12/27/2010

Torsion

1
 12/27/2010

Analysis and Design

2
 12/27/2010

Shearing Stresses 

Torsional moment:

T   rdV
v : shear stress in the ring

dV  vdA

3
 12/27/2010

Torsional moment about the point 0: dT  (2 rdr )vr

(2 rdr ): area of the ring

R
T   (2 rdr
R
d )vr   2 r 2 vdr
d r  vmax
0 0
v
R

 r4
Polar moment of inertia: J
2

Maximum shearing stress in an elastic circular shaft is:

T r
vmax   max 
J

1.2

4
12/27/2010

5
 12/27/2010

Skew Bending Theory

The minimum torsional moment:

x2 y
Tcr  ( ) f t ,max
3
Torsional cracking is assumed to occur when the principal tensile stress
reaches the tensile strength of the concrete in biaxial tension-
compression:
1
ft ,max   f c'
3

6
 12/27/2010

Cracking Torque
T 1
  cr  f c'
2A0t 3

According ACI Code

1  Acp2 
Tcr  f c'  
3 P
 cp 

Threshold Torsion

7
 12/27/2010

Torsion in Reinforced concrete 
members

Torsional Reinforcement
• The reinforced concrete members subjected 
to large torsional forces may fail quite 
to large torsional forces may fail quite
suddenly if they are not specially provided 
with torsional reinforcing.
• Tests have shown that both longitudinal bars 
and closed stirrups(or spirals) are necessary to 
intercept the numerous diagonal tension
intercept the numerous diagonal tension 
cracks that occur on all surfaces of members 
subject to appreciable torsional forces. 

8
 12/27/2010

Area of stirrups for torsion

Torsional resistance = sum of contribution from shear in each four wall.

9
 12/27/2010

• A beam subjected to pure torsion can be 
modeled as shown in Fig. 15.10.
• To calculate the required area of stirrups, it is 
necessary to resolve the shear flow into shear
necessary to resolve the shear flow into shear 
forces acting on the four walls of the tube as 
shown in Fig. 15.10. 
• The shear flow: q = T/(2Ao )
• The shear force per unit length of the 
perimeter of the tube:
T T
V1  V3  xo V2  V4  yo
2 Ao 2 Ao

10
 12/27/2010

Summing moments about one corner of the truss, we find that the internal
torque is:

T  V1 y0  V2 x0

22A
Ao At f yv
The nominal torsion capacity: Tn  cot 
s
The angle may be taken as any angle between 30 and 60o

ACI suggests   45o

2A A f
According to ACI318 Tn  o t yv Where Ao =0.85Aoh
s
At Tn

s 2 Ao f yv

Diagonal Compression struts

11
 12/27/2010

Limitation of Torsional Moment 
Strength
ACI Code, section 11.6.3, limits the size of the cross-sectional
dimension by the following two equations:

1. For solid sections,

Vu 2 TP V
( )  ( u h2 ) 2  [( c )  (2 f c' / 3)]
bw d 1.7 Aoh bw d

2. For hollow sections,

Vu TP V
( )  u h2  [( c )  (2 f c' / 3)]
bw d 1.7 Aoh bw d

12
 12/27/2010

Minimum Torsional Reinforcement
1. Minimum transverse closed stirrups for combined shear and torsion:

s  bw f c' s  bw
Av  2 At  0.062  0.35
f yt f yt
2. Minimum total area of longitudinal torsional reinforcement

5 Acp f c' At f yt
Al ,mini  [ ]( ) Ph ( )
12 f y s fy

Limitations for torsional 
reinforcement
a The smallest bar diameter of a longitudinal bar is that of No
a. No. 10(12mm) or
0.042 time the stirrup spacing.

b. The longitudinal bars must be distributed around the perimeter of the

closed stirrups with a maximum spacing of 300mm.

c. Torsional reinforcement should be provided for a distance (bt +d) beyond

the point required by analysis.

d. The spacing of transverse torsional reinforcement shall not exceed the

smaller of Ph /8 and 300mm.

13