In this work a tool for adaptive analysis in the context of numerical simulations of the mechanical behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) structures is described. For this purpose, an estimator for the error arising from the finite element (FE) discretization is proposed. It is based on a smoothening algorithm applied to the discontinuious distribution of the stresses obtained from FE analysis.                      The FE discretization is adapted by means of the h-version of mesh refinement. For this purpose, a mesh generator based on the advancing front method is employed.                                                    Continuation of the calculation after mesh refinement requires the transfer of state variables from the old to the new mesh. Contrary to commonly used transfer schemes, both the displacements and the stresses are transferred. The distribution of the history variables for the new mesh is obtained from the constitutive law and the yield criterion, respectively.                                                                                   The performance of the proposed adaptive calculation tool is demonstrated by means of an extensive numerical study. First, two benchmark problems are solved in order to provide insight into the performance of the error estimator and the calculation strategy. Thereafter, results from a number of examples of concrete and reinforced concrete structures are presented. The final example is concerned with adaptive analyses of an RC cooling tower.