Chapter - 3

Torsion
 Contents of the chapter

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Equivalent truss analogy

3.3 Design for torsion

 3.1 Introduction
• Reinforced concrete members are commonly subjected to bending moments or
transverse shears associated with bending moments.

• In addition to this, torsional forces may act, tending to twist a member about its
longitudinal axis.

• Such torsional forces are usually act along with bending moment and transverse
shear and some times with axial forces as well.

• Torsion is the action of a moment (torque)T about the longitudinal axis of a member.

• This twisting action induces shear stresses in both the transvers and longitudinal
directions of the members.
 Cont’d
• These shear stresses produce principal tensile stresses at 45𝑜 to the longitudinal
axis.

• When these exceed the tensile strength of the section diagonal cracks form and
tend to form spiral around the member.
Cont’d
 Curved bridge girders, edge beams of slabs and eccentrically loaded box beams
constitute examples for members subjected to high twisting moments
accompanied by bending moments and shear forces.
Cont’d
 In structures there are two types of torsion to be considered :-
1. Equilibrium torsion or primary torsion where the torsional moment is required to
maintain equilibrium of the structure. In such situation the external load has no other option
but to be carried by torsion.

2. Compatibility torsion or secondary torsion: torsion caused due to the resultant

of angular rotation induced by rigidly connected members. It arises from the
requirement of continuity, i.e., compatibility of deformation between adjacent
parts of a structure. more serious consequences are unlikely occur if the
member possess adequate ductility to redistribute the torsional moments. For
this reason compatibility torsion is generally of secondary interest in design
and can often be ignored.
Cont’d
 Behaviors of members with torsion
• when a member subjected to torsion, a torsional moment causes shear stresses in
the member.

• The distribution of these stress may vary according to the geometry of the cross-
section.

• In a circular member, the shearing stresses are zero at the axis of the member and
increases linearly to a maximum stresses at the out side of the member.

• For non circular member, the distribution of shear stresses is not so straight
forward.

• Unlike in the circular member, the stress distribution in a rectangular member is

non linear.
Cont’d
• The shearing stress at the corner of the rectangular section is section is zero
indicating that the corners of the section are not distorted under torsion and the
maximum shear stresses occur at the mid points of the long sides.

Distribution of shear stress produced by torsion on circular and rectangular sections.

 Design for torsion
 Torsional moment induces shear stresses in the beam and create
diagonal tension resulting in diagonal crack.

 Thus, we need to provide both closed stirrups and longitudinal steel to

avoid excessive spiral cracking, axial tension and brittle fracture.
Cont’d
• The stirrup is provided in the form of closed (four side stirrup) and the
longitudinal bar is distributed around the periphery of the section.

• Extensive tests indicate that the presence of concrete at the center of the member
doesn’t have a very significant effect on its torsional resistance.

• Thus, it is fair to assume that solid members can be designed as equivalent hollow
members.

• The torsional resistance of any section may be calculated on the basis of

equivalent hollow section with thin walls as defined in the next slid.
Cont’d
Cont’d
 The effects of torsion and shear for both hollow and solid members may be superimposed,
assuming the same value for the strut inclination θ.

 The maximum resistance of a member subjected to torsion and shear is limited by the
capacity of the concrete struts. In order not to exceed this resistance and the following
condition should be satisfied:

TED vED
+ ≤1
TRd max vRd max
, ,

 For approximately rectangular solid section only minimum shear reinforcement is required,
when the following condition should be satisfied :-

TED vED
+ ≤1
TRdc vRd c
,
Cont’d
Where
TED= is the design torsional moment
vED = is the design shear force
TRd,max= is the design maximum torsional resistance
vRd,max= is the design maximum shear resistance
TRdc= is the torsional cracking moment by setting τt,i =fctd
vRdc= is the nominal shear resistance of concrete with out rebar.
Where
𝑓𝑐𝑘
 TRd,max= 2v1αcwfcdAktef,isinϴcosϴ , αcw =1 for concrete v1=0.6(1 − )
250

cotϴ + 𝑡𝑎𝑛ϴ
 vRd,max= αcwbwzv1fcd , z=0.9d
1 + cot2 ϴ
Cont’d
TRd,c= 2𝐴𝑘 tef,i𝑓𝑐𝑡𝑑
2
0.3∗(fck) 3
fctd=
𝑟𝑐
1
[cRd,c k (1001 fck ) 3 + k1 cp ]bw d
vRd,c = max or
[vmin +k1 cp ]bw d

3 1
CRd,c = 0.18 vmin = 0.035k 2 * fck 2
rc

k1 = 0.15 , σcp=0 for beam with out axial force

200 As1
k = 1+  2.0 with d in mm , 1 =  0.02
d bw d
Cont’d
If the condition is previous slid not satisfied,
1. The required cross sectional area of longitudinal reinforcement for torsion resistance
"Σ𝐴sl" may be calculated as follows:-

Σ𝐴𝑠𝑙∗𝑓𝑦𝑑 𝑇𝐸𝐷
= 𝑐𝑜𝑡𝜃
𝑢𝑘 2𝐴𝑘

2.The required of shear reinforcement to resist torsion may be calculated as follows:-

TED
Aswfyd /s = 𝑐𝑜𝑡ϴ
2𝐴𝐾

 Where Asw= is the area shear reinforcement

ϴ= is the compression angle of strut, 220≤ ϴ ≤450

Cont’d
• In tensile chords the longitudinal reinforcement for torsion should be added to the
other reinforcement.

• The longitudinal reinforcement should generally be distributed over the length of

side, zi, but for smaller sections it may be concentrated at the ends of this length.
Example
1. Design for torsion and check combined effect of shear and torsion of a beam with
the following given data.
 The material strengths:- C- 25/30 , fyk= 400 MPa.
 Use Ø8 bars for shear reinforcement and cover 25mm.
 Beam=450*300mm
 Maximum torsional moment(TED )=4.819KN.m
 Shear force at maximum torsion (VED)= 95.114KN
 The design value of the maximum shear force which can be sustained by the
member, 𝑉𝑅𝑑,𝑚𝑎𝑥 , = 290.22kN
 Shear reinforcement Ø8c/c190mm
 Support flexural reinforcement 3ϕ16 bar @ top and 2ϕ14 bar @ bottom
 Span flexural reinforcement 2ϕ16 bar @ top and 2ϕ14 bar @ bottom
 use ϴ =220
Cont’d
 Geometrical properties for analysis of torsion
we have to calculate the geometrical area , perimeter, effective thickness etc. to from
an ideally hollow section which is effective section to resist the torsion.
Area of full section =A= B*D=450*300=135,000mm2
Perimeter of outer section =U=2(B+D)=2*450+2*300=1500mm
Equivalent thickness =tef,i=A/U= 135000/1500=90mm
Area enclosed by the centerlines including the inner hollow
Ak =(D-tef,i)*(B-tef,i)=(450-90)*(300-90)=75600mm2
Perimeter of area Ak = uk=2*(D-tef,i)+2*(B-tef,i)
uk =2*(450-90)+2*(300-90)=1140mm
Cont’d
• The equivalent hollow design section becomes:
Cont’d
Check the requirement of torsion reinforcement or not
𝑇𝐸𝑑 𝑉𝐸𝑑
+ ≤1
𝑇𝑅𝑑,𝑐 𝑉𝑅𝑑,𝑐
 Torsional Cracking moment, 𝑇𝑅𝑑 , 𝑐
𝑇𝑅𝑑 , 𝑐 of eqn. 6.26 ESEN 1992-2015, by setting 𝜏𝑡𝑖 =𝑓𝑐𝑡𝑑
2 2
𝑓𝑐𝑡𝑑 =𝑓𝑐𝑡𝑚/𝛾𝑐 =0.3𝑓𝑐𝑘 /1.5=0.3∗ 25 /1.5=2.56/1.5=1.71Mpa
3 3

𝑇𝑅𝑑,𝑐 =2𝐴𝑘 tef,i𝑓𝑐𝑡𝑑 =2*75,600*90*2.56 *10−6 =23.27KN

1.5
1
[cRd,c k (1001 fck ) 3 + k1 cp ]bw d
vRd,c = max or
[vmin +k1 cp ]bw d
3 1
CRd,c = 0.18 =0.18 =0.27 vmin = 0.035k 2 * fck 2
rc 1.5

k1 = 0.15 , σcp=0 for beam with out axial force

Cont’d
200 200
k = 1+ =1+ =1.698  2.0 with d=450-40=410mm ,
d 410

As1 2∗3.14∗72
1 = = =0.0025  0.02
bw d 300∗410

103.87
vRd,c = max or
47.6

𝑇𝐸𝑑 𝑉𝐸𝑑 4.819 95.114

+ = + =1.123>1…..Hence, Torsional reinforcement required.
𝑇𝑅𝑑,𝑐 𝑉𝑅𝑑,𝑐 23.27 103.87
Cont’d
 Area of longitudinal reinforcement

ΣAsl𝑓𝑦𝑑 𝑇𝐸𝐷
= cot θ
𝑢𝐾 2𝐴𝐾

𝑇𝐸𝐷𝑢𝑘
Let’s rearrange the equation, ΣAsl = cotϴ
2𝐴𝐾𝑓𝑦𝑑

Then let’s substitute all necessary previous values into equation to the equation to
determine Σ𝐴s;
𝑇𝐸𝐷𝑢𝑘 4.819∗10^6∗1140
ΣAsl = cotϴ = cot220 =258.54mm2
2𝐴𝐾𝑓𝑦𝑑 2∗75600∗347.83
𝐴𝑠
Number of ϕ14 bar= 𝑎𝑠 =258.54 142 =1.68, use 2Ø14 at side of
(𝜋∗ )
4
beam.
Cont’d
 This longitudinal reinforcement to resist torsion must be apply at the sides of
section.
Determine required shear reinforcement to resist torsion

82
As𝑤𝑓𝑦𝑑 𝑇𝐸𝐷cotϴ 2𝐴𝐾 As𝑤𝑓𝑦𝑑 2∗ 2∗𝜋∗ 4 ∗347.83∗75,600
= s= = =443.3mm>190mm,
𝑆 2𝐴𝐾 𝑇𝐸𝐷cotϴ 4.819∗106∗𝑐𝑜𝑡22

which is less than required for shear force (s=190mm) , Therefore, the shear
reinforcement for shear force will be adequate for resisting torsion.
Cont’d
2. Check the combined effect of torsion and shear

 The maximum resistance of a member subjected to torsion and shear is limited by the

capacity of the concrete struts and the following condition should be satisfied :-

TED vED
+ ≤1
𝑇𝑅𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑣𝑅𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑥
, ,

TED= 4.819KN.m
 Design torsional resistance moment
𝑇𝑅𝑑 , 𝑚𝑎𝑥= 2v1αcwfcdAktef,isinϴcos𝛳, 𝛼𝑐𝑤 =1 for non pre-stressed structure
= 2 ∗ 0.6 ∗ 1 ∗ 14.17 ∗ 75600 ∗ 90 ∗ 𝑠𝑖𝑛220 ∗ 𝑐𝑜𝑠220 ∗ 10−6 =
40.27𝐾𝑁. 𝑚
Cont’d
cotϴ + 𝑡𝑎𝑛ϴ cot22 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛22
vRd,max= αcwbwzv1fcd =1*300*0.9*410*1∗ 14.17 =381KN
1 + cot2 ϴ 1 + cot2 22
TED vED
+ ≤1
𝑇𝑅𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑣𝑅𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑥
, ,

4.819 95.114
+ = 0.447 < 1—ok!!!
40.27 381

 The interaction of torsion and shear is safe that means the concrete strut does not
crush due to the combined effect of shear and torsion!!!
Detailing