THE BEHAVIOR OF CONCRETE SECTIONS AT FAILURE IS CONSIDERED AND THE VALIDITY OF ULTIMATE STRENGTH DESIGN METHODS DEMONSTRATED. THE DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCED BY DESIGN ENGINEERS IN APPLYING EXISTING CODE FORMULAS ARE SUMMARIZED. AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF ULTIMATE STRENGTH METHODS LEADS TO RAPID AND DIRECT DESIGN. NUMERICAL PROCEDURES SUITABLE FOR DESIGN OFFICE USE ARE SUGGESTED AND ILLUSTRATED BY EXAMPLES. THE ARGUMENT IS ADVANCED THAT CODES OF PRACTICE MIGHT PRESENT THE BASIC PRINCIPLES AND REQUIRED EMPIRICAL DATA, AND AVOID DIFFICULT ALGEBRAIC FORMULAS.