Chapter 2

Torsion Stresses in Thin-Walled

Multi-Cell Box-Girders

2.1 Torsion of Uniform Thin-Walled Two-Cell Box-Girders

The thin-walled box section with uniform thickness t as shown in Fig. 2.1, is
subjected to a torsion moment T.
The shear flow and angle of twist for the thin-walled two cell structure shown in
Fig. 2.1 could be determined as follows.
The flexural warping coefficients are given by
I
d11 1=G  ds=t
s1

1=Gt  AC CD DB BA
d22 1=Gt  DC CF FH HD
d12 1=G  CD=t
Since the angle of twist is the same for the two cells, then the basic equations
are given by
d11  q1 d12  q2  2A1  h 0

2:1

d12  q1 d22  q2  2A2  h 0

2:2

From equations (2.2.1) and (2.2.2) we get

d11  d22  q1 d12  d22  q2 2d22  A1  h
d212  q1 d12  d22  q2 2d12  A2  h
Hence
q1 d11  d22  d212 2d22  A1  h  2d12  A2  h

M. Shama, Torsion and Shear Stresses in Ships,

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-14633-6_2, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010

21

22

2 Torsion Stresses in Thin-Walled Multi-Cell Box-Girders

Fig. 2.1 Shear flow due to

torsion of a thin-walled box
girder with two unequal cells

The solution of equations (2.1) and (2.2) gives



q1 h  2d22  A1  2d12  A2 d11  d22  d212
D1  h
q2 h  2A1  D1 d11 =d12
D2  h
where
D1 2d22  A1  2d12  A2



d11  d22  d212

D2 2A1  D1 d11 =d12

The equilibrium condition gives
T 2A1  q1 2A2  q2
D3  h
where
D3 2A1  q1 2A2  q2
Hence
h 1=D3  T
q1 D1 =D3  T
q2 D2 =D3  T
q12 q1  q2 D1  D2 =D3  T:
Example 2.1 Determine the torsion shear stress and angle of twist for the two
uniform thickness thin-walled box-girder shown in Fig. 2.2.
Solution The shear flow and angle of twist for the thin-walled two cell structure
shown in Fig. 2.2 could be determined as follows.

2.1 Torsion of Uniform Thin-Walled Two-Cell Box-Girders

23

Fig. 2.2 A uniform thinwalled box-girder with two

cells

The torsional moment is given by

T 2q1 A1 q2 A2

2:3

The angle of twist for cells 1 and 2 are given by

0
1
I
Z
1
h1
 @q1 ds=t  q2
ds=tA
2GA1
1

2:4

12

0
1
I
Z
I
1 @
h2
q
ds=t q1
ds=tA
2GA2 2
2

2:5

21

Since the angle of twist is the same for the two cells, then we have
h1 h2 h3
Reformulating equations (2.4) and (2.5), we get
0
1
I
Z
1@
q
ds=t  q2
ds=tA 2A1 h
G 1
0
1@
q
G 2

12

ds=t  q1

1
ds=tA 2A2 h

21

Let
d warping flexibility
I
1
d11
ds=t
G
1

d22

1
G

I
ds=t
2

2:6

2:7

24

2 Torsion Stresses in Thin-Walled Multi-Cell Box-Girders

d12 d21 

1
G

Z
ds=t
12

Substituting in equations (2.2.4) and (2.2.5), we get

d11 q1 d12 q2  2A1 h 0

2:8

d12 q1 d22 q2  2A2 h 0

2:9

Solving equations (2.2.3), (2.2.8) and (2.2.9), q1 and q2 could be determined.

Example 2.2 Determine the torsion shear stresses and the rate of twist for the thinwalled 2-cell box-girder shown in Fig. 2.3. The girder is subjected to a constant
torque T.

Fig. 2.3 A thin-walled boxgirder with two unequal cells

Solution Area of cell (1) is given by

A1 2a2
Area of cell (2) is given by
A2 a2
Let
d warping flexibility
I
d11 1=G  ds=t 6a=Gt
d22 4a=Gt
d12 a=Gt
The basic equations are
d11 q1 d12 q2  2A1 h 0

2:10

d12 q1 d22 q2  2A2 h 0

2:11

2.1 Torsion of Uniform Thin-Walled Two-Cell Box-Girders

25

The equilibrium equation gives

T 2q1 A1 q2 A2 2a2 2q1 q2
From equations (2.10) and (2.11), we get
d11 q1 A2 d12 q2 A2  d12 q1 A1  d22 q2 A1 0
q1 d11 A2  d12 A1 q2 d12 A2  d22 A1 0
Hence
q1 q2

d22 A1  d12 A2
2d22  d12
q2
d11 A2  d12 A1
d11  2d12

From equation (2.12), we get


2d22  d12
T 2a q2 2
1
d11  2d12


4d22  4d12 d11
T 2a2 q2
d11  2d12
2

From which q2 is given by



T
d11  2d12
2a2 4d22  4d12 d11


T
2d22  d12
q1 2
2a 4d22  4d12 d11
q2

Substituting in equation (2.10), we get

1
 d11 q1 d12 q2
2A1


1
T
2d11 d22  d11 d12 d12 d11  2d212
2 2
4a 2a
4d22  4d12 d11


T
d11 d22  d212
4
4a
4d22  4d12 d11

Substituting for d12, d11 and d22, we get

q1

T
T
9
8  a=t a=t=16  a=t 4  a=t 6  a=t 2 
2a2 G
2a G 26
q2

T
T
8
 6  a=t 2  a=t=26a=t 2 
2
2a G
2a G 26


 

T 
T
24  a2 t2  a2 t2 26  a=t 4  23=26  a=t
4
4a G
4a G

2:12

26

2 Torsion Stresses in Thin-Walled Multi-Cell Box-Girders

But
h T=GJ
Hence
J T=Gh 104=23  a3  t:

2.2 The General Case of a Uniform Two-Cell Box Girder

This is an indeterminate structural problem and its solution is based on the
assumption that the rate of twist for each cell is the same as for the whole section,
see Fig. 2.4.
i.e.,
h1 h2 0

and

h du=dz

h T=GJ
The torque T is given by
T 2q1 A1 2q2 A2
I
1
h1
q=t  ds
2GA1
1

and
h2

1
2GA2

q=t  ds

Fig. 2.4 Idealized section and torsion shear flow of a thin-walled two cell structure

2.2 The General Case of a Uniform Two-Cell Box Girder

27

i.e.,
2

14
q
G 1

q=t  ds  q2  ds=t12 5 2A1 h1

2:13

14
q8
G 2

3
ds=t  q1 ds=t21 5 2A2 h2

2:14

Equations (2.13) and (2.14) are simplified to

d11 q1 d12 q2 2A1 h


d11
d21

d21 q1 d22 q2 2A2 h


 

q1
d12
A1

2h
d22
q2
A2

or
dfqg 2hfAg
The shear flow in each cell is given by
fqg d1  2h  fAg
i.e.,
fqg 2h  d1  fAg
I
1
d11
ds=t
G
1
I
1
d22
ds=t
G

2:15

d12 d21
1
 ds=t12
G
The torque is given by
T 2q1 A1 2q2 A2
Solving equations (2.15) and (2.16), we get q1, q2 and h
The torque T is given by
TGJh

2:16

28

2 Torsion Stresses in Thin-Walled Multi-Cell Box-Girders

Hence J is given by
J T=Gh:
Example 2.3 Determine the torsion shear stresses and angle of twist for the thinwalled box section having uniform thickness t as shown in Fig. 2.5. The section is
subjected to a torsion moment T.
Fig. 2.5 Shear flow due to
torsion of a box-girder with
two cells

Solution Condition for Compatibility (Consistent Deformation). The warping

flexibilities are given by
d11 1=Gt  AB BC CD DA
d22 1=Gt  CH HF FN NC
d12 1=G  CD=td12 1=G  CD=t
The basic equations of consistent deformation are given by
d11  q1 d12  q2 2A1  h

2:17

d12  q1 d22  q2 2A2  h

2:18

Solving equations (2.17) and (2.18) we get

2d22  A1  2d12  A2
 h D1  h
d11  d22  d212
2A1
d11
h  D1 h D2  h
q2
d12
d12
q1

Equation for equilibrium condition is given by

T 2A1  q1 2A2  q2  h D3  h
The solution of equations (2.17), (2.18) and (2.19) gives
h T=D3
q1 T  D1 =D3

2:19

2.2 The General Case of a Uniform Two-Cell Box Girder

29

q2 T  D2 =D3
q12 q1  q2 T  D1  D2 =D3 :

2.3 Torsion Stresses in a Two Identical Cells Box-Girder

The two identical thin-walled cells box girder, see Fig. 2.6, behaves exactly as a
single cell box girder.
Since the two cells are identical we have
qI qII q:

Fig. 2.6 A thin-walled box

girder with two identical cells

2.3.1 Shear Flow q

The shear flow q is the same for the two cells and is given by
q T=2A
where
A B  D:

2.3.2 Shear Stress s

The shear stress in the sides, top, bottom and the internal partition plating are given
by
sS q=ts ;

sD q=tD ; sB q=tB ;

sL 0:

30

2 Torsion Stresses in Thin-Walled Multi-Cell Box-Girders

2.3.3 Rate of Twist h

The rate of twist is given by
h T=GJ
where
2

J 4A
I

I
ds=t

ds=t 2B=tB 2D=tS

2.4 Torsion of Three-Cell Box-Girder

Following the same principle that the angle of twist is the same for the three cell
box-girder shown in Fig. 2.7.
Then
h1 h2 h3 h
The equations of consistent deformation are given by
d11 q1 d12 q2  2A1 h1 0

2:20

d12 q1 d22 q2  2A2 h2 0

2:21

d32 q1 d33 q2  2A3 h3 0

2:22

T 2A1  q1 2A2  q2 2A3  q3 h

2:23

The torque is given by

Solving equations (2.20)(2.23), we get q1, q2, q3, q4 and h.

Fig. 2.7 Torsion of a threecell box-girder

2.4 Torsion of Three-Cell Box-Girder

31

Hence
"

d11
d21
0

d12
d22
d32

0
d23
d33

#(

q1
q2
q3

A1
2h A2
A3

)
2:24

dfqg 2hfAg
Hence the shear flow in each cell is given by

fqg d1 fAg2h

and
T 2h 

Ai qi

where
d11

I
ds=t
1

d22

I
ds=t
2

d33

I
ds=t
3

d12 d21 ds=t12

d23 d32 ds=t23 :
Example 2.4 Determine the shear flow, shear stress and rate of twist for the threecell box girder shown in Fig. 2.8.
Fig. 2.8 Shear flow due to
torsion of a 3-cell thin-walled
box girder

32

2 Torsion Stresses in Thin-Walled Multi-Cell Box-Girders

Solution Following the same principle that the angle of twist is the same for all
cells, see Fig. 2.8, we get
d11 q1 d12 q2 2A1 h
d21 q1 d22 q2 d23 q3 2A2 h2
d32 q2 d33 q3 2Ah3

2:25

but
h1 h2 h3 h
Then
"

d11
d21
0

d12
d22
d32

0
d23
d33

#(

q1
q2
q3

A1
2h A2
A3

dfqg 2hfAg

fqg d1 fAg2h

2:26
2:27

T 2q1 A1 2q2 A2 2q3 A3

2:28

The torque is given by

Solving equations (2.26) and (2.28) we get

q1 2hh1 A1
q2 2hh1 A2
q3 2hh1 A3
Substituting in equation (2.25), we get
h 1=2A1  d11 q1 d12 q2
where
d11 1=G 
d22 1=G 
d33 1=G 

I
ds=t
I1
ds=t
I2
ds=t
3

d12 d21 1=G  ds=t12

d23 d32 1=G  ds=t23:

2.5 Torsion of Uniform Thin-Walled Multi-Cell Box-Girder

33

2.5 Torsion of Uniform Thin-Walled Multi-Cell Box-Girder

The multi-cell thin-walled structure when subjected to pure torsion is a statically
indeterminate problem; see Fig. 2.9.
The torque T is given by
T

n
X

2Ai qi GJhJ

i1

where T = applied uniform torque; Ai = enclosed area of the ith cell; J = torsion
constant
J4

n
X

Ai d1 Ai

i1

The angle of twist per unit length

h du=dz
hi hj hij hjn
where
 I

hi 1=2GAi  qi ds=t
The angle of twist for cell i is given by
 I

Z
Z
hi 1=2GAi  qi ds=t  qi1 ds=t  qi1 ds=t

2:29

Equation (2.29) represents a series of simultaneous equations which gives

q1 ; q2 ; q3 ; . . .; qn .
The set of equations of consistent deformation is given by
d11 q1 d12 q2  2A1 h 0

Fig. 2.9 Torsion of a multi-cell thin-walled box-girder

2:30

34

2 Torsion Stresses in Thin-Walled Multi-Cell Box-Girders

d12 q1 d22 q2  2A2 h 0

2:31

d32 q1 d33 q2  2A3 h 0

2:32

This set of equations could be put in the following form

dfqg 2hfAg
Hence, for a multi cell box girder, the shear flow in each cell is given by
fqg d1 2h  fAg

i 1; 2; . . .; n

where
0

d11
B d21
B 0
dB
B 0
@
0
0

d12
d22
d32
0
0
0

0
d23
d33
d43
0
0

0
0
d34
d44
d54
0

0
0
0
d45
d55
d65

1
0
0 C
0 C
C
0 C
A
d56
d66

The torsion shear stresses are given by

s1 q1 =t1 ;

s2 q2 =t2 ;

s3 q3 =t3 :

2.6 Combined Open and Closed Thin-Walled Sections

For the combined open and closed section, see Fig. 3.1, the angle of twist is the
same for the whole section whether it is an open or closed section.

2.6.1 Combined Open Section with One Closed Cell

The total torque T for the thin-walled section shown in Fig. 2.10 is given by
T=

2
X
I1

Fig. 2.10 Combined open

and closed one-cell thinwalled section

Ti G  J  h

2.6 Combined Open and Closed Thin-Walled Sections

35

Hence
h T=GJ
where
T1 GJ1  h
J1 = torsion constant of the open section; J2 = Torsion constant of the closed
section.
For the open part of the structure, the shear flow q1 is given by
q1 T1  t21 =J1
T1 G  J 1  h
For the closed section of the structure, the shear flow q2 is given by
q1 T2 =2 A2
T2 2A2  q2 G  J2 h:

2.6.2 Combined Open Section with Two Closed Cells

The applied torque T for the thin-walled structure shown in Fig. 2.11 is given by
T

n
X

2qj Aj

j1

m
X

GJi h

i1

In the above particular example

T 2q1 A1 2q2 A2 GJ3 h
where J3 = the torsion constant of the open section part of the structure and is
given by J3
T 1=3

n
X
i1

Fig. 2.11 Combined thinwalled open and closed

two-cell structure

bi ti3

36

2 Torsion Stresses in Thin-Walled Multi-Cell Box-Girders

The shear flow in the two cells is given by

d11 q1 d12 q2 2A1 h
d21 q1 d22 q2 2A2 h
I
d11 1=G  ds=t
1

d22 1=G 

I
ds=t
2

d12 d21 1=G  ds=t12

In the general case, for combined open and closed sections, the shear flow in
each cell is given by
qi d1 2hhi

i 1; 2; . . .; n

And in each open member the shear flow is given by

qi T=J  t2i
And the angle of twist is given by
h T=GJ
where T = the torque and is given by
T4

n
X

A0i d1 Ai

i1

m
1X
bj t 3 :
3 j1 j

Example 2.5 Determine the shear flow distribution and rate of twist for the idealized ship section shown in Fig. 2.12. The ship section is subjected to a torque T.
Solution The torque T is distributed among the thin-walled structural members of
the ship section as follows
T

4
X

Ti

i1

where
T1 2A1  q1 ;
T4 GJ4  h

T2 2A2  q2 ;
q4  J 4
;
t24

T3 2A3  q3 ;

J4 1=3  St34

2.6 Combined Open and Closed Thin-Walled Sections

37

Fig. 2.12 Idealized ship

section

because of symmetry of the ship section, we have

T1 T2 ;

T4 T5

Hence
T1 T2 2A1  q1 G  J1  h
Thus
T 2GJ1  h 2GJ4  h GJ3  h

3
X

GJh

j1

where
G

E
E

21 t 2  6

J 2 J1 2 J4 J3
where
J1


ds
4a  b)2 2b=t 2a=t
t

J3 A(B  h)2 2B=t3 2h=t3

4A21

J4 1=3  S4  t34 1=3  D  a  h)  t34

Hence
hT

.X

GJ

Substituting, we get the torque carried by each structural element.

38

2 Torsion Stresses in Thin-Walled Multi-Cell Box-Girders

Hence
T1 GJ1  h
T3 GJ3  h
T4 GJ4  h
Substituting, we get the shear flow in each structural element as follows
q1 T1 =2A1 ;

q3 T3 =2A3 ;

and

q4 T4 =2A4 :

Example 2.6 Determine the shear flow and rate of twist for the ship section of
bulk carrier shown in Fig. 2.13.
Solution The torque T is given by
T 22A1 q1 2q2 A2 GJ6 h 2A3 q3 2A4 q4 2A5 q5 
The torsion constant J is given by
(
J2

5
X

)
4A0i d1 Ai

1=3  k6 

t36

i1

The rate of twist h is given by

h T=GJ
The set of equations of consistent deformation for cells (1) and (2) is given
by
d11 q1 d12 q2 2A1 h 2T=J  A1
d21 q1 d22 q2 2A2 h 2T=J  A2

Fig. 2.13 An idealized section of a bulk carrier

2.6 Combined Open and Closed Thin-Walled Sections

This set of equations can be put in the matrix form as follows


 
 
d11 d12
q1
A1
2h 
d21 d22
q2
A2
i.e.,
dfqg 2T=J  fAg
Hence, the torsion shear flow in cells (1) and (2) are given by
q1 d1  2T=J  A1
q2 d1  2T=J  A2
Similarly, the torsion shear flow in cells (3), (4) and (5) are given by
q3 d1  2T=J  A3
q4 d1  2T=J  A4
q5 d1  2T=J  A5
where
2

3
d33 d34 0
d 4 d43 d44 d45 5
0 d54 d55


m

P
dii 1=G 
kj tj ; i 1; 2; . . .; n N of cells
J1

drj 1=G  krj trj i

where r, and j are cells, having a common boundary; i = cell No. i.

39

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