Reinforced Concrete STRUCTURE 1

Design for Torsion

Revised : 22-Oct-2013

Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember Surabaya

By: LB3

Thin Wall Tube Analogy

For design purposes, the center portion of a solid beam can

be conservatively be neglected. Therefore the beam is idealized as
a tube. Torsion is resisted through a constant shear flow q (Force
per unit length of wall centerline) acting around the centerline of
the tube.

Thin Wall Tube Analogy

Thin Wall Tube Analogy

When a concrete beam is subjected to a torsional moment

causing principal tension larger than 4 fc^0.5 , diagonal cracks spiral
around the beam. After cracking, the tube is idealized as a space
truss as shown in Fig. 15-2. In this truss, diagonal members are
inclined at an angle q.

Thin Wall Tube Analogy

Inclination of the diagonals in all tube walls is the same.

Note that this angle is not necessarily 45 deg. The resultant of the
shear flow in each tube wall induces forces in the truss members.

Thin Wall Tube Analogy

A basic concept for structural concrete design is that

concrete is strong in compression, while steel is strong in tension.
Therefore, in the truss analogy, truss members that are in tension
consist of steel reinforcement or tension ties.

Thin Wall Tube Analogy

Truss diagonals and other members that are in

compression consist of concrete compression struts. Forces in the
truss members can be determined from equilibrium conditions.
These forces are used to proportion and detail the reinforcement.

Thin Wall Tube Analogy

Figure above depicts a free body extracted from the front

vertical wall of the truss of Fig. 15-2. Shear force V2 is equal to the
shear flow q (force per unit length) times the height of the wall yo.

Thin Wall Tube Analogy

Stirrups are designed to yield when the maximum torque is

reached.

Thin Wall Tube Analogy

The number of stirrups intersected is a function of the
stirrup spacing s and the horizontal projection yo cot of the
inclined surface. From vertical equilibrium:

As the shear flow (force per unit length) is constant over the height
of the wall,

Thin Wall Tube Analogy

Substituting for V2 in Eqs. (3) and (4),

Thin Wall Tube Analogy

A free body diagram for horizontal equilibrium is shown in

Fig. 15-4. The vertical shear force Vi in wall i is equal to the
product of the shear flow q times the length of the wall yi. Vector
Vi can be resolved into two components: a diagonal component
with an inclination q equal to the angle of the truss diagonals, and
a horizontal component equal to:

Thin Wall Tube Analogy

Force Ni is centered at the midheight of the wall since q is

constant along the side of the element. Top and bottom chords of
the free body of Fig. 15-4 are subject to a force Ni/2 each.

Thin Wall Tube Analogy

Internally, it is assumed that the longitudinal steel yields

when the maximum torque is reached. Summing the internal and
external forces in the chords of all the space truss walls results in:

Thin Wall Tube Analogy

Critical Torsion
Torsion can be neglected if the factored torque Tu is less
than Tcr/4, where Tcr is the cracking torque. The cracking torque
corresponds to a principal tensile stress of 4 fc^0.5. Prior to
cracking, thickness of the tube wall t and the area enclosed by
the wall centerline Ao are related to the uncracked section
geometry based on the following assumptions:

Critical Torsion
Eqs. (7) and (8) apply to the uncracked section. For spandrel
beams and other members cast monolithically with a slab, parts of
the slab overhangs contribute to torsional resistance. Size of
effective portion of slab to be considered with the beam is
illustrated in Fig. R13.2.4. Substituting for t from Eq. (7), Ao from
Eq. (8), and taking t = 4 fc^0.5 in Eq. (1), the cracking torque for
nonprestressed members can be derived:

1
Tcr
3

Acp2

f 'c
P
cp

Torsional Moment Strength

The design torsional strength should be equal to or greater than
the required torsional strength :

The nominal torsional moment strength in terms of stirrup yield

strength was derived above.

Ao = 0.85Aoh (this is an assumption for simplicity).

Aoh = area enclosed by centerline of the outermost closed
transverse torsional reinforcement as illustrated in Fig. 15-5.

Torsional Moment Strength

The design torsional strength should be equal to or greater than
the required torsional strength :

The nominal torsional moment strength in terms of stirrup yield

strength was derived above.

= angle of compression diagonal, ranges between 30 and 60 deg.

It is suggested in 11.6.3.6 to use 45 deg for nonprestressed
members and 37.5 deg for prestressed members with prestress
force greater than 40 percent of tensile strength of the longitudinal
reinforcement.

Torsional Moment Strength

Torsional Moment Strength

Note that the definition of Ao used in Eq. (8) was for the
uncracked section. Also note that nominal torsional strength Tn is
reached after cracking and after the concrete member has
undergone considerable twisting rotation.
Under these large deformations, part of the concrete cover
may have spalled. For this reason, when computing area Ao
corresponding to Tn, the concrete cover is ignored.
Thus, parameter Ao is related to Aoh, the area enclosed by
centerline of the outermost closed transverse torsional
reinforcement. Area Ao can be determined through rigorous
analysis (Ref. 15.3) or simply assumed equal to 0.85Aoh. See
11.6.3.6.

Torsional Moment Strength

Substituting for T from Eq. (5) into Eq. (6) and replacing 2
(xo + yo) with ph (perimeter of centerline of outermost closed
transverse torsional reinforcement), the longitudinal reinforcement
required to resist torsion is computed as a function of the
transverse reinforcement:

Torsional Moment Strength

To reduce unsightly cracking and prevent crushing of the
concrete compression struts, the 1995 code prescribes an upper
limit for the maximum stress due to shear and torsion, analogous
to that due to shear only (11.5.6.8).
In solid sections, stresses due to shear act over the full
width of the section, while stresses due to torsion are assumed
resisted by a thin-walled tube. See Fig. R11.6.3.1(b).
Thus, the 1995 code specifies an elliptical interaction
between stresses due to shear and those due to torsion as follows:

2
3

Torsional Moment Strength

For hollow sections, the stresses due to shear and torsion
are directly additive on one side wall [see Fig. R11.6.3.1(a)]. Thus,
the following linear interaction is specified:

2
3

When applying Eq. (11-19) to a hollow section, if the actual

all thickness t is less thanAoh/ph, the actual wall thickness should
be used instead of Aoh/ph (11.6.3.3).

Minimum Torsion Reinforcement

In general, to ensure ductility of reinforced and prestressed
concrete members, minimum reinforcement is specified for flexure
(10.5) and for shear (11.5.5). Similarly, minimum transverse and
longitudinal reinforcement is specified in 11.6.5 whenever Tu >
Tcr/4. Usually, a member subject to torsion will also be
simultaneously subjected to shear. The minimum area of stirrups
for shear and torsion is computed from :

75 f 'c bw s 1 bw s
Av 2 At

1200 f yv 3 f yv

Minimum Torsion Reinforcement

The minimum area of longitudinal reinforcement is computed
from:

12

but At/s (due to torsion only) must not be taken less than bw/6fyv.

Spacing Torsion Reinforcement

Maximum spacing of torsion reinforcement is 300 mm.
Torsion reinforcement should be more than (bt+d) outside the area
of torsion reinforcement is needed.

In Case of Compatibility Torsion.

Chose lesser of:
2

A
f
cp

Tu and
3 Pcp
'
c

A
3 f pc
f
cp

1
Tu and
for presetressed

'
3 Pcp
fc
'
c

Example Torsion
Design of web reinforcement for combine Torsion and Shear
in a T-Beam Section. T-Beam Section has geometrical dimensions
shown in Figure below.
tf = 101.6 mm
3hf = 304.8 mm

bw = 355.6 mm

h = 635 mm

Example Torsion
A factored external shear force acts at he critical section,
having a value Vu = 180 kN. It is subjected to the following torques :
(a). Equilibrium factored external torsional moment Tu = 51.4 kNm.

(b). Compatibility factored Tu = 7.3 kN-m.

(c). Compatibility factored Tu = 29.9 kN-m.

Example Torsion
Bending reinforcement :
As = 2190 mm2
fc = 27.6 Mpa, normal weight concrete
fy = 414 Mpa
Design the web reinforcement needed for this section.
(a). Equilibrium Torsion :
Step 1 Factored torsional moment.

Assume that the flanges are not confined with ties. Given
equilirium torsional moment = 51.5 kN-m. The total torsional
moment mus be provided in the design.

Example Torsion
Calculate required Tn,Acp and Pnp :

Tu

51.5
Tn
68.67kNm
0.75
Acp bw h 355.6 635 225806mm2

Pcp 2 X o Yo 2355.6 635 1981.2mm

If the flanges were confined with closed ties.
Acp bw h 2 t f 3t f 355.6 635 2101.6 304.8

Acp 287741.4mm2

Pcp 2bw h 2t f 3t f 2355.6 635 2101.6 304.8

Pcp 2794mm

Example Torsion
Torsional moment for which torsion can be neglected is :
2

f 'c Acp
27.6 2258062
Tcr
0.75
8.45kNm
12 Pcp
12 1981.2
Hence design for full torsion.
Step 2. Sectional Properties
Ao = 0.85 Aoh, where Aoh is the area enclosed by the center line of
the outermost closed stirrups. Assuming 38.1 mm clear cover and
12.7 mm stirrups.

x1 355.6 238.1 6.35 266.7mm

y1 635 238.1 6.35 546.1mm

Example Torsion
Continued :
Aoh 266.7 546.1 145644.87mm2

Ao 0.85266.7 546.1 123798.14mm2

d 635 38.1 12.7 6.35 577.85mm

Ph 2x1 y1 2266.7 546.1 1625.6mm
Use = 45, cot = 1.0

Example Torsion
Step 3 Check adequacy of section
For the section to be adequate. It should satisfy :
2

Vu Tu Ph
Vc

f 'c
2
bw d 1.7 Aoh
bw d 3

1
1
Vc
f 'c b w d
27.6 355.6 577.85 179.920kN
6
6

Vu Tu Ph

51.4 10 1,625.6
180,000

2
2
355.6577.85 1.7145,644.87
bw d 1.7 Aoh
2

Vu Tu Ph
2.48MPa

2
bw d 1.7 Aoh

Example Torsion
Step 3 Check adequacy of section

Vc
2

bw d 3
Vc
2

bw d 3
2

197714

2
f 'c 0.75

27.6
355.6 635 3

f 'c 3.28MPa

Vu Tu Ph
Vc
2

2
bw d 1.7 Aoh
bw d 3
2.48MPa 3.28MPa
Hence the section is adequate.

f 'c

Example Torsion
Step 4 Torsional Reinforcement

At
Tn
68666667

0.669mm 2 / mm / oneleg
s
2 Ao f yt cot 21237984141
Shear reinforcement

Vc 2 f 'c bw d 179.92kN
180
Vn
240kN
0.75
For minimum shear reinforcement. Hence, provided shear stirrups.
Vs Vn Vc 240 179.92 60.079kN
Av
Vs
60079

0.252mm 2 / mm / twoleg
s
f yt d 414577.85

Example Torsion
Step 4 Torsional Reinforcement

Avt 2 At Av

20.669 0.252 1.59mm 2 / mm / twoleg

s
s
s
Try -10 mm closed stirrups. Area of two legs = 157.08 mm2.

157.08
s
98.79mm
1.59
Maximum allowable spacing smax = smaller of 1/8 ph or 300 mm,
where ph = 2(x1+y1) = 1625.6 mm. From before 1/8 ph = 203 mm >
98.79 mm.

1
16

1
f 'c
27.6 0.328 0.35
16

Example Torsion
Step 4 Torsional Reinforcement
Hence, controlling minimum Avt.
0.35bw s 0.35355.690
Avt

27.056mm 2
f yt
414
Avt less than 157.08 mm2. Hence use -10 mm closed stirrups at
90 mm spacing.
Longitudinal Reinforcement.

f yt
At
414
2
1.0 1087mm2
Al
Ph
cot 0.6691625.6
s
fy
414

Example Torsion
Step 4 Torsional Reinforcement
Minimum longitudinal reinforcement.

Al

5 f 'c Acp
12 f y

f yt 5 27.6 225806
At
414

Ph

0.6691625.6
12414
s
fy
414

Al 106.402mm 2
Where

At 0.175bw 0.175355.6

0.15mm 2 / mm / oneleg 0.669

s
f yt
414
Ok

Example Torsion
Step 4 Torsional Reinforcement
Assume al hoes to top corners and al goes to the bottom of the
stirrups to be added to the flexural bars. The balance, Al, would
thus be distributed equally on the vertical faces of the beam web
cross section at a spacing not to exceed 300 mm c-c.

Al
1087
2
A

As

2190

2462
mm
s 4
4 bars, As = 2454mm2 at the bottom, 2-D16
Use 5-D25 longitudinal
at the top corners of the stirrups, As = 402 mm2, and 2-D16 at
vertical face of the web.

Example Torsion
Step 4 Torsional Reinforcement
2-D16

2-D16
10-90mm
2-D16

5-D25