What types of forces does steel primarily resist in bridge construction?

In the context of bridge construction, steel is primarily utilized for its ability to resist various types of forces, including tensile and shear forces. Tensile forces refer to the pulling or stretching forces that act along the length of a steel member. Steel is particularly strong in tension, which makes it ideal for components such as cables and tension rods within a bridge design.

Shear forces, on the other hand, involve the sliding or tangential forces acting perpendicular to the length of the member. Steel effectively resists these forces as well, particularly in areas like beams and girders that experience lateral loads. The combination of its tensile strength and shear resistance makes steel an excellent material for ensuring the stability and structural integrity of bridges under varying load conditions.

While the other options may seem plausible in different contexts, tensile and shear forces provide a clear focus on the primary strengths of steel in relation to bridge construction. Other types of resistance, such as bending or impact, involve complexities beyond the basic tensile and shear force scenarios that steel effectively accommodates.