"The assumptions in the design of reinforced concrete beams are those of the ordinary beam theory, namely: the Bernoulli-Euler theory of flexure. The fundamental premise is that a plane section before bending, remains a plane section after bending, with the further assumption that , i.e., the stress is proportional to the strain, is true. Although the brilliant researches of Barre de St. Venant, have shown that plane sections do not remain plane during bending, the error becomes appreciable when the ratio of depth of beam to span exceeds one-fifth. Since for such ratios, stresses, other than those induced by , usually govern the required reinforcement and depth of beam e.g. the unit shear and adhesion, these assumptions of plane sections may be taken as valid, so long as the stresses induced by the bending moment govern the required depths and amounts of steel reinforcement. The concrete is assumed to take no tension."