Reinforced Concrete Versus Steel. The Case for Reinforced Concrete

THE Chairman, Mr. Martyn Noel Ridley, M.Inst. C.E., suggested that the author should give a short synopsis of his paper, indicating the line which he wished the discussion to take.

BEFORE opening the steel section of the discussion, I should like to say that I hold no brief for any one water-tight section. To my mind a structural engineer should be able and free to design and construct in any material, according to its suitability for the work in hand. A.J. Hodgkinson

In May and June of 1931 a series of tests was carried out by the Masonry Sectional Committee of the Institution’s Science Committee to determine the effect of Steel Bearing Plates in spreading the reaction load of a beam on to a brick wall. The results, published in The Structural Engineer of February, 1932, and subsequently issued in pamphlet form, showed that the effect of a thin plate was very small, and that, unless plates considerably thicker than those customarily used were provided, some other substitute for a padstone must be sought, or the load restricted to about 15 tons per sq. ft. of actual bearing area of the joist flange on the wall.