BFC 20903 (Mechanics of Materials)

Chapter 6: Torsion

Chapter Learning Outcome

1. Defined the relationship between stress
and strain
2. Understand torsion theory and their
applications
3. Analysed and calculate torsion in solid
and hollow circular bar
4. Analysed and calculate the torsion with
end-restraints
5. Analysed and calculate the torsion with
combined bar
BFC 20903 (Mechanics of Materials)
Shahrul Niza Mokhatar
(shahrul@uthm.edu.my

Introduction
Torsion commonly found in mechanical engineering.
application, for example machinery structures that has
twisting member.
In civil engineering applications;

secondary beam
will distributes load
to main beam as
point load and
moment at
connection part of
the beams.

water retaining in a
channel will
produce moment
that are distributed
to the beam as
torsion

advert post will

experience torsion
due to wind load that
acting on advert
planks.

Torsion theory

When a bar or shaft of circular section is twisted by moment,

its called pure tension & the deformed element are in a
state of pure shear.

Few assumptions are taken

into account in torsion
analysis,

Using Right Hand Law, torsion

vector can be determined

The longitudinal axis of the

shaft remains straight.
The shaft does not increase or

decrease in length.
Radial lines remain straight
and radial as the cross section
rotates.
Cross sections rotate about the

Planar cross-sectional parallel

with member axis will remains
planar after subjected to
torsion.
Shear strain, is changing
linearly along the bar.

Shear stress due to torsion

Shear stress in circular section, (tau). From Hookes
: Shear stress in the shaft if
Law,
= TR
J

max=maximum shear stress occurs

at the outer surface @ tegasan
ricih. (N/m2)
J : Polar moment of inertia of the
cross sectional area @ moment
sifat tekun kutub (m4)
T : Applied torque acting at the
cross section (Nm)
R : Radius of the shaft (m)

Angles of twist
Twisting angle is angle (in radian) produced when a
bar is subjected to torsion.

TL
JG

= angle of twist (radians)

T = applied torque
L = length of member
G = shear modulus of material/ modulus of
rigidity@modulus ketegaran (N/m2)
J = polar moment of inertia

Power transmission

Circular bars or shafts are commonly used for

transmission of power.
Power is defined as the work performed per unit of
time. The work transmitted by a rotating shaft equals
to the torque applied
times
thex angle
rotation.
Work
= Torque
Angular of
Displacement
Power = d/dt (Work)

If torque is not a function

time,velocity
then of
the
is theof
angular
theequation
shaft
(rad/s) = 2 f
for power simply becomes:
f : frequency (Hz @ hertz) (1 Hz = 1
cycle/s)
P=T
T : Applied torque acting at the cross
section (Nm)
consistent unitsPfor
P, T,(W)(1W
and .
: Power
= 1 Power
Nm/s) is

Use
commonly specified in horsepower, HP. Angular
velocity is usually given in revolutions per minute or
RPM. It should then be converted to rad/sec. To do this
multiply the value in RPM by 2 and divide by 60.

Example 1

Example 2

Determine the maximum torque of a hollow circular shaft with

inside diameter of 60mm and an outside diameter of 100mm
without exceeding the maximum shearing stress of 70MPa.

Solution;
Given;
di = 60mm, do = 100mm, max = 70MPa
J

(100 4 60 4 ) 8.55 x10 6 mm 4

32

Tmax r
J
J
Tmax max
r
(70 x106 )(8.55 x10 6 )

11.97kNm
0.05

max

Remember: max=maximum shear stress occurs at the outer

surface/radius.

Exercise
A hollow steel shaft has an outside diameter of
150mm and an inside diameter 100mm. The shaft is
subjected to a torque of 35kNm. The modulus of
rigidity for the steel is 80GPa.
Determine;
a) the shearing stress at the outside surface of the shaft.
b) the shearing stress at the inside surface of the shaft.
c) the magnitude of the angle of twist in a 2.5m length.

Exercise: Solution
Solution;
J

(150 4 100 4 ) 39.89 x10 6 mm 4

32

the shearing stress at the outside

surface of the shaft.
Tr
J
35 x10 3 (0.075)

65.81MPa
6
39.89 x10

out

the shearing stress at the inside

surface of the shaft
Tr
J
35 x103 (0.05)

43.9 MPa
39.89 x10 6

in

the magnitude of the

angle of twist in a 2.5m
length.

TL
JG

35 x103 ( 2.5)

0.027 rad
80 x109 (39.89 x10 6 )

Composite Bars

Combined bar consists of two or more materials to form a

structure. An example is shown in Figure. Superposition principle
is used to solve this problem.

The concept to solve combined bar are:

(a) Imposed external torsion is equal to total torsion formed in the bar,
i.e.,

(b) Twisting angle first material is equal to twisting angle of second

material at connection part, i.e.,
(c) Total twisting angle can be calculated from formula,

Exercise

The composite bars with the different material is subjected to the

torque is shown in figure. Determine the maximum shear stress
and the position. Determine the angle of twist at C.

Solution
J AB
J BC

d 4 (100 2 )

9.82 x10 6 mm 4
32
32
d 4 (50 2 )

0.62 x10 6 mm 4
32
32

Maximum shear stress;

AB

TAB rAB 6 x106 (50)

30.55 N / mm 2
6
J AB
9.82 x10

BC

TBC rBC 4 x106 ( 25)

161.3N / mm 2
6
J BC
0.62 x10

Angle of twist at the end of C;

TL TL

JG JG

TL

JG

AB

BC

(6 x10 6 )( 2000)
( 4 x10 6 )( 300)

0.0158rad
9.82 x10 6 (3x10 4 ) 0.62 x10 6 (8 x10 4 )

The maximum shear stress occurs in

the bar of BC.

Torsion of non-cylindrical
member
Generally, we deal with axisymmetric bodies and
the shear strain is linear through the entire body.
However, non-circular cross-sections are not
axisymmetric causing complex behaviors, which
may cause bulging or warping when the shaft is
twisted.

Condition of bulging of non-circular shaft

Empirical formulas for various

shapes

Example 3
The aluminum shaft shown in figure has a cross
sectional area in the shape of an equilateral
triangle. Determine the largest torque, T that can
allow of the shaft if the allowable
be applied to the end
shear stress,
is =
56MPa and the angle of
allow
twist at its end is restricted to
= 0.02 rad.
Given Gal = 26GPa.

Example 3: Solution

Thin-walled Having Closed Cross

Sections
Thin walled of noncircular shape are often used to
construct lightweight frameworks which is used in
aircraft.
Due the applied torque, T, shear stress is developed
on the front face of the element. Shear flow in a solid
body is the gradient of a shear stress through the
body. Shear flow is the product of the tubes thickness
and the average shear stress. This value is constant at
all points along the tubes cross section. As a result,
the largest average shear
on the cross section
q stress
avg t
occurs where the tubes thickness is small.

Thin-walled Having Closed Cross

Sections
In non-circular thin walled shafts for closed segments. We assume that
the stress is uniformly distributed across the thickness and that we can
assume an average shear stress. The average shear stress in the body
is;

ave

T
2tAm

dF

where,
ave
- average shear stress
t - the thickness of the shaft at the point of interest
Am - mean area enclosed within the boundary of the
centerline of the
shaft thickness.
T - the applied torque

d
s

av
h

t
av
T

Thin-walled Having Closed Cross

Sections
h( ave t ds )

ave

ave t h ds
2 ave t d Am

T
2tAm

2 ave t Am

Since,q avg t we can determine the shear flow throughout the cross section
using the equation;
q

T
2 Am

 Angle of twist,
This angle can be determined by using the energy
method. The angle given in radians, can be expressed as;

TL
2
4 Am G

ds
t

Here the integration must be performed around the

entire boundary of the tubes cross sectional area.
where,

t - thickness of the interior segment

L - length of the section
G - modulus of rigidity of the section/shear modulus

Example 4
A square aluminum tube has the dimensions as shown in
figure.
a) determine the average shear stress in the tube at point
A if it is subjected to a torque of 85Nm.
b) compute the angle of twist due to this loading. Given
Gal = 26GPa.

Example 4: Solution
a) The area, AAmm; (50)(50) 2500mm 2

50mm
The shaded area =
Am

50mm

avg

T
85 x10 3

1.7 N / mm 2
2tAm 2(10)( 2500)

Since t is a constant because of the square tube, the

average shear stress is the same at all points on the cross
section.

Example 4: Solution
b) Angle of twist;

TL
2
4 Am G

ds
t

(85 x10 3 )(1500)

4( 2500) 2 ( 26 x10 3 )

50mm
4
10mm

1.962 x10 4 ( 20)

3.92 x10 3 rad

Here, the integral represents the length around the centerline

boundary of the tube.

- END -