Sectional Analysis Procedure for Reinforced Concrete Members Subjected to Pure Torsion

Abstract

A sectional analysis procedure for reinforced concrete members subjected to pure torsion is presented in this paper. On the developmentoftheanalysisprocedure,thereinforcedconcretesectionismodeledwithreinforcedconcreteelementssubjectedto biaxialstressstates,onthebasisofthethin-walledtubeanalogy.Eachreinforcedconcreteelementisanalyzedwiththemodified compression field theory (MCFT) to take into account for compression softening and tension stiffening effects in cracked reinforced concrete. Considering analysis results of reinforced concrete elements, equilibrium, and compatibility on the section are checked. For verification of the developed analysis procedure, analytical predictions were compared with test results of 16 reinforcedconcretebeamssubjectedtoapuretorsionalloadwhichareavailableintheliterature.Comparisonbetweenpredicted and experimentally obtained torque-twist responses showed that the proposed procedure is capable of capturing the ultimate torsional capacity as well as the angle of twist within a reasonable range.