What is the minimum reinforcement for a structural footing?

The minimum reinforcement for a structural footing is achieved by placing one rebar at each corner. This requirement is based on standard construction practices, which emphasize that reinforcement is essential to ensure structural integrity and load distribution. The corners of a footing experience varying tensions and are critical to resisting bending moments and shear forces that can occur due to uneven loads or settlement.

In practice, reinforcing a footing with rebar at each corner helps to effectively stabilize the structure and provides the necessary tensile strength, as concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension. While additional reinforcement may be specified based on engineering standards, building codes, or the specific conditions of a project, the requirement to place at least one rebar at each corner is a foundational guideline in structural design.

Other options suggest placing more than one rebar at each corner or that there could be no minimum requirement, which may not align with standard practices. The minimum reinforcement outlined ensures that even in simple designs, the footings have adequate support against potential structural failures.