Mechanics of Materials 2022-2023

CH3
Torsion

CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
1. Discuss effects of applying torsional loading to a long straight member
2. Determine stress distribution within the member under torsional load
3. Determine angle of twist when material behaves in a linear-elastic
4. Discuss statically indeterminate analysis of shafts and tubes

CHAPTER OUTLINE
1. Introduction
2. The Torsion Formula
3. Power Transmission
4. Angle of Twist
5. Statically Indeterminate Torque-Loaded Members
6. Stress concentration

Oil wells are commonly drilled to depths

exceeding a thousand meters. As a result,
the total angle of twist of a string of drill
pipe can be substantial and must be
determined.

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1. : Introduction:
• Torsion is a moment that twists/deforms a member about its longitudinal axis.

Longitudinal
axis

Torque

Torsion of a screwdriver due to a torque T applied to the handle Building components suffer torsion when wind or an
earthquake moves one side more than the other.

• Torque represented by a double-headed vector or a curved arrow

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2. : The Torsion Formula:

• Considering a shaft AB subjected at A and B to equal

and opposite torques T and T’, we pass a section
perpendicular to the axis of the shaft through some
arbitrary point C

∫ 𝛒𝐝𝐟 = 𝐓 𝐝𝐟 = 𝛕 𝐝𝐀

∫ 𝛒(𝛕 𝐝𝐀) = 𝐓 (𝟏)

Deformation in Circular Shaft

𝛒∅
𝛾= (𝟐)
𝐋

𝐜∅
𝛾𝐦𝐚𝐱= 𝐋
(𝟑)

From 2 and 3
𝛒
𝛾 = 𝐜𝛾𝐦𝐚𝐱 (𝟒)

 =𝑮𝜸 (𝟓)
𝝆
𝑮𝜸=𝑮 𝜸𝒎𝒂𝒙
𝒄

𝛒
𝛕= 𝛕𝐦𝐚𝐱 (𝟔)
𝐜

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The equation obtained shows that, as long as the yield strength (or proportional limit) is not
exceeded in any part of a circular shaft, the shearing stress in the shaft varies linearly with the
distance ρ fromthe axis of the shaft.

𝐜𝟏
𝛕𝐦𝐢𝐧 = 𝛕𝐦𝐚𝐱 (𝟕) 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐟𝐭
𝐜𝟐

∫ 𝝆 (𝒅𝑨) = 𝑻 (𝟏)

𝛕𝐦𝐚𝐱
𝐓 = ∫ 𝛒 (𝛕𝐝𝐀) = ∫ 𝛒𝟐 𝐝𝐀 (𝟖)
𝐜
𝒎𝒂𝒙
𝑻= 𝑱
𝒄
𝑻. 𝒄
𝒎𝒂𝒙 = (𝟗)
𝑱

𝐓. 𝛒
𝛕= (𝟏𝟎) 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝛒
𝐉

Equations 1 & 2 are called Elastic Torsion Formulas

• Variable J is the polar moment of inertia and is a function of the cross-section

geometry.
• The polar moment of inertia of a cross-section is a measure of its resistance to
twisting.

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• For a given torque, the larger the value of J, the larger the torsional stiffness, and the
smaller the angle of twist.

𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐉 = 𝝅 𝒄𝟒 Radius of

𝟐
solid shaft

𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐉 = 𝝅 (𝒄𝒐𝟒 − 𝒄 𝒊𝟒)

𝟐

Inner
Outer radius
radius

EXAMPLE 3.1:
The solid shaft is fixed to the support at C and subjected to
the torsional loadings shown. Determine the shear stress at
points A and B

Solution:

EXAMPLE 3.2:
The copper pipe has an outer diameter of 40 mm and an inner
diameter of 37 mm. If it is tightly secured to the wall at A and three
torques are applied to it as shown, determine the absolute maximum
shear stress developed in the pipe.

Solution:

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EXAMPLE 3.3:
The assembly consists of two sections of galvanized steel
pipe connected together using a reducing coupling at B. The
smaller pipe has an outer diameter of 0.75 in. and an inner
diameter of 0.68 in., whereas the larger pipe has an outer
diameter of 1 in. and an inner diameter of 0.86 in. If the pipe
is tightly secured to the wall at C, determine the maximum
shear stress developed in each section of the pipe when the
couple shown is applied to the handles of the wrench.

Solution:

3. : Power Transmission:
• Shafts and tubes having circular cross sections are often used to transmit power
developed by a machine.
• Power is defined as the work performed per unit of time.

Units: SI system:
Units of power is: Watt == N.m/s (joule/s)

FPS system: Unite of power is: ft.lb/s

• However, horsepower is often used in engineering practice 1 hp =746 watt

1 hp= 550 ft.lb/s

𝑷=𝑻ω
Where:
P: Power T: torque
ω : shaft’s angular velocity (rad/s)

ω = 𝟐𝝅𝒇
Where:
f: number of revolutions or cycles the shaft makes per second and is expressed in hertz (1
Hz = 1 cycle/s)

1 hp= 550 ft. lb/s=6600 in.Ib/s

1 hp=746 watt
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EXAMPLE 3.4:
The 25-mm-diameter shaft on the motor is made of a material
having an allowable shear stress of τallow = 75 MPa . If the motor
is operating at its maximum power of 5 kW, determine the
minimum allowable rotation of the shaft.

Solution:

4. : Angle of Twist:
• In this section, a relation will be derived between
the angle of twist ∅ of a circular shaft and the
torque T exerted on the shaft.

𝐜∅
𝜸𝐦𝐚𝐱 =
𝐋

𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝑻𝒄 = 𝐜∅
∅ = 𝑻𝑳
𝜸𝒎𝒂𝒙 = :
𝑮 𝑱𝑮 𝐋 𝑱𝑮

The relation obtained shows that, within the elastic range, the angle of twist ф is proportional
to the torque T applied to the shaft.

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Sign conventions for torque T and angle of twist 𝜃.

EXAMPLE 3.5:
The 20-mm-diameter A-36 steel shaft is subjected to the torques
shown. Determine the angle of twist of the end B in degree.

Solution:

EXAMPLE 3.6:
The splined ends and gears attached to the A-36 steel shaft
are subjected to the torques shown. Determine the angle of
twist of end B with respect to end A in degree. The shaft has
a diameter of 40 mm.

Solution:

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3.5: Statically Indeterminate Torque-Loaded Members:

EXAMPLE 3.7:
The shaft in Fig. consists of a 3-in.-diameter
aluminum segment that is rigidly joined to a 2-in.-
diameter steel segment. The ends of the shaft are
attached to rigid supports. Calculate the maximum
shear stress developed in each segment when the
torque T = 10 kip. in. is applied. Use G = 4×106 psi
for aluminum and G = 12 ×106 psi for steel.

Solution:

Statically indeterminate

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EXAMPLE 3.8:
A solid steel bar of diameter d1 = 25.0 mm is enclosed by a
steel tube of outer diameter d3 = 37.5 mm and inner diameter
d2 = 30.0 mm (see figure). Both bar and tube are held rigidly
by a support at end A and joined securely to a rigid plate at
end B. The composite bar, which has a length L = 550 mm,
is twisted by a torque T = 400 N.m acting on the end plate.
Determine the maximum shear stresses τ1 and τ2 in the bar
and tube, respectively. G = 80 GPa.

Solution:

Statically indeterminate
𝜃𝑇𝑢𝑏𝑒 = 𝜃𝐵𝑎𝑟
𝑇𝑇𝑢𝑏𝑒 + 𝑇𝐵𝑎𝑟 = 400

π
JTube = (18.754 − 154) = 114622.8794 mm4
2
π
JBar = (12.54) = 38349.5197 mm4
2

TTube L TBar L
=
114622.8794 80000 38349.5197 80000

TTube = TBar *3

TBar = 100 N. m TTube = 300 N. m

100 × 1000 × 12.5

τ Bar = = 32.6 MPa
38349.5197

300 × 1000 × 18.75

τ tube = = 49 MPa
114622.8794

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3.6 Stress Concentration

The torsion concentration must be

take in consideration when a shaft
having a sudden change in the cross
section.
Mechanics of Materials 2022-2023

EXAMPLE 3.8:
The stepped shaft shown in Fig. is supported by bearings at A and B.
Determine the maximum stress in the shaft due to the applied torques.
The shoulder fillet at the junction of each shaft has a radius of r = 6
mm.
Solution: