Laboratory of Mechanics of Solids I: Torsion Testing

Friday August 31th, 2018

Department of Mechanical Engineering and Production Sciences

ESPOL Polytechnic University

Abstract
The practice has as objective that students demonstrate the principles of torsion and that analyze the results
when applying an angle of rotation to a steel rod. With the data obtained, the theoretical calculations of
young and elastic modules were carried out, being able to identify the flow limit and the point of rupture
suffered by the rod. When observing the results, they were compared with the theoretical data and were
very close to those obtained. With this practice it was possible to appreciate the torsion of a rod, obtaining
the best results.

Key words: torsion, rod, rupture, modules.

Introduction where T is the applied torque, c is the radius and

In general, predicting the state of stress and strain
on the surface of a torsion member is very
difficult. Fortunately, the special case of circular
torsion members (either solid or hollow if there is
axial symmetry) is relatively simple. Elementary
theory predicts a state of pure shear stress on the
surface of a circular torsion member. Pure shear
is defined as a state of shear stress in the absence
of normal stresses.
Figure 1 Torsion Specimen
On the surface of a circular torsion member
(Figure 1) the state of shear stress (in the axial and
circumferential directions) is given by:
𝑇𝑐
𝜏𝑥𝑦 =
𝐽
J is the polar moment of the cross-sectional area.
For a solid circular member:
𝜋 𝑐4
𝐽=
2
Although the shear stress equation above contains
no elastic constants, review of the derivation will
show that linear elastic theory was assumed.
It is important to realize that pure shear stress can
exist only for one orientation of the coordinate
frame. For all other orientations normal stresses
will exist, and at ±45o to the pure shear axes we
find principal stresses (and thus no shear stress).
It is easy to show with Mohr's circle (Figure 3)
that the principal stresses are equal tensile and
compressive stresses with the same magnitude as
the torsional shear stress. The conclusion is that
the state of pure shear stress is equivalent to a
biaxial state of equal tensile and compressive
stresses oriented at 45o to the pure shear axes
(Figure 2).

1

Figure 2 Torsion Stress States
Figure 3 Moh´r Circle for Tosion
𝜎𝑝1 = |𝜎𝑝2 | = 𝜏𝑥𝑦
The surface shear strain associated with the axial-
circumferential directions is given by:
𝑐𝜃
𝛾𝑥𝑦 =
𝐿
where q is the relative angle of twist (in radians)
over the length L. This relationship holds not only
for the linear elastic range, but also for inelastic
torsion. We can measure the angle of twist with a
device called a tropometer. Since the angle of
twist is directly proportional to shear strain, we
are in effect measuring shear strain.
Some tropometers measure angle of twist in
either radians or degrees. Our tropometer will
allow us to measure arc length in inches. If the arc
length is divided by the radius of the tropometer
(from the center of the specimen to the arc length
scale) the result will be the relative angle of twist
in radians for our gage length.
2
Although we can calculate the modulus of
rigidity G from values of the modulus of elasticity
E and Poisson's ratio determined in a tensile
test, it is sometimes desirable to obtain it directly.
We can use the torsion test for the direct
determination of the modulus of rigidity from the
relationship:
𝑑𝜏
𝐺=
𝑑𝛾
or alternately
𝑑𝑇 𝐿
𝐺 = ( )( )
𝑑𝜃 𝐽
The latter formulation allows us to determine G
from the slope of the torque vs angle of twist
curve.
Care must be exercised in determining the slope
of the T vs q (or t vs g) curve (Figure 6) since the
deviation from linearity is very gradual. In our
discussion of inelastic torsion, we shall see how
we can determine the theoretical limit of linear
action in terms of the fully plastic torque (TFP).
Inelastic Torsion
We shall assume we have a material which
exhibits linear elastic, perfectly plastic behavior.
This is a good model for the behavior of carbon
steel which exhibits a yield point. The shear stress
vs shear strain curve for such a material would
look like the axial stress vs strain curve (Figure
4). If the strain is increased a sufficient amount
after yielding is initiated the stress will again
increase, just as it did in the tensile test.

Figure 4 Elastic-Perfectly Plastic Stress vs Strain Curve
The process of yielding in a torsion member is
more complex than in the tensile member. In the
tensile member, the entire cross-section was
subjected to a constant stress and thus yielding
occurred simultaneously across the entire section.
In the torsion member yielding starts at the
outside and progresses inward with increasing
torque (Figure 5). As the torque increases we
finally reach a fully plastic condition where the
strain (and thus angle of twist) is increasing while
the torque (TFP) is approximately constant. At the
fully plastic torque the entire cross section is
yielding. The resulting torque vs angle of twist
curve is shown in Figure 6.
Figure 5 Torsion Stress Distributions
There are problems with this theoretical state of
fully plastic torsion because it calls for a
discontinuity of stress at the center of the
specimen. Despite this defect in our model, we
find we can in fact approach a fully plastic torque.
At the fully plastic condition the torque will
remain essentially constant while the angular
deformation increases. If we continue to twist the
specimen the torque will again begin to increase.
The increasing torque which follows the plastic
action is directly related to the increased stress
3
which follows yielding in the uniaxial loading of
carbon steel (i.e. after sufficient yielding at
essentially constant stress, the stress again
increases with additional deformation).
Figure 6 Torque vs Angle of twist
It is easy to show that for the fully plastic state the
relationship between torque and shearing yield
point stress is given by:
2𝜋𝑐 3 𝜏𝛾𝑝
𝑇𝐹𝑃 =
3
If we plan to determine the modulus of rigidity G,
we need to know the theoretical limit of linear
action. We can determine the torque required to
push us to the limit of linear action TE by solving
for the torque required to make the shear stress at
the surface just reach the shearing yield point
stress tYP. Utilizing the linear elastic torsional
stress equation (t = Tc/J) we obtain:
𝜋𝑐 3 𝜏𝛾𝑝 3
𝑇𝐸 = = 𝑇𝐹𝑃
2 4
For purposes of determining the modulus of
rigidity, one should work with data which does
not exceed seventy-five percent of the fully
plastic torque. For materials which do not exhibit
a yield point, stay well below the apparent limit
of linear action.
Materials and Method

When beginning the practice, the Engineer

explain what this practice was about, and we
proceeded to turn the machine on, in which there
was a steel bar, which was fixed to the machine,
when turning it on, it began to turn, applying a
torque on one of the ends, while the other is
simply supported. The machine gave 25 turns
until the rod had a ductile fracture failure. With
the rotation and torque data obtained from the
machine, it was possible to obtain the Shear
Stress and the Shear Strain in the graphics, as well
as the angle of rotation.

Figure 8 Torque meter

Figure 9 Data Sheet

Figure 7 Torsion testing machine

4
Registered Data 30 2380
30 2430
Rotation Torque 30 2460
Increment 30 2500
(°) (lb in)
30 2530
2.5 190
30 2550
2.5 300
30 2580
2.5 340
30 2600
2.5 980
30 2640
2.5 640
30 2650
2.5 810
30 2680
2.5 1010
30 2700
2.5 1200
30 2720
2.5 1290
30 2740
2.5 1310
30 2750
2.5 1340
30 2770
2.5 1350
30 2780
2.5 1380
30 2790
5 1390
30 2810
5 1400
30 2820
5 1400
30 2840
5 1440
30 2850
5 1450
30 2860
5 1490
30 2870
5 1520
30 2880
5 1540
30 2885
5 1590
30 2890
5 1610
30 2900
5 1680
30 2910
15 1760
30 2920
15 1800
30 2930
15 1840
30 2940
15 1910
30 2950
15 1970
30 2960
15 2030
15 2040
15 2070
15 2120
15 2170
30 2230
30 2290
30 2330

5
Results Discussion

160000 Observing the results obtained from the torsional

practice, the shear stress versus shear strain curve
140000
was performed and with the slope of the curve,
120000
the plastic area was calculated, the modulus of
Shear Stress

100000 elasticity and the relationship between the

80000 modulus of elasticity and of stiffness, the rigidity
60000 module was cleared, obtaining a result very
40000 similar to the theoretical one.
20000
With the measurement of the torque and the
increase of the angle of rotation, the calculations
0
0.0000 0.2000 0.4000 0.6000 0.8000 1.0000 were made, and we obtained the results by
Shear Strain analyzing the two graphs obtained.
The material was a steel that had a failure due to
3500
ductility, when the rod broke, it could break due
to a fault that was observed in the rod.
3000
If we analyze the results obtained and observe the
2500 graphs we realize that the rod passes from an
Torque

2000 elastic zone, which we analyzed previously and

1500 then to a plastic zone and reaches the breaking
point.
1000
500
Conclusions and recommendations
0
0 500 1000 1500  We can conclude that at a greater angle
Angle of twist of rotation, the torsion obtained is
greater, which produces a maximum
effort until reaching the rupture
Maximum shear stress 145205
 The failure of the beam was due to
Shear Stress at
58867 ductility, and what caused the rupture
proportional Limit
was a small fault that was produced when
Shear Modulus "G" 11232558
applying the torsion.
Modulus of Elasticity
“E"
28980000  It is recommended to maintain the
Type of material distance of the machine so as not to crush
Ductile fracture a button and damage the practice.
failure
 The data must be read on the torque
meter and then annotated as the angle of
rotation increases.

6
References

Hibbeler, M. (1991). Mechanics of Materials.

Hibbeler, M. (1994). Mechanics of Materials .
2nd Ed.
Higdon. (1985). Mechanics of Materials. Ed.
Wiley.
Popov, E. P. (2000). MECANICA DE SOLIDOS.
Mexico: Person Education.

7
 Appendix

Torsion Specimen
Initial diameter (in): 0.47
Initial gauge length (in): 54/16
Initial overall length of specimen (in): 714/15
Final overall length of specimen (in): 715/16
Maximum torque (in·lb): 2960
Degrees of rotation to failure (degree): 25vueltas*360
Fracture surface details:

d 0.47
r 0.235
L 6
J 0.0048
Area 0.17349445

N° Rotation Rotacion Rotation Shear Strain Torque Shear Stress

Increment
1 (°) (°) (rad) (in/in) (lb in) (psi)
2 2.5 2.5 0.044 0.0017 190 9321
3 2.5 5 0.087 0.0034 300 14717
4 2.5 7.5 0.131 0.0051 340 16679
5 2.5 10 0.175 0.0068 980 48075
6 2.5 12.5 0.218 0.0085 640 31396
7 2.5 15 0.262 0.0103 810 39735
8 2.5 17.5 0.305 0.0120 1010 49546
9 2.5 20 0.349 0.0137 1200 58867
10 2.5 22.5 0.393 0.0154 1290 63282
11 2.5 25 0.436 0.0171 1310 64263
12 2.5 27.5 0.480 0.0188 1340 65735
13 2.5 30 0.524 0.0205 1350 66225
14 2.5 32.5 0.567 0.0222 1380 67697
15 5 35 0.611 0.0239 1390 68187
16 5 40 0.698 0.0273 1400 68678
17 5 45 0.785 0.0308 1400 68678
18 5 50 0.873 0.0342 1440 70640
19 5 55 0.960 0.0376 1450 71131
20 5 60 1.047 0.0410 1490 73093
21 5 65 1.134 0.0444 1520 74565
22 5 70 1.222 0.0479 1540 75546
23 5 75 1.309 0.0513 1590 77999

8
24 5 80 1.396 0.0547 1610 78980
25 5 85 1.484 0.0581 1680 82414
26 15 100 1.745 0.0684 1760 86338
27 15 115 2.007 0.0786 1800 88300
28 15 130 2.269 0.0889 1840 90262
29 15 145 2.531 0.0991 1910 93696
30 15 160 2.793 0.1094 1970 96640
31 15 175 3.054 0.1196 2030 99583
32 15 190 3.316 0.1299 2040 100074
33 15 205 3.578 0.1401 2070 101545
34 15 220 3.840 0.1504 2120 103998
35 15 235 4.102 0.1606 2170 106451
36 30 265 4.625 0.1812 2230 109394
37 30 295 5.149 0.2017 2290 112338
38 30 325 5.672 0.2222 2330 114300
39 30 355 6.196 0.2427 2380 116753
40 30 385 6.720 0.2632 2430 119205
41 30 415 7.243 0.2837 2460 120677
42 30 445 7.767 0.3042 2500 122639
43 30 475 8.290 0.3247 2530 124111
44 30 505 8.814 0.3452 2550 125092
45 30 535 9.338 0.3657 2580 126564
46 30 565 9.861 0.3862 2600 127545
47 30 595 10.385 0.4067 2640 129507
48 30 625 10.908 0.4272 2650 129998
49 30 655 11.432 0.4477 2680 131469
50 30 685 11.956 0.4683 2700 132450
51 30 715 12.479 0.4888 2720 133431
52 30 745 13.003 0.5093 2740 134413
53 30 775 13.526 0.5298 2750 134903
54 30 805 14.050 0.5503 2770 135884
55 30 835 14.574 0.5708 2780 136375
56 30 865 15.097 0.5913 2790 136865
57 30 895 15.621 0.6118 2810 137846
58 30 925 16.144 0.6323 2820 138337
59 30 955 16.668 0.6528 2840 139318
60 30 985 17.192 0.6733 2850 139809
61 30 1015 17.715 0.6938 2860 140299
62 30 1045 18.239 0.7143 2870 140790
63 30 1075 18.762 0.7349 2880 141280
64 30 1105 19.286 0.7554 2885 141526

9
65 30 1135 19.809 0.7759 2890 141771
66 30 1165 20.333 0.7964 2900 142261
67 30 1195 20.857 0.8169 2910 142752
68 30 1225 21.380 0.8374 2920 143243
69 30 1255 21.904 0.8579 2930 143733
70 30 1285 22.427 0.8784 2940 144224
71 30 1315 22.951 0.8989 2950 144714
72 30 1345 23.475 0.9194 2960 145205

10