CHAPTER 2

TORSION IN RC BEAMS



Prepared By Mesfin D.
1
Torsion when encountered in reinforced concrete members
usually occurs in combination with flexure and transverse
shear. Due to this Torsion in its pure form (generally
associated with metal shafts) is rarely encountered in
reinforced concrete.
Equilibrium torsion and compatibility torsion
This is associated with twisting moments that are developed
in a structural member to maintain static equilibrium with the
external loads.
are independent of the torsional stiffness of the member.
Such torsion must be necessarily considered in design.


INTRODUCTION
3
Such type of torsion is induced in beams supporting lateral
overhanging projections, in beams curved in plan
subjected to gravity loads, and in beams where the
transverse loads are eccentric with respect to the shear
centre of the cross-section.

fig.1a). Example of
Equilibrium torision

This is the name given to the type of torsion induced in a
structural member by rotations (twists) applied at one or
more points along the length of the member.
The twisting moments induced are directly dependent on
the torsional stiffness of the member.
These moments are generally statically indeterminate.
Their analysis necessarily involves (rotational)
compatibility conditions; hence the name compatibility
torsion.
Torsions due to compatibility torsion are not necessary
for equilibrium and may be neglected in ultimate limit
state calculations and Design.

Compatibility Torsion

4
Contd..
5
fig. 1b). Example of Compatibility
torsion

Members subjected to a torsional moment develop shear
stresses.
In general, these tend to increase in magnitude from the
longitudinal axis of the member to its surface.
If the shear stresses are sufficiently large, cracks will
propagate through the member and, if torsion
reinforcement is not provided, the member will collapse
suddenly.
circular member subjected to a torque T
Torsional stresses
6
a). Circular member
b). Member in Torsion
c). Shear distribution
shear stress at a given cross-section varies linearly from the
longitudinal axis of the member to a maximum value,
max
, at
the periphery of the section.
The stress at any distance r from the longitudinal axis of a
circular member is given by:



The maximum shear stress,
max
is found by setting r = |/2 in
equation (1).


7
3 4
max
16
32 /
2
t| t|
|
t
T
T
= =
But for non-circular member, the distribution of shear
stress is not straightforward.
rectangular member subjected to a torque T

Contd
8
Contd
9
Unlike in the circular member, the stress distribution in a
rectangular member is non-linear.
The maximum shear stress occurs at the mid-point of the
longer side.
Shear stress at the corners of the section is zero indicating
that the corners of the section are not distorted under torsion.
Analytical studies have shown that the maximum shear stress,

max
, in rectangular section is given by:


The parameter o depends on the relative values of x and y.









The stress distribution in thin-walled hollow members is
much easier to determine than for solid non-circular
members.
The shear stress in the walls is reasonably constant and is
given by:

Thin-walled hollow member subjected to a
torque T
10
Where t is the thickness of the wall of the member and
A
o
is the area within a perimeter bounded by the centre
line of the wall.
On a given section, the shear stress is maximum where
the thickness of the wall is minimum.
Failure of concrete members with torsion
Consider a rectangular member subjected to a torque T






11
Consider small elements on each face of the member, as
illustrated in the figure.
As for members with applied shear, shear stresses act on
the sides of each element in the directions.
The equivalent principal stresses are inclined at an angle
of 45
0
to the horizontal.
In the same way as for shear, the principal tensile stresses
cause the development of cracks inclined at an angle of
45
0.
However, in the case of torsion, they form a spiral crack all
around the member
Since the shear stresses in members with torsion are
greatest at the surface, these cracks develop inwards from
the surface of the member.



(Contd...)

12
For members with no form of reinforcement to prevent
the opening of Torsional cracks, failure of the member
will occur almost as soon as the cracking begins.
Therefore, torsional failure of a member without
reinforcement is prevented only if the shear strength of
the concrete exceeds the shear stress due to applied
torsion.
The torsional strength of a concrete member can be
significantly increased by providing suitable torsion
reinforcement across the cracks.
This is usually provided in the form of closed four-sided
stirrups, in combination with longitudinal bars distributed
around the periphery of the section.
(Contd...)
13






This reinforcement controls the propagation of cracks and
ensures that when failure occurs due to yielding of the
reinforcement, it is not sudden.
To quantify the behavior of members with such torsional
reinforcement, an equivalent space truss model, similar to
the plane truss model for shear, can be used.

(Contd...)
14
This theory, developed by Lampert and Collins(1972),
assumes that solid members can be designed as equivalent
thin walled hollow members .
The thickness of the wall, t, is commonly taken as:




15

The concrete cracks are inclined at an angle u which,
like shear, varies in the range 22
0
< u < 68
0
.
The truss dimensions, x
o
and y
o
, are measured from
centre to centre of the notional thin walls.

(Contd...)
16
Since the horizontal projection of the crack is y
o
(cot u),
the number of stirrups crossing the crack is y
o
(cot u)/s
where s is the stirrup spacing.
Hence, assuming that reinforcement has yielded, the
total vertical shear force transmitted across the cracks by
the stirrups on one side face is:


Similarly the shear force transferred across the top or
bottom face is:




(Contd...)
17
The shear force on the side wall of a thin walled member is


Substituting for t from equation (3) to equation (7) gives:




Similarly it can be shown that:






(Contd...)
18
Substituting from equation (5) into equation (9)


Thus the stirrup reinforcement required to resist torsion
of T is:


In addition to the stirrup reinforcement, longitudinal
reinforcement is required to resist torsion.







(Contd...)
19






From equilibrium of forces, the compressive force in the
diagonal members, C, must equal V
1
/sinu.
And the force in the longitudinal members is
N = Ccosu = V
1
cotu.

20
Substituting for V
1



The total force in the longitudinal members from all four
joints at a given cross section is:



21
( ) u u u cot 2 cot 2 cot 2
2 1 2 1
V V V V N Total + = + =
( ) u

cot 2
2 1
V V
f
A N Total
s
y
long
+ = =
( )
u u

cot cot
2 2
2
0 0
0 0
0 0
y x
y x
T
y
T
x
T
f
A
s
y
long
+
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
( )
( )
u

cot
0 0
0 0
s y
long
f y x
y x
T A
+
=
Alternatively, it can be rearranged to give the maximum
torsion carried without leading to yielding of the
longitudinal reinforcement:



Regardless of how much stirrup and longitudinal
reinforcement is provided, the torsion must not be of
such magnitude as to cause crushing of the concrete in
the diagonal struts.

This force is resisted by stresses in the concrete
between the diagonal cracks.

22
( )
( ) u

cot
0 0
0 0
y x
f y x
A T
s y
long
+
=
23
The surface area of concrete to which this is applied is,
from Fig. y
o
(cos u) t,
Hence the stress in the struts is:







This must not exceed the compressive strength of
concrete, vf
ck
/
c
, where v is the effectiveness factor for
torsion






( ) ( )( ) u u u
u
cos sin cos
sin

0
1
0
1
t y
V
t y
V
strut in stress = =



Substitution for V1 from equation (7) gives:



From which the torsion which could cause crushing of
the concrete struts is T
w
, is:



24
( )( )
c
ck
f
t y
V

v
u u
s
cos sin
0
1
( )( )
c
ck
f
t y
x T

v
u u
s
cos sin
2
0
0
( )( )
c
ck
w
f t y x
T

v u u cos sin 2
0 0
=
For members with combined M and T, the longitudinal
reinforcement required for torsion should be provided in
addition to the amount required for moment.
For members with combined T and V, the ultimate
torque, T, and the ultimate shear force, V, should satisfy
the condition:




Members with combined actions

25
1
2 2
s
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
w w
V
V
T
T

26
Design of members for torsion
in accordance with EBCS2

The torsional resistance of members is calculated
on the basis of an equivalent thin-walled section (i.e.
the truss analogy) as describe above.
Wall thickness t=t
eff
=h
ef
s A/u s the actual wall
thickness
For sections of complex shape, such as T-sections,
the torsional resistance can be calculated by
dividing the section into individual elements of
simple, say rectangular, shape.
The torsional resistance of the section is equal to
the sum of the capacities of the individual elements,
each modeled as an equivalent thin-walled section.


Contd.

27
The critical section for torsion is at the face of supports.
T
sd
does not exceed the torsional capacity, T
Rd
where
T
Rd
= 0.80f
cd
A
ef
h
ef
A
ef
= x
o
y
o

The torsional resistance of concrete T
c
shall be taken as:


The torsional resistance of the reinforcement T
eff
is given
by:




Members with pure torsion

28
350mm or
8
S

s
eff
U
Spacing
29
yk
w
f
4 . 0
min ,
=
Members subjected to combined moment and torsion
The longitudinal reinforcement required for torsion and
Flexure should be calculated separately and hence total
area of reinforcement to be provided should be the sum
of the two.
Members subjected to combined shear and torsion
T
Rd
and V
Rd
(T
Rd
= 0.80f
cd
A
ef
h
ef
and V
Rd
= 0.25f
cd
b
w
d),
respectively, multiplied by the following reduction factors
|
t
and |
v
.




Members with combined
actions

30
2
1
1
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
Rd Sd
Rd Sd
t
T T
V V
|
2
1
1
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
Rd Sd
Rd Sd
v
V V
T T
|
Rd
V
v Rd
V
Rd
T
t Rd
T ' and ' | | = =
T
c
and V
c
(T
c
= 1.2f
ctd
A
ef
h
ef
and V
c
= 0.25f
ctd
k
1
k
2
b
w
d),
respectively, must be multiplied by the reduction factors
|
tc
and |
vc
.




The calculations for the design of stirrups may be made
separately for torsion and shear and the total stirrup
required for shear and torsion are, of course, additive.



31
2
1
1
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
c Sd
c Sd
tc
T T
V V
|
2
1
1
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
c Sd
c Sd
vc
V V
T T
|

c
V
vc
V T
tc
T
c c c
' and ' | | = =
.


.


.
32
S
A
S
A
S
A
t v t v
2 + =
+
torsion and shear for stirrup leg 2 Total
yd eff
eff s t
f A
T
S
A
* 2

) (
=
leg 1 torsion for Stirrup
d f
V
S
A
yd
sd v
*
=
hear 2 S for Stirrup leg
33
THE END