Which are common steel defects?

• A. Cracking, Section Loss, Distortion, Overload, Strength Loss
• B. No defects exist in steel
• C. Rust only
• D. Dents and scratches

Answer: (D)

On inspection, the most common steel defects are surface dents and scratches. Dents come from impacts or mishandling and can locally deform the member, potentially changing how it carries load if they’re large. Scratches damage the protective coating and expose bare steel, which accelerates corrosion. While other conditions like cracking, section loss, distortion, overload, or overall strength decrease indicate more severe problems, they’re not as routinely observed as everyday surface flaws. Rust is a form of corrosion, but it’s not the only common defect, and saying there are no defects at all is incorrect. Dents and scratches best capture the typical, everyday defects you’re likely to encounter on steel members.