Material toughness is not solely related to strength.

• A. Sometimes
• B. Not related
• C. True
• D. False

Answer: (C)

Toughness is a material’s ability to absorb energy before it fractures, which depends on both strength and ductility. Because toughness requires the material to deform and absorb energy before a crack propagates, it cannot be inferred from strength alone. A very strong material can be brittle and absorb little energy, while a less strong material can be quite tough if it deforms significantly before failure. So, toughness not being solely related to strength is true. In bridge work, this matters because you want materials that not only resist high stresses but also resist crack initiation and rapid fracture by deforming and absorbing energy during impacts or sudden loads.