CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1

Torsion 1 Torsion 2

Weaver Road Bridge

Oregon, USA
‰ In structural design, torsional moment may,
on occasion, be a significant force for which
provision must be made.
‰ Frequently torsion is a secondary, though
not necessarily a minor effect that must be
considered in combination with the action
of other forces.
‰ The shapes that make good columns and
beams, i.e., those that have their material
distributed as far from their centroids as
practicable, are not equally efficient in
resisting torsion.
‰ Thin-wall circular and box sections are
stronger torsionally than sections with the
same area arranged as channel, I, tee, angle,
or zee shapes. Avenues Walk Flyover
Florida, USA

Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018 Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018

CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1
Torsion 3 Torsion 4

Church in Rancho Palos Verdes

California, USA

Curved Pedestrian Bridge,

Longview, Florida, USA

Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018 Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018
 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1
Torsion 5 Torsion 6
y
‹”…—Žƒ”’Žƒ‡•”‡ƒ‹
’Žƒ‡ƒˆ–‡”–™‹•–‹‰ When a simple circular solid shaft is
twisted, the shearing stress at any point on
a transverse cross-section varies directly
T
as the distance from the center of the
shaft. Thus, during twisting, the cross- T
section which is initially planar remains a φȋzȌ x φ γ
plane and rotates only about the axis of
the shaft.
r
Saint-Venant (1853) showed that when a z r
noncircular bar is twisted, a transverse dφ
‡…–ƒ‰—Žƒ”’Žƒ‡•„‡…‘‡ section that was planar prior to twisting
™ƒ”’‡†ƒˆ–‡”–™‹•–‹‰
does not remain plane after twisting. The
original cross-section plane surface
becomes a warped surface. In torsion
situations the out-of-plane, or warping
r dφ =γ dz
effect, must be considered in addition to
the rotation, or pure twisting effect.
…‘””‡…––™‹•–‡†•Šƒ’‡ ‡ˆ‘”‡–™‹•– ˆ–‡”–™‹•– γα•Š‡ƒ”•–”ƒ‹
ȋšǦ•‡…–‹‘Ž‹‡•ƒ”‡•Š‘™•–”ƒ‹‰Š–Ȍ

Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018 Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018

CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1
Torsion 7 Torsion 8

PURE TORSION OF HOMOGENEOUS SECTIONS PURE TORSION OF HOMOGENEOUS SECTIONS

݀߶
‰ T acting on a prismatic solid shaft of r dφ =γ dz Ÿ ߛ ൌ ‫ݎ‬
homogeneous material. ݀‫ݖ‬
‰ Out-of plane warping has negligible Š‡ƒ”•–”‡••ǡν αγG
effect on the angle of twist φ. This dT αȋν dAȌ r αȋγG dAȌr αȋ‫ݎ‬
ௗథ
G dAȌr
assumption will be nearly correct so ௗ௭
long as the cross-section is small ௗథ
compared to the length of the shaft
dT αrʹ G dA
ௗ௭
and also that no significant reentrant ݀߶ ݀߶ ݀߶
comers exist. T α න rʹ ‫ ܣ݀ܩ‬ൌ ‫ ܩ‬න ‫ ܣ݀ ʹݎ‬ൌ ‫ܬܩ‬
݀‫ݖ‬ ݀‫ݖ‬ ݀‫ݖ‬
‰ No distortion of the cross-section
occurs during twisting. Š‡”‡ǡ J α න ‫ܣ݀ ʹݎ‬
The rate of twist (twist per unit length) ݀߶ ߛ ߥ ߥ‫ܬ‬
may therefore be expressed as Tα ‫ ܬܩ‬ൌ ‫ ܬܩ‬ൌ ‫ ܬܩ‬ൌ
݀‫ݖ‬ ‫ݎ‬ ‫ݎܩ‬ ‫ݎ‬
ܶ‫ݎ‬
‘”•‹‘ƒŽ•Š‡ƒ”•–”‡••ǡ ߥ α
‫ܬ‬
‘–‡ǣJ αIx ΪIy α’‘Žƒ”‘‡–‘ˆ‹‡”–‹ƒ‘Ž›ˆ‘”…‹”…—Žƒ”•‡…–‹‘•Ǥ
Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018 Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018
 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1
Torsion 9 Torsion 10

PURE TORSION OF RECTANGULAR SECTIONS PURE TORSION OF RECTANGULAR SECTIONS

ܶ ܶ‫ܮ‬ ܶ‫ܮ‬
߬௠௔௫ ൌ ǡ ߶ൌ ൌ
ߙܾ‫ʹݐ‬ ߚܾ‫ܩܬ ܩ͵ݐ‬
φ
‘”•‹‘ƒŽ…‘•–ƒ– ‫ ܬ‬ൌ ߚܾ‫͵ݐ‬
ܶ ߚܾ‫ܬܩ ܩ͵ݐ‬
‘”•‹‘ƒŽ•–‹ˆˆ‡•• ൌ ൌ
߶ ‫ܮ‬ ‫ܮ‬
T
b αŽƒ”‰‡”†‹‡•‹‘
t ᕏƒŽŽ‡”†‹‡•‹‘
T α–‘”“—‡
G α•Š‡ƒ”‘†—Ž—•
α , β α…‘Ǧ‡ˆˆ‹…‹‡–• αˆ—…–‹‘•‘ˆ b/t

Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018 Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018

CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1
Torsion 11 Torsion 12

THIN RECTANGULAR SECTIONS TORSIONAL CONSTANT FOR OPEN SHAPES COMPOSED OF

RECTANGULAR ELEMENTS (e.g. W, T, M, L shapes etc.)
Torsional constant J for sections composed of thin rectangles may be
computed as the sum of the values for the individual components.
Š‡bεεtǡβ ≈ ͲǤ͵͵͵Ǥ•—…Š•‹–—ƒ–‹‘•ǡJ ≈ Σβbt͵ ≈ ȋΣbt͵ȌȀ͵

Š‡ƒƒŽ›•‹•ƒ•ƒ’’Ž‹‡†–‘”‡…–ƒ‰Ž‡•„‡…‘‡•…‘’Ž‡š•‹…‡–Š‡•Š‡ƒ”•–”‡••‹• bͳ bʹ bͳ
ƒˆˆ‡…–‡†„›™ƒ”’‹‰ǡ–Š‘—‰Š‡••‡–‹ƒŽŽ›–Š‡ƒ‰Ž‡‘ˆ–™‹•–‹•—ƒˆˆ‡…–‡†Ǥ•ƒ tͳ tͳ
tʹ
ƒ’’”‘š‹ƒ–‹‘ǡ…‘•‹†‡”–Š‡‡Ž‡‡–‘ˆ ‹‰Ǥ•—„Œ‡…–‡†–‘•Š‡ƒ”ǡ‹™Š‹…Šǡ
b͵ bʹ

‘”ƒ–Š‹”‡…–ƒ‰Ž‡ǡ‡‰Ž‡…–‹‰‡†‡ˆˆ‡…–•ǡ–Š‡•Š‡ƒ”•–”‡••ƒ›„‡‡š’”‡••‡†ƒ•ǡ
݀߶ νPD[ t͵ tʹ
„—–ǡ T α ‫ܬܩ‬
݀‫ݖ‬ J ≈ ȋbͳtͳ͵Ϊbʹtʹ͵Ϊb͵t͵͵ȌȀ͵ J ≈ ȋbͳtͳ͵Ϊbʹtʹ͵ȌȀ͵
ܶ‫ݐ‬
Š‡”‡ˆ‘”‡ǡ vmax α νPD[
‫ܬ‬
Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018 Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018
 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1
Torsion 13 Torsion 14

TORSIONAL SHER STRESS FLOW ON A SECTION COMPOSED OF TORSION IN CLOSED THIN WALLED SECTION
THIN RECTANGULAR ELEMENTS

In the closed section of Fig. the walls are assumed thin so that the shearing
stress may be assumed uniformly distributed across the thickness t. If the
shear stress is τ, then τ t is the shear force per unit distance along the wall,
usually referred to as shear flow. Since only torsional stress is presently
being considered, the normal stresses ( σ z of Fig. b) are zero. Since σ z = 0,
the shear flow τ t cannot vary along the wall; i.e., τ t is constant.

Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018 Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018

CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1
Torsion 15 Torsion 16

TORSION IN CLOSED THIN WALLED SECTION TORSION IN CLOSED THIN WALLED SECTION

dT α τ tρ dS

՜ ܶ ൌ ߬‫ ݐ‬න ߩ݀ܵ

ʹɏ†
ͳȀ αdA

‫ ׵‬න ߩ݀ܵ ൌ ʹ‫ܣ‬

‫ ܶ ׵‬ൌ ʹ߬‫ܣݐ‬

Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018 Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018
 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1
Torsion 17 Torsion 18

TORSION IN CLOSED THIN WALLED SECTION TORSION IN CLOSED THIN WALLED SECTION

Š‡–™‹•–‹‰‘‡–T ƒ„‘—–’‘‹–O …ƒ‘™„‡”‡’Žƒ…‡†„›ƒ…‘—’Ž‡ǡTȀrǤ

ˆƒ…—–‹•ƒ†‡‹–Š‡™ƒŽŽ‘ˆƒ…Ž‘•‡†–Š‹Ǧ™ƒŽŽ•‡…–‹‘ǡƒ”‡Žƒ–‹˜‡‘˜‡‡–
Š‡‡š–‡”ƒŽ™‘”†‘‡„›–Š‡…‘—’Ž‡‹•ǡ
ȋƒ•‹ ‹‰Ǥ„Ȍ™‹ŽŽ„‡’”‘†—…‡†„‡–™‡‡–Š‡–™‘•‹†‡•‹–Š‡ƒš‹ƒŽ†‹”‡…–‹‘‘ˆ
–Š‡‡„‡”ǤŠ‡—‹–•Š‡ƒ”•–”ƒ‹ƒŽ‘‰–Š‡’‡”‹‡–‡”‹•
γ ατȀG
“—ƒ–‹‰‹–‡”ƒŽƒ†‡š–‡”ƒŽ™‘”’‡”—‹–Ž‡‰–Š‰‹˜‡•
Š‡‹–‡”ƒŽ•–”ƒ‹‡‡”‰›ˆ‘”ƒ›‡Ž‡‡–ƒŽŽ‡‰–Š†•ƒŽ‘‰–Š‡’‡”‹‡–‡”‹•

Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018 Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018

CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1
Torsion 19 Torsion 20

TORSION IN CLOSED THIN WALLED SECTION TORSIONAL STRESSES IN I-SHAPED STEEL SECTIONS

The torsional stress due to twisting consists of both shear and

‡’”‡˜‹‘—•Ž›Šƒ†ǡT αGJθ. Š‡”‡ˆ‘”‡ǡ”‡’Žƒ…‹‰θ
flexural stresses. These stresses must be superimposed on the shear
and flexural stresses that exist in the absence of torsion.
Torsion may be categorized into two types:
‰ Pure torsion, or as it is often called, Saint-Venant's torsion, and
‡’Žƒ…‹‰ǡܶ ൌ ʹ߬‫‡˜ƒŠƒ…‡™ ܣݐ‬ ‰ Warping torsion.

Pure torsion assumes that a cross-sectional plane prior to application

of torsion remains a plane and only element rotation occurs during
torsion. A circular shaft subjected to torsion is a situation where pure
torsion exists as the only type.

Warping torsion is the out-of-plane effect that arises when the flanges
are laterally displaced during twisting, analogous to bending from
laterally applied loads.

Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018 Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018
 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1
Torsion 21 Torsion 22

TORSIONAL STRESSES IN I-SHAPED STEEL SECTIONS TORSIONAL STRESSES IN I-SHAPED STEEL SECTIONS
PURE TORSION: WARPING TORSION:

݀߶
• ൌ ‫ܬܩ‬
݀‫ݖ‬

A beam subjected to torsion Mz, as in Fig., will have its compression

flange bent in one direction laterally while its tension flange is bent in
the other. The torsional situation of Fig. illustrates a beam that is
prevented from twisting at each end but the top flange deflects laterally
by an amount uf. This lateral flange bending causes flexural normal
stresses (tension and compression) as well as shear stresses across the
flange width.

Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018 Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018

CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1
Torsion 23 Torsion 24

TORSIONAL STRESSES IN I-SHAPED STEEL SECTIONS TORSIONAL STRESSES IN I-SHAPED STEEL SECTIONS
WARPING TORSION: WARPING TORSION:

‘’ Žƒ‰‡

ƒ–‡”ƒŽ†‡ˆŽ‡…–‹‘

™‹•–‹‰

Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018 Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018
 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1
Torsion 25 Torsion 26

TORSIONAL STRESSES IN I-SHAPED STEEL SECTIONS

WARPING TORSION: ƒ”’‹‰‘‡–ǡ

7KLVLVWKHGLIIHUHQWLDOHTXDWLRQIRU
WRUVLRQIRU,VKDSHGVHFWLRQ

Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018 Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018

CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1
Torsion 27 Torsion 28

+\SHUEROLFIXQFWLRQV
݁ ௫ െ ݁ ି௫
•‹Š ‫ ݔ‬ൌ
ʹ
݁ ௫ ൅ ݁ ି௫
…‘•Š ‫ ݔ‬ൌ
ʹ
7KXVφh EHFRPHV

)RUKRPRJHQHRXVVROXWLRQOHWφh Aemz
7KXVWKHGLIIHUHQWLDOHTQ EHFRPHV

Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018 Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018
 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1
Torsion 29 Torsion 30
Example:
)RUSDUWLFXODUVROXWLRQMz VKDOOEHLQJHQHUDODIXQFWLRQRIz Develop, using the differential equation, the expressions for the twist angle φ, as well as the first,
second, and third derivatives, for the case of concentrated torsional moment applied at midspan
/HWMz fzDQGOHWWKHSDUWLFXODUFRPSRQHQWφp fz when the ends are torsionally simply supported.

7KXVWKHGLIIHUHQWLDOHTXDWLRQ EHFRPHV

ZKHUHWHUPVRQWKHOHIWKDQGVLGHPXVWEHSDLUHGZLWKWHUPVRQWKHULJKWVLGH
5DUHO\ZLOOf]EHUHTXLUHGWRFRQWDLQKLJKHUWKDQVHFRQGGHJUHHWHUPV

Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018 Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018

CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1
Torsion 31 Torsion 32

3XWWLQJLWLQHTQ DQGVHWWLQJZHJHW

7KHUHIRUHWKHVROXWLRQIRUIܾ݁ܿ‫ݏ݁݉݋‬ǡ

7KHRWKHUFRQVWDQWC PD\EHFRPELQHGZLWKC RIJHQHUDO 6HWWLQJφ ' = DWz LZHJHW

VROXWLRQ7KXVWKHFRPSOHWHVROXWLRQEHFRPHV
$OVRZHFDQKDYH
7KHUHIRUH
7RUVLRQDOERXQGDU\FRQGLWLRQV

7KHUHIRUH

φ= φ'=  φ=

$OVR $Wz L

Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018 Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018
 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1
Torsion 33 Torsion 34

TORSIONAL SHEAR STRESS DUE TO PURE TORSION (ST. VENANT TORSION) TORSIONAL SHEAR STRESS DUE TO WARPING TORSION

ܶ‫ݐ‬ ‫ݐݏܯ‬ ƒ”’‹‰‘ˆ…”‘•••‡…–‹‘‹•…ƒ—•‡†„›ˆŽ‡š—”ƒŽ„‡†‹‰‘ˆ–Š‡–‘’ƒ†

‡’”‡˜‹‘—•Ž›†‡”‹˜‡†ƒ‹–Ǧ‡ƒ– –‘”•‹‘ƒŽ•–”‡••ǡ v α ՜vα „‘––‘ˆŽƒ‰‡‹‘’’‘•‹–‡†‹”‡…–‹‘ƒ„‘—–™‡ƒƒš‹•‘ˆ–Š‡•‡…–‹‘ǤŠ‡
‫ܬ‬ ‫ܬ‬
•Š‡ƒ”•–”‡••νw –Šƒ–”‡•—Ž–•ˆ”‘™ƒ”’‹‰˜ƒ”‹‡•’ƒ”ƒ„‘Ž‹…ƒŽŽ› ƒ…”‘••–Š‡
݀߶ ܶ …‘•Šɉ‫ݖ‬ ܶ‫ݐ‬ …‘•Šɉ‫ݖ‬ ™‹†–Š‘ˆ–Š‡”‡…–ƒ‰—Žƒ”ˆŽƒ‰‡ƒ••Š‘™‹ ‹‰Ǥƒ†ƒ›„‡…‘’—–‡†ƒ•
‫•߭ ׵‬ൌGt ൌ ‫ݐܩ‬ ͳെ ൌ ͳെ
݀‫ݖ‬ ʹ‫ܬܩ‬ …‘•Šɉ‫ܮ‬Ȁʹ ʹ‫ܬ‬ …‘•Šɉ‫ܮ‬Ȁʹ
ܸ௙ ܳ௙
ߥ௪ ൌ
‫ܫ‬௙ ‫ݐ‬௙

‡’”‡˜‹‘—•Ž›Šƒ† νZ

Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018 Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018

CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1 CE 6121 Advanced Structural Steel Design 1
Torsion 35 Torsion 36

—„•–‹–—–‹‰Vf ƒ†Qf ™‡‰‡–ǡ

ƒš‹—ˆŽ‡š—”ƒŽ•–”‡••‘……—”•ƒ––Š‡ˆ”‡‡‡†‰‡‘ˆ–Š‡ˆŽƒ‰‡ȋx αbȀʹȌ
ܾଶ ݄ ݀ଷ߶ ܾ ଶ ݄ ܶߣଶ
െ…‘•Šሺߣ‫ݖ‬ሻ
ߥ௪ ൌ ‫ܧ‬ ൌ‫ܧ‬ ‫ݔ݂ܯ‬
ͳ͸ ݀‫ ݖ‬ଷ ͳ͸ ʹ‫Š•‘… ܬܩ‬ሺߣ‫ܮ‬Ȁʹሻ ݂ܾ‫ ݓ‬ൌ
‫ݔ݂ܯ‬ ‫ݔܫ‬
Ž‡š—”ƒŽˆ‹„”‡ •–”‡••†—‡–‘Žƒ–‡”ƒŽ„‡†‹‰‘ˆˆŽƒ‰‡•ǡ ݂ܾ‫ ݓ‬ൌ
‫ݔܫ‬
∴
‡’”‡˜‹‘—•Ž›Šƒ†ǡ ƒ†

‘„‹‹‰ƒ††”‘’’‹‰–Š‡‹—••‹‰ǡ In a summary, three kinds of stresses arise in any I-shaped or channel

section due to torsional loading:
(a) shear stresses νs in web and flanges due to rotation of the elements of
the cross-section (Saint-Venant torsional moment, Ms);
(b)shear stresses νw in the flanges due to lateral bending (warping torsional
∴ moment, Mw); and
(c) normal stresses (tension and compression) fbw due to lateral bending of
™Š‡”‡Cw αIf hʹȀʹ the flanges (lateral bending moment on flange, Mf ).

Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018 Dr. K.M. Amanat Dept. of Civil Engg. BUET, 2018