Knowledge transfer in reinforced concrete bridges during the 1930s

Beginning in the 1920s, reinforced concrete started to find its own design language for large bridges. This is seen in the building of long-span arch bridges, which reached its peak in the invention phase of reinforced concrete construction (1925–1950) and is characterized by the following: resolving the rectangular cross-section common in conventional masonry and concrete bridges; using better cements and separating creep and shrinkage; refining structural analysis through equilibrium based on the deformed system. These features are demonstrated in examples of how journals contributed to knowledge transfer. This work is based on a thematic study of the main essays and short articles on theory, materials and projects in two journals that had a big impact in German-speaking countries: Der Bauingenieur and Beton und Eisen. The international significance of these specific themes was assessed by reviewing publications by the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE).