Concrete: Reinforcement & Formwork is one of 9 topics in the Grade 12 Civil Technology CAPS syllabus, covered across 3 lessons on Study Vault. Below are real practice questions from this topic with full worked answers.
Sample practice questions
Easy
1. Why is steel reinforcement embedded in concrete?
Concrete is weak in tension, and steel is strong in tension, so steel carries the tensile forces plain concrete cannot resist
Concrete is weak in compression, and steel improves its compressive strength only
Reinforcement is purely decorative and has no structural function
Steel is added only to reduce the total cost of the concrete mix
Answer: Concrete is weak in tension, and steel is strong in tension, so steel carries the tensile forces plain concrete cannot resist — Plain concrete resists compression well but is weak in tension; steel reinforcement is strong in tension, so together they resist both types of force effectively.
Easy
2. What is the purpose of minimum concrete cover over reinforcement?
To protect the steel from corrosion and provide adequate fire protection
To make the reinforcement invisible once the concrete has set
To reduce the total amount of concrete needed for a pour
To increase the tensile strength of the reinforcing steel itself
Answer: To protect the steel from corrosion and provide adequate fire protection — Minimum concrete cover protects embedded steel from corrosion (moisture/air reaching unprotected steel causes rust, which cracks concrete) and provides fire protection.
Medium
3. Name the closed loops of thinner reinforcing bar wrapped around the main bars of a beam at intervals, which resist shear forces and hold the main bars in position.
Answer: stirrups — Stirrups are closed loops of thinner bar wrapped around a beam's main reinforcement, resisting shear forces and holding the main bars in place during the pour.
