The Monier brochure
In winter 1886/87, Freytag & Heidschuch oHG, Neustadt a. d. Haardt, and G. A. Wayss & Cie, Berlin, at that point of time still separately operating companies, carried out extensive load tests on reinforced concrete structures in Berlin. The following were examined:
- a reinforced vault with a 4.50 m span and 5 cm thick at the crown,
- a reinforced vault with an 8.00 m span and 5 cm thick at the crown,
- reinforced roof slabs of various spans and thicknesses,
- a wall with a 3.50 m span, 3.50 m high and 3 cm thick,
- round and oval pipes and
- elliptically rising arches for stairs.
The load tests were carried out until the material failed whereby each individual test level was measured and recorded. All tests were carried out in the presence of numerous interested engineers and architects and under supervision of the building inspectorate. The test results were published by Wayss in 1887 in the so-called “Monier brochure” bearing the titel:
„Das System Monier (Eisengerippe mit Zementumhüllung) in seiner Anwendung auf das gesamte Bauwesen.“ (The Monier system (Reinforcement with cement cladding) in all fields of civil engineering))
This brochure comprising 128 pages forms the basis for the distribution and further development of reinforced concrete construction in Germany. Besides the description of the cement-reinforcement structures and the results of the load tests, the book also contains the theoretical principles which had already been published a year previously by Matthias Koenen. 10.000 copies of the Monier brochure were printed and distributed to the experts free of charge.