International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 6, Issue 8, August 2016

ISSN 2250-3153

332

Influence of double idealized shear flow zones on the

torsional resistance in fibrous normal strength concrete
beams
Karim, F.R.*, Abu Bakar, B.H.**, KokKeong, Choong***,Aziz, O.Q.****
*

PhD Candidate, School of Civil Engineering, UniversitiSains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
**
Professor, School of Civil Engineering, UniversitiSains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
***Associated Professor, School of Civil Engineering, UniversitiSains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
****Professor, Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Salahaddin University, Erbil, Iraq

Abstract- This investigation highlights the influence of double idealized shear flow zones on the torsional resistance for underreinforced fibrous normal strength concrete beams subjected to pure torsion. The beam sections were double reinforced by transverse
and longitudinal reinforcements, once was located in the idealized shear flow zone and the other one was located in the idealized
tension zone. To study the influence of double idealized shear flow zones on the torsional resistance of under-reinforced fibrous
normal strength concrete beams, four fibrous concrete beams were cast and tested under pure torsion. The under-reinforced beams
designed based on ACI 318-14. The main transverse and longitudinal reinforcements in the shear low zone are kept constant in the
beams while the transverse reinforcement in the idealized tension zone was covered different percentage of this zone. The test results
were confirmed that the torsional resistance at peak loads was improved up to 23.7% while the area enclosed by stirrup in core zone
has extended to 46.2%. In addition, the twisting angle at peak loads was enhanced up to 60.9%and the shear strain in concrete and the
strain in longitudinal reinforcement were enhanced whereas the strain in transverse reinforcement was decreased. The spacing
between spiral cracks and the inclination angle of crack at failure were increased with inclusion of reinforcement in core zone. The
space truss model was modified to cover the influence of double shear flow zones. The proposed modification model was showed that
it has a good agreement with test results.
Index Terms- Double shear flow zone, Fibrous normal strength concrete, Pure torsion, andSpace truss analogy,.
I. INTRODUCTION
he idealized core zone in space truss model has been ignored even though this model was modified for fibrous normal strength
concrete beams.[1, 2] However, the fibrous concrete has a higher tensile strength than what the non-fibrous concrete has[3]. In
addition, although the compressive strength of fibrous concrete has been improved, the effective thickness of shear flow zone is
still the same for fibrous and non-fibrous concrete beams[4]. Moreover, the compressive strain in the concrete surface has found to be
maximum and zero at the end distance of effective depth of inclined compression strut[4] whereas it was ignored the influence of
concrete cover thickness[5].
Based on the space truss analogy, the torsional strength of reinforced concrete has been provided by reinforcement and the concrete
that surrounds the steel[6]. However, the activating of idealized core zone comes from the absence of tension element. Therefore, the
completed elements included tension and compression could be the unique way to make the majority of this area effective to resist
torsion at failure.
II. RESEARCH SEGNIFICANCE
This paper highlights the influence of reinforcement in the idealized core zone on torsional resistance at peak load. Even though, the
idealized core zone in space truss model is employed up to 40% of the solid section, this area is ignored to resist torsion. However, the
fibrous concrete has a tensile strength more than that has non-fibrous one and inclusion full reinforcements in this zone is produced
the elements for new space truss inside of main space truss. Therefore, the section separated in to two idealized shear flow zones for
resisting torsion and the majority of the solid section is contributed to resist torsion.
III. EXPERIMENTAL WORKS
The under-reinforced concrete (B-1-N) beam is a control beam and the other beams (B-2-N, B-3-N and B-4-N) included the full
reinforcement in the idealized tension zone, the reinforcement was covered the varying area of the core zone .The covered area by
reinforcements in the core zone was between 0 and 0.462 at post-cracking stage. The span to depth ratio and the aspect ratio of the
beam section are kept as 5.75 and 1.22, respectively. The twisting moment was conducted on the beams from two point loads act on
the loading arms which are converted to pure torsion on the tested beam.

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2.1 MATERIALS, MIX PROPORTIONS AND SPECIMEN PREPARATION

2.1.1 MATERIALS AND MIX PROPORTION
The fibrous normal strength concrete beams were cast for cylinder compressive strength of 25 MPa. An ordinary Portland cement
(Tasik cement) was used. Crushed stone with 10 mm maximum size of aggregate, silica sand, silica fume, tap water, HRWR superplasticizer Sika VC2199, retard-admixture (Plastiment-R) with two size of copper coated micro steel fibre were used. The mix
proportion of the materials used for producing this concrete is shown in Table 1.
Table 1:Mix proportion of fibrous normal strength concrete
Materials

Quality,
kg/m3

Cement (Type I)

275

Silica sand

926.7

Crushed stone

763.8

Silica fume

13.75

Water

200.7

Super-plasticizer VC2199

5.5

Retarder-admixture (Plastiment R)

1.375

Micro steel fibre A (21mm X 0.35 mm)

18.055

Micro steel fibre B (12 mm X 0.2 mm)

72.22

Slump, mm

90

: diameter of fibre, mm
2.1.2 PREPARATION OF BEAM SPECIMEN
The longitudinal reinforcement contained 4-12 mm diameter bars, two of them at the bottom and the rest at the top. Transverse
reinforcement was provided in the form of two legs rectangular stirrup with 135 standard hooks. The 6mm diameter bars were made
stirrups with dimension 166 mm wide and 216 mm depth and the spacing between stirrups was 95 mm as shown in Figure 1. While
the details of the reinforcements in the idealized core zone wereshown in Figure 2.The beam dimensions are tabulated in Table 2.
Table 2:Measured dimensions of the fibrous concrete beams
Beam
denotation

Concrete
cover,
mm

Width,
mm

Height,
mm

Span length,
mm

B-1-N

29

230

280

1587

B-2-N

25

222

272

1569

B-3-N

26

224

274

1570

B-4-N

25

222

272

1569

2.1.3 FIBRICATION OF SPECIMENS

The fibrous normal strength concrete was blended in the two pan mixer with 0.05 m3which obeyed the following sequence for mixing
materials: granite crushed stone and silica sand were blended for 1.5 minutes. Then, the cement was added to the blended materials.
Next, the entiremixing water and HRWR were added to the mix for another 0.5 minute. Afterwards, silica fume and retard-admixture
were added to the mix for another 0.5 minutes. After that, copper coated micro steel fibre was added to the mixed materials, which
was passed through the steel wire mesh during 3 minutes. The mixing process of materials was continued for an additional two
minutes to confirm that the fibre was distributed uniformly in the concrete. Fibrous normal strength concrete was cast in the plywood
mold with 4 layers and each layer was externally vibrated for 45 seconds in fourpoints in the length of the beam. The process of
casting was associated with casting of three cubes, three cylinders, three prisms and six cubes for testing bond between reinforcement
and fibrous concrete and they were vibrated for 45 seconds on vibrating table[7-10]

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2.1.4 TESTING OF BEAMS

Under-reinforced fibrous normal strength concrete beams were tested under pure torsional moment. The Universal Testing Machine of
500 kN capacity in the Structural Laboratory in the School of Civil Engineering was used for the test.The specimens were tested in
pure test arrangement as shown in Figure 3 and 4. The twisting angle was measured during loading of the beam by using U shape steel
frame and two LVDTs on the ends of arms of U shape as shown in Figure 5.The shear strain in concrete and axial strain in
reinforcements were measured by LVDTs and electrical strain gauges. The load was applied manually until the fibrous concrete beam
was failed under torsion.

Figure 1: Detail of reinforcements in the fibrous concrete beam B-1-N

Figure 2: Detail of reinforcements in the idealized core zone

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Figure 3: Schematic Test set-up

Figure 4: Experimental set-up of the beams

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Figure 5: Schematic measuring of twisting angle

IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The properties of fibrous normal strength concrete for each beam were measured and tabulated in Table 3.The torsional resistance and
twisting angles were measured during the loading of the beam. Besides, the inclusion angle of crack was measuredat failure as shown
in Table 4.
Table 3: Measured properties of fibrous normal strength concrete beams

fc,
MPa

fsp,
MPa

fr, MPa

B-1-N

29.50

4.473

B-2-N

29.70

B-3-N
B-4-N

Beam denotation

Bond strength,
MPa
fbt

fbL

7.571

1.314

6.644

4.268

6.016

1.613

7.896

28.20

4.709

5.929

3.913

8.906

27.44

3.362

4.690

3.171

7.926

Table 4: Results of pure torsion test in fibrous normal strength concrete beams

Beam denotation

Tcr,
kN.m

cr,
rad/m

Tu,
kN.m

u,
rad/m

,
degree

B-1-N

12.147

0.619

17.846

15.165

45

B-2-N

13.454

0.300

22.074

24.409

45

B-3-N

12.601

0.691

21.897

18.139

46

B-4-N

11.173

0.802

18.104

22.459

50

3.1 CRACKING TORSIONAL MOMENT

The cracking torsional resistance was improved up to 10.76% due to additional reinforcement in idealized tension zone while the
cylinder compressive strength of fibrous concrete beams were slightly changed as shown in Figure 6.

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35

30
29.7

29.5

30

29.5
29

25

28.5
20

28.2

28

15
27.5

27.44
10

27

26.5

26
0

0.44

0.614

Compressive strength, MPa

Torsional moment at cracking load, kN.m

International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 6, Issue 8, August 2016
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0.84

Ratio of area covered the idealize tension zone

covered area in idealize tension zone

compressive strength

Figure 6: Torsional moment at crack load versus the percentage of idealized tension zone covered by the reinforcement
3.2 TORSIONAL RESISTANCE PROVIDED BY REINFORCEMENT AND FIBRE
The torsional resistance provided by reinforcements and fibre was improved up to 23.7% due to reduction of idealize tension zone
area which produced another shear flow zone inside of idealized tension zone area as shown in Figure 7.

Torsional moment at ultimate load, kN.m

25

20

15

10

0
0

0.242

0.335

0.462

Percentage of area covered by adding reinfocement in the idealized tension zone

Figure 7: Torsional moment at peak load versus the percentage of idealized tension zone covered by the reinforcement

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3.3TWISTING ANGLE
The inclusion of reinforcements in the idealize tension zone area was improved the contribution of reinforcement for resisting torsion
and increased the flexibility of the beam. In addition, the twisting angle was improved at crack and peak loads up to 29.5% and 60.9%,
respectively as shown in Figure 8.

B-1-N

B-2-N

B-3-N

B-4-N

25

Torsional moment, kN.m

20

15

10

0
0

0.005

0.01

0.015

0.02

0.025

0.03

0.035

Twisting angle , rad/m

Figure 8: Torsional moment versus twisting angle

3.4 SHEAR STRAIN IN CONCRETE
The amount of shear strain in concrete during torsion test was influenced by reduction of idealized tension zone area as shown in
Figure 9. The value of shear strain was reached to 0.03370. Therefore, the contribution of fibrous concrete was increased to resist
torsion at crack load.
3.5 STRAINS IN LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE REINFORCEMENTS
The strain in longitudinal reinforcements are increased up to 26.4% whereas the strain in stirrups are decreased in the range of 24.5%.
Therefore, the activating idealized tension zone area by inclusion reinforcements in this zone increases the contribution of longitudinal
reinforcement for resisting torsion as shown in Figure 10-13.
3.6 CRACKING PATTERNS
The activating idealized tension zone area is influenced on the detail of spiral cracks. For instance, number and spacing between
cracks as well as inclination angle of crack at failure as tabulated in Table 5. The pattern of cracks of the tested beams which were
tested and failed under pure torsional moment as shown in Figures 14-17.

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B-1-N

B-2-N

339

B-3-N

B-4-N

25

Torsional moment, kN.m

20

15

10

0
0

10

15

20

25

30

35

shear strain in concrete, mm/mm X 10-3

Figure 9: Torsional moment versus shear strain in concrete

B-1-N-M.S

B-2-N-MS

B-3-N-MS

B-4-N-MS

Torsional moment, kN.m

25
20
15
10
5
0
0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

Strain in stirrups, mm/mm X 10-3

Figure 10: Torsional moment versus strain in main stirrups

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B-2-N-SS

340

B-3-N-SS

B-4-N-SS

Torsional moment, kN.m

25
20
15
10
5
0
0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

Strain in stirrups, mm/mm X 10-3

Figure 11: Torsional moment versus strain in stirrup located in idealized tension zone
B-1-N-ML

B-2-N-ML

B-3-N-ML

B-4-N-ML

0.2

0.6

1.0

1.4

25

Torsional moment, kN.m

20

15

10

0
0.0

0.4

0.8

1.2

1.6

1.8

Strain in longitudinal reinforcement, mm/mm X10-3

Figure 12: Torsional moment versus strain in main longitudinal reinforcement

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B-2-N-SL

341

B-3-N-SL

B-4-N-SL

25

Torsional moment, kN.m

20

15

10

0
0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

Strain in longitudinal reinforcement, mm/mm X10-3

Figure 13: Torsional moment versus strain in longitudinal reinforcement located in idealized tension zone

Table 5:Detail of spiral crack of fibrous normal strength concrete beams test under pure torsion

Beam
denotation

No. of
spiral
cracks

,
degree

Average spacing
between spiral
cracks, mm

B-1-N

45

205

B-2-N

45

148

B-3-N

46

307

B-4-N

50

249

V. THEORETICAL ANALYSIS AND PROPOSEDEQUATION

The inclusion of reinforcement in the idealized core zone is produce another shear flow zone and it is reduced the idealize core zone to
a minimum. The reinforcement in the new shear flow zone is contributed to improve ultimate torsional resistance. To prove this
improvement, it is considered the dimensions of transverse reinforcement in the main shear flow zone Xo1 , and Yo1while the
dimensions of transverse reinforcement in the secondary shear flow zone is Xo2, and Yo2 as shown in Figure (18).

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Figure 14: Side view of beam B-1-N at failure

Figure 15: Side view of beam B-2-N at failure

Figure 16: Side view of beam B-3-N at failure

Figure 17: Side view of beam B-4-N at failure

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Yo2

Yo1

Xo2

Xo1

Figure 18: Dimensions of stirrups in shear flow zones

The shear stress in shear flow zones are resisting torsional moment as shown in Figure (19). The external torsional moment is
resisted by torsional resistance from shear flow zone.

1 = 1 . 1 (1)
2 = 2 .
3 = 3 .
4 = 4 .

5 = 5 .
6 = 6 .
7 = 7 .
8 = 8 .

2
1

(2)

2
1

(3)

2
2

(5)

2
1

(4)

2
2

(6)

2
2

(8)

2
2
2

(7)

After cracking, the two thin-walled tubes are produced and the transverse reinforcements in the centerline of shear flow zones in long
sides of the section are resisting torsional moment as shown in Figure (20).
1 = 1 . 1 (9)
2 = 2 . 2 (10)

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Xo1
Xo2
V1

V5
V2
V6

Yo2

Yo1

V8

V4

V7
V3

Shear force in secondary shear flow zone

Shear force in main shear flow zone

Figure 19: Shear force in shear flow zones

From the equilibrium of vertical forces in main shear flow zone
+ = 0(11)
4 1 . 1 . 1 = 0(12)
4 = 1 . 1 . 1 but1 =
4 = 1 . 1 .

1 .
1

1 .

(13)

S2
S1

Yo2

F2
V8

Yo1

F1

V4

F2

F2
F1

Y
Z2
X
Z1

Figure 20: Side view of longitudinal section of the beam after cracking
From the equilibrium of vertical forces in secondary shear flow zone
+ = 0 (14)

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8 2 . 2 . 2 = 0(15)
But
8 = 2 . 2 .

2 .
2

2 =

(16)

Substitute V4 and V8 in the Eq. (13 and 16), thus

. 1
4 = 1 . 1 . 1
.
(17)
8 = 2 . 2 .

2
1
2 . 2

345

2 .
2

(18)

The total torsional resistance in one side is the summation of T4 and T8.Because of T4=T2 and T8=T6, The total torsional resistance in
two long sides Th.
. 1
. 2
= 2. 1 . 1 . 1
.
+ 2. 2 . 2 . 2
.
(19)
1

The total torsional resistance in short sides is Tw, which is

= 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 (20)
But, 1 = 3 and 5 = 7 Thus,
= 2. 1 + 2. 5 (21)
Where,
Th: torsional resistance provided by stirrups in shear flow zones in long side of the section, kN.m
Tw: torsional resistance provided by stirrups in shear flow zones in short side of the section, kN.m
After cracking, the torsional resistance in two short sides is coming from the shear forces in the centerline of shear flow zones as
shown in Figure (21). Similarly, the Tw=Th,Then, the total torsional resistance is equal to twice of Th and it can be expressed as
follows:
= + = 2. (22)
.
.
= 2. 1 . 1 . 1 01 + 2. 2 . 2 . 2 02 . (23)
1

S2
S1

Xo2

F2
V5

Xo1

F1

V1

F2

F2
F1

Z
Z2

Z1

X
Y

Figure 21: Top view of longitudinal section of the beam after cracking
Where,
Ts: torsional resistance provided by stirrups in shear flow zones, kN.m
At1: area of one leg of the stirrup in the main shear flow zone, mm2
At2: area of one leg of the stirrup in the secondary shear flow zone, mm2
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S1: spacing between stirrup in the main shear flow zone, mm

S2: spacing between stirrup in the secondary shear flow zone, mm
Xo1: width of the stirrup in main shear flow zone, mm
Xo2: width of the stirrup in secondary shear flow zone, mm
Yo1: height of the stirrup in main shear flow zone, mm
Yo2: height of the stirrup in secondary shear flow zone, mm
: angle of inclination of spiral crack, degree
fty1: yield stress in the stirrup in main shear flow zone, N/mm2
fts2: stress in the stirrup in secondary shear flow zone, N/mm2 and it can be predicted in the following equations based on the
grade of concrete
2 = 3.8012

02 2
01

5.117

02
01

+ 2.2079 1 (24)

VI. CONCLUSIONS
Based on the test results and the modification of space truss model to include double idealized shear flow zones, the following
conclusions could be carried out:
1. The torsional resistance of fibrous normal strength concrete beams is improved up to 23.7% and torsional resistance provided by
reinforcements and fibre is improved up to 63.11% due to cover the idealized tension area in the range of 46.2%.
2. The value of twisting angle is improved up to 29.5% and 60.9% at crack and peak loads, respectively from the activating idealized
tension zone.
3. The shear strain on concrete surface at ultimate moment is increased up to 0.03370 due to reduction of the idealized tension
effective area.
4. The axial strain in the longitudinal reinforcement is increased up to 26.4% whereas the strain in transverse reinforcement is
decreased up to 24.5%. Thus, the contribution of longitudinal reinforcement was increased to resist torsion in post cracking stage.
5. The proposed modified space truss model in Eq. 23 and 24 were found that it has a good agreement with test results.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This work was conducted as part of the doctoral studies of the first author. The PhD programme has been financially supported
by Kurdistan Government Region-Iraq and UniversitiSains Malaysia, School of Civil Engineering which are gratefully acknowledged.
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AUTHORS
First Author Karim, F.R., PhD Candidate, School of Civil Engineering, UniversitiSains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, email:
f1974e1997m2004@yahoo.com.
Second Author Abu Bakar, B.H., Professor, School of Civil Engineering, UniversitiSains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, email:
cebad@usm.my.
Third Author KokKeong, Choong, Associated Professor, School of Civil Engineering, UniversitiSains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang,
Malaysia,email: cekkc@usm.my.
Fourth Author Aziz, O.Q., Professor, Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Salahaddin University, Erbil,
Iraqand email : omerqarani@gmail.com.
Correspondence
Author

Karim,
F.R.,email:
f1974e1997m2004@yahoo.com,
alternate
email:f1974e1997m2004@gmail.com,Phone:+60-(0)111-451-39-13.

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