A unified approach to shear and torsion in reinforced concrete

Reinforced concrete (RC) beams can be subjected to a complex combination of shear forces (V), torsional moments (T), flexural moments (M) and axial loads (N). This paper proposes a unified approach for the analysis of these elements. An existing model for the analysis of orthogonally reinforced concrete membrane elements subjected to in-plane shear and normal stresses is generalized to apply to the case of beams subjected to the complex loading. The combination of V and T can be critical. Torsion is modelled using the hollow-tube analogy. A direct equation for the calculation of the thickness of the equivalent hollow tube is proposed, and the shear stresses caused by V and T are combined using a simple approach. The development and the evaluation of the model are described. The calculations of the model are compared to experimental data from 350 beams subjected to various combinations of stress-resultants and to the calculations of the ACI and the CSA codes. The proposed model provides the most favorable results. It is also shown that it can accurately model the interaction between V and T. The proposed model provides a unified treatment of shear in beams subjected to complex stress-resultants and in thin membrane elements subjected to in-plane stresses.