Enhancing a reinforced concrete design course by linking theory and physical testing

The paper presents a model for improving reinforced concrete design courses by incorporating physical beam testing. This model was implemented in a course that did not have a laboratory component. The beams tested were full-scale and demonstrated two flexural failures of varying ductility, a shear failure, and an anchorage failure. The beams were tested throughout the semester as appropriate with the material that had been covered in the course. A reporting process was followed that required students to submit laboratory reports for each beam test, address comments received on each report, and submit a final report covering all four tests. It was found that the beam testing and report writing program enhanced student learning in the course and improved the pedagogy. The physical testing of concrete beams also allowed better coverage of several ABET outcomes. As the course was not scheduled with a laboratory component, the testing did result in reduced coverage of end-of-course material however this was offset by improved understanding of reinforced concrete fundamentals. The paper includes a description of the testing program and reporting process and discussion of the improved pedagogy and course outcomes.