Which of the following is mainly responsible for a building’s resistance to tension?

Steel is primarily responsible for a building's resistance to tension due to its unique mechanical properties. Tension refers to the pulling forces acting on a material, and steel is well-known for its high tensile strength, which allows it to withstand significant stretching and forces without breaking. This characteristic is critical in structural applications, where materials must support loads and resist deformation.

In building construction, steel is often used in the form of beams, trusses, and reinforcements within concrete structures. Its ability to endure tension forces makes it a key element in maintaining the integrity of the overall structure, particularly in areas that experience varying loads and stresses.

While concrete provides excellent compressive strength, it is less effective under tension unless reinforced with steel bars or mesh, known as rebar. Other materials like wood and brick have their own structural advantages, but they typically do not match steel's capacity to resist tensions as efficiently. This is why steel is the preferred material when designing elements of a building that must withstand tensile forces.