CE3100 STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY

Experiment 04: Behaviour of reinforced concrete beams

under torsion

Submitted by:

Group J2

CE12B020 - Vinay Teja

CE12B046 Pankaj Deer

CE12B068 - Dipten Mondal

CE12B092 Jyoti Prakash

Aim: To study the behaviour of reinforced concrete beam under pure torsion.

Details of test specimen:

Depth (D) 20 cm
Breadth(b) 15 cm
Length : 2 m
Reinforcement bar spacing 100 and 150

Experimental setup:
Figure 1: Hand sketch of experimental setup

Apparatus used:
150 mm concrete cube
RC beam with rectangular cross-section
Dial gauges to measure vertical and horizontal deflections
Hydraulic jack to apply load
Measuring tape
Background:
Types of torsion in RC beams can be differentiated as per the analysis required and torsion
design, and are classified as:
Equilibrium Torsion: It occurs where
the loading is eccentric to the
centroidal axis. In this case the
torsional moment is required to be in
equilibrium and maximum torsional
moment (Tu) cannot be reduced by
redistribution of moments. Torsion
reinforcements are provided to resist
Tu
Figure 2: An edge beam supporting cantilever
slab
Source: http://civiltoday.com/structural-engineering/41-equilibrium-and-compatibility-
torsion

Compatibility Torsion: It
occurs by twisting action
required to main
compatibility in
deformation between
connected members,
primarily observed in
primary beams supporting
secondary beams. Here
the torsional moment can
be reduced by the
redistribution of internal forces while compatibility of deformation is maintained in
the member.
Figure 3: An edge beam supporting two
transverse beams producing twisting moment
Source: http://civiltoday.com/structural-engineering/41-equilibrium-and-compatibility-
torsion

Cracking torsion moment (torque): The torsional moment at which the first cracks
are observed.
Code provisions:

= ,
2 3
 Where , = 0.2
= Cracking torsion moment
b = Width of the beam in mm
D = Depth of the beam in mm
= Characteristic compressive strength of concrete in N/mm2
Use mean strength instead of characteristic strength

Ultimate torsion moment (torque): the torsional moment at which the body fails
finally.
Code provisions:

=2

Where = Area of cross-section of one leg of stirrup

b1 = Shorter distance between longitudinal bars
d1 = Longer distance between longitudinal bars
= Yield strength of transverse steel
= Spacing of stirrups.

Procedure:
The RC beam rested upon a fixed support on one end and a roller support on the
other, with the loading applied on the roller end.
The hydraulic jack applies load which when acted on the lever arm produces the
torque.
Strain gauges installed on both the sides of the beam are used to calculate the twist
from the change in deflections observed.
Loading is applied with the help of the hydraulic jack in steps of 10 kg and the
deflection readings at both ends are noted down.
Observations:

Figure 4: Observed cracking pattern

Table 1: compressive strength of cube

weight of the cube (kg) Failure load (tons)

7.7 36
8 36
7.6 32
 Mean strength 15.1 MPa
Dimension of cube : 150 mm side

Table 2: Observed Dial gauge readings

LOAD DAIL GAUGE-1 DAIL GAUGE-2
(kg) (mm) (mm)
0 0.3 40.12
10 0.42 40.04
20 0.59 39.93
30 0.85 39.8
32 1.11 39.66
43 1.29 39.55
50 1.59 39.46
60 1.86 39.23
70 2.19 39.09
80 2.49 38.86
90 2.89 38.62
100 3.23 38.84
110 3.7 38.07
120 4.14 37.77
130 5.2 37.05
140 5.8 36.25
150 6.1 35.05
160 Failure

Calculations:
1. Calculation of cracking torque,

= ,
2 3

Tcr= 0.2*(sqrt 13.44)*(150*150/2)*(200-150/3)

Tcr = 1.311 KN.m

b = 15 cm; D = 20 cm ; fck = 13.44 ; fmean = 15.1

2. Calculation of ultimate torsional moment,

=2

b1 = 100 mm ; d1 =150 mm ; At = 6 6/4 ; Fyt = 415 MPa; Sv = 65 mm

Tur (theoritical) = 5.4 KNm
 LOAD TORQUE DAIL DAIL Deflection Angle of twist
(kg) (kNm) GAUGE-1 GAUGE-2 (mm) (radians)
0 0 0 0 0 0
10 0.0981 0.12 -0.08 0.2 0.0002
20 0.1962 0.29 -0.19 0.48 0.00048
30 0.2943 0.55 -0.32 0.87 0.00087
32 0.31392 0.81 -0.46 1.27 0.00127
43 0.42183 0.99 -0.57 1.56 0.00156
50 0.4905 1.29 -0.66 1.95 0.00195
60 0.5886 1.56 -0.89 2.45 0.00245
70 0.6867 1.89 -1.03 2.92 0.00292
80 0.7848 2.19 -1.26 3.45 0.00345
90 0.8829 2.59 -1.5 4.09 0.00409
100 0.981 2.93 -1.28 4.21 0.00421
110 1.0791 3.4 -2.05 5.45 0.00545
120 1.1772 3.84 -2.35 6.19 0.00619
130 1.2753 4.9 -3.07 7.97 0.00797
140 1.3734 5.5 -3.87 9.37 0.00937
150 5.8 -5.07 1.4715 10.87 0.01087
160 Failure

Ultimate strength 190 kg

Torque vs Angle of Twist

1.4

1.2

1
Torsion (kNm)

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.005 0.006 0.007 0.008 0.009
Angle of Twist (radians)
Results:
Theoretical
Cracking Moment: 1.311 KNm
Ultimate Torsional Moment: 5.4KNm
Experimental
Cracking Moment: 1.28 KNm
Ultimate Moment: 190*9.81*1/1000 = 1.8639 KNm

Discussions:
Cracks are formed nearly 45, this is due to redistribution of shear
stresses in to compression and tensile forces with angle of 45
The plot of angle of twist and torque is nearly a straight line
Crack starts in the centre of plane and propagates to the edges
The variation in theoretical and experimental values can be due to non-
ideal support conditions
The reaction and the load vary slightly because of the resistance offered
by the beam in the form of shear
Experimental values are lesser than theoretical reason may be poor
workmanship during casting of beam.
Readings taken: