Handbook of Frame Constants

Handbook of Frame Constants, published by the Portland Cement Association in 1947, is a practical reference manual for structural engineers, concrete designers and civil engineering students. As a mid-century technical guide, it codifies methods for determining frame constants — factors that simplify the analysis of multi-span reinforced concrete frames by relating rigidity, stiffness, and distribution of loads. The handbook presents tables, formulas and correction factors tailored to concrete design conventions of its era.

In the text, the authors (unnamed in many copies) explain how to estimate bending moments, shear forces and deflections in reinforced concrete frames using classical methods. The handbook includes detailed tables for different span conditions, load combinations and continuity conditions. It also discusses the assumptions made in deriving frame constants, such as effective depth, moment of inertia, and reinforcement ratios, helping both academic and practical engineers apply these in their design work.

For structural engineers interested in historical concrete design, professionalism in mid-20th-century construction, and classical frame analysis methods, Handbook of Frame Constants remains a valuable tool. It is also of interest to collectors of engineering literature and historians of reinforced concrete, as it documents how engineers approached frame analysis before the widespread use of electronic computing.