Investigation of Torsional Behaviour of High–Strength Reinforced Concrete SectionsWorld Applied Sciences Journal

This paper presents a parametric study on the behaviour of high–strength reinforced concrete (HSC) sections subjected to pure torsion using nonlinear finite element analysis. This study used the results from a previous experimental program to verify the investigated models. The investigated models were designed according to the Egyptian Code of Practice recommendations. The investigated factors were a reduction in the steel reinforcement from 100% to 50%, the presence of compression forces in torsion, a reduction in the concrete cross section from a factor of 1 to a factor of 0.69, variable concrete compressive strength between 45 and 90 N\mm2 and variable box section wall thickness. Test results showed that the pre–cracking and post–cracking stiffness decreases and the angle of twist at cracking and failure torque increases with a reduction in steel. A reduction in the concrete section size also has major effects on the general behaviour of sections subjected to torsion, increasing the cracking and decreasing the failure torque.