Minimum Reinforcement against Brittle Failure in Concrete Structures

The paper presents the rules for determining the minimum reinforcement in reinforced concrete structures that have been recommended in recent years and currently. It has been analyzed whether the reinforcement in structural members designed in different periods of time on the basis of various standard regulations regarding minimum reinforcement meets the conditions for protecting the structure against brittle failure. The necessary reinforcement has been determined using the method derived on the basis of nonlinear fracture mechanics of concrete. In the performed analysis the scale effect has been taken into account as well.