This is a very useful method, which is also allowed by AASHTO or bridges and ACI 318 when designing concrete bridge and building structures respectively. By making use of this method, the stresses especially in members such as deep beams can be more realistically represented. The struts here represent the imaginary compression members of a truss and ties are the imaginary tension members. We place reinforcing steel in place of tension members. To be able to correctly construct a strut and tie model requires good understanding of how the structure works.