4.

Torsion
Open and closed cross sections, simple St. Venant and warping torsion,
interaction of bending and torsion, Eurocode approach.
Common is elastic solution (nonlinear plastic analysis e.g. Strelbickaja)
Eurocode 3 enables combination of plastic bending moment and elastic torsion.
Should be distinguished:
- simple torsion: only shear stresses arise,
- warping torsion: both shear and direct (normal) stresses arise.

1. Open cross sections (e.g. I, U, L)

a) Simple (Saint Venants) torsion (occurs only exceptionally, see later)

Tt i Only shear arises:

Tt f y / M0
b
i=1 t(i) = t (i)
t i=2 It 3
(maximal in tmax)
1
i=3 It = bi ti
3
t 3 i
(influence of rounding of rolled sections,
otherwise = 1)
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4 Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.

 b) Warping torsion (according to Vlasovs theory)
Assumptions:
1. Rigid cross section,
2. Null shear deformation
(shear lag ignored).

one part of a torsion moment T is transmitted by simple torsion Tt ,

other part by bending torsion Tw : T = Tt + Tw

in warping torsion everything t w w

is related to central line
T +
-
S shear centre = + +
(bending centre)
+
-
internal forces: Tt Tw B
moment of simple moment of bending bimoment
torsion torsion

bending torsion

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4 Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.

 Resulting stresses:
Shear stresses:
simple torsion t
first sectorial moment
Tw S w
bending torsion w =
t Iw
warping constant

t
e.g.:
t
w,max t
stress through thickness t

Bw B
Direct (normal) stress: w = =
Iw Ww sectorial section modulus

Applies bending analogy : B M or w

Tw V or w
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4 Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.

 Sectorial characteristics
Position of S:
Rolled sections see tables. y w dA = z w dA = 0
A A
In general from sectorial coordinate: (product sectorial moments)

I cross section: The main sectorial coordinate:

Sw hb
z w w = r ds =
t s 4
r First sectorial moment:
h GS h b 2t
Sw = w dA =
A 16
b Second sectorial moment
(warping constant):

U cross section: h2
in this position

I w = w 2 dA =
A
4
Iz
w Sw
no torsion !!

S G w, Sw, Iw ... see tables

a =a

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4 Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.

 Determination of internal forces due to torsion:
solution of Vlasovs differential equations, or directly from formulas,
based on bending analogy.

Distribution of torsion moment:

F simple support in torsion (couple of forces)

e
bending A
V
Distribution of torsional moment due to eccentrical force
M corresponds to distribution of transverse force at
eccentricity.
torsion Part transmitted by simple torsion is set aside:

T = Ve
Tt V e ... see table of Eurocode
Tw V e (1 ) Czech NA

B
Me B M e (1 )
e1
Superposition for more complex loading is necessary: e2 - e3
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4 Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.

 Simplified (conservative) solution neglects simple torsion:
T T T/h
bending of flanges only = bimoment
0 h (often adequate: it is conservative
from w point of view)
T/h
Important notes:
1. Large direct stresses, they can not be ignored!!

2. Direct stresses (warping torsion) do not arise:

a) for loading by stresses t, roughly also due to end
T loading (simple torsion arises only):
b) in sections composed of radiating outstands
(because of w = Iw = 0): (shear centre S is in cross point)
3. In practice usually occurs torsion about enforced axis (V):
SV e
analysis about original shear centre S
S is uneconomical !!!

moreover, torsion is usually restricted by cladding rigidity torsion may often be ignored.

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4 Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.

 2. Closed cross sections (e.g. )
a) Simple torsion (shear stresses only, usual design)

Tt Bredts shear flow (t t ) = const.

t Tt
di t(i) =
ti t (i) As
= 2 As
Contrary to open cross section the maximal shear t
is in the thinnest plate and along thickness constant !!

b) Warping torsion: - Umanskijs theory (rigid cross section),

- Vlasovs theory with non rigid cross section,
- FEM (including influence of bevelled cross section,
gives also transversal bending moments in plates).

The stresses are the same as in open cross sections: t, w, w.

However, w, w are very small, commonly ignored even for bridges.

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4 Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.

 3. Interaction of bending and torsion ( My + T )
e
In general, bending and torsion stresses may be summed and von Mises criterion
applied:
2

2

2

x,Ed + z,Ed x,Ed z,Ed + 3 Ed 1

fy / M0 fy / M0 fy / M0 fy / M0 fy / M0

Direct stresses (open cross sections only):

= My + w f y / M1
M y,Ed BEd
i.e. + f y / M1
LTW y Ww

Shear stresses:
VEd
1 Vpl,T,Rd is design plastic shear resistance of the cross section.
Vpl,T,Rd
t,Ed w,Ed
Vpl,T,Rd = 1 Vpl,Rd
For open sections I and U
( )
1,25 f y / 3 / M0 ( )
fy / 3 / M0
t,Ed
Vpl,T,Rd = 1
For closed sections
( )
f y / 3 / M0
Vpl,Rd in U sections only

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4 Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.