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Note 21 Level 1

36 TheStructuralEngineer Technical
December 2012 Technical Guidance Note

How to avoid torsion

Introduction ICON W
Principles
of torsion
The twisting of elements within structures due to eccentric loading is LEGEND
something that is best avoided as far as is possible. Such actions develop
torsion forces in elements against which they were not designed to
W Applied practice
withstand. This Technical Guidance Note concerns this buildability and
detailing issue that structural engineers must become familiar with in
order to avoid otherwise unforeseen problems that can lead to significant
remedial works on site and in some cases failures. W Further reading

Original layout Revised layout Original detail Revised detail

Principles of torsion

The rotation of a structural member along

its axis is something that should be avoided
as much as possible. It generates forces
Secondary beams shifted along a primary
within the element that it is rarely efficient
supporting beam, removing continuity
at resisting and can result in a significant
increase in member size and even change in
form. Some structural shapes such as steel
channels are more susceptible to torsion
where the shear centre is outside the web Cantilevering section of structure partially
(Figure 1). removed, leaving two cantilevering beams
supporting one another

N Figure 2
Revision to frame layout resulting in torsion in a member
Inner skin of blockwork wall moved
outwards, while the primary structure
usually occurs due to changes being made remains in place
to the structure to accommodate services
or in respect to the form of the building that
has been established during the design
Original detail Revised detail
process. Figure 2 shows typical examples
of structural frame layouts that have been
altered to the point where a member
becomes subject to torsion.

It is important to understand that when a

N Figure 1
A steel beam in torsion
Other examples are twin beams with
unequal loading, curved beams on plan and
angles. This note shows how to avoid torsion
in structural members and what needs to
be done when it becomes necessary for
elements to resist torsion.
Torsion induced by framing layout
It is possible to inadvertently develop torsion
in structural elements depending on the
structural framing layout adopted. This
member is subject to torsion, this force
occurs simultaneously to all other forces,
i.e. shear and bending. With this cumulative
effect, it is possible that the member may
need to be increased in size to resist these
additional forces. To prevent torsion from
developing, the following rules should be
followed when devising and revising a frame
layout to a structure:
Lateral support system to cladding
• Consider how the forces are transferred altered from being fixed to centroid of
from one element to another primary element to being eccentric
• Avoid change in direction of forces from
within a frame
• Ideally, cantilevers should not intersect NFigure 3
Detailing examples of eccentrically loaded beams

TSE12_36-37.indd 36 22/11/2012 15:22


Torsion induced via eccentric loading
Considering more local effects, it is possible
for structural elements to be subjected to
torsion through the introduction of eccentric
loads. While they were originally designed
with the assumption that the load placed
upon them would be largely within their
centroid, changes to the form of the building
or passage of services can result in an
eccentric load being generated, which leads
to torsion. Figure 3 is a pair of examples
of such details which have been revised to
the point where an eccentric load is being
applied to the structural member.
It is usually very difficult to avoid such
occurrences as the reasons for the
alterations are normally sound. Nevertheless
there are measures the structural engineer
can take to counter these changes:
• When developing cladding interface
details, set parameters for the rest of the
design team with respect to what can and
cannot be altered
• Highlight the consequences of inducing
eccentric loads onto structural members to
the design team. This includes an increase
in member size, change in form and more
complex connections
Torsion induced during construction
Structural engineers are required to consider
the temporary works condition during the
design of any element within the structure.
While they are ultimately seeking to design
a structural element for the permanent
condition, some cognisance must be given
to the possibility of a member being subject
to torsion during construction. If there
is such a possibility then the structural
engineer is required to alert the contractor
of this possibility and they can then carry out
mitigation measures to avoid torsion being
induced into the member for which it was
not designed. This will include temporary
propping of the member or altering the
Floor slab
installed
on one side
of a beam
that would
fail due to
eccentric
loading
condition
thus preventing
restraint to primary
N Figure 4
Structural elements in torsion during construction
TSE12_36-37.indd 37
sequence of construction to prevent the
torsion from occurring. Figure 4 shows two
examples of elements that are subjected to
torsion during construction.
It is uncommon for the design of such
elements to be designed for torsion as
the contractor is alerted to the issue.
The measures they employ can then be
implemented to negate the need to design
the element to resist a torsional load.
When considering the likelihood of torsion
being developed during construction, the
structural engineer must:
• Consider alternative design solutions to
prevent this from occurring
• Assuming no viable alternatives exist,
identify the member to the contractor and
advise how they can prevent the member
from being subjected to torsion
• Advise the contractor at what point during
the construction sequence the member will
be subject to torsion
Designing and detailing for torsion
There are instances when torsion cannot
be avoided and the designer’s only course
of action is to allow for it. In such instances
there are essentially two approaches:
provide an arrest that prevents the element
from being subject to torsion in the first
place or design the element to resist torsion.
If a restraint cannot be provided, then the
member must be designed for torsion. For
concrete elements this is relatively straight
forward as the designer is required to provide
additional closed links throughout the length
of the beam that are installed in addition to
any shear links (Figure 5).
For steel elements the design to resist
torsion is somewhat complex. This is
especially with regard to open sections
such as I beams and angles. To find out
Masonry
cladding
constructed
prior to floor
construction,
support beam
N Figure 5
Shear links vs. closed links
www.thestructuralengineer.org
37
more on this, you are directed to The Steel
Construction Institute’s Design of Steel
Beams in Torsion. Closed sections such
as rectangular hollow elements are less
susceptible to torsion but they are not as
stiff as their open section counterparts.
Additionally, the designer must pay
particular attention to the end connections
of steel members that are designed to
withstand torsional moments. Simple fin
plate connections are not robust enough
to support such twisting forces, hence the
need to provide end plate connections for
members subject to torsion (Figure 6).
Eurocode 0.
Applied practice
BS EN 1992-1-1 Eurocode 2: Design of
concrete structures – Part 1-1 General rules
and rules for buildings
BS EN 1992-1-1 UK National Annex to
Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures –
Part 1-1 General rules and rules for buildings
Glossary and
further reading
Permanent condition – The state of an
element at the completion of construction
Temporary condition – The state of an
element during construction
Torsion – Rotational force along the axis of
a member
Further Reading
Iles, D. C., Hughes, A. and Malik, A. (2011)
Design of Steel Beams in Torsion Ascot:
Steel Construction Institute
N Figure 6
Fin plate connection vs. end plate connection
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