TORSION

TORSION
In a member subjected to torsion, a torsional moment causes shearing
stresses on cross sectional planes and on radial planes extending from the
axis of the member to the surface.
Beam subjected to torsional moment T.
Beam subjected to Shear and Torsion.
Torque twist curve for a rectangular beam
Torsional strength of solid and hollow sections with the same
outside dimensions
THRESHOLD TORSION
Torsional effects may be neglected when the factored moment Tu is
less than the following: (sec411.7.1)
For nonprestressed members

 f 'c Acp
2

12 pcp
For prestressed members

 f 'c Acp
2
f pc
1
12 pcp 0.33 f 'c
For nonprestressed members subjected to an axial tensile or compressive force

 f 'c Acp
2
Nu
1
12 pcp 0.33 Ag  f 'c
 For a beam cast monolithically with a floor slab, the overhanging flange
width to be included in the calculation of Acp and pcp is that flange
extending the greater of the distances that the beam web projects
above or below the flange, but not more than four times the slab
thickness.

where:
Acp=area enclosed by outside parameter of concrete cross section, mm2
pcp=outside parameter of concrete cross section, mm
fpc=compressive stress in concrete at centroid of cross section, MPa

=modification factor for lightweight concrete

Torsional Moment from Slabs

Unless determined by a more exact analysis, it shall be permitted to

take the torsional loading from a slab as uniformly distributed along
the member.

Critical Section for Torsion

In non-prestressed members, sections located less than a distance d

from the face of a support shall be designed for not less than Tu
computed at a distance d. If a concentrated torque occurs within this
distance, the critical section for design shall be at the face of the
support.

In prestressed members, sections located less than a distance h/2

from the face of a support shall be designed for not less than Tu
computed at a distance h/2. If a concentrated torque occurs within
this distance, the critical section for design shall be at the face of
the support.
 TORSIONAL MOMENT STRENGTH
To reduce unsightly cracking and to prevent crushing of the surface,
the size of the section must be limited as follows: (sec411.7.3)

For Solid Sections:

2 2
 Vu   Tu Ph   Vc 2 
   2 
  f 'c 
 bw d   1.7 Aoh   bw d 3 
For Hollow Sections:

 Vu   Tu Ph   Vc 2 
  2 
  f 'c 
 bwd   1.7 Aoh   bwd 3 
where:

Aoh=area enclosed by centerline of the outermost closed traverse reinforcement, mm2

ph=perimeter of centerline of the outermost closed traverse reinforcement, mm

 DESIGN FOR TORSION MOMENT

The required reinforcement for torsion shall be determined from:

Tn  Tu Sec 411.7.3.5

Tn shall be computed by:

2 Ao At f yt
Tn  cot  Sec 411.7.3.6
s

where:
At=area of one leg of closed stirrup resisting torsion

Ao=0.85Aoh
It shall be permitted to take θ equal to:

a. 45° for nonprestressed members or members with less prestress than in (b); or

b. 37.5° for prestressed members with an effective prestress force not less than
40% of the tensile strength of the longitudinal reinforcement.
 ADDITIONAL LONGITUDINAL REINFORCEMENT(sec411.7.3.7)

At f yt
Al  ph cot 2 
s fy

MINIMUM TORSION REINFORCEMENT

Minimum area of transverse closed stirrups shall be computed by: Sec. 411.7.5.1

bw s 0.35bw s
Av  2 At  0.062 f ' c 
f yt f yt

Minimum area of longitudinal torsional reinforcement is (Sec. 411.7.5.1)

5 f ' c Acp At f yt
Al min   ph
12 f y s fy
SPACING OF TORSION REINFORCEMENT

1. The spacing of transverse torsion reinforcement shall not exceed

the smaller of ph/8 or 300 mm. sec 411.7.6.1

2. The longitudinal bar or tendon shall be inside the stirrups with a

maximum spacing of 300 mm. There shall be at least one longitudinal
bar or tendon in each of the stirrup. Longitudinal bars shall have a
diameter at least 1/24 times the stirrup spacing, but not less than 10
mm. sec411.7.6.2

3. Torsional reinforcement shall be provided for a distance of at

least (bt + d) beyond the point required by analysis. Sec 411. 7.6.3

bt = width of that part of cross section containing the closed

stirrups resisting torsion, mm
 EXAMPLE

A 350mm by 600mm cantilever beam shown supports its own

deadload plus a factored concentrated load of 250 kN. The
beam is 1.35 m long, and the concentrated load acts at a point
0.15 m from the end of the beam and 0.15 m away from the
centroidal axis of the member. Use normal weight concrete
with f’c = 21 MPa and both fy and fyt = 420 MPa and ϕ = 0.75
for shear and torsion.
 Flexure

 fy 
M u  bd f y 1  0.59  ' 
2

 fc 

 420 
305.28 x10  0.90   350  547.5  420   1  0.59 
6 2

 21 

  0.00859

As  1646.06mm 2

n25  4 pieces
Should torsion be considered

Tu  37.5kN  m

For nonprestressed members

 f 'c Acp
2

Acp   350 600  210000mm2

12 pcp

pcp  2  350  600  1900mm

0.75 1 21  210000 

2

 6.65kN  m  Tu  37.5kN
12 1900

Torsion must be considered

 Is the section large enough to resist torsion?

For Solid Sections:

2 2
 Vu   Tu Ph   Vc 2 
    2 
    f 'c 
 bw d   1.7 Aoh   bw d 3 

Aoh   350  2*40  10 600  2*40  10  132600mm2

ph  2  260  510  1540mm

Vc  0.17 f c' bwd  0.17 1 21  350  547.5  149.28kN

2
 255800   37.5 x10 1540    149.28 x103 2 
2 6

      0.75 

 21 
   1.7 132600  
2
350*547.5  350*547.5 3 

2.35MPa  2.876MPa

The cross section is large enough

Compute the stirrup area required for shear

Vu   Vc  Vs 

255.8
Vs   149.28  191.79 kN
0.75

Av f yt d Av Vs
Vs  or 
s s f yt d

Av 191790
  0.834mm2 / mm
s  420 547.5
Compute the stirrup area required for torsion

Tu
Tn 

37.5
Tn   50 kN  m
0.75

2 Ao fAt f yt At Tn
Tn  cot or  cot 
s s 2 Ao f yt

Ao  0.85 Aoh  0.85 132600  112710mm2

At 37.5 x106
 cot 45  0.396mm 2 / mm
s 2 112710  420 
Add stirrup areas and select stirrups

Av t A 2 At
 v   1.626mm 2 / mm
s s s
Check minimum stirrups

bw s 0.35bw s
Av  2 At  0.062 f 'c 
f yt f yt

Av  2 At 350 0.35  350 

 0.062 21 
s 420 420

 Av  2 At 
   0.237mm2 / mm  0.292mm2 / mm
 s min

Av t  Av  2 At 
   ok
s  s min
Using 10 mm diameter rebar

Av t A 2 At
 v   1.626mm 2 / mm
s s s

 
2   102  mm 2
4  1.626mm 2 / mm
s

s  96.6mm say 95mm

Compare with the maximum spacing

ph 1540
smax    192.5mm or 300mm
8 8

s  100mm  192.5mm ok

Use 10 mm closed stirrups: One at 50 mm from the face of the

support and rest at 95 mm on center
 Design the longitudinal reinforcement for torsion

At f yt
Al  ph cot 2 
s fy

420 2
Al  1540  0.396  cot 45  609.84mm 2
420

Compare with minimum area of longitudinal torsional reinforcement

5 f ' c Acp At f yt
Al min   ph
12 f y s fy

5 21  210000  420
Al min    0.396  1540  344.86mm2  At
12  420  420
 Design the longitudinal reinforcement for torsion

At f yt
Al  ph cot 2 
s fy

420 2
Al  1540  0.396  cot 45  609.84mm 2
420

Compare with minimum area of longitudinal torsional reinforcement

5 f ' c Acp At f yt
Al min   ph
12 f y s fy

5 21  210000  420
Al min    0.396  1540  344.86mm2  At
12  420  420
The longitudinal bar or tendon shall be inside the stirrups with a maximum
spacing of 300 mm. There shall be at least one longitudinal bar or tendon in
each of the stirrup. Longitudinal bars shall have a diameter at least 1/24
times the stirrup spacing, but not less than 10 mm. sec411.7.6.2

609.84mm2
 101.64mm2
6

Using 12 mm diameter rebar

A12= 113.10 mm2