Which structural problem was most critical for the Roman Pantheon's dome given its concrete composition without steel reinforcement?

💡 Explanation

When concrete lacks tensile reinforcement, tensile stresses induced by the dome's weight exceed concrete's tensile strength, causing cracking at the base due to hoop stresses. Therefore, tensile cracking is most critical, rather than shear, buckling, or creep, which are mitigated by the dome's shape and material properties.

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