The development of analytical procedures, design recommendations and code specifications for reinforced and prestressed concrete members have followed so far a chronological order corresponding to their historical introduction and usage in various structural applications. Several codes still show separate chapter for reinforced and prestressed concrete. Fully reinforced concrete and fully prestressed concrete are the two extreme boundaries of the structural concrete while partially prestressed concrete represents everything in between. It is clear that the time has come to provide a more general theory of reinforced concrete which overlooks the above classification. Although such a synthesis would require some time to entirely materialize, it can be simpler to achive in flexural behaviour particularly at ultimate capacity. Because at ultimate conditions there is no basic difference in the behaviour of the above mentioned classes of members, that is the concrete section is cracked and the compressive force in the concrete compressive zone is balanced by the total tensile force in the steel. From the concrete view point it does not matter whether the tensile force comes from the reinforcing steel, the prestressing steel or their combination. In order to reach an integrated common flexural design procedure which covers simultaneously reinforced and prestressed concrete members, the paper describes, as its first step, a general design method of reinforced concrete sections based on ultimate strength requirements. The paper gives three design flowcharts to be applicable to the following cases; 1) required amounts of reinforcing steel for given ultimate capacity, cross-sectional and materials properties, 2) ultimate capacity for given sectional and materials, and 3) required amounts of reinforcing steel, as in case 1), however, the depth of neutral axis is limited because of sectional ductility consideration.

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