Mechanics of Materials II:

Thin-Walled Pressure Vessels and Torsion

Dr. Wayne Whiteman
Senior Academic Professional and Director of the Office of Student Services
Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
 Mechanics of Materials II: Thin-Walled Pressure Vessels and Torsion
Thin-Walled Pressure Vessels - Internal Pressure
Torsional Shearing Stress and Strain
Elastic Torsion Formula
Elastic Torsion of Straight, Cylindrical Shafts
Inelastic Torsion of Straight, Cylindrical Shafts
Statically Indeterminate Torsion Members
Module 12 Learning Outcome
Derive the Elastic Torsion Formula
Circular Bar Torsion

Torsional Shear Strain at

Outer Surface
r r d
MAX r
L dx
Shear Stresses also vary linearly with
Shear Strains vary linearly with

MAX Gr MAX
r
MAX
r

radial distance from center

Now lets relate Shear Stress to the Applied Torque

MAX
r
MAX
dT dF dA 2 dA
r
MAX
T dT dA
2

A
r A

J Polar Moment of Inertia

J 2 dA
A
Now lets relate Shear Stress to the Applied Torque
MAX
T dT
2
dA
A
r A
Note that T (resisting Torque) is
greater for larger J, polar moment of
J Polar Moment of Inertia inertia.
J, the polar moment of inertia, is
J 2 dA larger when we have more area
A
further from the axis of rotation
Tr MAX
MAX T J Therefore J, the polar moment of
J r inertia, is a measure of the

recall MAX Elastic Torsion Formula resistance to twisting/torsion
r
T
r Tr
MAX J
J
is the shearing stress on a transverse plane
at a distance from the center axis
T is the resisting torque (generally obtained
from the FBD and equilibrium equation)