Measuring the Torsional Sheer

Modulus of a Steel Rod

ME321-01
Dr. Haan
Emily Fuhs, Greg Howe, James Kwak, Chengjun Liang
October 12, 2015

Introduction
The goal of this experiment is to determine the shear modulus of the thin,
solid rod. In order to calculate the shear modulus, some values need to be
found first: the length of the rod, the radius of the rod, the radius of the disk,
and the degree of movement the disk turns. Once those values have been
calculated, the shear modulus can be calculated and compared to values in
tables found online.

Experimental Facilities and Instrumentation

Apparatus
Below, is a schematic representation of the experimental apparatus used to
gather the data. The apparatus is first shown in a side view and then from
the front. The smaller rod (length l and radius r) is permanently fixed . The
larger disk has a radius (R). The block causing the force (F) is supported by a
thread, which is attached to the large disk. The thread sits in a grove to
prevent it from traveling off the thin disk; this is depicted in Figure 1. The
dark grey surrounding the rod and disk portray the sturdy frame that the
disk-rod assembly sits in.

Figure 1. Side view of the disk-rod apparatus with hanging weight (F)

Figure 2. Front view of the disk-rod apparatus.

Instrumentation and Supplies
The following tools and supplies were used to perform this experiment. The
use of these particular items was based on availability and equivalent
instrumentation will suffice. The following information about each device is
necessary for computing uncertainties.
Devices and Supplies
Measuring Tape (in)
Calipers (in)
Digital Protractor PRO 360
(deg)
Weights (grams)

Accuracy
1
32
0.0005
0.1

Readout/Readability
1
32
0.0005
0.1

N/A

N/A

Table 1. Specifications of measuring devices and weights

Procedure
In order to perform this experiment, we first had to measure the dimensions
of the apparatus. When measuring the radii of the disk and rod, the calipers
3

were used. A tape measure was used to record the length of the rod. Every
team member measured each part of the apparatus in no particular order. To
determine the values used in the calculations, the average of each of the
measurands recorded by each member were taken and the corresponding
uncertainties were taken into account (see subsequent section for details).
The variable names and and units for these components are shown in the
table below.
Measurand
Force
Radius of
disk
Radius of
rod
Length of
rod
Angle of
deflection

Symbo
l
F
R

Units

Notes

lb f
in

Converted to lbf from grams

in

in

Rad

The small weld bead was ignored

Converted to radians from degrees

Table 2. Relevant measurands and their corresponding symbols and units

The digital protractor was fastened onto the large disk of radius R (see figure
2) to measure in degrees the angular deflection. When the masses were
applied to the apparatus, they were attached in a random order with respect
to weight. The corresponding angular deflections were recorded. The figure
below shows that the change in the angular deflection of the rod is linearly
related to the applied mass. In Figure 3, the units of the angle of deflection
and the mass were left in their original state and werent converted to
English units to preserve total integrity of the trend. For purposes of plotting,
the weights were arranged by ascending order - not in the order they were
recorded.

12

10

8
Angle (deg)

0.5

1.5

2
2.5
Mass (kg)

3.5

4.5

Figure 3. Angular deflection of the rod as the applied weight increases

In order to reduce the random uncertainty in the measurements, all
members of the group measured all of our measurands once and an average
value was used. Data was collected on two separate days at different times
of the day with the weights added in different orders by different group
members. Different instruments each of identical make - were used to help
reduce uncertainties associated with instruments.

Data Reduction and Uncertainty Analysis

Torsion is the twisting of an object due to an applied torque. For uniform
cross-section, the torsion can be expressed as equation (1).
T=

JG
l

(1)

Where T is the applied torque, J is the torsion constant for the section (which
is almost equal to the second moment of area J = I), G is the torsional
modulus, l is the length of the object the torque is being applied to and
is the angle of twist in radians. The torsional modulus can be expressed by
rearranging equation (1) to arrive at equation (2).
G=

Tl
J

(2)

The torque can be expressed by equation (3) where R is the radius of the
disk and F is the force applied to the system.
(3)

T =FR

The moment of inertia can be expressed by the following equation where r is

the radius of the rod:
J=

(4)

r4
2

By substituting equations (3) and (4) into equation (2), the data reduction
equation (DRE) for the torsional modulus can be expressed by the following
equation:
G=

2 FRl
r4

(5)

The total uncertainty for the torsional modulus can be expressed by equation
(6).
w 2G ,total =
(6)
2
2
2
2
2
G
2
G
2
G
2
G
2
G
2
( wF , sys ) +
( w , sys ) +
( wl , sys ) +
( wr ,sys ) +
( wR ,sys ) + w2G , rand
F

l
r
R

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

The sensitivity coefficients can be expressed from equation (7) to equation

(11).
G 2 Rl
=
F r4

(7)

G 2 FRl
=
r 42

(8)

G 2 FR
=
l r4

(9)

G 8 FRl
=
5
r
r

(10)

G 2 Fl
=
R r4

(11)

The systematic uncertainty in the measurands can be expressed as equation

(12) to equation (15).
6

w 2 ,sys=w2 , sensor ,accuracy + w2 , readout ,accuracy +w 2 , readout ,readability

(12)

w 2l ,sys=w2l , accuracy + w2l , readability

(13)

w r , sys=w r , accuracy +w r , readability

(14)

w 2R , sys=w2R ,accuracy +w 2R , readability

(15)

The random uncertainty of torsional modulus can be determined by equation

(16).
w G ,rand =

t SG

(16)

Where S G isthe standard deviation of thetorsional modulus , t is determined by tinv

function from Matlab and n is the number of trials.
Because of the stiffness of the rod, very small masses had little affect on the
angular deflection. In order to quantify this, the ratio of total uncertainty in
W
the resultant to the resultant itself ( G ) was plotted in Figure 4 against
G
the weight applied.
2
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
Wg/G

1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0

0.5

1.5

2
2.5
Mass (kg)

3.5

4.5

Figure 4. The affect the applied mass has on uncertainty in the resultant

The team decided that the data points above a mass of 0.5kg were usable.
The data corresponding to a mass less than 0.5kg was discarded.

Results and Discussion

After reducing the amount of data used in the final calculation, the
uncertainty went down by roughly 25% and the final value for the modulus
was closer to the values found in tables online.
Using the DRE and uncertainty analysis shown previously in the report, we
calculated a resultant of ( 11.96 0.76 ) 106 psi. According to a table we found
online, the expected result is 11.5 106 psi for structural steel. Though we
arent certain that this is structural steel, it is easy to rule out stainless steel
and other easily identifiable materials. This value lies within our
experimental range.

Conclusions
With the experimental apparatus, we were able to gather data that was used
to calculate the sheer modulus. Using the DRE and uncertainty analysis, we
arrived at a final value for the torsional sheer modulus of the rod to be
( 11.96 0.76 ) 106 psi. In order to reduce the uncertainty in future
experiments, more trials should be used and start collecting data with a
larger mass. Using more precise measuring equipment especially the
protractor - will also help reduce uncertainty.