Which terms describe the internal forces in a building that resist loads?

The correct answer pertains to stress and strain, as these terms specifically describe the internal forces within materials that respond to external loads and constraints.

Stress is defined as the internal resistance offered by a material when subjected to an external force, expressed as force per unit area. It helps to quantify how much force a particular section of the structure can withstand without failing. On the other hand, strain refers to the deformation that occurs as a result of the applied stress. It represents how much a material stretches or compresses under load, highlighting the material's behavior under various conditions.

Understanding the relationship between stress and strain is critical in fire inspection and building safety, as these factors directly influence the structural integrity of a building. Monitoring how materials respond through these terms aids inspectors in assessing whether a building can endure expected loads, including during fire conditions that may lead to material weakening.

The other terms mentioned, such as compression, tension, tension and shear, and bending and buckling, refer to specific types of forces or potential deformation scenarios in materials but do not encapsulate the broader concept of internal forces as comprehensively as stress and strain do.