Adding steel does not restore the required cover.

Question 4Reinforced Concrete Inspection

Which condition must be met before reinforcing steel is covered by concrete?

  1. The concrete truck has arrived on site
  2. The curing compound has been applied
  3. The reinforcement has been inspected and approved and the formwork is clean Correct answer.
  4. The bar mill certificates have been archived

Explanation

Placement may proceed only after reinforcement inspection is approved and the forms are free of debris, ice or standing water. Mill certificates and curing records are documentation matters that do not gate the pour.

Question 5Reinforced Concrete Inspection

A reinforcing bar is specified as 20M. What does the 'M' designation indicate?

  1. The bar is a deformed bar intended for masonry anchorage
  2. The bar has been galvanized for marine exposure
  3. The bar is metric, with the number giving the nominal diameter in millimetres Correct answer.
  4. The bar is a plain round bar of imperial size

Explanation

In metric bar designations the number is the nominal diameter in millimetres and the M denotes metric sizing. Deformation pattern and coating are described separately in the specification.

Question 6Reinforced Concrete Inspection

Why must reinforcing bars be tied and supported on chairs or spacers before concrete is placed?

  1. To make the formwork easier to strip
  2. To hold the bars at the designed position and maintain the specified cover during placement Correct answer.
  3. To prevent the bars from rusting before the concrete sets
  4. To allow the concrete to be vibrated more easily

Explanation

Bar chairs and ties keep the reinforcement at its designed elevation and maintain cover while concrete is placed and compacted. Without them the bars displace under foot traffic and vibration.

Question 7Reinforced Concrete Inspection

What is the purpose of a mechanical coupler in a reinforced concrete column?

  1. To splice bars end to end and develop the bar force without a lap Correct answer.
  2. To provide cathodic protection to the cage
  3. To anchor the column to the footing by bearing only
  4. To reduce the concrete cover at the splice

Explanation

Mechanical couplers transmit the bar force across a joint so the bar can be spliced without the extra length of a lap splice. They are used where laps are impractical or bar congestion is high.

Question 8Reinforced Concrete Inspection

Which practice is acceptable when placing concrete around dense reinforcement?

  1. Raking the concrete laterally over long distances
  2. Using an internal vibrator at close spacing and avoiding contact with the bars Correct answer.
  3. Adding water to the mix to make it flow through the cage
  4. Dropping concrete from a height to reach the bottom of the form

Explanation

Dense cages require systematic vibration with the poker inserted vertically at close spacing without touching the reinforcement. Dropping, raking and adding water all cause segregation or reduce strength.

Question 9Reinforced Concrete Inspection

An inspector finds longitudinal bars in a beam offset laterally from the drawing position by roughly one bar diameter. What is the appropriate first step?

  1. Require the bars to be cut out and replaced with larger bars
  2. Document the deviation and evaluate it against the specified placement tolerance Correct answer.
  3. Reject the entire beam and require demolition
  4. Accept it silently because small offsets are common

Explanation

Deviations are measured against the placement tolerances in the specification before any acceptance decision. Silent acceptance or immediate demolition both bypass that evaluation.

Question 10Reinforced Concrete Inspection

A lap splice in a column is measured at 600 mm, but the approved drawings require a 40-bar-diameter lap for 20 mm bars. How should the inspector respond?

  1. Accept the lap because column laps are not inspected
  2. Accept the lap because 600 mm exceeds 30 bar diameters
  3. Require the bars to be welded instead
  4. Require the lap to be extended to at least 800 mm before placement Correct answer.

Explanation

A 40-diameter lap for 20 mm bars is 800 mm, so the installed 600 mm lap is short and must be extended. Laps are a routine inspection item and cannot be waived by rule of thumb.

Question 11Reinforced Concrete Inspection

Why does the specification limit the stagger of lap splices in adjacent bars of a flexural member?

  1. To reduce the amount of formwork needed
  2. To avoid concentrating splices in one cross-section and weakening the member locally Correct answer.
  3. To keep the bars from touching each other
  4. To simplify the bar list for the fabricator

Explanation

Staggering laps spreads the splice zones so no single section has all bars spliced at once, which would create a weak plane. Fabrication convenience and formwork economy are not the governing reason.

Question 12Reinforced Concrete Inspection

During inspection of a wall, the inspector notes that vertical bars have been placed against the outside face form with no spacers. Which consequence is most directly expected?

  1. Reduced need for horizontal reinforcement
  2. Insufficient cover on the outside face and potential corrosion of the bars Correct answer.
  3. Improved bond between concrete and formwork
  4. Increased concrete compressive strength

Explanation

Bars lying against the form lose cover on that face, which reduces durability and fire protection. Spacers are required to hold the cage at the correct position.

Question 13Reinforced Concrete Inspection

What does a mill certificate for reinforcing steel typically provide to support acceptance?

  1. The curing temperature record
  2. Chemical composition and mechanical properties such as yield and tensile strength Correct answer.
  3. The concrete mix proportions
  4. The formwork stripping schedule

Explanation

Mill certificates report heat analysis and tensile test results that demonstrate the bar meets the specified grade. They do not address concrete, curing or formwork.

Question 14Reinforced Concrete Inspection

An inspector observes that a bundle of reinforcing bars has been stored directly on wet ground for several weeks. Which concern is most relevant?

  1. Excessive cover resulting from the storage position
  2. Premature curing of the bars
  3. Loss of yield strength from the ground pressure
  4. Surface corrosion and contamination such as mud or oil that could impair bond Correct answer.

Explanation

Bars stored on wet ground can corrode and pick up mud, oil or loose scale that reduces bond with concrete. Storage should keep steel clean and above the ground.

Question 15Reinforced Concrete Inspection

A beam requires 25 mm cover and uses 20 mm stirrups around 25 mm main bars. What is the minimum clear distance from the form face to the outside of the main bar, measured to the stirrup?

  1. 45 mm
  2. 25 mm Correct answer.
  3. 20 mm
  4. 50 mm

Explanation

Cover is measured to the outermost steel, which in a beam is the stirrup, so the specified 25 mm applies to the stirrup face. The main bar sits inside the stirrup and is not the cover reference.

Question 16Reinforced Concrete Inspection

Which statement correctly describes the difference between a development length and a lap splice length?

  1. Development length anchors a bar into concrete, while a lap splice length transfers force between two overlapping bars Correct answer.
  2. Development length is measured in bar diameters, while lap length is measured in millimetres only
  3. Development length applies only to stirrups, while lap length applies only to main bars
  4. Development length is a concrete property, while lap length is a steel property

Explanation

Development length is the embedment needed to develop the bar force in concrete; a lap splice carries that force from one bar to another over an overlap. Both are calculated from bar and concrete properties.

Question 17Reinforced Concrete Inspection

An inspector reviews a footing cage and finds that the bottom mat is resting on the subgrade with no blinding or chairs. What is the main risk?

  1. Increased concrete slump at the base
  2. Loss of the specified bottom cover and contamination of the bars with soil Correct answer.
  3. Shortening of the column dowels
  4. Reduced top cover over the upper mat

Explanation

Bars placed directly on soil cannot maintain the specified bottom cover and pick up earth that impairs bond. Chairs or a blinding layer are needed to hold the mat at the design elevation.

Question 18Reinforced Concrete Inspection

Which inspection item should be verified for column vertical bars immediately before the column form is closed?

  1. Bar size, count, spacing, lap length and dowel alignment with the footing bars Correct answer.
  2. The slump of the previous day's slab pour
  3. The concrete supplier's batch plant calibration
  4. The curing compound application rate

Explanation

Closing the form hides the cage, so bar size, number, spacing, laps and dowel alignment must be verified beforehand. Batch plant and curing records are unrelated to the column cage.

Question 19Reinforced Concrete Inspection

A drawing calls for epoxy-coated reinforcement in a parking structure. Which handling practice is required?

  1. Protecting the coating from damage and repairing holidays with approved patching material Correct answer.
  2. Storing the bars in direct contact with the ground
  3. Removing the coating at all lap splices to expose bare steel
  4. Heating the bars to improve coating adhesion

Explanation

Epoxy coating must remain continuous to provide corrosion protection, so damage is patched with approved material. Coating is not stripped at laps, and bars are not heated or stored on the ground.

Question 20Reinforced Concrete Inspection

During a pour, the inspector sees a worker step on the top mat of a slab, pushing it down toward the bottom mat. Why is this significant?

  1. The concrete will cure faster in that area
  2. The bottom bars will gain extra cover
  3. The effective depth is reduced, lowering the slab's flexural capacity Correct answer.
  4. The slab will become lighter in weight

Explanation

Pushing the top mat down reduces the effective depth to the tension steel, which lowers flexural capacity at that section. The mat must be re-supported and the displacement documented.

Question 21Reinforced Concrete Inspection

An inspector is asked to accept a bar splice where the lapped bars are separated by a gap of about 40 mm and not in contact. Which statement is correct?

  1. A gap is required to allow concrete to flow between the bars
  2. A gap is acceptable because concrete fills the space and transfers the force
  3. The gap is acceptable provided the lap length is doubled
  4. Contact lap splices must have the bars tied in contact, so the gap is a nonconformance unless a non-contact splice is specified Correct answer.

Explanation

Unless the design specifies a non-contact lap splice, lapped bars are tied in contact so the force transfers as assumed. A gap changes the splice behaviour and is a nonconformance.

Question 22Reinforced Concrete Inspection

A shear wall is detailed with two curtains of reinforcement. What is the primary reason for requiring two curtains rather than one?

  1. To allow the wall to be constructed without formwork
  2. To provide reinforcement near both faces for crack control and out-of-plane bending Correct answer.
  3. To eliminate the need for boundary elements
  4. To double the wall's self-weight for stability

Explanation

Two curtains place steel near each face, controlling cracking and resisting out-of-plane moments and reversing seismic demands. They do not replace boundary elements or formwork.

Question 23Reinforced Concrete Inspection

An inspector calculates that the installed lap length is 95 percent of the required value. The specification states that lap lengths shall not be less than the required length. What is the correct determination?

  1. The splice is acceptable if the bars are tied with additional wire
  2. The splice is acceptable if the concrete strength is above the specified value
  3. The splice is nonconforming and must be corrected regardless of the small shortfall Correct answer.
  4. The splice is acceptable because it is within 10 percent of the requirement

Explanation

When the specification sets a minimum with no stated tolerance, any shortfall fails the requirement. Higher concrete strength or extra tying does not substitute for the specified lap length unless the designer approves a revision.

Question 24Reinforced Concrete Inspection

A beam-column joint is heavily congested and the contractor proposes moving the column bars outside the beam cage to ease placement. What should the inspector do?

  1. Approve the change only if the bars are painted
  2. Reject the proposal and require a design revision before any relocation is permitted Correct answer.
  3. Approve the change because it improves concrete flow
  4. Approve the change if the cover is maintained

Explanation

Bar location in a joint is a design decision affecting force transfer and confinement, so field relocation requires designer approval. Improved concrete flow or maintained cover does not authorize the change.

Question 25Reinforced Concrete Inspection

During inspection of a cantilever slab, the inspector finds the top tension bars are supported only by a single continuous chair line near midspan, with the bar ends sloping down toward the support. Why is this a serious concern?

  1. The bars will corrode faster because they are sloping
  2. The tension bars must be held at the correct depth over the support, where the cantilever moment is greatest Correct answer.
  3. The slab will cure unevenly along the cantilever
  4. The sloping bars will reduce the concrete cover at midspan only

Explanation

A cantilever has its maximum negative moment at the support, so the top bars must be anchored and held at the design depth there. Allowing them to slope down removes the steel where it is most needed.

Question 26Reinforced Concrete Inspection

What is the primary purpose of providing a specified minimum concrete cover over reinforcing steel in a reinforced concrete member?

  1. To protect the steel from corrosion and to develop adequate bond and fire resistance Correct answer.
  2. To increase the compressive strength of the hardened concrete
  3. To allow the formwork to be stripped more quickly after casting
  4. To reduce the total quantity of reinforcement required in the member

Explanation

Cover is the distance from the concrete surface to the nearest bar surface. It shields the steel from moisture and chlorides that cause corrosion, provides the confinement needed for bond and anchorage, and gives thermal protection in a fire. It does not increase concrete strength or reduce the steel required by design.

Question 27Reinforced Concrete Inspection

An inspector is checking a batch of deformed bars delivered to site and wants to confirm the bar size before they are placed. Which physical feature of a deformed bar is used to identify its nominal size?

  1. The length of the bar as delivered
  2. The color of the mill scale on the surface
  3. The number or letter rolled into the bar marking Correct answer.
  4. The spacing of the transverse deformation pattern

Explanation

Standard deformed bars carry rolled-in markings that identify the producing mill, the bar size designation, and the grade. The size marking is the reliable identifier because deformation spacing varies between mills and grades. Surface color and delivered length are not size identifiers.

Question 28Reinforced Concrete Inspection

Why does a specification require that reinforcing bars be free of loose mill scale, rust, mud, and oil at the time concrete is placed?

  1. Because dirty bars prevent the formwork from being oiled properly
  2. Because surface rust increases the yield strength beyond the certified value
  3. Because contaminants can impair the bond between the steel and the surrounding concrete Correct answer.
  4. Because surface coatings reduce the effective bar diameter below the design value

Explanation

Bond between concrete and reinforcement depends on the concrete gripping the bar surface and deformations. Loose scale, mud, oil, and heavy flaky rust form a weak layer that reduces this bond and anchorage capacity. Tight mill scale and light surface rust are generally acceptable because they do not impair bond.

Question 29Reinforced Concrete Inspection

Which grade designation on a reinforcing bar marking indicates a specified minimum yield strength of 420 MPa?

  1. Grade 690
  2. Grade 550
  3. Grade 420 Correct answer.
  4. Grade 280

Explanation

In the metric grade system, the number after the word Grade is the specified minimum yield strength in megapascals. Grade 420 therefore denotes a minimum yield strength of 420 MPa. The other numbers correspond to different strength levels and would not match the specified requirement.

Question 30Reinforced Concrete Inspection

An inspector measures the clear spacing between two parallel 20 mm bars in a single layer of a beam and finds 22 mm. The mix has a 20 mm nominal maximum aggregate size. Which statement best describes the acceptance condition?

  1. The spacing fails because clear spacing must be at least 1.5 times the bar diameter
  2. The spacing is acceptable because it exceeds the nominal maximum aggregate size Correct answer.
  3. The spacing fails because clear spacing must equal the nominal maximum aggregate size plus 10 mm
  4. The spacing is acceptable because it exceeds the bar diameter

Explanation

For parallel bars in a layer, the general rule is that clear spacing must be at least the bar diameter, and also large enough for concrete to flow around the bars, commonly taken as the nominal maximum aggregate size. Here 22 mm exceeds both the 20 mm bar diameter and the 20 mm aggregate size, so it is acceptable.

Question 31Reinforced Concrete Inspection

A contractor proposes to field-bend a 20 mm Grade 420 bar that has already been cast into a beam, in order to clear a newly installed duct. What is the inspector's most appropriate response?

  1. Approve the bend because field bending is always permitted for bars up to 25 mm
  2. Reject the bend only if the bar is epoxy coated
  3. Approve the bend provided it is made slowly with a bar-bending machine
  4. Refer the proposal for engineering approval, since field bending of cast-in bars requires authorization and may be prohibited Correct answer.

Explanation

Bending or straightening reinforcement that is already embedded can crack the concrete and damage the bar, and standard practice requires the engineer's approval before any such modification. Field bending is not automatically permitted by bar size. The inspector should document the condition and refer it for a decision rather than approve or reject on personal judgment.

Question 32Reinforced Concrete Inspection

During a slab pour, the inspector notices that the top reinforcement has been displaced downward so that the specified top cover is no longer maintained. What is the most significant structural consequence?

  1. The slab's flexural capacity at the top face is reduced because the effective depth is decreased Correct answer.
  2. The slab's fire resistance is improved because the steel is further from the surface
  3. The slab's shrinkage cracking is eliminated because the steel is closer to mid-depth
  4. The slab's compressive strength at the top face is increased because the steel is more central

Explanation

Top bars in a slab resist negative moment, and their capacity depends on the lever arm between the steel and the compression zone. Pushing the bars down reduces the effective depth and the resisting moment, potentially causing cracking or failure at the support region. Cover loss also reduces durability and fire protection.

Question 33Reinforced Concrete Inspection

An inspector is verifying the anchorage of a bar terminating in a beam-column joint where a standard hook cannot be used. Which condition is essential for the anchorage to be considered adequate?

  1. The bar must be welded to a transverse bar at its end
  2. The bar must be painted to prevent corrosion at the termination point
  3. The bar must be bent at 90 degrees regardless of the available space
  4. The bar must develop its required development length within the available embedment Correct answer.

Explanation

Anchorage is adequate only when the bar can develop the force it is designed to carry within the available embedment length, whether by straight embedment, a hook, or a mechanical anchor. Simply bending a bar or welding it without design does not establish capacity. The inspector should compare available embedment to the required development length.

Question 34Reinforced Concrete Inspection

Which item should the inspector confirm about transverse reinforcement in a beam before the side forms are closed?

  1. That the stirrups are welded to the main bars at every intersection
  2. That the stirrups are spaced within tolerance and enclose the longitudinal bars with the specified cover Correct answer.
  3. That the stirrup legs are all bent in the same direction along the beam
  4. That the stirrups are installed after the concrete is placed

Explanation

Stirrups resist shear and confine the longitudinal bars, so their spacing, orientation, and the cover around them must match the drawings before the forms hide them. Welding is generally not required and can embrittle the steel, and stirrups must be in place before casting. The inspector verifies spacing and enclosure as the key pre-close check.

Question 35Reinforced Concrete Inspection

A footing reinforcement cage is being set out, and the inspector must confirm that the bars have the correct concrete cover on the earth face. Which practice best ensures the bottom cover is maintained during casting?

  1. Placing the cage after the first lift of concrete has been placed
  2. Adding extra bars to lift the cage during the pour
  3. Relying on the bars resting directly on the excavated surface
  4. Supporting the cage on approved spacers or chairs of the correct height Correct answer.

Explanation

Bottom cover is achieved by supporting the reinforcement on spacers, chairs, or precast blocks of the correct thickness, spaced closely enough to prevent sagging under the weight of fresh concrete and workers. Bars resting on soil will not maintain the designed cover and may be contaminated.

Question 36Reinforced Concrete Inspection

An inspector is reviewing a detail in which the designer has specified a larger bar diameter in the same member to satisfy a strength increase. What effect does increasing the bar diameter generally have on development and crack control?

  1. Development length is unchanged while crack control improves
  2. Both development length and crack control are unaffected by bar diameter
  3. Development length decreases and crack control improves
  4. Development length increases and crack control may worsen Correct answer.

Explanation

Larger diameter bars have a smaller surface-area-to-area ratio, so they require longer development lengths to develop the same stress. Their wider spacing for the same steel area also produces larger cracks between bars. These are reasons designers limit bar size and distribute steel in members subject to cracking.

Question 37Reinforced Concrete Inspection

What is the purpose of a bar schedule on a reinforced concrete project?

  1. To list each bar mark with its size, shape, length, quantity, and bending dimensions for fabrication Correct answer.
  2. To document the curing method applied to each element
  3. To record the concrete mix proportions used in each pour
  4. To record the results of slump tests taken during placing

Explanation

A bar schedule, often called a bar bending schedule, translates the structural drawings into fabrication instructions. It gives each bar mark, diameter, shape code, cut length, bending dimensions, and quantity so the steel can be cut and bent correctly and checked on delivery. Concrete and curing records belong to separate quality documents.

Question 38Reinforced Concrete Inspection

An inspector observes that the specified concrete cover to a column's vertical bars is achieved, but the bars are not tied to the column cage and can move laterally. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. Require the bars to be welded to the formwork to hold position
  2. Accept the work if the bars are later straightened after casting
  3. Require the bars to be tied and braced so their position is held during placing Correct answer.
  4. Accept the work because cover is the only cover-related requirement

Explanation

Reinforcement must be securely tied and supported so it stays in its designed position while concrete is placed and vibrated. Untied bars can shift, reducing cover or changing the effective depth. Welding to formwork is not acceptable because it damages the forms and does not provide proper support.

Question 39Reinforced Concrete Inspection

A wall is detailed with a single central layer of reinforcement, but the drawing indicates two layers. The contractor proposes to proceed with one layer to save time. How should the inspector respond?

  1. Approve the single layer because the wall thickness is unchanged
  2. Reject the change and require the work to follow the approved drawings unless a revised design is issued Correct answer.
  3. Approve the single layer if the bar size is increased by one size
  4. Reject the change only if the wall is an external wall

Explanation

The inspector's role is to verify compliance with the approved drawings and specifications. A change from two layers to one is a design change that alters strength, crack control, and durability, and it must be authorized through a revised design or approved submittal. The inspector cannot approve such a substitution on site.

Question 40Reinforced Concrete Inspection

Which statement correctly describes the difference between nominal bar diameter and the actual measured diameter of a deformed bar?

  1. Nominal and actual diameters must be identical for every bar delivered to site
  2. Nominal diameter is the designated size used in design, and the actual diameter may vary within permitted tolerances Correct answer.
  3. Nominal diameter is measured on site and the actual diameter is taken from the mill certificate
  4. Nominal diameter applies only to plain bars, while actual diameter applies to deformed bars

Explanation

Nominal diameter is the standardized size used in design calculations and bar marking. Manufacturing tolerances mean the measured diameter can deviate slightly from nominal, and deformation geometry affects local measurements. The inspector checks that measurements fall within the permitted tolerance rather than expecting exact equality.

Question 41Reinforced Concrete Inspection

An inspector finds that a bundle of reinforcement delivered to site has no identification tags and the mill certificates cannot be matched to the bars. What is the correct course of action?

  1. Hold the bars from use until identity and grade can be confirmed against acceptable documentation Correct answer.
  2. Accept the bars because deformed bars are self-identifying by their markings alone
  3. Accept the bars and record the issue in the daily report for later review
  4. Accept the bars if they appear visually straight and free of rust

Explanation

Reinforcement must be traceable to mill certificates or test results that confirm its grade and properties. Without identification, the inspector cannot confirm the bars meet the specified grade, so they should be held from use until the matter is resolved. Bar markings help but do not replace the required documentation for acceptance.

Question 42Reinforced Concrete Inspection

Which condition most clearly indicates that reinforcement has been placed with insufficient cover in a formed member?

  1. The bars have light surface rust at the time of placing
  2. The bars are visible through the formwork face before casting Correct answer.
  3. The bars are tied with black annealed wire at intersections
  4. The bars extend beyond the end of the member for later splicing

Explanation

If a bar is touching or protruding through the form face, the specified cover cannot exist. This is a clear nonconformance that must be corrected before casting by repositioning the bars and adjusting spacers. Tying wire, light rust, and projecting starter bars are normal conditions and not cover defects.

Question 43Reinforced Concrete Inspection

What is the primary function of transverse reinforcement in a column?

  1. To provide the main flexural tension reinforcement
  2. To resist the axial compression carried by the column
  3. To transfer the column load directly to the foundation
  4. To confine the concrete and restrain the vertical bars against buckling Correct answer.

Explanation

Column ties or spirals confine the concrete core, improving ductility, and brace the longitudinal bars so they do not buckle between supports. Axial load is carried mainly by the concrete and vertical bars, and load transfer to the foundation occurs through the column base and footing, not the ties.

Question 44Reinforced Concrete Inspection

An inspector measures a lap splice in a tension zone and finds that the two bars are in contact for only part of the lap, with a gap elsewhere. Which statement best describes the acceptance issue?

  1. The splice is acceptable if the total lap length is met, regardless of contact
  2. The splice is acceptable only if the bars are epoxy coated
  3. The splice is deficient because contact lap splices require the bars to be in contact over the splice length Correct answer.
  4. The splice is acceptable if the bars are tied with wire at both ends

Explanation

In a contact lap splice the bars must be in contact and tied so they act together to transfer force. Gaps mean the bars behave as separate anchors with reduced effectiveness, so the splice does not meet the intended detail. The inspector should require the bars to be brought into contact and secured.

Question 45Reinforced Concrete Inspection

During inspection of a beam, the inspector notes that the longitudinal bars are correctly positioned but the specified number of stirrups in a zone of high shear is fewer than shown on the drawings. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. Accept the work if the concrete strength is increased
  2. Require the missing stirrups to be added before the concrete is placed Correct answer.
  3. Record the deficiency and review it after the pour
  4. Accept the work because the longitudinal steel governs beam strength

Explanation

Stirrups provide the shear reinforcement required by design, and a shortfall in a high-shear zone reduces the beam's shear capacity. The deficiency must be corrected before casting, when it can still be remedied. Post-pour review would leave a structural nonconformance in place.

Question 46Reinforced Concrete Inspection

An inspector is asked to confirm the spacing of ties in a column over a length where the bars are lap spliced. What is the general design intent for tie spacing in that region?

  1. Ties should be placed only at the top and bottom of the splice length
  2. Ties should be provided at a closer spacing than in the general column length to confine the splice Correct answer.
  3. Ties should be spaced at the same interval as the main bar diameter
  4. Ties may be omitted over the splice length because the bars are in contact

Explanation

Lap splices in columns are regions where force transfers between bars, and the concrete around them needs extra confinement. Design practice generally requires ties at reduced spacing over the splice zone. Omitting or widely spacing ties in this region reduces the splice's effectiveness.

Question 47Reinforced Concrete Inspection

A drawing specifies that reinforcement in a marine environment must have increased cover and may require coated bars. Which inspection check is most directly related to this durability requirement?

  1. Confirming the bar bending dimensions against the bar schedule
  2. Confirming the slump of the concrete at the point of discharge
  3. Confirming the number of ties in the column
  4. Confirming the cover and coating condition before and after casting Correct answer.

Explanation

Durability in a marine environment depends on keeping chlorides away from the steel, which is achieved through adequate cover and, where specified, coated or corrosion-resistant bars. The inspector verifies cover and that any coating remains intact through handling and placing. Bending dimensions, slump, and tie counts address other requirements.

Question 48Reinforced Concrete Inspection

An inspector observes that the top bars of a cantilever slab are supported only by a single continuous chair line running along the middle of the slab. Why is this support arrangement inadequate?

  1. Because continuous chairs prevent the concrete from bonding to the bars
  2. Because chairs must always be placed at the slab edges only
  3. Because the bars can sag between supports, reducing top cover and effective depth at locations away from the chair line Correct answer.
  4. Because chairs are only permitted in beams and not in slabs

Explanation

Top reinforcement in a cantilever resists tension and must be held at the correct elevation across the full slab width. A single chair line leaves the bars unsupported elsewhere, so they can sag under construction loads, reducing effective depth and cover where the moment is highest. Chairs must be spaced to support the cage throughout.

Question 49Reinforced Concrete Inspection

What is the purpose of specifying a minimum clear distance between parallel bars in a layer rather than only a center-to-center spacing?

  1. To make the bar schedule easier to prepare
  2. To allow the bars to be welded together more easily
  3. To ensure the bars can be painted after installation
  4. To ensure the bars do not touch and that concrete can flow and bond around each bar Correct answer.

Explanation

Clear spacing controls whether fresh concrete can pass between bars and surround each one, which is essential for bond and for avoiding voids and honeycombing. Center-to-center spacing alone does not guarantee adequate clearance, especially for large bars. The clear dimension is the practical placing criterion.

Question 50Reinforced Concrete Inspection

An inspector is reviewing a submittal for headed mechanical anchors at the ends of bars in a congested joint. Which item should the inspector confirm to accept the anchorage?

  1. That the anchor is painted to match the surrounding concrete
  2. That the anchor is welded to the bar on site
  3. That the anchor is qualified by test data for the bar size and grade and is installed per the manufacturer's instructions Correct answer.
  4. That the anchor head diameter matches the bar diameter

Explanation

Headed and mechanical anchors rely on qualified products and correct installation to develop bar force. The inspector should verify that test data cover the specific bar size and grade and that installation follows the manufacturer's requirements. Matching diameters, painting, or field welding are not the acceptance basis.