MIT - 16.

20 Fall, 2002

16.20 HANDOUT #3

Fall, 2002

Review of “Basic” Torsion Theory

SOLID CROSS-SECTIONS (St. Venant Theory)

φ = 0 on contour (free boundary)

Τ = − 2 ∫ ∫ φ dxdy

∇2φ = 2Gk ∂φ ∂φ
= σ yz = − σ xz
∂x ∂y
• Rigid rotation of cross-section
• Free to warp
• σxz, σyz only nonzero stresses
dα Τ
= GJ = torsional rigidity
dz GJ
J = torsion constant

Stress resultant = τ = σ 2zx + σ 2zy

OPEN, THIN-WALLED SECTIONS (Membrane Analogy)

Same governing equation and B.C. for

torsion and pressurized membrane
pi
∇ 2w = −
N
w = 0 on contour

Paul A. Lagace © 2002 Handout 3-1

MIT - 16.20 Fall, 2002

Analogy:

Membrane Torsion

w → φ

pi → -k

1
N →
2G
∂w ∂φ
→ = σ zy
∂x ∂x
∂w ∂φ
→ = − σ zx
∂y ∂y
Τ
Volume = ∫∫ wdxdy → −
2

Apply to a narrow rectangular cross-section

bh 3
J =
3
2T
τ res ≈ x = σ yz
(local axes) J
( σ xz = 0)
apply to:

CLOSED, THICK-WALLED SECTIONS

φ = C1 on one boundary
φ = C2 on one boundary

Paul A. Lagace © 2002 Handout 3-2

MIT - 16.20 Fall, 2002

∫ τds = 2AGk on any closed boundary

THIN-WALLED CLOSED SECTIONS

τ res constant through thickness

∫ τds = 2GKA

“shear flow”: q = τ t

A = enclosed area

Bredt’s formula T
τ resultant =
2 At

4 A2
J =
ds
∫ t
Note: Free-to-warp assumptions violated near end constraints
for all torsion problems.

Paul A. Lagace © 2002 Handout 3-3