Torsion capacity in existing RC beam
Torsion capacity in existing RC beam
(OP)
I have run into a situation on a cantilevered slab that monolithically ties into a RC beam. The proposed loading will result in an applied torsion that exceeds the torsion capacity of the RC beam. The RC beam does not have the tied (torsion resisting) stirrups, so I analyzed the capacity of the concrete section per ACI 11.6.1, limiting the capacity to the cracking torque Tcr. Is there any additional torsion capacity that is provided by the shear stirrups (U-shaped)?? Right now, it appears that my only solution is to reduce the torsion in the cantilevered slab by adding a column or some other sort of bracing near the edge of the slab. Thanks in advance for any advice. p.s. This is a great site - I just stumbled on to it this morning.






RE: Torsion capacity in existing RC beam
The U-shaped stirrups provide shear/torsion reinforcement for the two sides and the bottom of the RC beam. The reinforcing bars in the cantilevered slab that extend through the top of the beam and are anchored (by hook or by development length) could take torsional shear stresses on the top of the beam.
I believe you could consider the excess area of those bars, not needed to carry the moment in the slab, as contributing to the torsional reinforcement of the beam.
AEF
RE: Torsion capacity in existing RC beam
DaveAtkins
RE: Torsion capacity in existing RC beam
The slab does in fact extend beyond the RC beam. To give you a little background - because of the relatively complex loading (circular loading pattern with 8 bearing pads) and complex slab-column-circular wall system - I have modeled using STAAD. To my knowledge (this is my first floor system I have modeled with STAAD) the stiffness of the beam and slab have been accounted for in determining the applied torsion to the beam. Intuitively I would agree with you that the "back" slab would provide significant stiffness, but I'm relatively confident that this has been modeled in STAAD and the applied torsion that I'm seeing in the beam is reasonable. However, I'm also inclined to believe that the excess moment steel in the slab would provide at least some additional torsional capacity. Any ideas on how to better quantify this mess??? Thanks for your help.
RE: Torsion capacity in existing RC beam
ACI 11.6 covers torsion design quite extensively. Section 11.6.1 gives the maximum "ignorable" torsion. Section 11.6.2.2(a) gives the maximum torsion that must be designed for, since in this case any additional torsion can be redistributed to the slab. Section 11.6.4.1 discusses using closed stirrups for torsion.
Forgive me if you have already reviewed all those sections. Back to the original question--if you can get comfortable with assuming the top steel in the slab plus the u-shaped stirrups together act like closed stirrups, then I think you can justify what you are doing. Conceptually, this idea has merit. But I have never justified resisting torsion in this way.
I would check, by hand, the relative stiffnesses of the beam and the slab, to make sure STAAD is not overestimating the torsion.
DaveAtkins
RE: Torsion capacity in existing RC beam
I also believe that you can assume some 'closed stirrup' action due to the negative reinforcement of the slab, but probably not to full yield...
RE: Torsion capacity in existing RC beam
RE: Torsion capacity in existing RC beam
Also: Are you taking into account in the concrete section resisting shear the solid slab forming the flanges of the T beam?