PORTLAND CEMENT ASSOCIATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LABORATORIES Da Cua Ce eT Cea ed ULTIMATE STRENGTH OF REINFORCED CONCRETE IN AMERICAN DESIGN PRACTICE By Eivind Hognestad Authorized Reprint From Proceedings of a Symposium on the Strength of Concrete Structures, London, May, 1956Bulletins Published by the Development Department Research and Development Division of the Portland Cement Associ 1 —“Influence of Soil Volume Change and Vegetation on Highway Engl- neering,” by E. J. Fruz, Reprinted trom TuentnSteth Antual Highway Conference of the Univers eta Say ase ‘onerence of 7 D2 —“Nature of Bond in Pre-Tensioned Prestressed Concrete,” by Jack R. ‘Taney, inled trom Journal of the American Concrete Institule (May, 1984): Brbceedings 3, THF C0), ‘D2A—Discussion of the paper “Nature of Bond in Pre-Tensioned Prestressed Concrete,” by P, W. Ansurs, K. Haswai-Kowns, N. W. Hawsox and Author, Jacke R. Janney. ‘eprmted trom, Journal, American Concrete Ineutute (December, BSH'S bot" rocecdinody wo 130 500. DS —“Investigation of Moisture-Volume Stability of Conerete Masonry Units,” by Josers J. Simpeven, March, 1955. “A Method for Determining the Moisture Condition of Hardened Con- erete In Terms of Relative Humidity,” by Cant A. Mexzr., Reprinted trom Proceedings, American Society For Festina Materia, $8 —"Factors Influencing Physical Properties of Soil-Cement Mixtur by Eau. J. Feur. Reprinted from Bulletin 105 of the Highway Research Board, p. 130 (1980) "Concrete Stress Distribution in Ultimate Strength Design,” by ©. ‘Hocwesrip, N. W, Hansox and D. McHrry. rinigd from Journal of te American Concrete Instituie (December, BSE Eroccedinge Ba a8 dase) DI —“Ultimate Flexural Strength of Prestressed and Conventionally Rein- forced Concrete Beams,” by J. R. Jaxwey, E. Hoawzstan and D. Mc- Haney. inte from Jou ymerican Concrete Intitute (February, 1850) Prenat ST a me °Session E : Paper 1 ULTIMATE STRENGTH OF REINFORCED CONCRETE IN AMERICAN DESIGN PRACTICE by Eivind Hognestad, Dr. techn. Porland Cement Asotin, USA. SUMMARY Ultimate strength design procedures for reinforced concrete were recom ‘mended in an October 1955 report of a joint committee of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Concrete Institute. This paper discusses the background for and contents of that report, which represents 4 significant stage in the development of an American design practice based ‘on ultimate strength by inelastic action. Introduction ‘The past fifty years have been a period of rapid growth and develop- ‘ment in the use of reinforced concrete as a structural material throughout the world. The production of Portland cement in the United States rose ‘twenty-five fold from about 2 million long tons in 1900 to over 50 million tons in 1955. Similarly, the U.S. production of reinforcing steel increased from a small amount to about 1-8 million tons. Introduction of new design procedures for reinforced concrete must be considered with this background of great progress and expansion. Though the classical straight-line theory was evolved when reinforced conerete was in its infancy some 60 years ago, it has served us well; and it certainly cannot be put aside on the basis that it has led to unreasonable or unsafe designs (On the other hand, through half a century of practical experience and laboratory experimentation, our knowledge regarding the strength and behaviour of structural concrete has been vastly improved. To some extent, such improvements of knowledge have been utilized in design practice by