The aim of the work described in this thesis is to present a further option to those given in CP 110 : 1972 for the analysis of continuous reinforced concrete beams at the ultimate limit state. It is suggested that this alternative can take the form of a plastic analysis to determine the distribution of moments in a continuous beam system and that section analysis for flexure may be carried out using a neutral axis depth of up to half of the effective depth of the section. The first two chapters consider the design philosophy for reinforced concrete structures and the development of plastic theory for reinforced concrete. Chapter three describes the load tests carried out by the Author at the University of Surrey and this is followed by a survey of procedures for estimating permissible and actual hinge rotation. In Chapter five, detailed calculations are presented for two design situations, one of which was used by the Author as an alternative to existing procedures in the preparation of a design office manual, and as a test case, plastic analysis was applied to the design of a floor structure in a general hospital. In Chapter 6, tentative proposals are given for the plastic, design of reinforced concrete continuous beams utilising a programable pocket calculator to minimise the arithmetic work involved in serviceability checks. It is concluded that further experimental work is required before simple design rules can be prepared for inclusion in a code of practice.
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