Abstract—To avoid brittle torsional failure due to web concrete crushing before yielding of torsional reinforcement on reinforced concrete members, the ACI 318-14 design code and the Eurocode 2 limit the yield strength of torsional reinforcement up to 420 MPa and 600 MPa, respectively. In this study, six beams having different compressive strength of concrete and yield strength of torsional reinforcement were tested. The observed test results were compared with the torsional behavior predicted by a compatibility-aided truss model. Experimental and analytical results showed that torsional strength of reinforced concrete beams did not increase as the yield strength of torsional reinforcement increased. The beams with high strength torsional reinforcement failed due to concrete crushing before yielding of reinforcement. Test results also indicated that the limitation on the yield strength of torsional reinforcement in the ACI 318-14 design code was appropriate but not in the Eurocode 2.
 

Index Terms—compatibility-aided truss model, failure mode, high-strength reinforcement, reinforced concrete beams, torsional strength

Cite: Seung Hoon Lee, Seok-Kwang Yoon, Sung Hyun Yoon, Yoon Ki Hong, and Jung-Yoon Lee, "Torsional Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Beams Predicted by a Compatibility-Aided Truss Model," International Journal of Structural and Civil Engineering Research, Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 265-272, November 2016. doi: 10.18178/ijscer.5.4.265-272