Torsional Analysis of shafts of various cross

sections
Shivam Kumar
SC14B053
Email:shivam.singh1506@gmail.com

1. Each x 3 = constant plane section rotates as a rigid

body about the central axis although it is allowed to
warp in the x 3 direction.

A torsional analysis was done on shafts having circular, elliptic and equilateral cross-sections. Static structural
simulation was done using ANSYS workbench and the obtained results were compared with that obtained from analytical methods using the stress functions by semi-inverse
methods. It was observed that the results obtained from
simulation closely matches with that of analytical methods
for a circular shaft .

INTRODUCTION
In the field of solid mechanics, torsion is the twisting of an object due to an applied torque. Torsion is expressed in newton per squared meter (Pa) while torque is
expressed in newton metres (N
um). In sections perpendicular to the torque axis, the resultant shear stress in this
section is perpendicular to the radius.[1]
For finding torsion on shafts having different cross-sections
we will employ the semi-inverse method, that is, we will
make assumptions as to the deformation of the twisted bar.
r the torsion problem. The assumptions about the defor-

2. The rotation angle of each section is a linear

function of x 3 , i.e. (x 3 ) = x 3 , where is the
constant rate of twist or angle of twist per unit length
3. The out-of-plane warping displacement is assumed
to be independent of x3.The projection of each section on the x,y plane rotates as a rigid body about the
central axis.

Circular cross section

A circular cross section shaft was taken and simulated
by fixing one face and providing a moment of 5N-m at the
opposite face.

2.1

Design specification
Radius of the circular shaft = 11.5cm
Length of the shaft = 180cm.

Fig. 2.

Circular shaft

The shaft was meshed finely using hexdominant

method. as shown in Fig. 3.
Fig. 1.

Torsion of a prismatic bar

One end of the shaft was fixed and moment of 1N-m

was given in the opposite face directing outwards.
mation resulting from the applied torque are(refer 1):

Fig. 6.
Fig. 3.

Shear stress in the y-z plane

Meshing of the circular shaft

from the ANSYS simulation.

Fig. 7 shows that warping displacement or deformation in z-axis is approximately equal to zero i.e w=0 which
is exactly predicted by the analytical method.
NOTE:Derivation is attached in the appendix.

Fig. 4.

Static structural loading of the circular shaft

2.2

Results
Fig. 4 shows that shear stress in the x-y plane is negligible as predicted by the analytical method i.e x y = 0.
Fig. 7.

Fig. 5.

Fig. 8.
shaft

Shear stress in the x-y plane

Warping displacement or deformation along the z-axis

Equivalent(Von-Mises) stress experienced by the circular

Fig. 5 shows that maximum shear stress in the y-z

plane is obtained as 399.73Pa while from the theory it is
given by the formula given below:

yz = x

2 T
a4

(1)

(2)

Placing the values of a= 11.5cm, we get yz =

418.58Pa that closely matches with the value obtained

Fig. 9.

Total deformation experienced by the shaft

The above mentioned figures Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 show

the equivalent stress and the total deformation experi-

enced by the circular shaft due to torsion.

Calculation and comparison of displacement field is
shown in appendix.

Elliptic cross section

An elliptic cross section shaft was taken and simulated
by fixing one face and providing a moment of 1N-m at the
opposite face.
Fig. 12.

Static structural loading of the elliptic shaft

3.1

Design specification
Major axis of the elliptic shaft=35cm (a)
Minor axis= 23cm. (b)
Length of the shaft = 180cm.

Fig. 13.

Shear stress in the x-y plane

the formula given below:

Fig. 10.

Elliptical shaft

The shaft was meshed finely using hex dominant

method. as shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 11.

max =

2T
ab2

(3)

Placing the values of a= 35cm and b=23cm, we get

max = 34.384Pa that matches the value obtained from
the ANSYS simulation.

Meshing of the elliptic shaft

Fig. 14.

One end of the shaft was fixed and moment of 1N-m

was given in the opposite face directing outwards.

Results
Fig. 12 shows that shear stress in the x-y plane. It is
clearly seen that shear stress in the x-y plane is less in comparison to the shear stress in the y-z plane but not equal
to 0. But theory states that x y = 0.
Fig. 14 shows that maximum shear stress 37.77 Pa
obtained . while from the analytical method it is given by

Maximum shear stress and Stress Contour

From Fig. 14 it can be seen that the shear stress is

maximum at x=0 and y=b which is as predicted by the
analysis.

3.2

Fig. 15 shows the warping displacement or deformation in z-axis whose Displacement contour closely matches
with that of the theory.
NOTE:Derivation is attached in the appendix.
Fig. 16 and Fig. 17 show the shear stress in the
xz plane and the total deformation experienced by the

Fig. 15.
axis

Warping displacement or deformation contour along the z-

Fig. 16.

Fig. 17.

Fig. 18.

Equilateral cross sectioned shaft

Fig. 19.

Meshing of the equilateral shaft

Shear stress in the x-z plane

Total deformation experienced by the shaft

elliptic shaft due to torsion.

Fig. 20.
shaft

Static structural loading of the equilateral cross sectioned

4.2

Results
Fig. 21 shows that shear stress in the x-y plane.Fig.
22 shows that shear stress in the x-y plane is very small of
the order of 103 . But theory states that xy = 0.

Equilateral cross section

An equilateral cross section shaft was taken and
simulated by fixing one face and providing a moment of
1N-m at the opposite face.

4.1

Design specification
Length of each side of the equilateral triangle= 70cm
Length of the shaft = 180cm.
Height of the equilateral triangle=60.622 cm(3a) i.e.
a=20.2 cm

One end of the shaft was fixed and moment of 1N-m

was given in the opposite face directing outwards.

Fig. 21.

Shear stress in the x-y plane

Fig. 23 shows that maximum shear stress in the y-z

plane is obtained as 81.705Pa while from the analytical
method it is given by the formula given below:

Fig. 25.

Shear stress in the y-z plane

Fig. 22. Shear stress in the x-y plane in a section far away from
boundary points

ma x =

p
5 3T
18a3

(4)

Placing the values of a= 20.2cm, we get max =

60.14Pa that deviates from the value obtained from the
ANSYS simulation.

Fig. 26.

Total deformation experienced by the shaft

equilateral cross sectioned shaft due to torsion.

Circular cross section with nodal forces

A circular cross section shaft was taken and one end
was fixed and nodal forces was applied on the diametrically opposite nodes so that the net equivalent torque is
1N-m.

Fig. 23.

Fig. 24.

Maximum shear stress

5.1

Design specification
Diameter of the circle= 46cm
Length of the shaft = 180cm.

Fig. 27.

Warping displacement or deformation along the z-axis

Fig. 24 shows the warping displacement or deformation in z-axis whose contour closely matches with that of
the theory.
NOTE:Derivation is attached in the appendix.
Fig. 25 and Fig. 26 show the shear stress in they-z
plane and the total deformation experienced by the

5.2

Static structural loading with nodal forces

Results
Fig. 28 shows that deformation along the z- axis or
the warping displacements is almost zero away from the
point of application of force according to Saint Venants
Principle.

Fig. 30 and Fig. 31 show the shear stress in they-z

plane and the total deformation experienced by the equilateral cross sectioned shaft due to torsion.
All section planes have been taken away from boundary to
show saints venants principle

6
Fig. 28.

Warping displacements along the z-direction

NACA 0043 airfoil

A NACA 0043 airfoil was taken having a chord length
of 1.005m. The cross section was extruded to 180cm .

Fig. 29 shows that shear stress along the x-y plane has
some value but theory predicts to be as zero.

Fig. 32.

Fig. 29.

Geometry of the NACA 0043 airfoil

Shear stress along the x-y plane

Fig. 33.

Fig. 30.

Equivalent stress experienced by the shaft

One end of the shaft was fixed and moment of 5N-m

was given in the opposite face directing outwards.

Fig. 34.

Fig. 31.

Total deformation experienced by the shaft

Meshing of the airfoil

Static structural loading of the airfoil

6.1

Results
Fig. 35 shows the deformation along the z- axis or the
warping displacements .

Fig. 38.

Fig. 35.

Total deformation experienced by the airfoil

Warping displacements along the z-direction

Fig. 36 shows the sectioned plane displacements.

Fig. 39.

Equivalent stress on the airfoil

[3] Elasticity: Theory, Applications and Numerics Third

Edition- Martin H. Sadd

Fig. 36.

Sectioned plane of the airfoil

Fig. 36 shows the maximum shear stress experienced

by the airfoil.

Fig. 37.

Maximum stress experienced by the airfoil

Fig. 37 and Fig. 38 show the total deformation and

the equivalent stress experienced by the airfoil due to
torsion.

References
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torsion(mechanics)
[2] http://airfoiltools.com/airfoil/naca4digit

7 APPENDIX
7.1 Circular cross section

7.2

Elliptical cross section

Fig. 40.
Fig. 42.

Fig. 43.
Fig. 41.

7.3

Equilateral Triangle cross section

Fig. 44.

Fig. 45.

Fig. 46.

Comparison between Theoratical and Simulation