EN1048 Engineering Applications LABORATORY SHEET: EXPERIMENT Lc

TORSION

Introduction
Many engineering components, for example shafts transmitting power, have shear
stresses induced in them by applied torque. For elastic behaviour, the ratio of shea r
stress  to shear strain  is given by the modulus of rigidity G. This is a measure of
the shear stiffness of the material and is analogous to Young’s modulus for elastic
behaviour in tension or compression. For a ductile material component, which will yield
in shear, it is necessary for a designer to ensure that the maximum shear stress max is
some factor (of safety) less than the yield shear stress y of the material. This is a
measure of the shear strength of the material. (For a brittle material such as chalk the
criterion of failure would be based on the tensile stress.)

In this experiment the modulus of rigidity and yield shear stress are determined for
specimens of mild steel and brass of circular cross section.

Notation
d Diameter of section (m)
G Modulus of rigidity of the material (N/m2)
J Polar second moment of area of cross section (m4)
L Distance between sections whose relative rotation is  (m)
r Radius at which the shear stress is  (m)
 Shear stress at radius r (N/m2)
max Maximum shear stress in the specimen (occurs at radius r = d/2) (N/m2)
y Yield shear stress of the material (N/m2)
T Applied torque (Nm)
 Relative angular displacement of sections an axial distance L apart (rad)

Theory
The simple theory of torsion gives the torque in terms of rotation

T t Gq
= =
J r L (1)

This equation is derived using Hooke’s law and is valid for shear stresses lower than the
shearing proportional limit. For a solid circular section the polar second moment of area
of the cross section is

pd 4
J=
32 (2)

and thus from (1) the maximum shear stress, which occurs at r = d/2, is

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EN1048 Engineering Applications LABORATORY SHEET: EXPERIMENT Lc

16 T
t max =
pd 3 (3)
NOTE: You will use either the TQ Torsion testing machine or the Torsion testing
machine to perform Experiments 1 & 2.

THE TQ TORSION TESTING MACHINE

Apparatus
The test is carried out using a torsion machine where the specimen is accommodated in
sockets at each end. The angular displacement is applied manually through a 60:1
reduction gearbox at the left-hand side. The torque is measured by a torsion bar at the
right-hand side and digital data can be read at the torque meter. Rotation of the
specimen can be measured using the two protractors at the gearbox, one at the input
hand-wheel with 6 degree scale, the other at the specimen shaft with 360 degree scale,
and the number of revolutions of the hand wheel is given by a counter, each of which
can be zeroed.

The right hand-side of the specimen is connected with the torsion bar and therefore this
end will also move when applying rotation at the left hand-side. A hand-wheel at the
torque meter assembly can be used to return the right-hand of the specimen to the
original position, referring to the initial reading at the dial gauge. The torque meter
assembly is calibrated and zeroed.

Procedure

Experiment 1 - Determination of modulus of rigidity G for mild steel and brass

Measure the diameter and the length of each specimen’s cylindrical portion. Use the
level and adjust the torque meter hand-wheel to maintain the torsion bar and the
deflection bar to be as close to parallel as possible. Set the dial gauge to zero by
rotating the outer bezel. Accommodate the specimen in the right-hand hexagonal
socket, and then accommodate the free end in the left-hand socket.

Twist the specimen an increment of 1 degree and zero the dial gauge at the torque
meter. Record the readings on the torque meter. Increase this rotation incrementally by
1 degree and then take a reading; continue until 5 degrees of rotation has been applied.
Make sure the dial gauge is zeroed by adjusting the hand-wheel before the readings are
recorded. Untwist the specimen with the same increments adjusting the hand-wheel to
zero each time whilst recording unloading values.

Repeat the above for the other material test. Determine the modulus of rigidity for each
specimen applying Equation (1) to your measurements and plotting a graph of torque
against rotation.

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EN1048 Engineering Applications LABORATORY SHEET: EXPERIMENT Lc

Experiment 2 - Determination of yield shear stress y for mild steel and brass
The yield shear stress is found by taking new specimens of mild steel and brass and
rotating them until they fail.

Measure the diameter and length of each new specimen’s cylindrical portion. Mark a
bold line along the length of the specimen; this will enable the axial distribution of
permanent shear deformations to be found from observation of the fractured specimen.

Insert the specimen in the torsion machine as before. Zero the gauges and protractor
scales. In this experiment the rotation of the specimen is more conveniently measured
(in degrees) using the protractor scales and rev. counter. Twist the specimen until it
fails, recording the rotation and digital data at suitable increments (e.g. every 3 degrees
until the shearing proportional limit has been passed, and then at 120 degree intervals).
Make sure to return the dial gauge to zero by adjusting the hand-wheel before readings
are recorded.

Plot a graph of torque against rotation, and determine from it the applied torque at the
shearing proportional limit (yield point). Hence, using Equation (3), obtain an estimate
of the shear stress max at which the material will begin to yield in shear. max may be
used as an estimate of the yield shear stress y. As the horizontal axis for rotation will be
very big in degree, two units, degrees and rotations, can be used for clarity.

THE TORSION TESTING MACHINES

Apparatus
The test is carried out using a torsion machine where the specimen is gripped by
chucks at each end. The right hand chuck is driven by a hand wheel to which it is gear
connected (ratio 60:1). The rotation of the chuck may be measured using the two
graduated scales and the number of revolutions of the hand wheel is given by a
counter, each of which can be zeroed.

The left hand chuck is restrained by a proving ring acting on a lever arm attached to the
chuck. The proving ring is calibrated to measure load in terms of the resulting change in
its diameter. Its stiffness is marked on the ring (134 Newtons per mm diametric change).
One revolution of the dial gauge corresponds to 1 mm change in diameter.

Procedure

Experiment 1 - Determination of modulus of rigidity G for mild steel and brass

Measure the diameter and length of each specimen’s cylindrical portion. Grip the
specimen in the left hand chuck, and then grip the free end in the right hand chuck.

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EN1048 Engineering Applications LABORATORY SHEET: EXPERIMENT Lc

Adjust the proving ring mounting so that the restraining force acts at right angles to the
lever arm and measure the length of the moment arm of the lever. Zero the proving ring
dial gauge.

Twist the specimen in increments of 1 degree, level the lever arm and record the
readings on the proving ring dial gauge. Increase this rotation incrementally by 1 degree
and then take a reading; continue until 5 degrees of rotation has been applied. Untwist
the specimen and record the unloading values. Remove the twist gauge and specimen.

Determine the modulus of rigidity for each specimen applying Equation (1) to your
measurements and plotting a graph of torque against rotation.

Experiment 2 - Determination of yield shear stress y for mild steel and brass
The yield shear stress is found by taking new specimens of mild steel and brass and
rotating them until they fail.

Measure the diameter and length of each new specimen’s cylindrical portion. Mark a
bold line along the length of the specimen; this will enable the axial distribution of
permanent shear deformations to be found from observation of the fractured specimen.

Insert the specimen in the torsion machine as before. Twist the specimen until it fails,
recording the rotation and the proving ring dial gauge readings at suitable increments
(e.g. every 3.0 degree until the shearing proportional limit has been passed, and then at
120 degree intervals).

Plot a graph of torque against rotation, and determine from it, the applied torque at the
shearing proportional limit (yield point). Hence, using Equation (3), obtain an estimate
of the shear stress max at which the material will begin to yield in shear. max may be
used as an estimate of the yield shear stress y.

ALL MACHINES

Discussion
The modulus of rigidity G and yield shear stress y are material properties which are
independent of the specimen dimensions. For your long report, compare the values you
have found with expected values published in one of the references listed below.

Comment on the axial distribution of permanent shear strain and the nature of the
fracture surface. Is the failure characteristic of a brittle or a ductile material?

Compare the properties of steel and brass based upon the torque-rotation profiles
plotted.

Comment on sources of error in the experiments and any other points that you consider
to be of interest.

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References
Hearn, E.J. “Mechanics of Materials”, Vol. 1, Butterworth-Heinemann, 1997.

Pytel, A. and Singer, F.L. “Strength of Materials”, Harper and Row, 1987.

Fenner, R.T. “Mechanics of Solids”, Blackwell, 1984.

Benham, P.P., Crawford, R.J. and Armstrong, C.G. “Mechanics of Engineering

Gere, J.M. and Timoshenko, S.P. “Mechanics of Materials”, Brooks-Cole, 1984.

Ryder, G.H. “Strength of Materials”, Macmillan, 1969.

Case, J., Chilver, A.H. and Ross, C.T.F. “Strength of Materials and Structures”, Arnold,
1993.

Young, W.C. “Roark’s Formulae for Stress and Strain”, McGraw Hill, 1989.

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