GATE 2022 AR — Architecture – Question 23
A 600 mm wide masonry section has zero tensile capacity and a linear stress distribution. At what limiting eccentricity, in mm, does tensile cracking begin? Round to one decimal place.
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Correct answer: 97.0 to 103.0
Explanation
For compression P with eccentricity e, the extreme stress is P/A−Pe/Z. Setting it to zero gives e=Z/A. For a rectangular section Z/A=b/6, so e=600/6=100.0 mm. This is the middle-third boundary; any further eccentricity produces tensile stress under the uncracked linear model.