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Which structural problem developed when ziggurat builders layered sun-dried bricks without proper drainage?

A)Differential settling from uneven support
B)Brittle fracture due to thermal cycling
C)Hydrostatic pressure-induced wall collapse
D)Wind-induced shear leading to tilting

💡 Explanation

When ziggurats lacked drainage, rainwater infiltrated the mud-brick core, increasing pore water pressure because trapped water couldn't escape, leading to hydrostatic pressure against the walls, collapsing them. Therefore, wall collapse results, rather than settling, brittle fracture or wind shear, which require freeze-thaw cycles, or inadequate foundations.

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