The use of reinforced concrete in mechanical engineering

In the second half of the 50s of the twentieth century, fulfilling the decree of the Government of the USSR on reducing the consumption of metal, necessary for defense needs, in the country's economy, it was decided to expand the use of reinforced concrete in mechanical engineering, which opened a new facet of the use of this material. Scientific support for solving this problem was entrusted to the Research Institute of Concrete and Reinforced Concrete of the USSR State Construction Committee, or rather, the laboratory of special structures of this institute, which was headed by a talented engineer, Doctor of Technical Sciences I.G. Ludkovsky. The researchers faced the problem of maximum replacement of metal in mechanical engineering with reinforced concrete, including the manufacture of frames for heavy equipment. The researchers of the laboratory of special structures has developed several types of machine frames for various purposes, of different configurations, with different operational impacts: stamping press frames, rolling mill crates, large machine frames, etc. This article is devoted to the description of the study of the work of concrete under stress during operation with characteristics significantly exceeding the traditional physical characteristics of the metal.