The paper presents the cost optimization design of simply supported reinforced concretebeams of rectangular cross-section reinforced with tension reinforcement. The optimization wasformulated as finding the minimum self-manufacturing cost of the beam subjected to the structuralanalysis constraints based on Eurocode provisions for the conditions of both the ultimate and theserviceability limit states. The developed cost objective function of the self-manufacturing costs includesthe material and labour costs. The structural optimization was performed by the nonlinear programmingapproach. To demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach an example of a simply supportedreinforced concrete rectangular beam of different spans and variable uniformly distributed imposed load ispresented.
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