Improved by rough surfaces and angular particles, increasing interlocking describes which property?

Improved by rough surfaces and angular particles, increasing interlocking describes which property?

• A. Bond Strength
• B. Moisture Content
• C. Fineness Modulus
• D. Bulking

Answer: (A)

Interlocking between particles creates a stronger bond by making it harder for pieces to slide past each other. Rough surfaces and angular shapes grip one another and the surrounding cement paste, increasing friction and mechanical interlock. This directly boosts bond strength, which is the material’s resistance to separation under load. In contrast, moisture content can affect workability and curing, fineness modulus relates to particle size distribution, and bulking is about volume change with moisture—none of these describe the reinforcing effect of interlock on strength. So the property described is bond strength.

Interlocking between particles creates a stronger bond by making it harder for pieces to slide past each other. Rough surfaces and angular shapes grip one another and the surrounding cement paste, increasing friction and mechanical interlock. This directly boosts bond strength, which is the material’s resistance to separation under load. In contrast, moisture content can affect workability and curing, fineness modulus relates to particle size distribution, and bulking is about volume change with moisture—none of these describe the reinforcing effect of interlock on strength. So the property described is bond strength.