UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
An elastic theory for the torsional strength of
rectangular reinforced concrete beams
by Henry J. Cowan, M.Sc., A.M.I.Struct.E.
SUMMARY:
The theories of Rausch and Andersen for the design of
torsional shear reinforcement are examined and a more
accurate formula is derived, using the strain energy
principle. This formula, like that of Rausch, is based on
the cUSlOmary assumptions of the elastic working stress
theory. The compound hyperbolic series resulting from
the integration of the square of St. Venant's rectangular
torsion function is evaluated and reduced to a single
constant. This constant is intermediate between those
obtained from the approximate theories of Rausch and
Andersen,
Introduction
Torsion is present in the beams of most monolithic
structures. It is produced by the end moments of other
beams framing in at right angles, and by eccentric loading
of the floor or roof dab which the beam supports. It
may generally be assumed that the torsional moments
can be resisted by the concrete alone; there are, however,
beams, notably where the span is comparatively short,
which must be provided with torsional shear reinforce-
ment.
The shear stresses produced by the torsional moment
give rise to principal tensile and compressive stresses of
equal magnitude at 45 to the axis, and the concrete
fails in tension with a fracture forming a helix at an
angle of 45 to the axis of the beam. Since the tensile
strength of concrete is very low, the torsional strength
of plain concrete is also low.
The torsional strength can be more than doubled by
introducing reinforcement following the line of the
principal tensile stress, i.e., continuous spirals making
an angle of 45 to the axis. In practice spiral reinforce-
'The numbers refer to the list of references on pages 7 and 8.
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ment is not normally used, because it is difficult to
manufacture for non-circular sections, and because,
where there is a possibility of a reversal in the sign of
the torsional moment, it is necessary to provide two
systems of spirals at right angles to one another; a
further objection is that spiral reinforcement is not
suitable to resist bending shear. As a result a system
of horizontal bars and vertical stirrups is commonly
substituted to take the horizontal and vertical com-
ponents of the diagonal tension. It is. however,
convenient to work out the formulae in terms of the
45 spiral as the theoretically simplest system of reinforce-
ment, and to derive the formulae for other systems of
reinforcement from this.
Review of previous work
Quite a number of experimental investigations have
been carried out on the strength of reinforced concrete
beams in torsion ll) (2) (3) (4) (5) ('/) and some have been
made the basis of empirical design formulae (4) (6) (7) (8)*.
Theoretical solutions on the basis of the elastic theory
have been put forward by Rausch'O) and Andersen (5) (6).
Raush's theory is based on the same assumptions as
are laid down in the British Standard Code of Practice
(C.P.114) : U) both steel and concrete are elastic within
the range of the permissible stresses, and (ii) all tensile
stresses are taken by the reinforcement, except that the
concrete may be assumed to resist diagonal tension
within the limits of shear stress specified.
Andersen's theory, in accordance with the provisions
of the American Code of Practice, provides that the
reinforcement shall take only the tension in excess of
that permissible on plain concrete. His formulae can,
however, be brought in line with assumption (ii) by
putting the tensile strength of concrete equal to nil.
 d L
L x
(0)
Figure 1: Circular beam with spiral reinforcement.
Both theories can then be stated in the form
MT = A.y2.A.At t ....................... (1)
p obtained by equating the work done by the torsional
where M T = the permissible torsional moment,
A = the effective cross sectional area of the
section, defined as the area contained
within the centre lines of the spiral
reinforcement,
At = the cross sectional area of one spiral wire,
t = the maxilllUm permissible stress in the
spiral reinforcement,
and p = the pitch of the spiral reinforcement,
measured parallel to the axis of the beam.
In Rausch's formula the c:oefficient A equals 2 for all
shapes of cross section. In Andersen's formula it is
2 for circular sections, and approximately t for square
and rectangular sections.
Both formulae are based on the circular section theory
of torsion, and are therefore accurate only when applied
to circular sections. In applying his theory to non-
circular sections, Rausch assumes that the stress in the
spiral reinforcement at any point is directly proportional
to the distance of that point from the axis of the beam.
For the rectangular section the reverse is in fact true,
the maximum stress occurring at the middle of the
longer sides, and the minimum stress at the comers.
Andersen, assuming parabolic stress distribution in the
reinforcement, obtains the radius of the equivalent
circular section by applying the Bach formula. This
formula is, however, based on the assumption of
homogeneity, which does not hold for reinforced
concrete.
Since nearly all reinforced concrete beams subjected
to torsion are rectangular in cross section, it seemed
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.1
z
(b)
desirable to obtain a more accurate value for t~
coefficient A. The solution put forward in this paper is
moment to the strain energy stored in the beam. The
method is applied first to the circular section, and then
to the more complex case of the rectangular section,
using St. Venant's theory of torsion.
The solution is based on the assumptions of the elastic
working stress theory as stated above. The validity of
these assumptions when applied to torsion will be
examined in another paper.
The strain energy method applied to circular
sections with 45 reinforcement
Figures l(a) and (b) show dia$l'31ll1lllltically a cross
section and an elevation of a circular beam reinforced
with N continuous 45 spirals spaced at a pitch p. The
cross sectional area of one spiral bar is At. The centre
lines of the spiral bars are placed on a circle of diameter
d, and each spiral makes one complete tum in a length
of beam I.
Therefore I = nd = Np .. ............. (2)
If s is measured along the helix and / along the axis
of the beam,
s = / sec 45 ....................... (3)
When a length I of the beam is twisted through an
angle 6 per unit length, the point A on the spiral will
move along the circumference to B.
The radial displacement u = AB =~ 61
and the radial strain er = ~~ = 46
The corresponding displacement of the spiral reinforce-
 Torsion strength of reiriforced concrete beams

ment, parallel to s is Ils = AB' = AB cos 45 The strain energy method applied to rectangular
d sections with 45 spiral reinforcement
="26 I cos 45
and the strain in the reinforcement Figures 2(a) and (b) show diagrammaticall) a cross
e = Ils =!!. 6 I cos 45 section and an isometric view of a rectangular beam
s 2 I sec 45 reinforced with N continuous 45 spirals spaced at a
pitch p. The centre lines of the spiral bars are placed
=~6 = e~ ........................ (4) on a rectangle, the lengths of the longer and shorter
The stress in the helical bars is uniform throughout sides of the rectangle being d and b respectively. Each
their length, and equal to I>t = esEs, where Es is Young's spiral makes one complete turn 'in a length of beam I.
modulus for the bars. Therefore I = 2(b+d) = Np ...................... (5)
At the maximum permissible torsional moment M T If s is measured along the helix of the reinforcement,
the stress in the spiral reinforcement is equal to the and I along the axis of the beam,
maximum permissible stress t. s = I sec 45 = 2(b+d) sec 45 ............. (6)
If the tensile strength of the concrete is taken as nil, The displacements u, v and w parallel to the axes
the strain energy in the beam due to pure torSion is x, y and z respectively are
divided equally between the tensile strain energy in the
steel, and the compressive strain energy in the concrete, u = +6zy; v = -6zx; w = a?
i.e., the total strain energy is twice the strain energy where'P =
stored in the steel.
Therefore the strain energy in a length I of the beam (_I)n sinh (2n+ l)rry
b
is U = lM T 6 I = 2 I: lNA t t e. ds
( 2n+ 1)3 cos h(2n+b I)rrd
Substituting for N, s, and es from equations (2), (3)
and (4)
sin (2n + l)rr~
2 rrd d
M T =Tfj.-.A t .t'4"6 ds
sec 45' II b
(Reference 10)
p 0

=~.rrd2. Att'/sec450 The strain components

I 4 p
ezx OU oW
=-+- =
O'll) 6
( y+-
_ A 0.p A Att oz oX oX
- ...................... (1)
and eyz = -
oW +-
ov = (O'll )
- -x e
where A = a constant = 2, oy oX oy
and A = the effective cross sectional area of the
. rrd 2 The remaining strain components vanish.
section =4 The corresponding tensile strains in the spiral rein-

/
/
/

o /////
d
/ I
/ '
, /
----~-----------------------~
'
,
-! ,
I "
"

(a)
b .1
L:, x (b)

Figure 2: Rectangular beam with spiral reinforcement.

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 Magazine of Concre!I'_Iie...s...e.l!.rch :July ,1950
forcement are obtained, as in the circular section, by The torsional moment corresponding to a given angle
" cos 45 I' of twist (-) per unit length is therefore
multlplymg by sec 45 = '2
MT = V2~ b2 d At Es O............ (10)
i.e. over the longer sides es=teyzl p
Substituting for (-) from equation (9)
V2~ '~'bd
and over the shorter sides es =~ezx]"""""'" .(7)
M- = 4
,
= A
y p
V2A At t . , ...... , , .. , ..... (I)
The stress in the spiral reinforcementj; = esEs . ..... (8) p
The maximum shear strain occurs in the middle of the where A = the effective cross-sectional area of the
b till f section = b.d.
longer sides, i,e" where Y = 0 and x = T
As the stress in the spiral reinforcement is proportional
and A = \~ ,a function of the ratio~OnIY.
to the shear strain, the maximum stress in the spiral d
Values orA for the range 1 <7)< 3 have been computed
reinforcement occurs at the same point.
At the maximum permissible torsional moment M '" and are given in Table 1 and Figure 3. The rate of
the maximum stress in the spiral reinforcement is equal variation of the value of A is very small, and it is therefore
to the maximum permissible stress t. recommended that for design purposes A be taken as
~o [esEsJ constant and equal to its minimum, 1'60, for all values
Therefore t _Q.
x--2
y=o
of ~ . Rectangular reinforced concrete beams with Ii 1
ratio greater than 2'5 are rare in practice, and quite
= lEg
2
[eyz] x-2
_ll.
unsuitable to resist substantial torsional moments.
y=o

~J.E
,- 2 S
[(v'P)
vy x=f -~2J () TABLE 1

=
i
)'=0

'
4bEsO .... " " " " " " , ......... (9)
y ---r ,.., ).

'( is a hyberbolic series, and a function of the ratio ~ ],0 1351 0'5636 1669
1-2 1'516 0'6159 1'623
only (Table I), It is one of the functions tabulated by
14 1644 I 0-6584 1'602
St. Venant in his original memoir on torsion,11,.
16 1-739 06942 1597
The strain energy in a length of beam I is twice the
18 1809 07250 1603
strain energy stored in the spiral reinforcement:

I~
20 1860 0-7504
U tM~O/=2rs1NAtftesds
,0
25 ],936 0'7986 1-654
Substituting for N and It from equations (5) and (8) 30 1971 08322 1689
I's
!MTO/=~AtEsl
p
e 2ds
,- 0 s
2At Es
M", es2ds
= ---()-
I's Equation (I) gives the permissible torsional moment
p .0 in the form required by the designer, that is in terms of

l
(~)
Substituting for sand es from equations
+4 sec 45 + 2. sec 45' J and (7) the spiral pitch and the diameter of the reinforcement.
In order to demonstrate the relative economy in material

{esdS=2 J (,<fYdY + .r (e2xYdX

to be obtained from the use of a square or near-square
2 section, the equation may be written in the form
o _ ~ sec 45 - ~sec 45" i. A2 t

,+
MT=: -O-r s ..... (11)

2 ~45' [f}+::Yd + ({:>X)' Y

where 0 the perimeter of the spiral cage
=
2(b+d)=1
=
and rs = the spirall'einforcement ratio per unit volume
_ V'IONAt
__1 _l'" 62 b'd -AI

where
vI"is a compound hyperbolic series, and a function
~ Equation (II) shows that for a given volume of steel
and concrete the permissible torsional morrent decreases
of the ratio : only. Values of:; for the range 1 <4<3
rapl'dl y as t he ratIo
. bd_Increases.
have been computed and are given in Table 1.

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 Torsion strength of ~f!.info!cet! co~crele f?eams

At AfT
P = >.At .................... (I2b)
and an equal or greater volume of longitudinal reinforce-
ment must be provided to take the horizontal component
of the diagonal tension, i.e.
AI 1= ~~ TO .............. (l2c)
Figure 3: Variation of coefficient>. with%ratio.
TABLE 2: Numerical value of i.
Vertical stirrups as torsional shear reinforcement Circular Rectangular
If the direction of the shear reinforcement does not section section
coincide with the direction of the principal tensile stress, Rausch's theory 200 200
the permissible torsional moment may be dervied from Andersen's theory 200 133
equation (I) by a procedure similar to that used in Strain energy method 2-00 160
analyzing beams subject to shearing forces. fl2)
M T = >..y2.A.At t sin (ar.+45)
P . . For the circular section the strain energy method gives
where ~ is the angle of inclination of the shear reinforce- exactly the same answer as the other two theories. For
ment to the horizontal. the rectangular section the value of A computed by the
For vertical stirrups ~ = 90 strain energy method is intermediate between those
_ >'A Att'"
andMT---~- obtained from the theories of Rausch and Andersen,
. P which are only approximate when applied to non-circular
In addition longitudinal reinforcement must be sections.
provided to take the horizontal component of the Equations (\ 2) are based on the customary assumptions
diagonal tension. If vertical stirrups are used, the ratio of the elastic working stress theory.
of longitudinal and circumferential reinforcement per
unit volume is equal. From equation (11) the total
cross-sectional area of the longitudinal reinforcement
REFERENCES
required is (I) BACH, c. and GRAF, O. Versuche uber die
Widerstandsfahigkeit von Beton und Eisenbeton
gegen Verdrehung. (Experiments on the torsional
strength of concrete and reinforced concrete.)
ThiS reinforcement is assumed to be uniformly distri. Deutscher AusschU$S fur Eisenbeton, 1912. No. 16.
buted around the circumference of the beam ; however. pp. 1-78.
a bar in each comer of the cross section should be (2) YOUNG, c. R., SAGAR, W. L. and HUGHES, C. A.
adequate, except for the largest beams. Torsional strength of rectangular sections of
concrete, plain and reinforced. University of
Toronto, School of Engineering Research, 1922.
Bulletin No.3. Section 9. pp. 145-169.
Conclusion (3) MIYAMOTO, TAKENOSUKE. Torsional strength of
The' amount of shear reinforcement required in a reinforced concrete. Concrete and Constructional
circular or rectangular section, when the permissible Engineering, 1927. Vol. 22. No. 11. November.
shear stress in the concrete has been exceeded, is given by pp. 637-647.
At AfT (4) TURNER, LESLIE and DAVIES, VICTOR CHARLES.
Ii = A\f2 At sin (",+45) ........ (12) Plain and reinforced concrete in torsion, with
In particular, if the shear reinforcement is in the particular reference to reinforced concrete beams.
form of 45 spirals Institution of Civil Engineers, 1934. Selected
~ Engineering paper No. 165. p.31.
PAt = >'V2At ................ (12a) (5) ANDERSEN, PAUL. Experiments with concrete tor-
and only nominal longitudinal reinforcement is required. sion. Transactions of the American Society of
If the shear reinforcement is in the form of vertical Civil Engineers, 1935. Vol. 100. Paper No. 1912.
stirrups pp. 949-960. Discussion, pp. 961-983.

NOTE: When usin~ this formula for designing the shear reinforcement in beams subject to combined bending and torsion it should be
reme,,!bered that At IS the cross sectional area of one bar, whereas Aw in the usual bendin g shear formula denotes the area of two bars
per stirrup.

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(6) ANDERSEN, PAUL. Rectangular concrete sections
under torsion. Proceedings of the American Con-
crete Institute, 1938. Vol. 34. September/October.
pp. I-II.
(7) MARSHALL, W. T. and TEMBE, N. R. Experiments
on plain and reinforced concrete in torsion .. The
Structural Engineer, 1941. Vols. 19/20. November.
pp. 177-19 I.
(8) Ri:gles d'utilisation du beton arme. (Regulations
for the use of reinforced concrete.) Paris, Ministere
de la Reconstruction et de r Urbanisme, 1945.
Code No. B.A.1945. Clause 8. p.91.
(9) RAUSCH, E. Berechnung des Eisenbetons gegen
Verdrehung. (Design of reinforced concrete in
Downloaded by [ University of Saskatchewan] on [21/09/16]. Copyright ICE Publishing, all rights reserved.
Magazine of Concrete Research: July 1950
torsion.) Berlin, Julius Springer, 1929. Disserta-
tion. p.50.
(10) LOVE, A. E. H. A treatise on the mathematical
theory of elasticity. 4th edition. London,
Cambridge University Press, 1927. pp.216-220.
(II) TODHUNTER, I. and PEARSON, K. History of the
theory of elasticity. I st edition. London,
Cambridge University Press, 1893. Vol. 2. Part
I. pp.47-48.
(12) PEABODY, DEAN. Design of reinforced concrete
structures. 2nd edition. New York, John Wiley
& Sons, Inc., and London, Chapman & Hall Ltd.,
1946. Chapter 5. p. 62.