Most reinforced concrete members are statically indeterminate because they are part of monolithic structure, i.e., in this form of building construction, slabs are cast monolithically with a beam-and –girder floor framing that carries the floor load to columns. A beam is a flexure member.

It may be of steel, wood or any other structural materials. Reinforced concrete beams are nonhomogeneous in that they are made of two entirely different materials.


A flexural member should suffer a axial compression force less than Ag fc´/10. The member must be at least 10 in wide and its clear span should be least 4 times the effective depth and the width-to-depth ratio should be at least 0.3.