Prestressed Concrete Structures

Dr. Amlan K Sengupta and Prof. Devdas Menon

5.5 Design for Torsion (Part I)

This section covers the following topics.

General Comments

Limit State of Collapse for Torsion

Design of Longitudinal Reinforcement

5.5.1 General Comments

Calculation of Torsion Demand
The restraint to torsion is provided at the ends of a beam. For beams in a building frame,
the restraint is provided by the columns. Precast beams are connected at the ends by
additional elements like angles to generate the torsional restraint.

In bridges,

transverse beams at the ends provide torsional restraint to the primary longitudinal
girders. Box girders are provided with diaphragms at the ends.
For equilibrium torsion in a straight beam with distributed torque (tu), the maximum
torsional moment (Tu) is near the restraint at the support. The following figure shows a
schematic representation of the distributed torque.

Tu
tu
L

Figure 5-6.1

Beam subjected to distributed torque

The torsional moment near the support is given by the following expression.

Tu =

tu L
2

Here,
L = clear span of the beam
tu = distributed torque per unit length.

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Prestressed Concrete Structures

Dr. Amlan K Sengupta and Prof. Devdas Menon

For a straight beam with a point torque, the maximum torsional moment (Tu) is near the
closer support. If the location of the point torque is variable, Tu is calculated for the
location closest to a support. For a curved beam, Tu is calculated based on structural
analysis.

Design of Torsion Reinforcement

The design is done for the critical section. The critical section is defined in Clause 41.2
of IS:456 - 2000. In general cases, the face of the support is considered as the critical
section. When the reaction at the support introduces compression at the end of the
beam, the critical section can be selected at a distance effective depth from the face of
the support.
To vary the amount of reinforcement along the span, other sections may be selected for
design. Usually the following scheme is selected for the stirrup spacing in beams under
uniformly distributed load.
1) Close spacing for quarter of the span adjacent to the supports.
2) Wide spacing for half of the span at the middle.
For large beams, more variation of spacing may be selected. The following sketch
shows the typical variation of spacing of stirrups. The span is represented by L.

L/4
Figure 5-6.2

L/2

L/4

Typical variation of spacing of stirrups

First, an equivalent flexural moment Mt is calculated from Tu. Second, for the design of
primary longitudinal reinforcement, including the prestressed tendon, the total
equivalent ultimate moment (Me1) is calculated from the flexural moment (Mu) and Mt.
Third, the design of longitudinal reinforcement for other faces based on equivalent
ultimate moments Me2 and Me3 is necessary when the equivalent moment Mt is larger
than Mu. The following sketch shows the equivalent ultimate moments for design.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Prestressed Concrete Structures

Dr. Amlan K Sengupta and Prof. Devdas Menon

Me1
Figure 5-6.3

Me2

Me3

Equivalent ultimate moments

The design for Me1 is similar to the design of a prestressed section for flexure.
The design for Me2 is similar to the design of a prestressed concrete or reinforced
concrete section. The design for Me3 is similar to the design of a reinforced concrete
section. The design of stirrups including torsion is similar to the design of stirrups in
absence of torsion.

5.5.2 Limit State of Collapse for Torsion

The design for the limit state of collapse for torsion is based on the Skew Bending
Theory. For a beam subjected to simultaneous flexure and torsion, an equivalent
ultimate bending moment at a section is calculated.
The design for torsion involves the design of longitudinal reinforcement as well as the
transverse reinforcement. The longitudinal reinforcement is designed based on the
equivalent ultimate bending moment.
The transverse reinforcement is designed based on the Skew Bending Theory and a
total shear requirement. For the capacity of concrete, to consider the simultaneous
occurrence of flexural and torsional shears, an interaction between the two is
considered.
The equations in IS:1343 - 1980 are applicable for beams of the following sections.
1) Solid rectangular, with D > b.
2) Hollow rectangular, with D > b and t b/4.
3) Flanged sections like T-beams and I-beams.
The sections are shown in the following sketch.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Prestressed Concrete Structures

Dr. Amlan K Sengupta and Prof. Devdas Menon

bw

t
Solid rectangular
Figure 5-6.4

Hollow rectangular

Flanged

Different sections for torsion design

The variables are as follows.

b = breadth of the section
= bw for flanged section
D = total depth of the section
t = thickness of the section.
The average prestress in a section at the level of CGC, is limited to 0.3fck.

5.5.3 Design of Longitudinal Reinforcement

For the design of the longitudinal reinforcement, there are three expressions of the
equivalent ultimate bending moment for the three modes of failure (Reference: Rangan,
B. V. and Hall, A. S., Design of Prestressed Concrete Beams Subjected to Combined
Bending, Shear and Torsion, ACI Journal, American Concrete Institute, March 1975,
Vol. 72, No. 3, pp. 89 93). The modes of failure are explained in Section 5.4, Analysis
for Torsion. The figures of the failure pattern are reproduced here for explanation.

Mode 1 Failure
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Prestressed Concrete Structures

Dr. Amlan K Sengupta and Prof. Devdas Menon

Zone
under Cu

M e1
Tu
Figure 5-6.5

Idealised pattern and design moment for Mode 1 failure

The equivalent ultimate bending moment for Mode 1 failure (Me1) is given by the
following equation.

M e1 = M u + M t

(5-5.2)

The equivalent bending moment for Tu is given as follows.

2D
Mt = Tu 1+

(5-5.3)

In the previous expression,

Mu = applied bending moment at ultimate.
Mt = additional equivalent bending moment for torsion.
Tu = applied torsion at ultimate.
Since, the torsion generates tension in the reinforcement irrespective of the sign, the
sign of Mt is same as that of Mu.

Mode 2 Failure

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Prestressed Concrete Structures

Dr. Amlan K Sengupta and Prof. Devdas Menon

Tu

Zone
under Cu
Figure 5-6.6

Me 3

Idealised pattern and design moment for Mode 2 failure

The equivalent ultimate transverse bending moment for Mode 2 failure (Me3) is given as
follows.
1+ 2b

x
D
Me 3 = Mt 1+ 1

2e 1+ 2D

b
2

(5-5.4)

In the previous expression

e = Tu/Vu, ratio of ultimate torsion and ultimate shear force at a section.
x1 = smaller dimension of a closed stirrup.
The larger dimension of a closed stirrup is represented as y1. the dimensions are
shown in the following sketch.

y1

x1
Figure 5-6.7

Dimensions of a closed stirrup

The transverse bending moment Me3 is considered when the numerical value of Mu is
less than Mt. Me3 acts about a vertical axis.
Mode 3 Failure

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Prestressed Concrete Structures

Dr. Amlan K Sengupta and Prof. Devdas Menon

Tu
Me2

Zone
under Cu
Figure 5-6.8

Idealised pattern and design moment for Mode 3 failure

The equivalent ultimate bending moment for Mode 3 failure (Me2) is given by the
following equation.
Me2 = Mt Mu
The

expression

of

Mt

is

same

as

for

Mode

(5-5.5)

failure,

given

before.

Mode 3 failure is checked when the numerical value of Mu is less than that of Mt. Me2
acts in the opposite sense of that of Mu.
The longitudinal reinforcement is designed for Me1 similar to the flexural reinforcement
for a prestressed beam. The design of flexural reinforcement is covered in Section 4.2,
Design of Sections for Flexure (Part I) and Section 4.3 Design of Sections for Flexure
(Part II). When Me2 is considered, longitudinal reinforcement is designed similar to a
prestressed concrete or reinforced concrete beam.

When Me3 is considered,

longitudinal reinforcement is designed similar to a reinforced concrete beam. For a

singly reinforced rectangular section, the amount of longitudinal reinforcement (As) is
solved from the following equation.
f A
0.87fy As d 1- y s = Mu
fck bd

In the previous equation,

d = effective depth of longitudinal reinforcement
fy = characteristic yield stress of longitudinal reinforcement
fck = characteristic compressive strength of concrete
Mu = one of Me2 and Me3.

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