par Van de Voorde, Stephanie SVdV;Devos, Rika 
Référence 4th International Congress on Construction History(03/07/2012 - 07/07/2012: Paris, France), Nuts & bolts of construction history : Culture, Technology and Society, Picard, Paris, page (637-645)
Publication Publié, 2012
Référence 4th International Congress on Construction History(03/07/2012 - 07/07/2012: Paris, France), Nuts & bolts of construction history : Culture, Technology and Society, Picard, Paris, page (637-645)
Publication Publié, 2012
Publication dans des actes
| Résumé : | Reinforced concrete is born in Belgium – at least according to the statements by François Hennebique. Indeed, the foundations of his international monopoly in reinforced concrete were laid during his lengthy stay in Belgium, with his first patents and the establishment of his ‘bureau d’études’ in Brussels in 1892. Hence, Belgium played an important role in the early history of reinforced concrete, yet forfeited this pioneer position when the theoretical dimension of the new material was to be developed. Apart from the magnum opus Le béton armé et ses applications by the engineer Paul Christophe in 1899/1902, very little Belgian contributions were made to the theory of reinforced concrete during the first decades of the 20th century, especially in comparison with nearby countries like France, Germany and the United Kingdom. In those countries courses on reinforced concrete were taught at universities at the turn of the century already, while in Belgium the first specialized course was proposed only in 1922 by Gustave Magnel at Ghent University - and only as an optional subject at first. Likewise, the first Belgian, not compulsory, regulations were issued only in 1923. Despite this late start, the ‘scientification’ of the material did gain momentum in Belgium during the interwar period. Knowledge increased exponentially through scientific and empirical research in university laboratories and in research centres set up by the industry. This knowledge, helping to establish a normalized practice, was disseminated through academic courses and text books and also by means of the specialized periodical press, which thrived during the 1920s with new journals like La Technique des Travaux. Between 1920 to 1930 enormous headway was made by Belgian scientists, engineers and industrials, thus enabling them to organize the first international conference on reinforced concrete in Liège in 1930. When looking into this scientific activity more closely, it is remarkable that the different aspects of this scientification (regulations, academic training, experiments, professional organizations, specialized press) were developed contemporarily and thus, expectedly, closely related. Moreover, most often the same engineers, professors and/or scientists were engaged in this, e.g. Gustave Magnel or Louis Baes, active simultaneously on various fronts. By tracing the circles in which these main actors moved and analyzing the interactions between them, with particular attention for the question of authorship and the specific characteristics of this scientific network, this paper aims at mapping out the development, dissemination and implementation of knowledge on reinforced concrete in Belgium. |
