REINFORCED CONCRETE

STRUCTURE II
(CENG 3142)

Chapter 4
Analysis & Design of Torsion
By Yeneneh A.
OUTLINE
 4.1.Introduction
 4.2.Behavior of members with
torsion
 4.3.Equivalent hollow section
 4.4.Principal stresses due to torsion
 4.5.Torsion in reinforced concrete
members
 4.6.Design of members for torsion as
per ES EN 1992 26-01-2023 2
INTRODUCTION

What is Torsion?
 A moment acting about the longitudinal axis of a member is called a
twisting moment, a torque, or a torsional moment, T.
 In structures, torsion results from eccentric loading of beams, or from
deformations resulting from the continuity of beams or similar members
that join at an angle to each other.
 It occurs quite frequently in structures but generally its importance is
secondary to that of moment and shear.

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CONT’D…

In practice two types of torsion occur

a) Equilibrium torsion: where the torsional moment is required to
maintain equilibrium of the structure. In such situation the external load
has no other option but to be carried by torsion (see Fig. 4.1a).
 Equilibrium torsion is of primary interest in design because failure of the
member is inevitable if it has insufficient torsional strength.
 Where the static equilibrium of a structure depends on the torsional
resistance of elements of the structure, a full torsional design covering
both ultimate and serviceability limit states shall be made.
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 CONT’D…

Fig. 4.1a

b) Compatibility Torsion:
This is the case where members are subjected to twisting moment in order
to preserve continuity of displacements, but torsional resistance is not
required to maintain equilibrium.
On the figure 4.1b shown a grid work of two intersecting beams connected
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rigidly.
CONT’D…

The beam AB rotates in the clockwise direction at the intersection.

If the two beams are rigidly connected, then the transverse beam, for
compatibility reasons, will be forced to rotate in the same direction.
This twisting of the transverse beam will create a twisting moment in the
beam CD. This is called compatibility torsion. This torsion is not needed
to maintain equilibrium.
The code suggests that the minimum longitudinal and shear reinforcement
normally provided can provide sufficient resistance against excessive
cracking caused by compatibility torsion.
Therefore reinforcement needs to be designed to resist equilibrium
torsion only.
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CONT’D…

Fig. 4.1b

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BEHAVIOURS OF MEMBERS WITH TORSION

In a member subjected to torsion, a torsional moment causes shear

stresses on cross sectional planes and on radial planes extending from the
axis of the member to the surface.
The distribution of these stresses may vary according to the geometry of
the cross section.
Therefore the treatment of the case depends up on whether the section
is solid or thin walled.
 Also a solid section may be circular or non-circular, where as thin
walled section may be open or closed.

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 CONT’D…

In a circular member, the shearing stresses are zero at the axis of the bar
and increases linearly to a maximum stresses at the out side of the bar.
The maximum shearing stress in circular section is:

Where:
max = maximum shearing stress
T = torsional moment
r = radius of the section
J = polar moment of inertia
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 CONT’D…

For non circular member, the distribution of shear stresses is not so

straight forward. The rectangular member for example, has the stress
distribution shown when subjected to a torqueT.
Unlike in the circular member, the stress distribution in a rectangular
member is non linear.
The shearing stress at the corner of the section is zero indicating that the
corners of the section are not distorted under torsion and the maximum
shear stresses occur at the mid points of the long sides.
Analytical studies have shown that the maximum shearing stress in
rectangular section is:
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CONT’D…

Where:
x is the shorter dimension of the rectangle
Y is the longer dimension
α varies from 0.28 for y/x = 1.0 (square) to
0.33 for y/x =  (an infinitely wide plate).
A close approximation to α is

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 CONT’D…

For compound sections made up of a serious of thin rectangles such as T-

sections, box sections, etc., torsional resistance may be considered as the
sum of the capacities of individual rectangular sections and is given by:

where the term x^2 y/3 is evaluated for each of the rectangle.
For thin-walled hollow section of any shape, the shear stress in the
walls is reasonably constant and is:

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CONT’D…

Where:
Ao is the area enclosed by the centre line of the tube wall (shaded area)
t is the thickness of the wall where the shear stress is being calculated.

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 EQUIVALENT HOLLOW SECTION

Extensive tests indicate that the presence of

concrete at the centre of the member doesn’t
have a very significant effect on its torsional
resistance .
Thus it is faire to assume that solid members
can be designed as equivalent hollow
members.
The torsional resistance of any section may be Fig. 4.2 Equivalent hollow section
calculated on the basis of equivalent hollow
section with thin walls as defined in the figure
4.2.
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 PRINCIPAL STRESSES DUE TO TORSION

When the beam shown in figure below is subjected

to a torsional moment, T, shearing stresses are
developed on the top and front face as shown by
the elements in Fig. 4.3a. a)
The principal stresses on these elements are shown
in Fig. 4.3b. The principal tensile stresses eventually Fig. 4.3
cause cracking which spirals around the body as b)
shown by the line A, B, C, D, E (see Fig. 4.3c).
Therefore, longitudinal bars in the corners and
closed stirrups are required to control such spiral
cracks. c)
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TORSION IN REINFORCED CONCRETE MEMBERS

 For the analysis of torsional resistance of members, consider the

equivalent space truss model shown below.
 This is done by treating the member as a space truss consisting of
spiral concrete diagonals that are able to take load parallel but not
perpendicular to the torsional cracks, transverse tension tie
members that are provided by closed stirrups, and tension cords
that are provided by longitudinal reinforcement.

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CONT’D…

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CONT’D…

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CONT’D…

Consider the equilibrium of the section of the vertical wall, with one edge
parallel to the torsional crack,
Assuming that the stirrups crossing the
crack are yielding, the shear in the wall
under consideration is:

Where
At = are of one leg of a closed stirrup
fyv = yield strength of transverse reinforcement
n = number of stirrups intercepted by torsional
crack
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CONT’D…

Since the horizontal projection of the crack is yo*cot and n = yo*cot/s

where  is the slope angle of the strut and s is the spacing of the stirrups.

If q = TEd/(2 Ao) is the shear flow per unit length, going around the
perimeter uo,the total force due to torsion is q*uo
but for the one vertical face of the section having height of yo
V4q*yo
𝐀𝐭 ∗ 𝐟𝐲𝐯 ∗ 𝐲𝐨
𝐪 ∗ 𝐲𝐨 = 𝐜𝐨𝐭𝛉
𝐬 26-01-2023 20
CONT’D…

Substituting for q in terms of TED,

𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐭 ∗ 𝐟𝐲𝐯 ∗ 𝐲𝐨
𝐪 ∗ 𝐲𝐨 = ∗ 𝐲𝐨 = 𝐜𝐨𝐭𝛉
𝟐𝐀𝐨 𝐬
Simplifying, the equation to calculate the link reinforcement is given by
𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝒔
𝐀𝐭 ∗ 𝐟𝐲𝐯 = ∗
𝟐𝐀𝐨 𝒄𝒐𝒕𝜽 since Ao = xo*yo
Also the effect to the flexural reinforcement;
Fc* sinθ = q*uo
Fc = q*uo/sinθ
Fc *cosθ = Total horizontal force = N = ΣAsl*fyl 26-01-2023 21
 CONT’D…

where ΣAsl = total longitudinal steel area and fyl = stress in the steel
reinforcement.
Fc *cosθ = Total horizontal force = N = ΣAsl*fyl
[q*uo/sinθ]*cosθ= N = ΣAsl*fyl
[q*uo]*cotθ= ΣAsl*fyl
q = TEd/(2 Ao)
[TEd/(2 Ao) *uo]*cotθ= ΣAsl*fyl
ΣAsl*fyl/uo = [TEd/(2 Ao)]* cotθ
therefore;
𝐓𝐄𝐃 ∗ 𝒄𝒐𝒕𝜽 ∗ 𝒖𝒐
𝚺𝐀𝒔𝒍 ∗ 𝐟𝐲𝒍 =
𝟐𝐀𝐨 26-01-2023 22
DESIGN OF MEMBERS FOR TORSION AS PER ES EN

Design procedure
1. The shear stress in a wall of a section subject to a pure torsional
moment may be calculated from:

The shear force VEd,i in a wall i due to torsion is given by

where 26-01-2023 23

TEd is the applied design torsion

CONT’D…

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 CONT’D…

Ak is the area enclosed by the centre-lines of the connecting walls, including

inner hollow areas
t,i is the torsional shear stress in wall
itef,i is the effective wall thickness. It may be taken as A/u, but should not be
taken as less than twice the distance between edge and centre of the
longitudinal reinforcement. For hollow sections the real thickness is an
upper limit
A is the outer circumference of the cross-section
u is outer circumference of the cross-section
zi is the side length of wall i defined by the distance between the 26-01-2023 25

intersection points with the adjacent walls

CONT’D…

Torsion reinforcement
The torsion links should be closed and be anchored by means of laps or
hooked ends and should form an angle of 90° with the axis of the
structural element.

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 CONT’D…

The ratio of shear reinforcement is given by

where:
w is the shear reinforcement ratio
w should not be less than w,min
Asw is the area of shear reinforcement within length s
s is the spacing of the shear reinforcement measured along the
longitudinal axis of the member
bw is the breadth of the web of the member
 is the angle between shear reinforcement and the longitudinal axis
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 CONT’D…

Torsional effects may be disregarded whenever Td < Tc.

 However, minimum web reinforcement may be provided in such a way
that min= w,min= 0.008*(fck)^0.5/fyk
 The longitudinal spacing of the torsion links should not exceed u/8, or
sl,max = 0.75d (1 + cot )or the lesser dimension of the beam cross-
section
 The longitudinal bars should be so arranged that there is at least one bar
at each corner, the others being distributed uniformly around the inner
periphery of the links, with a spacing not greater than 350 mm.

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 CONT’D…

Design of torsional reinforcement

- Torsional reinforcement in the form of closed links and longitudinal
reinforcement is required to carry the excess torque when ever the
applied torque exceeds the concrete resistance, Tc.
- The torsional resistance of the reinforcement Tef is given by the formula
summarized from the previous slide:
Combined action effects
Torsion and bending and/or axial stresses
- The longitudinal reinforcement shall be determined separately for torsion,
flexure and axial loads. 26-01-2023 29
 CONT’D…

The area of reinforcement furnished shall be the sum of the areas thus
determined.
Torsion and shear combined effect
The maximum resistance of a member subjected to torsion and shear is
limited by the capacity of the concrete struts. In order not to exceed this
resistance the following condition should be satisfied
TEd/TRd,max + VEd / VRd,max 1.0
TRd,max= 2cw fcd Ak tef,isincos
VRd,max  cw bw z 1fcd (cot  cot  ) /(1  cot 2  )
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 CONT’D…

acw is a coefficient taking account of the state of the stress in the

compression chord
V1 is a strength reduction factor for concrete cracked in shear
the recommended value of V1 is V

the limiting value of 

1  cot  2.5
 is the angle between the concrete compression strut and the
beam axis perpendicular to the shear force 26-01-2023 31
 CONT’D…

If the design stress of the shear reinforcement is below 80% of the

characteristic yield stress fyk,
1 may be taken as:

The recommended value of cw is as follows:

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 CONT’D…

For approximately rectangular solid sections only minimum

reinforcement is required provided that the following condition is
satisfied:

where
TRd,c is the torsional cracking moment, which may be determined by
setting t,i =fctd

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where: fck is in MPa

 CONT’D…

Asl is the area of the tensile reinforcement, which extends  (lbd + d)

beyond the section considered
bw is the smallest width of the cross-section in the tensile area [mm]
cp = NEd/Ac < 0.2 fcd [MPa]
NEd is the axial force in the cross-section due to loading or prestressing
[in N]
(NEd > 0 for compression). The influence of imposed deformations on
26-01-2023 34

Ned may be ignored.

CONT’D…

AC is the area of concrete cross section [mm^2]

VRd,c is [N]
The recommended value for CRd,c is 0.18/
k1 is 0.15.

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 DESIGN OF TORSION:
EXAMPLES
carry out a full torsional design of a rectangular reinforced concrete
section beam subjected to an ultimate torsional moment of 55kNm,and
shear force of 225kN. the section is 600mmx400mm,and reinforcement
of 425(As,prov=1964mm^2) has bean provided to resist bending
moment. (fck=28mpa, fyk=500mpa)
solution:

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CONT’D…

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CONT’D…

1  cot  2.5, lets use the max. limit cot=2.5,  =21.8 26-01-2023 38
CONT’D…

39
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CONT’D…

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CONT’D…

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CONT’D…

Use 720 side bars( 2 on each vertical face with a minimum of

center to center spacing of 170mm, one at middle of top face, &
2 at the two top corners) for torsion(As,prov=2198mm^2)

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 CONT’D…

Use 1- legs 8 c/c180mm torsion shear reinforcement

Required of shear reinforcement:
Ensure that VRd, s ≥ VEd, and choose 2-legs 8 links,
Asw = 101mm^2, cot θ = 2.5, z = 0.84d, fyk = 500 MPa,

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CONT’D…

(0.84*450)/s*(101*500/1.15)*2.5*10^-3
(41,497.82/s)kN  ( VED  225kN)
S  184.4mm
Use 2 legs 8 c/c180mm
As a summary for shear:
shear: 2-leg 8 c/c180mm,
torsion: 8 c/c180mm.
Provide 8 mm links at 180 c/c but use 2-
leg links alternatively.
Use 2 legs 8 c/c180mm torsion/shear
reinforcement
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THE END!

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