Torsion in RC Members

Many types of loading produce torsion in RC members.

Torsional strength of sections made of homogeneous
materials can be estimated accurately using theory of
elasticity.
Difficult to assess torsional strength of heterogeneous RC
sections.
Problems are even more acute due to torsion accompanied by
bending and shear
Torsion may be classified as
1. Primary or equilibrium torsion
2. Secondary or compatibility torsion
(a)
Beam

Cantilever slab
(b)
(c)
(d)
Beam

Slab

Primary and Secondary Torsion
(a) Portico slab
(b) Bow girder
(c) Indeterminate frame
(d) Edge beams.
(a)
(b)

Reinforced concrete members subjected to torsion.

Classification of Torsion
Primary Torsion- required to maintain basic static
equilibrium
Secondary Torsion- required to maintain only
compatibility of joining members.
Torsion encountered in statically determinate
members- Primary Torsion.
Torsion in statically indeterminate members-
Secondary Torsion.
Torsion in Plain Concrete Beams
Torsion, T, induces shear stresses producing principal tensile
stresses at 45
0
to the longitudinal axis.
If the maximum tensile stress exceeds the tensile strength,
diagonal cracks spiral around a plain concrete beam.
In plain concrete beam, failure immediately follows diagonal
cracking.
T

T

Diagonal cracking due to Torsion
Torsional Stiffness of Homogeneous Sections
To analyze a statically indeterminate structure it is necessary to
determine the relative stiffness of various members.
The transfer of torsional moment depends up on the torsion
stiffness K
T
of a member, defined as the torsional moment
T required to produce unit angle of twist
For circular shaft, diameter, D, torsion is given by
l
G
r J
T u t
= =
Torsional Stiffness
Torsional stiffness = =

J = Torsion constant

G = shear modulus =
T = Torsion
= angle of twist over length l
l = length of the member over which occurs
= Poissons ratio = 0.15 for concrete
When cross section is circular, the torsion constant is
u
l
J G T
=
(

u l
J G T
K
T
=
(

=
u
) 1 ( 2 +
E
u

32
4
D
J
t
=
vdA dV =
(c)

(a)

(b)

r

h/2

y

x

Torsional stress in homogeneous sections.

Torsion of Noncircular Members
Cross section appears to remain same in circular
shapes even after application of torsion since the
shape remains circular even after twisting.
This is not true in non-circular cross sections.
Maximum shearing stress does not occur at the
corners of rectangular section, but at the middle of
longer side.
Torsion Constant
In RC construction, cross section is generally rectangular
with width b and depth, D [D>b].
Torsion constant for rectangular section is J = b
3
D (D>b),
where is a function of the ratio of D-to-b i.e. (D/b)
A more convenient expression for J, for values of D/b <
10, has been derived by Timoshenko


When b/D < 1/10

3
63 . 0 1
3
D b
D
b
J
(

=
3
3
D b
J =
Torsion Constant for Thin-walled Sections
For T, L and I sections, the components will be
divided in to parts and the values of J can be
calculated.
Total J is the sum of the J-values of various sectional
parts.
For T, L and I Sections,
3
63 . 0 1
3
D b
D
b
J
|
.
|

\
|
=
D/b 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.5 3.0 5.0 10.0 100

0.141 0.166 0.187 0.204 0.217 0.229 0.249 0.264 0.291 0.312 0.33
Torsional Shear Stress
The shearing stress due to torsion is given by
D/b 1.0 1.2 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 5.0 10
0.208 0.219 0.231 0.246 0.256 0.267 0.290 0.333
D b
T
2
max
o
t =
Torsion Stress Distribution
D
b
Effect of Torsion reinforcement
A plain concrete beam fails practically as soon as diagonal
cracking occurs.
A beam suitably reinforced can sustain increased torsion
moment until eventually failure occurs by yielding of steel.
Cracks develop on three faces with crushing on the fourth.
Torsion reinforcement consists of a combination of
longitudinal bars and links or stirrups.
Longitudinal bars should be distributed evenly round the
inside perimeter of link.
Space Truss Analogy
Lamper and Collins Space Truss Analogy for the ultimate
torsional strength.
Space Truss Analogy
Space Truss consists of
a) longitudinal bars - as Stringer,
b)legs of links - as Posts and
c) concrete between cracks-as Compression Diagonal
Camper and Collins Space Truss Analogy
T

T

y
1

Diagonal
[Concrete between Cracks]
Camper and Collins Space Truss Analogy
Stringer
Crack
Post
x
1

Notation
T = Ultimate torsional moment of resistance
A
sl
= Total area of longitudinal reinforcement
A
sv
= area of two legs of link
f
yl
= yield strength of longitudinal reinforcement
f
yv
= yield strength of links
s
v
= longitudinal spacing of links
x
1
= smaller dimension between corner bars
y
1
= larger dimension between corner bars
Consider length equal to spacing of links, s
v
of beam,
(Steel volume Yield strength) of long. bars =
(Steel volume Yield strength) of links =
Necessary Condition: longitudinal bars and links should yield
simultaneously.
To achieve this condition, the volume strength products should be
equal
v yl sl
s f A
] [
1 1
y x f A
yv sv
+
] [
1 1
y x f A s f A
yv sv v yl sl
+ =
v yl
yv sv
sl
s f
y x f A
A
) (
1 1
+
=
If the above condition is satisfied, the diagonal crack is
assumed to be inclined at 45
0
to the axis of the
member.
Since each crack is inclined at 45
0
, then on each
horizontal face of the member
No. of horizontal legs intersected by a crack =

Similarly, no. of vertical legs intersected by a crack =

v
s
y
1
v
s
x
1
Assuming the beam is under-reinforced in torsion
then the failure is due to yielding of links
Considering horizontal legs, tension in legs =


Moment about the axis of the member =

Number of legs intersected by a crack =


Total moment about the axis of member =
yv sv
f A
2
1
2 2
1
1
x
f A
yv sv
v
s
y
1
v
yv sv
s
y x
f A
1 1
2 2
1
Considering two horizontal faces


Torsional moment =


Similarly for vertical legs, the total torsional moment =



Total torsional moment of the beam due to links =

v
yv sv
s
y x
f A
1 1
2
1
v
yv sv
s
x y
f A
1 1
2
1
v
yv sv
s
y x
f A
1 1
Interaction of Torsion and bending
Torsion occurs simultaneously with flexure.
Many studies reported on the interaction between
bending and torsion.
There has been no agreement on correct interaction
criterion.
Both the Skew Bending Theory and the Space Truss
Analogy developed by Lampert are in general
agreement on the interaction behavior.
According to Collins and Lampert, under positive
bending, yielding of bottom reinforcement occurs:
a. when equal volumes of longitudinal and transverse
steel are used, and
b. when equal amounts of longitudinal steel are used in
the top and bottom faces.
For members with symmetrical reinforcement, the interaction of
torsion and bending moment is represented by



Where
T
u
= Ultimate torsion in the presence of flexure
T
uo
= Torsional strength when the member is subjected to torsion alone
M
u
= Ultimate flexural moment in the presence of torsion
M
uo
= Flexural strength when the member is subjected to flexure alone
1
2 2
1
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
uo
u
uo
u
M
M
T
T

Tension in Steel in Force

n Compressio in Steel in Force
f A
f A
st s
sc sc
= =
1

Symmetrical steel
Unsymmetrical steel

0.5

1.0

0.5

1.0

uo
u
T
T
uo u
M M /
Interaction of Torsion and shear
Shear is usually accompanied by flexure and torsion
Flexural shear and torsional shear are of significance in
those regions where bending moment is low.
For design purposes it is necessary to know the strength
interaction between shear and torsion.
Test data provided a wide range of points on the
interaction diagram using torsion and shear coordinates.
Due to unknowns involved, some investigators have
proposed a linear interaction equation for design purposes.
However, a number of studies at the University of Texas on
rectangular, L-shaped, and T-shaped beams indicated that
a quarter-circle interaction is acceptable for members
without web reinforcement.


Where V
u
= Ultimate shear force with torsion
V
uo
= Nominal shear without torsion
1
2 2
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
uo
u
uo
u
V
V
T
T
Without Web Steel
uo
u
T
T
Without Web Steel

1.0

1.0

0
o u
V V /
For members with web reinforcement, the interaction is
curved but flatter than the quarter circle.
It is used for the expression for the strength in combined
shear and torsion on sections without web reinforcement.
However, for web reinforcement the separate
requirements for shear and torsion are added together.
With Web Reinforcement
With Web Steel

1.0

0.0

uo
u
T
T
o u
V V / 1.0

With Web Reinforcement
With Web Reinforcement
(

+ = =
(

+
uso
u
uo
u
uso
us
uo
u
V
V
T
T
V
V
T
T
5 . 2
1
Shear out with Strength Torsional
S
y x
A f T
V V
Torsion out with Strength Shear
S
d
A f V
v
sv y uo
u us
v
sv y uso
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
=
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
1 1
87 . 0
4 . 0
, 87 . 0
As per IS 456:
where V
u
=design shear; T
u
= Design Torsion; b= width
max
t t > =
bD
V
e
ve
The area of shear steel should satisfy the following condition



A linear interaction curve
(
(

=
y
c ve
v
sv
f s b
A
87 . 0
t t
( )
1 1 1
1 1 1
5 . 2
) 87 . 0 (
1
) 87 . 0 ( 5 . 2 87 . 0
y
V
y x
T
f
s
A
or
f A y
s V
f y x A
s T
u u
y
v
sv
y sv
v u
y sv
v u
+ =
= +
Problem
A 250 x 500mm (gross) rectangular beam is subjected to a
bending moment of 100kN-m, torsion of 40kN-m and a shear
force of 75kN. Design the beam for the combined loads and
show the reinforcement details through neat sketches. Use
M20 grade concrete and Fe 415 steel.