Empirical Versus Rational Approach in Structural Engineering--What We Learned from New Zealand in the Trilateral cooperative research on beam-column joints

This paper summarizes the background state-of-the-art in reinforced concrete beam-column joint design leading to the U.S. - N.Z.-Japan trilateral cooperative research, outline of the trilateral research and its conclusions affecting the design practice in each country. Particular emphasis is placed on the transition of structural engineering research from empirical approach to rational approach which became apparent in the course of trilateral research and discussions.