The correct answer is: A. To decrease it.
Creep is the time-dependent deformation of a material under constant load. It is a major concern in concrete structures, as it can lead to cracking and failure. The modular ratio is the ratio of the elastic modulus of concrete to the elastic modulus of steel. It is used in the design of reinforced concrete structures to determine the amount of steel reinforcement required.
Creep decreases the modular ratio of concrete. This is because creep causes concrete to deform under load, which reduces its stiffness. The decrease in stiffness is proportional to the amount of creep. Therefore, the greater the creep, the lower the modular ratio.
The following are the brief explanations of each option:
- Option A: To decrease it. This is the correct answer. Creep decreases the modular ratio of concrete.
- Option B: To increase it. This is incorrect. Creep decreases the modular ratio of concrete.
- Option C: Either to decrease or to increase it. This is incorrect. Creep always decreases the modular ratio of concrete.
- Option D: To keep it unchanged. This is incorrect. Creep always decreases the modular ratio of concrete.