Example.

A reinforced concrete spandrel beam has overall dimensions of 250 x 460 and is joined
integrally with a 150 mm slab as shown in Fig. 1. The section shown is that at the critical location a
distance d from the face of support. At this section, the factored loads are negative bending moment M u
= 100 kN-m, shear force Vu = 89 kN, and torsional moment Tu = 11 kN-m. Assume that the torsional
stiffness was estimated and used in a structural analysis to obtain these design loadings. Check the
adequacy of this section, and select the transverse hoop steel required, if any, according to ACI Code
using f’c = 28 MPa and fy = 276 MPa. 10 mm @
100 mm o.c.

150 mm 3-25 mm
3-25 mm
460 mm
d = 400 mm

10 mm @ 2-16 mm 10 mm minimum
100 mm o.c. size, slab design will
2-20 mm
2-20 mm determine this
reinforcement
250 mm 3hf = 450 mm
(a) Details of torsion reinforcement
(b) Given data
Fig. 1 Spandrel beam of Example

Solution. (a) Flexural strength. The required coefficient of resistance Rn is

requiredM n M u 100kN  m(1000 N / m) 2

required Rn = = = = 2.778 N/mm2
bd 2 bd 2 0.9(250)( 400) 2

1 2mRn  fy 276
required  = 1  1   m= '
= = 11.597
m  fy  0.85 f c 0.85(28)

1  2(11.597)( 2.778) 
required  = 1  1   = 0.010733
11.597  276 

required As = bd = 0.010733(250)(400) = 1073.3 mm2

provided As = 3(π/4)(25 mm)2 = 1472.622 mm2

Available steel area for longitudinal torsion reinforcement,

available As = 1472.622 - 1073.3 = 399.322 mm2

available A’s = 2(π/4)(20 mm)2 = 628.318 mm2

 (b) Compute maximum Tu to neglect torsion. The maximum factored torsional moment Tu that may
be neglected (ACI-11.6.1) is

 Acp2 
limit Tu 0.083 f  ' 
 Pcp
c

 

Acp = 250(460) + 450(150) = 182500 mm2

Pcp = 460 + 2(250) + 310 + 2(450) + 150 = 2320 mm

Note that Acp, the area enclosed by outside perimeter of the concrete section, and Pcp, the outside
perimeter of the concrete cross-section, have included the slab portion. Note that the maximum
effective width of slab used is 3 times its thickness (ACI-R11.6.1, 4th par.). That ACI Commentary section
states, “For a T-beam cast monolithically with a slab, Acp and Pcp can include portions of the adjacent
slabs conforming to 13.2.4.” Unless closed stirrups are used in the slab portion, that area should not be
included in computing either Acp or Pcp. Thus

 182500 2 
limit Tu 0.083(0.75)(1.0) 28   = 4728856.379 N-mm = 4.729 kN-m
 2320 

Since Tu of 11 kN-m exceeds limit Tu, torsion must be included in design.

(c) Determine whether or not the section is large enough for combined shear and torsion. From ACI-
11.6.3.1, for solid sections
2 2
 Vu   Tu Ph   Vc 
    
2 
    0.66 f ' c 
 w  
b d 1.7 Aoh   w
b d 

Assuming 40 mm cover to outside of closed 10-mm stirrups,

Aoh = [460 -2(40) – 10][250 – 2(40) – 10] = 59200 mm2

Conservatively, the effect of the integral slab is neglected. The perimeter Ph of the centerline of
outermost closed transverse torsional reinforcement, again neglecting the integral slab,

Ph = 2(370) + 2(160) = 1060 mm

Vu 89000 Tu Ph 11(1000) 2 (1060)

= = 0.89 MPa 2
= = 1.957 MPa
bw d 250(400) 1.7 Aoh 1.7(59200) 2

= (0.89) 2  (1.957) 2 = 2.15 MPa

 = 0.75[(0.167) + (0.66) 28 ] = 2.7445 MPa

Since 2.7445 MPa exceeds 2.15 MPa, the section has adequate size.

(d) Transverse torsional reinforcement

Tn = Tu/ = 11/0.75 = 14.667 kN-m

2 Ao At f yt
Tn = cot  (ACI 11.21)
s

Ao = 0.85Aoh = 0.85(59200) = 50320 mm2

At 14.667 x10 6
 = 0.528 mm2/mm for 1 leg of stirrup
s 2(50320)( 276) cot( 45 o )

Step 5: Shear reinforcement

Vc = 0.17 f c' bwd = [0.17(1) 28 (250)(400)] = 89.956 kN

½Vc = ½(89.956) = 44.978 kN <Vu = 89 kN

Shear reinforcement is required

Vs = (Vu – Vc)/890.7589.956 kN)]/0.75 = 28.711 kN

Av/s = Vs/fyd = (28711 N)/[276(400)] = 0.26 mm2/mm for two legs of stirrups

Step 6: Design of Stirrups

2At/s + Av/s = 2(0.528) + 0.26 = 1.316 mm2/mm for two legs of stirrups

Using 10 mm stirrups, As = 78.5398 mm2

s = (2)(78.5398)/1.316 = 119.361 mm2 Governs

smax = lesser of: 1. 300 mm

2. Ph/8 = 1060 mm/8 = 132.5 mm

Taking, s = 100 mm
 Stirrups provided are 10 mm bars spaced at 100 mm o.c.

Step 7: Design of Longitudinal Reinforcement

At  f yt  2
Al= ph   cot  = ( 0.528)(1060 mm)(276/276)(1)2557.56 mm2
s  f 
 y 

0.175bw/fyt = 0.175(250)/276 = 0.1585 mm2/mm < At/s = 0.528 mm2/mm

0.42 f ' c Acp A  f yt

Al(min)=   t  ph
fy  s  fy
Al(min)= (0.42) 28 (182500)/276 – (0.528)(1060)(276/276) = 909.862 mm2> Al

Taking, Al = 909.862 mm2

Additional longitudinal steel is provided in four inside corners of stirrups and vertically in
between. So, total longitudinal steel provided in beam is,

AL/3 = 909.862/3 = 303.287 mm2

Try 2-16 mm bars for the mid-depth reinforcement, As = 2(π/4)(16)2 = 402.124 mm2

Available As provided:

Top Steel Mid-depth Steel Bottom Steel

399.322 mm2 402.124 mm2 628.318 mm2 OK
10 mm @
100 mm o.c.

3-25 mm

10 mm @ 2-16 mm 10 mm minimum
100 mm o.c. size, slab design will
2-20 mm determine this
reinforcement
Details of torsion reinforcement