$-2-$

$9.$ The bending moment for a certain span of the beam is negative $($i$.$e$.$ hogging$).$ Hence, the curvature of the beam section for the span under negative bending moment will be subjected to:

$($a$)$ maximum tensile stress at top surface

$($b$)$ maximum compressive stress at top surface

$($c$)$ maximum tensile stress near neutral axis

$($d$)$ none of these