MECG1014 - MECHANICS OF SOLID I

Laboratory # 4: Torsion Testing

1. Objectives

General Objective:

 Students are required to understand the principles of torsion testing, practice their testing skills
and interpret the experimental results of the provided material when failed under torsion.

Specific Objectives:

 To determine the relationship between torque and degrees of rotation, relationship between
shear stress and shear strain, maximum shear stress, shear stress at proportional limit, and shear
modulus or modulus of rigidity of the tested material.
 To characterized the capability of the material to withstand torque prior to torsion failure.
 To analyze and interpret the test results in relation to the failure nature of the material.

2. Equipment

Figure 1: Schematic diagram showing details of torsion testing machine.

In order to study the response of materials under a twisting moment, the torsion test is performed by
mounting the specimen onto a torsion testing machine as shown in Figure 1, and then applying the twisting
moment till failure. The torque and degree of rotation are measured and plotted as shown in Figure 2. It can
be seen that higher torsional force is required at the higher degrees of rotation. Normally, the test
specimens used are of a cylindrical rod type since the stress distribution across the section of the rod is the
simplest geometry, which is easy for the calculation of the stresses. One end of the cylindrical specimen is
fitted to the torque shaft and another is fitted to the input shaft. The twisting moment is applied by the
torque shaft as illustrated in figure 1 to produce torque until the specimen fails.

At the initial stage, the graphical relationship of the torque and degree of rotation measured is linear as
demonstrated in Figure 2. The specimen is elastically deformed and the recovery of the specimen to its
original shape is possible if the specimen is unloaded. However, if a high degree of rotation is applied passing
a proportional limit, the specimen starts to deform plastically and will not return to its original shape when
the specimen is unloaded.

Figure 2: Relationship between torque and angle of twist.

Figure 3: Relationship between modular shear stress and shear strain.

3. Report

The report must be submitted in English and it must include the following:

 Theoretical introduction: Torque, angle of twist, shear stress, shear strain, shear modulus or
modulus of rigidity, relationship between shear modulus and modulus of elasticity. Also, it must
include types of material failure due to torsion (ductile and fragile).
 Material methods: experimental procedure, employed equipment and its precision.
 Registered data: include evidence of your experiment.
 Results:
o Graph of Torque vs. Angle of twist.
o Graph of Shear stress vs. Shear strain.
o Maximum shear stress, shear stress at proportional limit, shear modulus, and modulus of
elasticity of the tested material.
o Type of material failure.
 Discussion (analysis of results).
 Conclusions and recommendations: must be consistent with your results.
 References: it is necessary to cite the sources of information that have been used for this report.

4. Laboratory sessions
 The students will be organized by sessions in groups of ten (10) students.
 The students Will be required to sign an assistance sheet

5. Assessment

The deadline to submit the report is one week after the laboratory.
Registered data

Torsion Specimen

Initial diameter (in):

Initial gauge length (in):

Initial overall length of specimen (in):

Final overall length of specimen (in):

Maximum torque (in·lb):

Degrees of rotation to failure (degree):

Fracture surface details:

Registered data

Rotation Torque Rotation Torque Rotation Torque

Increment (in·lb) Increment (in·lb) Increment (in·lb)
(degrees) (degrees) (degrees)

2.5 15 30

2.5 15 30

2.5 15 30

2.5 15 30

2.5 15 30

2.5 15 30

2.5 15 30

2.5 15 30

2.5 15 30

2.5 15 30

2.5 30 30

2.5 30 30

2.5 30 30

2.5 30 30

2.5 30 30

5 30 30

5 30 30

5 30 30

5 30 30

5 30 30

5 30 30

5 30 30

5 30 30

5 30 30

5 30 30
Registered data

Rotation Torque Rotation Torque Rotation Torque

Increment (in·lb) Increment (in·lb) Increment (in·lb)
(degrees) (degrees) (degrees)