REINFORCED CONCRETE

UNIVERSIDAD INDUSTRIAL DE
SANTANDER

LUIS E. ZAPATA ORDUZ, PhD

Facultad de Ingenierías Físico-Mecánicas
Escuela de Ingeniería Civil

Bucaramanga, II semestre 2022

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TORSION IN BEAMS

Torsion in RC Beams

✓ Today, with the smaller members using LRFD when compared with other
methods → torsion needs to be considered much more frequently
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✓ Plain concrete in pure torsion → will crack along 45° spiral lines when
the resulting diagonal tension exceeds the design strength of the concrete

These diagonal tension stresses produced by twisting

are very similar to those caused by shear but …
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✓ Diagonal tension stresses produced by shear (left) and twisting (right)

On one side …
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On the other side …

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On one side … On the other side …

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✓ RC members subjected to large torsional forces may fail quite suddenly if

they are not provided with torsional reinforcing
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SHEAR IN BEAMS

For the given beam:

b = 600 [mm], h = 600 [mm], f ´c = 5000 [psi] & fy = fyt = 420 [MPa]

L 6N°10

N°4-2L@200 mm O.C.
P (shear reinforcement)

W = 30 [kN]
h = 1.5 [m] 2N°3
(Hangers)
L = 4.5 [m]

You are asked to perform:

1) The shear analysis assuming the torsional effects are ignored

2) The shear & Torsional effects simultaneously
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▪ Torsion: Plain Concrete

✓ Prismatic member subjected to equal/opposite T at ends. If the material is

elastic → the largest shear stresses occur at the middle of the wide faces

St. Venant’s torsion theory

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✓ If diagonal tension stresses exceed the concrete tensile resistance, a crack

forms at the critical cracking torque, Tcr

Torsional cracks if Tfield ≥ Tcr

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Tcrítica ≠ Tumbral

The torsional diagram must be found

→ Structural analysis is required
Pu = 30 [kN] TU = ?
wu = 60 [kN/m]
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SHEAR IN BEAMS

For the given beam:

b = 600 [mm], h = 600 [mm], f ´c = 5000 [psi] & fy = fyt = 420 [MPa]

L 6N°10

N°4-2L@200 mm O.C.
P (shear reinforcement)

W = 30 [kN]
h = 1.5 [m] 2N°3
(Hangers)
L = 4.5 [m]

You are asked:

b) Primary or secondary torsion?

Explain your results based on NSR-10
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▪ Primary Torsion

✓ Also called equilibrium torsion or statically determinate torsion, when

external load has no alternative load path → must be supported by torsion
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▪ Secondary Torsion

✓ Also called compatibility torsion or statically indeterminate torsion, arises

from the requirements of continuity, that is, compatibility of deformation
between adjacent parts of a structure (after cracking)
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SHEAR IN BEAMS

For the given beam:

b = 600 [mm], h = 600 [mm], f ´c = 5000 [psi] & fy = fyt = 420 [MPa]

L 6N°10

N°4-2L@200 mm O.C.
P (shear reinforcement)

2N°3
(Hangers)
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▪ Secondary Torsion

0.33/0.083 → ~ 4 times
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SHEAR IN BEAMS

For the given beam:

b = 600 [mm], h = 600 [mm], f ´c = 5000 [psi] & fy = fyt = 420 [MPa]

L 6N°10

N°4-2L@200 mm O.C.
P (shear reinforcement)

2N°3
(Hangers)
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For the given beam:

b = 600 [mm], h = 600 [mm], f ´c = 5000 [psi] & fy = fyt = 420 [MPa]

L 6N°10

N°4-2L@200 mm O.C.
P (shear reinforcement)

2N°3
(Hangers)
For the given beam …
Primary or secondary torsion???
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SHEAR IN BEAMS

For the given beam:

b = 600 [mm], h = 600 [mm], f ´c = 5000 [psi] & fy = fyt = 420 [MPa]

L 6N°10

N°4-2L@200 mm O.C.
P (shear reinforcement)

W = 30 [kN]
h = 1.5 [m] 2N°3
(Hangers)
L = 4.5 [m]

You are asked:

c) Is the beam adequate to resist torsion?

Explain your results based on NSR-10
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TORSION IN BEAMS

✓ There are several ways of analyzing members subjected to torsion →

concrete theory uses the thin-walled tube & space truss analogy

✓ Shear stresses are treated as constant over thickness t around the periphery
of the member, allowing the beam to be represented by an equivalent tube

Within the walls of the “tube”,

T is resisted by the shear flow, q

Ao is applicable for solid sections, as well as

hollow box sections, and in such case includes
the area of the central void
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✓ Diagonal tension stresses produced by twisting add to the stresses caused

by shear on one side of the beam and subtract from them on the other
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TORSION IN BEAMS

✓ Diagonal tension stresses produced by twisting add to the stresses caused

by shear on one side of the beam and subtract from them on the other
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✓ Diagonal tension stresses produced by twisting add to the stresses caused

by shear on one side of the beam and subtract from them on the other
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Torsion and shear stresses in a hollow beam

Torsion and shear stresses in a solid beam

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Torsion and shear stresses in a solid beam

Torsional stresses distribution

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✓ (REPEATED) There are several ways of analyzing members subjected to

torsion → in concrete is used the thin-walled tube & space truss analogy

✓ After cracking, Tc is assumed to be negligible but if adequate steel,

cracked concrete is still capable of taking compression stresses

Tension → skin steel and transverse rebars

Compression → diagonal concrete between stirrups
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You are asked:

c) Is the beam adequate to resist torsion?

Explain your results based on NSR-10
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Our section:

b = 600 and h = 600 [mm]

6N°10

N°4@200 mm O.C
(Shear reinforcement)

2N°3 (Hangers)

For C.11.5.3.1 Check that:

DCR ≤ 1.0
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We just have checked …

Torsion and shear stresses in a solid beam

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For the given beam:

b = 600 [mm], h = 600 [mm], f ´c = 5000 [psi] & fy = fyt = 420 [MPa]

L 6N°10

N°4-2L@200 mm O.C.
P (shear reinforcement)

W = 30 [kN]
h = 1.5 [m] 2N°3
(Hangers)
L = 4.5 [m]

You are asked:

c) Find the stirrups for torsion & shear (simultaneously)

NOTE: You must review if the shear design previously described
is also adequate for torsion requirements.
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We need to come back to structural analysis

Pu = 30 [kN] & Tu = 45 [kN-m]

wu = 60 [kN/m]

From Ecs. (C.11-1), (C.11-2) & (C.11-15):

(Av/s) = ? [mm2/mm] → shear

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From structural analysis:

Tumbral < Tu = 45.00 [kN-m] < Tcritical

Options:
1) If Tu > Tcr → use Eq. (C.11-20)
2) If Tu ≤ Tcr → Engineering Judgment !!!!
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ϕTn ≥ Tu
ϕ(Tc + Ts) ≥ Tu
Ts ≥ Tu/ϕ = Tn
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(Av+t/s)req = (Av/s) + 2 (At/s) → _____ [mm2/mm]

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(Av+2At/s)|min
[mm2/mm]

(Av + 2At)/s|req [< = >] (Av + 2At)/s|min

[mm2/mm] [mm2/mm]

(Av + 2At)/s|req [>] (Av + 2At)/s|min

[mm2/mm] [mm2/mm]

¡¡¡ the minimum is not governing !!!

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s|field = N°4 – 2L @ 200 mm O.C. (usually from shear)
(Av + 2At)/s|field ≥ (Av + 2At)/s|req
s|max-field ≤ [(Av + 2At)|field ] / [(Av + 2At)/s|req] [mm]

s|max-NSR10
[mm]

s|max-field [< = >] s|max-req

[mm] [mm]
s|max-dom [< = >] s|max-NSR10
[mm] [mm]
Hence, for shear & torsion use N°4-2L @ ____ mm O.C.
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Types of Stirrups
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Types of Stirrups
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The ends of stirrup legs should ideally have 135◦

or 180◦ hooks bent around longitudinal bars

ldh

Stirrups should be carried as close to the C/T faces of beams

as the specified cc and longitudinal reinforcing will permit
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The ends of stirrup legs should ideally have 135◦

or 180◦ hooks bent around longitudinal bars

ldh

Stirrups should be carried as close to the C and T faces of beams

as the specified cover and longitudinal reinforcing will permit
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SHEAR IN BEAMS

ldh

Stirrups should be carried as close to the C and T faces of beams

as the specified cover and longitudinal reinforcing will permit
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For the given beam:

b = 600 [mm], h = 600 [mm], f ´c = 5000 [psi] & fy = fyt = 420 [MPa]

L 6N°10

N°4-2L@200 mm O.C.
P (shear reinforcement)

W = 30 [kN]
h = 1.5 [m] 2N°3
(Hangers)
L = 4.5 [m]

You are asked:

d) Find the longitudinal steel for torsion & bending (simultaneously)

NOTE: You must review if the flexural design previously carried out
is also adequate for torsion requirements.
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Is adequate the preliminary flexural reinforcement?

Again!!! We need to come back to structural analysis …

Recall: b = 600 [mm], h = 600 [mm], f ´c = 5000 [psi] & fy = fyt = 420 [MPa]

Pu = 30 [kN]
wu = 60 [kN/m]

6N°10 i) Review the preliminary flexural design

(bending)
If additional steel is required, please add it
N°4@200 mm O.C (don´t execute any typical checking … for now)
(shear & torsion)

2N°3 ii) Check Article C.11.5.37

(Hangers)
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Preliminary flexural reinforcement

Recall: b = 600 [mm], h = 600 [mm], f ´c = 5000 [psi] & fy = fyt = 420 [MPa]

6N°10
(bending)
N°4@200 mm O.C
(shear & torsion)

2N°3
(Hangers)

Must be modified the Preliminary flexural reinforcement by torsional effects?

→ The flexural reinforcement and Arts. C.11.5.3.7/8 should be reviewed

→ But first at all, we need to review Art. C.11.5.6.2
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6N°10

N°4@200 mm O.C
Distance ≤ 300 mm ??? (shear & torsion)

2N°3
(Hangers)

Following Art. C.11.5.6.2 the preliminary steel distribution must be modified ?

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6N°10
(bending)

N°4@100 mm O.C
(shear & torsion)

2N°3 N°3 is ok as
(torsional reinforcement) torsional rebar
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Usually, the longitudinal torsional

reinforcement requires be distributed
top, middle and bottom inside the
closed torsional stirrups

6N°10 (F and/or T)

Option 1 2N°_ (Torsion)

2N°_ (Torsion)
Option 3
6N°10 (F and/or T)

Option 2 2N°_ (Torsion)

2N°_ (Torsion)

2N°_ (Torsion)