Faculty of Civil Engineering and Planning

Civil Engineering Department

Petra Christian University
1

GENERAL
TORSIONAL STRESS IN HOMOGENEOUS SECTION
TORSIONAL STIFFNESS IN HOMOGENEOUS SECTION
EFFECTS OF TORSIONAL STIFFNESS
STRENGTH OF PLAIN CONCRETE IN TORSION
STRENGTH OF REINFORCED CONCRETE IN TORSION
STRENGTH OF SECTION IN COMBINED SHEAR & TORSION
DESIGN FLOWCHART
2

Torsion on structural systems may be classified into :

1. STATICALLY DETERMINATE TORSION ( = Equilibrium Torsion)
2. STATICALLY INDETERMINATE TORSION ( = Compatibility Torsion)
P

Statically Determinate Torsion

Statically Indeterminate Torsion

3

By changing the rigid connection

at point B into a simply supported
end, this system would become
a statically determinate structure.

By changing the fixed end at point A

into a free end, this system would
be a statically determinate structure.

CIRCULAR SECTIONS

dV = v dA
r

h/2

* A plane transverse section before twisting remains plane after twisting.

* Consequently, the resultant shear stress v at any point is proportional to
its distance from the center and is in a direction perpendicular to the radius.
2 vt
2C
2 vt
2
T = r v dA = r
r dA =

r dA = h vt
h A
h
A
A
In which C, the polar moment of inertia, is :
h/2

2 r
C = r2 dA = r2 2 r dr =
4
0
A

h/2

=
0

h4
32

The torsional shear stress vt becomes : vt =

16 T
h3

RECTANGULAR SECTIONS
X1
Y1

Y
X

X1
Y1

Y2

Y2

X2

X2

* Can not be as easily

derived as for a circular
section.
* The magnitude of vt is a
function of the ratio of y
to x (long to short sides)

T
vt =
x2 y

For Rectangular section :

y/x 1.0
1.2
1.5
2.0
2.5
3
5

0.208 0.219 0.231 0.246 0.256 0.267 0.290 0.333

For T, L section :

vt =

T xm

1
3

x3 y

Where xm = web thickness

6

T
GC
Kt =
=

Torsion Constant C
Circular Section
h4
32
y/x

1.0
0.141

Where :
Kt = torsional stiffness
T = torsional moment
= angle of twist
L = length of element

GC = torsional rigidity
G = modulus of elasticity in shear
C = torsion constant

Rectangular Section T, L, I Section

1

3 x3 y

x y
3

1.2
0.166

1.5
0.196

2.0
0.229

2.5
0.249

3
0.263

4
0.281

5
0.291

General Treatment of Torsion on Statically Indeterminate Systems

* Before cracking, the torsional stiffness GC/L is very large. After cracking,
the member will rotate, and its torsional stiffness reduces drastically.

2B4

2G4

2S1 2S2

T = torsional moment
* Post cracking stiffness should have to
be known. But it is difficult. Since the
stiffness is needed BEFORE the torsional
moment can be determined, the cracked
section stiffness is not available because
it requires knowledge of the steel
reinforcement.
8
Iteration procedure is needed.

Code Procedure
Code provides two options for the design of torsional members when
the torsional moment is dependent on the relative stiffness of the
interacting members.
1. Estimate the torsional and flexural stiffness of all interacting members
making any reasonable assumptions. Determine the moments,
shears, and torsional moments by the statically indeterminate
analysis using factored loads. Then apply the Code provisions for
torsion design.
2. Neglect torsional stiffness in the statically indeterminate structural
analysis. Since no torsional moment will then be available, the
torsional members must be designed for a strength based on a
nominal torsional shear stress under factored load.
9

2G4

2B4

Spandrel Girder 2G4

2S1 2S2

* Subjected to torsional moments only

at the junction points with the beams.

Spandrel Beam 2B4

* Subjected to a torsional moment per unit length in addition to
bending and shear.
1
* The torsional moment equal to 24
wL2
* Alternatively, the torsional moment may be neglected. In such cases
spandrel beam must be designed for a minimum torsional strength.
10

Example

2B4

2G4

2S1 2S2

Estimate the maximum torsional shear

stress in the spandrel beam 2B2 if the
restraining moment at the exterior end
of slab panel 2S1 is M = wL2/24 (115 mm
slab and a clear span of slab is 3633 mm).
The service live and dead loads are
4788 and 2681 N/mm2. Assume an
460 x 460 mm column and a
330 x 570 mm overall size beam.
Use fc = 20 MPa.

11

Mu = 5,98 kNm/m

wu = 1.2 (2681) + 1.6 (4788)

= 10878 N/m2
Mu = (10,878) (3,633)2 / 24
= 5,98 kN-m/m width

Tu
115
570

Tu = wu L = (10,878) (3,633)
= 10,86 kNm

6 hf = 690

330
The maximum nominal torsional stress is :
Tu
vt =
=
1
2
0,6
3 x y

1
3

10,86 . 106
[(330)2 (570) + (115)2 (690)]

= 0,76 MPa
12

x = dimension of shorter side

T = torsional moment
Axis

Shear distribution
in a circular bar

90
Compression
zone

Outline
of actual
failure
surface
from test
Shear distribution
in a square bar

y = dimension of
longer side
Failure plane in
tension zone
1 = 45

A plain concrete rectangular section

NA for skew bending
would reach its torsional strength Te
at the maximum torsional stress f t(max), since pure torsion gives a
pure shear stress condition.
Studies by Hsu, showed that :
= 1/3 and ft(max) = 5fc (ksi)
Te = x2 y [ ft(max) ]
13

y
Compression
zone under
skew bending

x
90
Qy

Qx
Pv

ting
Twis

st

Qy

Ax
ent
m
o
m

z1

Pv

Qx
s

y
y2

Pv
tw i
f
o
is

ent
m
o
m
ing
t
s
i
Tw

45

* Once steel reinforcement

is placed, the behavior of
section changes from that
of plain concrete.

* Prior to cracking, the reinforcement

participates little.

* After cracking, the reinforcement carries a large portion of the total

torsional moment. The contribution of concrete is only about 40% of the
torsional strength of an unreinforced section.
* The failure mode does continue to be one of skew bending.
14

y
Compression
zone under
skew bending

x
90
Qy

Qx
Pv

t
Twis

ing

st

Qy

Ax
ent
m
o
m

z1

Pv

Qx
s

y
y2

Pv
tw i
f
o
is

t
Twis

ent
m
o
ng m

45

Forces acting on
skew bending failure section

* The failure section is assumed to be a plane as drawn above.

* Since a bending mode of failure is assumed, the compression zone is treated as in any
beam analysis; it has a depth a over which the compressive stress may be assumed uniform.
* On the tension side where the concrete cracks, the reinforcing hoops have tensile forces P v
in them and the longitudinal bars resist shear across the cracked concrete via dowel action
(Qx and Qy). As long as the concrete is uncracked and the concrete itself transmits shear,
no dowel action exists.
15

On the Compression Zone of Skew Bending Failure Section

Pc
Ps

Pl

Pl
Longitudinal bar
45

Ps

45

Pc

45
P
45

Components of resultant
force P acting on
compression zone of
failure plane

* Pl = contribution of longitudinal bars

Ps = contribution of concrete shear resistance
Pc = contribution of concrete compressive resistance
* The hoop reinforcement in compression is neglected because the nominal
moment strength Mn is not significantly affected by the inclusion of
compression reinforcement.
*

16

On the Tension Zone of Skew Bending Failure Section

a

Tw

Qy

t
twis
f
o
Axis ment
mo
g
n
i
t
is

Qx
Pv Pv
Qy

Pv

y2

Compression
zone under
skew bending

x
ting
s
i
w
T
y

ent
m
o
m

* No longitudinal force
can exist.

* Since only Pv, Qx, and Qy are assumed to be

Q
z
s s
acting, and the resultant force must be directed
upward (opposite to P on the compression zone),
no resultant tension or compression can exist in the longitudinal direction
of the tension zone under skew bending.
1

* A potential failure plane can exist opposite to that in figure above, having
the compression and tension sides interchanged. Thus the longitudinal
forces, stirrup forces, and dowel forces must be resisted on each side
of the section.
17

Pc
Ps

Pl
Longitudinal bar

Compression
zone under
skew bending
t
twis
f
o
s
Axi
ent
m
o
m
ting
s
i
w
T

45

Ps = vavg (y2) a

Qy

Qx
Pv Pv
Qy

z1

Qx

Pv

ting
Twis
y

ent
m
o
m

y2

Strength Attributable to Concrete

s s

Where :
Ps = shear resistance
vavg = average shear stress acting over the compression zone
y 2 = width of the compression zone
a
= depth of the compression zone

By omitting effect of reinforcement, Ps may be considered proportional to

the effective area xy2 and to fc,
Ps = k1 xy fc

Where k1 = a proportionality constant

18

Pl

Ps

P = 2 Ps + Pl

45

Pc

45
P
45

Contribution of longitudinal reinforcement

Contribution of concrete
Thus the torsional strength Tc attributable to concrete
equals the force 2 Ps times the moment arm (say, 0.8x)

Tc = 2 Ps . (Moment arm)
= 2 k1 xy fc (0.8x)
= k2 x2y fc
Experimentally the proportionality constant k2 1/15, thus :
Tc = (fc / 15) x2y

Where :
Tc = torsional moment strength available from concrete
fc = concrete strength
x = short side of section
y = long side of section

19

Strength Attributable to Hoops and Longitudinal Reinforcement

Pc
Ps

Longitudinal bar
45

Compression
zone under
skew bending
t
twis
f
o
s
Axi
ent
m
o
m
ting
s
i
w
T

Qy

Qx
Pv Pv
Qy

z1

Pv

ting
Twis
y

ent
m
o
m

y2

On the compression zone

Pl

Qx

y2

s s
Consider the forces Pv, Qx and Qy
on the tension zone and Pl on the compression zone.
x2
x1
1. The contribution of the closed vertical stirrups (hoops) is
y1
Where : y1/s = the number of hoops intercepted by
Pv = At fy s . (1)
the 45 failure plane

2. The tensile force Pl in the longitudinal bars is

Where :
Al
= efficiency factor
Pl = 2 fy ... (2) Al = total area of all longitudinal bar

20
(assumed to be Al/2 in the compression zone)

y1

Qx = k3 Al y2
Qy = k3 Al x2

.(3)

x
Qy

Qx
Pv Pv
Qy

Qx

Pv

ting
s
i
w
T
y

y2

3. The dowel forces Qx and Qy

Compression P
They act after cracking. These
zone under
skew bending
forces may be assumed
t
proportional to the bar crosstwis
f
o
Axis ment
sectional area and to the bar
mo
g
n
i
t
Twis
lateral displacement, which is
z
proportional to the distance from
the center of twist to the bar, thus :

s s

Where : k3 = proportionality constant.

Next, let m equal to the ratio of the volume of longitudinal bars to the
volume of closed hoops such that :
Al s
m =
. (4)
2 At (x1 + y1)
21

ent
m
o
m

or :
2 m (x1 + y1)
Al = A t
s

. (5) SNI eq. 3.4-24

Substitution eq. 5 into eq. 2 gives :

y1
x1 At fy
. (6)
Pl = m 1 +
x1
s
Substitution eq. 5 into eq. 3 gives :
2 m At (x1 + y1)
Qx = k3 y2
s
y1
k3 y2
= 2 f
m 1+ x
y
1
1
y
y1
k3 x2
Qy = 2
m 1+
y
x1
fy
1

x1 y1 At fy
s
x1 y1 At fy
s

. (7)
. (8)
22

The torsional resistance from reinforcement then is :

x1
x2
y2
x2
Ts = Pv
+ Pl
+ 2Qx
+ 2Qy
2
2
2
2

(9)

Substitution eq. 1, 6, 7 and 8 into eq. 9 gives :

x1 y1 At fy
Ts = t
= SNI eq.3.4-23
s
From the experiment, t may be expressed as :
t = ( 2 + y1/x1) / 3 1.5 = SNI 3.4.6.(9)

y1
x2
x1

Thus the full nominal strength Tn of rectangular reinforced concrete section

may be written by :
Tn = Tc + Ts = (fc / 15) x2y + t x1 y1 At fy
s
23

Tn
Tn0

Vn
+
Vn0

Where :
Tn = nominal strength of torsion in torsion and shear
Vn = nominal strength of shear in torsion and shear
Tn0 = nominal strength under torsion alone
Vn0 = nominal strength under shear alone

=1

The shear strength Vn in the presence of torsion Tn is obtained by solving

the above equation after first dividing through by (V n/Vn0)2,
Vn =

Vn0
Vn0
1+
Tn0

Tn
Vn

. (1)
2

For beams with web reinforcement, it is assumed that this interaction is also
applicable to the concrete contribution to shear and torsional strengths.
24

Consequently, Vn = Vc ; also Vn0 = (fc/6) bw d and Tn0 = (fc/15) x2y

Thus eq. 1 becomes :
(fc/6) bw d
Vc =
. (2)
Vn0 Tn 2
1+
Tn0 Vn
Note that :
Vn0
(fc/6) bw d
=
= 2.5 C t
2
Tn0
(fc/15) x y

. (3)

bw d
Ct =
x2 y
Substitution of eq. 3 into eq. 2 by using T n/Vn = Tu/Vu gives :
25

Vc =

(fc/6) bw d
Tu
1 + 2.5 Ct
Vu

. (4) = SNI eq. 3.4-5

2

The torsion strength Tn in the presence of shear Vn is obtained by solving

the main equation in p.24, after first dividing through by (T n/Tn0)2,
Tn0
Tn =
. (5)
Tn0 2 Vn 2
1+
Vn0
Tn
For beam with web reinforcement, Tn = Tc ; also Tn0 = (fc/15) x2y
and Vn0 = (fc/6) bw d and Vn/Tn = Vu/Tu; thus
Tc =

(fc/15) x2 y
1+

0.4
Ct

Vu
Tu

. (6) = SNI eq. 3.4-22

2

26

For the upper limits to strength carried by hoop reinforcement :

Vs max = 2 (fc/3) bw d
Ts max = 4 Tc

= SNI 3.4.5.(6)

= SNI 3.4.6.(9)

The requirement for the stirrups spacing :

smax = (x1 + y1) / 4 or 300 mm

= SNI 3.4.6.(8)

27

START
Redesign
the section

Calculate : Tu, Vu
yes

Tu < (fc/20) x2y

no

The influence of
Torsion is
neglected.
The Section is
designed as
Shear
consideration
alone
Finish

Shear Consideration
Calculate : Vc
using SNI eq. 3.4-5
See Shear Design

Torsion Consideration
Calculate : Tc
using SNI eq.3.4-22
Ts = Tu - Tc
yes

Find : Av and sv

Ts > 4 Tc
no

Choose the of stirrup

st = (t At x y fy )/ Ts
2

28

2
1

Check : stirrup spacing

st max = (x1+y1)/4
or 300 mm

Check :
stirrup spacing
based on shear
consideration

st < st max

no

Use st max

yes
Calculate : the total stirrup
Astirrup = Av + At
Find : stirrup spacing, s
Calculate :
longitudinal reinf, Al
using SNI eq. 3.4-24
Finish

29