Which of the following correctly describes the tensile capacity of concrete?

Concrete is characterized by its significant compressive strength; however, it exhibits relatively low tensile strength. This is primarily due to its inherent material properties and the way concrete is formulated. When a tensile force is applied, concrete tends to crack and fail under tension rather than being able to deform elastically or plastically, which is why it is considered weak in tension.

In engineering practice, understanding the tensile capacity of concrete is crucial because structures that utilize concrete often require reinforcement (such as steel bars) to handle tensile forces effectively. The reinforcement helps overcome the natural limitations of concrete in tension, allowing for the design of safe and effective structural elements.

The other choices misrepresent the properties of concrete. Concrete is not strong in tension, as choosing that would suggest it can handle tensile forces well, which contradicts established material science. Claiming it has an unlimited tensile capacity overlooks the intrinsic limits of the material, while stating that it has no tensile capacity entirely neglects that concrete can withstand some tension, albeit very limited compared to its compressive strength.