NHI Bridge Inspection Course 130055 Practice Test

Spalling and splitting show up when a material’s surface flakes away due to internal stresses from moisture and freeze-thaw cycles. Masonry—brick or stone held together with mortar—is particularly prone because it’s porous and relatively brittle. Water in the pores freezes, expands, and pushes apart the surface, causing chunks to detach and the face to crack or split. This creates the characteristic split, spalled appearance on masonry bridge surfaces. While concrete can spall, the classic description of split and spalled surfaces aligns with masonry deterioration, especially in older or weathered bridges.