Torsional capacity of reinforced concrete columns

الملخص EN

Concrete columns in buildings may be subjected to torsional moments under the effect of lateral loads, especially when both the building and the columns shapes are irregular.

In bridges, due to the bridge alignment or unsymmetrical breaking forces the columns are subjected to torsional moments.

An experimental and theoretical study was conducted to evaluate the torsional capacity of concrete columns.

The test program included eight normal strength concrete columns applied to torsion.

The experimental tests were executed at Reinforced Concrete Laboratory in Housing and Building Research Center.

Two columns had square cross sections and the other six columns had L-shape cross sections.

The studied parameters were the shape of column section, the amount of lateral reinforcement, and the level of axial load.

The tested specimens were aligned horizontally and subjected to the required level of axial load, then, pure torsional moment was subjected through two concrete arms.

The test results are discussed and analyzed to evaluate the torsional capacity of both the square and L-shape concrete columns.

In the theoretical study, a space truss model which considers concrete softening was modified to include the effect of the axial load.

A computer program based on the modified model was adapted to predict the columns torsional capacity.