Torsion

INTRODUCTION
Today with the smaller members selected using the
strength design procedure, therefore torsion needs
to be considered much more frequently.

Torsion may be very significant for curved beams,

spiral staircases, beams that have large loads applied
laterally off center, and even spandrel beams
running between exterior building columns.
Some situations where torsion stresses may be significant.
Some situations where torsion stresses may be significant.
Some situations where torsion stresses may be significant.
Off-center loads causing torsion in main beam.
Torsional Moments that Have to Be Considered in Design
1. Equilibrium torsion—For a statically determinate structure,
Torsion for this case cannot be reduced by a redistrib-
ution of internal forces or by a rotation of the member.
The edge beam must be designed to resist the full
calculated torsional moment.

Equilibrium
torsion.
 Torsional Moments that Have to Be Considered in Design
2. Compatibility torsion—The torsional moment in a
particular part of a statically indeterminate
structure may be substantially reduced if that part of the
structure cracks under the torsion and “gives,” or rotates.
The result will be a redistribution of forces in the
structure.

Compatibility
torsion.
Torsional Stresses
the torsional stresses add to the shear stresses on
one side of a member and subtract from them on
the other.
Torsional Stresses
In solid sections, the shear stresses due to the torsion, Tu , are
concentrated in an outside “tube” of the member, while the shear
stresses resulting from Vu are spread across the width of the solid
section,

Torsion and shear stresses in a Solid beam.

Torsional Stresses
Torsional Stresses
Torsional stresses are quite low near the center of a
solid beam. Because of this, hollow beams (which
meet ACI requirements) are assumed to have almost
exactly the same torsional strengths as solid beams
with the same outside dimensions..

Torsion and shear

stresses in a hollow
beam.
Imaginary space truss is used in Design for
Torsion.
 When Torsional Reinforcing Is Required by the
ACI
In ACI Section 11.6.1, it is stated that torsion
effects may be neglected for non-prestressed
members (ACI Section 11.5.1[a]) if

≤ λ

Portions of monolithic T
beam that may be used
for torsion calculations.
For statically indeterminate structures where
reductions in torsional moments can occur
because of redistribution of internal forces
Section 11.6.2.2 of the ACI Code permits the
maximum factored torsional moment to be
reduced to the following value:

= λ
 • Acp equals the area of the entire cross
sections (including the area of any voids in hollow
members), and
• pcp represents the perimeters of the entire cross
sections.
• For a hollow section, Ag shall be used in place of Acp
in 11.5.1, and the outer boundaries of the section shall
conform to 13.2.4.

Portions of monolithic T beam that may be used for Acp and Pcp calculations.
Torsional Moment Strength
The cross-sectional dimensions shall be such that:
(a) For solid sections
2
+ ≤∅ + "
1.7 3

(b) For hollow sections

2
+ ≤∅ + "
1.7 3

If the wall thickness is less than Aoh /ph ,

the second term in Eq. (11-19) shall be taken as

1.7 #
Torsional Moment Strength
ACI Section 11.5.4.4 for hollow sections the
distance from the centerline of the transverse
torsion reinforcing to the inside face of the wall
must not be less than 0.5Aoh/ph
• Acp is the Area enclosed within by out side
perimeter of section
• Aoh is the Area of the member that is enclosed
within this centerline. The letters oh stand for
outside hoop
• Ao is the Area enclosed by shear flow path
• pcp is the perimeter of the concrete section
• ph is the perimeter of the centerline of the
outermost closed Stirrup.
Torsional Moment Strength
Torsional Reinforcing

Closed stirrups (these types

frequently impractical).

Overlapping stirrups used as

torsion reinforcing but not
desirable.
Recommended torsion
reinforcement.
No confinement is available –
thus 135 hook are required for
both end of top bar

confinement is available at
right hand side –thus 90 hook
are permissible at that side

confinement is available at
both side –thus 90 hook are
permissible at both side
Design of Torsional Reinforcing
• Minimum torsion reinforcement
Transverse : (11.5.5.2)
) 0.35 )
$+ % = 0.062 "′ ≥
"*+ "*+
Longitudinal : (10.5.5.3)
0.42 "′ 4 + "*+
.,012 = − 7
"* 6 "*
9:
where At /s shall not be taken less than 8 ;%

Av obtained is for both legs of a two-legged stirrup

(or for all legs of a four-legged stirrup, etc.).
The value At , which represents the area of the
stirrups needed for torsion, is for only one leg of
the stirrup
Design of Torsional Reinforcing
• Max Spacing of torsion reinforcement
• Transverse:
smaller of ph /8 or 300 mm.
or d/2 or d/4 as required for shear design (ACI
11.5.6.1 and 11.4.4).
• Longitudinal :
• shall be distributed around the perimeter of
the closed stirrups with a maximum spacing of
300 mm.
• At least one Bar at each corner
• db=0.042* S ,but not less than No. 10. where s
is spacing of stirrups(ACI 11.5.6.2)
ACI Requirements of Torsional Reinforcing
ACI Requirements of Torsional Reinforcing
ACI Requirements of Torsional Reinforcing
ACI Requirements of Torsional Reinforcing
• In the flexural compression zones of members.the computed
area of longitudinal torsional reinforcing may be reduced by
an amount equal to Mu/0.9dfy , according to ACI Section
11.5.3.9.
• Torsional reinforcing must be provided for a distance no less
than bt + d beyond the point where it is theoretically no
longer required.
• Maximum yield stresses fy or fyt = 420 MPa (ACI
Section 11.5.3.4).
Design of Torsional Reinforcing
Transverse Reinforcement:
2 > #"?#
< = cot C
6
+ < 2 > #"*+
= cot C , 6 = cot C
6 2 >"*+ <
Longitudinal Reinforcement:
+ "*+
. = 7 cot C
6 "*
Example: Design the torsional reinforcing for the
beam shown in Figure 15.15, for which f’c = 28
MPa, fy = 420 MPa, Vu = 190 kN, Tu = 30 kN-m,
and As required for Mu is 2050 mm2. Assume #13
stirrups and a clear cover equal to 40 mm.
SOLUTION
1. Is Torsion Reinforcing Necessary?
Acp = (350 mm) (650 mm) = 227 500 mm2
Pcp = (2) (350 mm + 650 mm) = 2000 mm
1 G7 1 28 227 500
D E "’G = 0.75
12 7G7 12 2000
= 8.558 × 106 N•mm = 8.56 kN•m < 30 kN•m
∴ Torsion reinforcing is required
2. Compute Sectional Properties
With 40-mm clear cover and #13 stirrups
(diameter = 12.7 mm)

x1 = 350 − (2)(40 + 12.7/2)= 257.3

y1= 650 − (2)(40 + 12.7/2)= 557.3 mm
Aoh= (257.3) (557.3) = 143 393 mm^2
Ao = 0.85Aoh = (0.85) (143 393 mm2) = 121 884 mm2

Assuming bottom reinforcing consists of #25 bars

(diameter = 25.4 mm)

d = 650 − 40 − 12.7 − 25.4/2= 584.6 mm

ph = 2(x1+ y1) = (2) (257.3 + 557.3) = 1629 mm
3. Is the Concrete Section Sufficiently Large to
Support Tu?
= 1/6λ "′
G = (0.17) (1.0) 28 (350) (584.6) = 180 449 N =
180.45ON
2
+ ≤∅ + "
1.7 3

190 ON × 10Q 30 × 10R × 1629

+
350 × 584.6 1.7 143 393
< 0.75(180.45 × 10^3)/(350 × 584.6) + 0.66 ∗ 28
1.678 N/VV < 3.307 N/VV
∴ Sectionis sufficiently large
4. Determine the Transverse Torsional Reinforcing
Required

< = W/D = 30 /0.75 = 40 ON • V

Assuming θ = 45◦ as per ACI 11.5.3.6(a)
YZ \]
[
= Y ^
cot C = (40 × 10^6) /((2) (121 884) (420) (1.0))
_Z
(ACI Equation 11-21)
YZ ``a
[
= 0.391 `` for one leg of stirrup

5. Calculate the Area of Shear Reinforcing Required

W = 190 ON > ½ G = 1/2(180.45) = 90.22 ON
∴ Shear reinforcing is required
6 = < − G = 190 / (0.75) − (180.45) = 72.88 ON
d/6 = 6/"? = 72.88 × 10^3/((420) (584.6))
= 0.297 VV^2/VV for two legs of stirrup
6. Select Stirrups
2 #/6 + d/6 = (2) (0.391) + 0.297 = 1.079 VV2/VV
for two legs of stirrup
Using #13 stirrup (As = 129 mm2)
6 = (2) (129 VV2)/1.079 VV2/VV = 239 VV
Maximum allowable spacing of stirrup
)Vef = 7g/8 = 1629/8 = 204 VV
h6i 200 VV

Minimum area of stirrup

28 350 200
d + 2 # = 0.062 ∗ = 55.11 VV2
420
j.Qkl m j.Qk Qkj jj
≤ ^*
= n j
= 55.56 VV
(ACI Equation 11−23)
= 55.56 VV < (2) (129 VV ) = 258 VV2 op
7. Selection of Longitudinal Torsion Reinforcing
q = #/6 7g "?#/"? ∗ cot ^2C
= (0.391) (1629) ∗ 420/420 ∗ (1.0)^2
= 637 VV2
(ACI Equation 11-22)
rs< q = 0.42"’G G7/"? − #/6 7g "?#/"? (ACI Equation
11-24)

= (0.42 ∗ 28) (227 500)/(420) − (0.391) (1629) 420/420

= 557 VV2 op