Experiment 2: Torsion Test

Mechanics and Materials Lab

Table of content

1. Abstract.pg. 1

2. Introduction..pg. 2

3. Theorypg. 3

4. Description of the experimental apparatus...pg. 4 ~ 5

5. Procedure...pg. 6

6. Data.pg. 7

7. Observations.pg. 8

8. Analysis and Results....pg. 9 ~ 12

9. Discussions....pg. 13

10. Conclusion..pg. 14

11. Reference...pg. 15

Abstract
The torsion test is an important experiment that shouldnt be taken lightly as its principle or uses is
seen everywhere around mankind such as cars. This experiment is to understand the principle of
torsion test and to determine the modulus of shear, G through measurement of the applied torque
and angle of twist. A significant difference is seen whereby the modulus of shear of aluminium is higher
than brass which proves that aluminium is ductile in this experiment. The graph of applied torque vs.
revolutions shows this correlation in this study.

Introduction

The purpose of this experiment is to understand the principle of torsion test through a planned
procedure provided. The procedure requires the input rotating motion onto the hand wheel which
then translates the rotating motion onto the rod specimen provided by a worm gear from one free
end to a fixed end. Through this, torsion exists which is the twisting of the rod due to applied torque
by the hand wheel of which the applied torque values and twist angle are tabulated. From these
tabulated values, the modulus of shear, G is to be determined.

Theory

The variation of pure shear wherein a structural member is twisted is known as torsion, whereby the
torsional forces produce a rotation motion about the longitudinal axis of one end of the member
relative to the other end. The twist induced is also known as the torsional deformation. Torsion is
normally tested/applied on cylindrical solid or hollow shafts. Regularly, these tests were performed
conferring to the ASTM Standard E143, Standard Test for Shear Modulus.
F

Figure 1: Before and after deformation due to torsion

From the results tabulated obtained through the experiment which is the applied torque and angle of
twist, the shear modulus, G of the material is able to be determined through the following formula:-

Where;
T
=
J
=
G
=

=
L
=
d
=
r
=

4
2

4
32

torque
polar moment of inertia
shear modulus
angle after application of torque
length
diameter
radius

Multiple types of investigation may be conducted/experimented depending on the various types of

specimen material, along with its differing diameters and lengths. Through the aid of a reference rod
equipped with a strain gauges, the effective torque is logged and directly shown on a digital display of
a strain gauge measurement amplifier.

Description of the experimental apparatus [1]

Figure 2: Layout of torsion apparatus

The apparatus mainly consists of:

1 Loading device with scale and revolution counter for twisting angle measurement
Torsional loading is transmitted through the worm gear
with reduction ratio 62:1 (1) and a hand wheel (4).
Twisting angles at the input and output can be read
through two 360 scales (2,3).
There is an in addition a 5-digit revolution counter (5)
to show input revolutions 1:1 and the specimens
hexagon ends are inserted into an axial moveable
socket (6) at output end.
Figure 3: Loading Device

2 Torque measurement unit

In the test, torque is measured by a reference torsion and

strain gauges as seen in Figure 4. Shear stresses is produced
in the measurement torsion rod due to the load applied. To
detect shear stresses, strain gauges are used.
Due to strain gauges can only measure strain but not
twisting, they must be applied in the direction of the
maximum principle stress which will occur at a 45 to the
axial axis of the torsion rod.
The signal from the gauges is to work hand in hand with the
measurement amplifier with a digital display.
Figure 4: Torque measurement unit
4

3 Calibration device

Used to calibrate torque measurement unit with a

defined load torque to be used as a reference. The
calibration unit mainly consists of a lever and load
weight. The weight of the lever is balanced by a
counter weight.
Torque values can vary between 0 and 30 Nm
depending on the provided weight disks where the
resolution is 2.5 Nm.

Figure 5: Calibration device

4 Specimen (to be mounted between the loading device and torque measurement unit
Into hexagon socket)

Figure 6: Brass/Aluminium Short trial rod

5 Track base
6 Digital torque meter

The output signal of the strain gauge bridge is

conditioned in a measurement amplifier with a
digital display.

Figure 7: Digital torque meter

7 Dial Gauge
The dial gauge is used to monitor the deformation of the measuring torsion
rod and compensate it to avoid damage to the system.

Procedure
a) Calibration
Before the test can be conducted, the torque measurement unit is calibrated whereby the
defined load torque is used as reference. The calibration unit is connected to the torque
measurement unit and is weighted with certain counter weights ranging between 2.5 N to 20
N.
The torque measurement unit is also calibrated by setting the read out of the amplifier to
zero. After connecting and switching on the torque measurement unit to the torque amplifier,
the read outs are set to zero by holding the V button and pressing the P button.
The load torque is then applied and increased in 5 Nm increments through the weights and
the read out torque from the torque measurement unit is tabulated.
b) Performing the test
Mounting the specimen
1. The diameter and length of the short test specimen is calculated and recorded.
2. Soon after the calibration test is conducted, the short specimen of brass or aluminium
is mounted in between the loading device and the torque measuring unit by using the
19 mm hexagon socket.
3. The shifting holder of the load device is then checked to make sure it is in the mid
position.
4. Also, it is assured that there was no preload existing on the specimen after being
mounted. The hand wheel is adjusted when necessary until the read out of the
amplifier is zero.
5. The input and the output shaft of the worm gear indicators is also set to zero, along
with the dial gauge of the compensation unit by turning the turn-able scale.
6. Lastly, the revolution counter is to be reset to 0.
Loading the specimen
1. The hand wheel is turned clockwise with a defined angle increment to load the
specimen.
2. The first rotation is done by using an increment of 90, the second and third rotation
using an increment of 180 and for the 4th to 10th rotation using a full 360 rotation.
3. The twist angle at the specimen however, can be calculated by dividing the rotations
at the input by the reduction ratio of 62.
4. The deformation of the measuring torsion rod is compensated after each angle
increment by turning the hand wheel of the compensation unit until the dial gauge
reads zero. Doing this is to ensure that the measuring torsion rod would not fail and
be damaged in-case if an over twisting occurs.
5. The torque values from the display of the amplifier is recorded and tabulated
alongside the indicated twist angle after each load/angle increment.
6. The test is then repeated with another short specimen of a different material.
6

Data
1. Calibration
Load (N)
5
10
15
20

Torque Applied (Nm)

2.50
5.00
7.50
10.00
Table 1

Read out torque (Nm)

2.40
4.80
7.20
9.60

2. Loading the specimen (d = 0.62 cm)

Brass
No.
1

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Input angle ()
90
90
90
90
180
180
180
180
360
360
360
360
360
360
360

Torque read out (Nm)

0.15
0.55
1.50
2.00
4.30
5.95
7.70
8.70
9.75
10.25
10.65
10.85
11.05
11.30
11.35
Table 2

Output angle ()
1.53
2.898
4.347
5.796
8.694
11.592
14.49
17.388
23.184
28.98
34.776
40.572
46.368
52.164
57.96

Torque read out (Nm)

0.00
0.10
0.40
1.40
3.45
5.90
8.15
9.45
10.40
10.80
10.90
11.10
11.20
11.40
11.90
Table 3

Output angle ()
1.53
2.898
4.347
5.796
8.694
11.592
14.49
17.388
23.184
28.98
34.776
40.572
46.368
52.164
57.96

Aluminium
No.
1

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Input angle ()
90
90
90
90
180
180
180
180
360
360
360
360
360
360
360

Observations

Figure 9: Specimen showing torsional deformation due to twisting as theorized in figure 1

Figure 10: Broken specimen from twisting showing torsion failure due to shear

Analysis and Results

1. Calibration graph

Amplifier Torque vs. Applied Load Torque

Amplifier Torque (Nm)

12
10
8
y = 0.96x
6
4

2
0
0

10

12

Applied Load Torque (Nm)

Figure 11: Amplifier Torque vs. Applied Load Torque

2. Test results
Brass
No.
1

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Torque read out (Nm)

0.15
0.55
1.50
2.00
4.30
5.95
7.70
8.70
9.75
10.25
10.65
10.85
11.05
11.30
11.35

Actual Applied Torque (Nm)

0.144
0.528
1.44
1.92
4.128
5.712
7.392
8.392
9.36
9.84
10.224
10.416
10.608
10.848
10.896
Table 4

Output angle ()
1.53
2.898
4.347
5.796
8.694
11.592
14.49
17.388
23.184
28.98
34.776
40.572
46.368
52.164
57.96

Output angle (rad)

0.02670
0.05057
0.07586
0.10115
0.15173
0.20231
0.25289
0.30347
0.40463
0.50579
0.60695
0.70811
0.80927
0.91043
1.01159

Load Torque vs. Revolution

12

Load Torque (Nm)

10
8
6

4
2
0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

Revolution (rad)

Figure 12: Load torque vs. Revolution for brass

Aluminium
No.
1

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Torque read out (Nm)

0.00
0.10
0.40
1.40
3.45
5.90
8.15
9.45
10.40
10.80
10.90
11.10
11.20
11.40
11.90

Actual Applied Torque (Nm)

0.00
0.096
0.384
1.344
3.312
5.664
7.824
9.072
9.984
10.368
10.464
10.656
10.752
10.944
11.424
Table 5

Output angle ()
1.53
2.898
4.347
5.796
8.694
11.592
14.49
17.388
23.184
28.98
34.776
40.572
46.368
52.164
57.96

Output angle (rad)

0.02670
0.05057
0.07586
0.10115
0.15173
0.20231
0.25289
0.30347
0.40463
0.50579
0.60695
0.70811
0.80927
0.91043
1.01159

10

Load Torque vs. Revolution

12

Load Torque (Nm)

10
8
6

4
2
0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

Revolution (rad)

Figure 13: Load torque vs. Revolution for aluminium

3. Theoretical and Experimental Shear Modulus

Brass (Theoretical) using table 4 no. 4

=

4
4
=
2
32

(0.006)4
= 1.2723 1010 2
32

9.75 0.075
= 14.196
1.273 1010 0.40463

Brass (Experimental) using table 4 no. 4

=

4
4
=
=
2
32

(0.0061)4
=
= 1.3593 1010 2
32

9.36 0.0753
= 12.814
1.3593 1010 0.40463

11

Aluminium (Theoretical) using table 5 no. 4

=

4
4
=
2
32

(0.006)4
= 1.2723 1010 2
32

10.4 0.075
= 15.142
1.273 1010 0.40463

Aluminium (Experimental) using table 5 no. 4

=

4
4
=
2
32

(0.0061)4
= 1.3593 1010 2
32

9.984 0.075
= 13.614
1.3593 1010 0.40463

12

Discussions
From the calibration test, it can be seen from table 1 that the tabulated datas isnt perpendicular as
it should be. This may be due to inaccuracies of the strain gauges on the torque measurement unit
caused from wear and tear. Through this calibration, the calibration equation is able to be obtained
from the calibration graph plotted.
The calibration equation is essential for determining the actual load torque that is shown through the
read out of the amplifier torque. The actual load torque is obtained by substituting the read out torque
values into the calibration equation. This is so that the experimental errors can be minimized if any
that occurred during the conducting of the experiment.
From the plotted graph of actual torque value vs. revolutions for the 2 specimens in figure 12 and 13,
it can be said that there is a significant difference between the 2 as shown below.

Load Torque vs. Revolution

12

Load Torque (Nm)

10
8
6

Aluminium

Brass

2
0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

Revolution (rad)

Figure 14: Comparison graph

From figure 14, it can be said that the aluminium material is a ductile material that has high elastic
limits and is able to withstand a higher amount of strain before breaking and vice versa [2]. However,
due to aluminiums ductility, it rotates more that the brass material initially thus it requires less load
for initial rotation.
To justify the differences between the two materials, the experimental and theoretical shear modulus
of both the materials are calculated. From the calculations, there is a 9.27% and 11.22% difference
between the experimental and theoretical values of the brass and aluminium. This may be due to
specimen defects (such as its diameter and length) and the actual load torque from the calibration
curve equation discovered earlier.
In addition, from the shear modulus, G calculated for both specimens, it can be said that aluminium
has a higher shear modulus than that of brass. This is true because shear modulus is also known as
the ability of the material to withstand tearing/shearing which is shown by aluminium during the
experiment and in figure 14 above.

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Conclusion
As it is known, torsion is the twisting moment or torque is applied onto the specimen. Through the
experiment, the ability of a material to withstand tearing/shearing is tested and analysed. With the
help of electronics and mechanical equipment of the apparatus, the applied torque and twisting angle
is able to be determined to be studied.
From the tabulated data, graphs and results tabulated it is concluded that aluminium has higher elastic
limits and is able to withstand a higher amount of stain before it breaks due to its higher shear modulus
as compared to brass. However brass has higher initiation and response in terms or rotation when
being subjected to load torque due to its brittle-ness.
The torsion test is not something to be taken lightly as it is used almost everywhere in our daily lives.
Its principle and method is widely seen in cars, drills and even bridges and air planes [3]. Especially in
cars, torsion plays a very important role in the cars drive shaft whereby the power generated by the
internal combustion engine is transmitted to the wheels via drive shaft. The drive shaft in this case has
to be brittle and deliver a quick response to the drivers commands and is also able to withstand a
huge amount of torque from the engine.
Thus, as engineers, through this experiment the ability to perform a torsion test and calculate it shear
modulus, G would prove beneficial in the near future when designing a new product.

14

References

[2] T. Udomphol, "Laborotory 4: Torsion testing," Mechanical metallurgy laboratory 431303, 2013.
[3] E. Toolbox, "The Engineering Toolbox," 10 August 2012. [Online]. Available:
www.engineeringtoolbox.com/modulus-rigidity-d_946.html. [Accessed 6 March 2014].

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