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diagonal strut is located at the web center (z/2). Thus, it may be

resisted by equal additional forces in the top and bottom chords of the
chosen truss model.
2.4.5 Checking the Web Concrete Stresses. The use of the truss
model with variable angle of inclination of the diagonal struts in the
design of reinforced and prestressed concrete members requires that the
steel reinforcement yield prior to failure of the concrete in
compression. Concrete failure can be due to crushing of the bending
compression zone or of the concrete diagonals.
As explained in Sec. 2.3 of Report 248-3, the restrictions on
longitudinal reinforcement as a fraction of balanced reinforcement based
on simultaneous yielding of the longitudinal steel and crushing of the
concrete in the case of pure bending constitutes a safe lower bound for
the case of combined torsion and bending.
The concrete compression diagonal struts carry the diagonal
forces necessary for truss equilibrium. As shown in Sec. 2.3 of Report
248-3, the stress in the diagonal strut can be found from geometric
considerations, and is given by the relation:
fd = q/[b
w
sina' c o s ~ (2.51)
where "q" is the shear flow due to shear or shear and torsion. The term
q/b
w
becomes the average shear stress v ~
In Sec. 2.3 of Report 248-3, it was demonstrated that the
compression stress fd in the diagonal strut does not vary significantly
within the lirnits proposed for the inclination of the diagonal strut.
74
As a result, the average diagonal compression stress fd could be
controlled by limiting the nominal shear stress independently of the
inclination of the compression diagonals.
In Chapter 3 of Report 248-3, a complete evaluation of the
strength of the diagonal compression strut as a function of the maximum
appl ied shear stress was cond ucted. The test data used in this
evaluation belonged to reinforced and prestressed concrete members with
web reinforcement subjected to shear and/or torsion fail ing in a web
crushing mode. As a result of this evaluation it was suggested that
failures due to crushing of the web concrete could be prevented by
limiting the maximum nominal shear stress due to shear and/or torsion to
a value equal or less than 15../'76.
Therefore, in order to avoid premature failures due to web
crushing, the stress fd in the diagonal compression strut should always
be kept equal to or less than 3 0 ~
2.4.6 Adequate Detailing of the Steel Reinforcement. The space
truss model design approach is based on the assumption that all tensile
forces have to be carried through yielding of the web and flexural
tension reinforcement. Thus, reinforced and prestressed concrete
members not only have to be designed as underreinforced sections, but in
addition premature failures due to improper detailing of the
reinforcement must be avoided.
In the design of reinforced and prestressed concrete members
using the truss model it is clear to the designer that not only an
75
adequate amount of reinforcement is necessary but its distribution is
also of great significance.
2.4.6.1 Torsion. In Report 248-3, the differences in the
design of members to resist torsional moments produced either by
equilibrium or by compatibility torsion was established.
In the case of compatibility torsion the distribution of the
reinforcement is more important than the amount. When designing members
to resist compatibility torsion it is recommended that a minimum amount
of reinforcement be provided for two reasons:
1. Minimum reinforcement (both transverse and longi tud ina!) helps
at service load level to maintain adequate crack control.
2. Minimum amount of torsional reinforcement might raise the
ul timate load of the entire structure since after the onset of
yield in the flexural reinforcement of the adjacent members,
further redistribution of forces can take place.
In the ACI Code and AASHTO Standard Specifications (2,1) in the
case of reinforced concrete members subjected to compatibility torsion
the nominal torsion shear stress need not exceed 1.67 times the torsion
shear stress required to produce first diagonal cracking. The proposed
Canadian General Method (23) specifies that in the case of compatibility
torsion the maximum nominal shear stress produced by torsion may be
reduced to 0.67 times the pure torsional cracking strength of the
section, provided that the member and adjoining members are adequately
detailed to account for the redistribution of forces after cracking.
The Swiss Code (10) specifies that torsional moments produced by
compatibility torsion can be neglected. In addition, as in the CEB-
Refined Method, torsional moments as a rule are only to be taken into
76
account in the design if they are necessary for equilibrium. However,
in the case of compatibility torsion it is suggested that some
reinforcement should be placed to control crack development. No level of
nominal torsion shear stress is specified.
In the proposed design recommendations it is suggested that in
the case of members subjected to compatibility torsion, the members
should meet the minimum detailing requirements for transverse and
longitudinal reinforcement as given for the case of equilibrium torsion.
Such a member should:
a. Exhibit good service load behavior.
b. Have enough additional strength to allow further redistribution
of forces after the onset of yield in the flexural reinforcement
of adjacent members.
The case of equilibrium torsion is different. Here the amount
of reinforcement becomes equally as important as its distribution. In
designing a member subjected to torsion it is necessary to provide a
uniform distribution of the longitudinal reinforcement around the
perimeter of the cross section in order to provide adequate crack
control. It is suggested that the longitudinal bars distributed around
the perimeter should not be spaced farther apart than 8 in. center-to-
center. At the same time, in order to satisfy ductility and strength
requirements at ultimate, it is recommended that a considerable amount
of the longitudinal reinforcement required for torsion be placed at the
corners of the cross section and inside the closed stirrups. It is
recommended based on studies by Collins and Mitchell (11) that under no