TORSION

INSTRUCTOR: ENGR. MINETTE MERCA

 General technique used in cases of non-uniform stress distribution:

ASSUMPTIONS
INTRODUCTION AND
1. Determine the relation between stresses that are compatible with the
deformations, from a study of the elastic deformations produced by a
specified load, plus the application of Hooke’s law. Such relations are
known as the equations of compatibility.
2. Obtain additional relations between stresses, by applying the conditions of
equilibrium to a free body diagram of a portion of the body. These
relations, resulting from a study of the equilibrium between externally
applied loads and the internal resisting forces over an exploratory section,
are called the equations of equilibrium.
3. Be sure that the solution of the equations in steps 1 and 2 is consistent
with the loading conditions at the surface of the body. This is known as
satisfying the boundary equations.

Note: The discussion will focus on torsion problems of circular shafts or closed thin walled tubes.
 ASSUMPTIONS
INTRODUCTION AND
Assumptions used in deriving torsion formulas:
1. Circular sections remain circular.
2. Plane sections remain plane and do not warp.
3. The projection upon a transverse section of straight radial lines in the
section remain straight.
4. Shaft is loaded by twisting couples in planes that are perpendicular to the
axis of the shaft.
5. Stresses do not exceed the proportional limit.

Note: The first two apply only to shafts of circular section.

 TORSION
Consider a bar rigidly attached at one
end and twisted at the other end by a
torque or twisting moment T equivalent
to Fxd, which is applied to the axis of the
bar, as shown in the figure. Such a bar is
said to be in torsion.
 TORSION
LENGTH OF DEFORMATION
𝛿𝑆 = 𝜌𝜃
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠, 𝜌 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝜃 𝑖𝑛 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑠

UNIT DEFORMATION
𝛿𝑆 𝜌𝜃
𝛾= =
𝐿 𝐿
SHEARING STRESS
𝐺𝜃
𝜏 = 𝐺𝛾 = 𝜌
𝐿
(equation of compatibility)
The stress distribution along any radius varies
linearly with the radial distance from the axis of
the shaft
TORQUE

TORSION
𝑇 = 𝑇𝑟 = න 𝜌𝑑𝑃 = න 𝜌(𝜏𝑑𝐴)
𝐺𝜃
Using the equation of compatibility 𝜏 = 𝐺𝛾 = 𝜌 :
𝐿
𝐺𝜃
𝑇= න 𝜌2 𝑑𝐴
𝐿
𝐺𝜃
𝑇= 𝐽
𝐿
𝑇𝐿
𝜃=
𝐽𝐺
TORSION FORMULA
The torsional shearing stress is
𝑇𝜌
𝜏=
𝐽
𝑇𝑟
𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
𝐽
 TORSION
𝑇𝑟
Variations of the torsion formula 𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 = :
𝐽

SOLID SHAFT

2𝑇 16𝑇
𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 = =
𝜋𝑟 3 𝜋𝑑 3
HOLLOW SHAFT

2𝑇𝑅 16𝑇𝐷
𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 = =
𝜋(𝑅4 − 𝑟 4 ) 𝜋(𝐷4 − 𝑑 4 )
 TORSION
In many practical applications, shafts are used to transmit power. From
dynamics, it is known that power, 𝑃 transmitted by a constant torque 𝑇 rotating
at a constant angular speed 𝜔 is given by
𝑃 = 𝑇𝜔
where 𝜔 is measured in radians per unit time. If the shaft is rotating with a
frequency of 𝑓 revolutions per unit time, 𝜔 = 2𝜋𝑓, and we have
𝑃 = 𝑇2𝜋𝑓
Thus the torque can be expressed as
𝑃
𝑇=
2𝜋𝑓
 TORSION
Sample Problem 1
A solid shaft in a rolling mill transmits 20 kW at 2Hz. Determine the diameter of
the shaft if the shearing stress is not to exceed 40 MPa and the angle of twist is
limited to 6 degrees in a length of 3 m. Use G= 83 GPa.
Sample Problem 1 Solution:

TORSION
A solid shaft in a rolling mill
transmits 20 kW at 2Hz.
Determine the diameter of the
shaft if the shearing stress is not
to exceed 40 MPa and the angle of
twist is limited to 6 degrees in a
length of 3 m. Use G= 83 GPa.
 TORSION
Sample Problem 2
A circular shaft AB consists of a 10-in. long, 7/8 in. diameter steel cylinder, in
which a 5-in. long, 5/8 in. diameter cavity has been drilled from end B. The shaft
is attached to fixed supports at both ends, and a 90 lb ft torque is applied at its
midsection. Determine the torque exerted on the shaft by each of the supports
Sample Problem 2 Solution:
A circular shaft AB consists of a 10-in.

TORSION
long, 7/8 in. diameter steel cylinder,
in which a 5-in. long, 5/8 in. diameter
cavity has been drilled from end B.
The shaft is attached to fixed
supports at both ends, and a 90 lb ft
torque is applied at its midsection.
Determine the torque exerted on the
shaft by each of the supports
Activity
A 5-m steel shaft rotating at 2 Hz has 70 kW applied at a gear that is 2 m from
the left end where 20 kW are removed. At the right end, 30 kW are removed
and another 20 kW leaves the shaft at 1.5 m from the right end. (a) Find the
uniform shaft diameter so that the shearing stress will not exceed 60 MPa. (b) If
a uniform shaft diameter of 100 mm is specified, determine the angle by which
one end of the shaft lags behind the other end. Use G = 83 GPa.
A commonly used connection between two shafts is a flanged bolt coupling. It
consists of flanges rigidly attached to the ends of the shafts and bolted together.

COUPLINGS
FLANGED BOLT
The torque is transmitted by the shearing force P created in the bolts.

For any number of bolts, n, the torque capacity of the coupling is expressed by

𝜋𝑑 2
𝑇 = 𝑃𝑅𝑛 = 𝜏𝑅𝑛
4
Occasionally, a coupling has two concentric

FLANGED BOLT COUPLINGS

rows of bolts. Letting the subscript 1 refer to
the bolts on the outer circle and subscript 2
refer to the bolts on the inner circle, The toque
capacity of the coupling is
𝑇 = 𝑃1 𝑅1 𝑛1 + 𝑃2 𝑅2 𝑛2
The shearing strains are related by
𝛾1 𝛾2
=
𝑅1 𝑅2
Using Hooke’s law for shear G = 𝜏/𝛾
𝜏1 𝜏2 𝑃1 /𝐴1 𝑃2 /𝐴2
= 𝑜𝑟 =
𝐺1 𝑅1 𝐺2 𝑅2 𝐺1 𝑅1 𝐺2 𝑅2
If the two circles have the same area
and are made of the same material
𝑃1 𝑃2
=
𝑅1 𝑅2
 FLANGED BOLT COUPLINGS
Sample Problem 3
A flanged bolt coupling consists of ten 20mm diameter bolts spaced evenly
around a bolt circle 400 mm in diameter. Determine the torque capacity of the
coupling if the allowable shearing stress in the bolts is 40 MPa.
Sample Problem 3 Solution:

FLANGED BOLT COUPLINGS

A flanged bolt coupling consists of ten
20mm diameter bolts spaced evenly
around a bolt circle 400 mm in
diameter. Determine the torque
capacity of the coupling if the
allowable shearing stress in the bolts
is 40 MPa.
 WALLED TUBES
TORSION OF THIN
The torque applied to thin walled tubes is expressed
as
𝑇 = 2𝐴𝑞
Where T is the torque in Nmm, A is the area
enclosed by the centerline of the tube wall in mm2,
and q is the shear flow in N/mm.

The average shearing stress across any thickness t is

𝑞
𝜏=
𝑡
Thus,
𝑇
𝜏=
2𝐴𝑡
 TUBES
TORSION OF THIN WALLED
Sample Problem 4
A tube has a semicircular shape shown in the figure. If stress concentration at
the corners is neglected, what will cause a shearing stress of 40 MPa?

𝑡 = 2𝑚𝑚

50𝑚𝑚
Sample Problem 4 Solution:

TUBES
TORSION OF THIN WALLED
A tube has a semicircular shape
shown in the figure. If stress
concentration at the corners is
neglected, what will cause a
shearing stress of 40 MPa?
When close-coiled helical spring, composed of a wire

HELICAL SPRINGS
of round rod of diameter d wound up into a helix of
mean radius R with n number of turns, is subjected
to an axial load P, shearing stress and elongation are
caused on the spring.

The maximum shearing stress is the sum of the

direct shearing stress 𝜏1 = 𝑃/𝐴 and the torsional
shearing stress 𝜏2 = 𝑇𝑅/𝐽, with T = 𝑃𝑅
𝜏 = 𝜏1 + 𝜏2
𝑃 16𝑃𝑅
𝜏=𝜋 +
𝑑2 𝜋𝑑 3
4
16𝑃𝑅 𝑑
𝜏= 1 +
𝜋𝑑 3 4𝑅
Note: the formula neglects the curvature of the spring. This
is used for light spring where the ratio 𝑑/4𝑅 is small
For heavy springs and considering the curvature

HELICAL SPRINGS
of the spring, A.M. Wahl formula is more
precise, it is given by:
16𝑃𝑅 4𝑚 − 1 0.615
𝜏= +
𝜋𝑑 3 4𝑚 − 4 𝑚
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑚 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑
4𝑚 − 1Τ4𝑚 − 4 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑎ℎ𝑙 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟
Spring Deflection is given by
64𝑃𝑅3 𝑛
𝛿=
𝐺𝑑 4
Notice that the deformation 𝛿 is directly
proportional to the applied load 𝑃. The load
ratio of 𝑃 to 𝛿 is called the spring constant 𝑘 and
is equal to
𝑃 𝐺𝑑 4
𝑘= = 𝑁/𝑚𝑚
𝛿 64𝑅3 𝑛
 Springs in Parallel

Springs in Series
For two or more springs with spring laid
in series, the resulting spring constant 𝑘
is given by
IN PARALLEL
SPRINGS IN SERIES AND
For two or more springs in parallel, the
resulting spring constant 𝑘 is given by

1 1 1
= + +⋯ 𝑘 = 𝑘1 + 𝑘2 + ⋯
𝑘 𝑘1 𝑘2
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑘1 , 𝑘2 , … 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑘1 , 𝑘2 , … 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠
Sample Problem 5

HELICAL SPRINGS
Two steel springs arranged in series as shown in the figure supports a load P.
The upper spring has 12 turns of 25-mm-diameter wire on a mean radius of 100
mm. The lower spring consists of 10 turns of 20-mmdiameter wire on a mean
radius of 75 mm. If the maximum shearing stress in either spring must not
exceed 200 MPa, compute the maximum value of P and the total elongation of
the assembly. Use Wahl’s Formula and G = 83 GPa. Compute the equivalent
spring constant by dividing the load by the total elongation.
Sample Problem 5 Solution:
Two steel springs arranged in series as shown in

HELICAL SPRINGS
the figure supports a load P. The upper spring
has 12 turns of 25-mm-diameter wire on a
mean radius of 100 mm. The lower spring
consists of 10 turns of 20-mmdiameter wire on
a mean radius of 75 mm. If the maximum
shearing stress in either spring must not exceed
200 MPa, compute the maximum value of P
and the total elongation of the assembly. Use
Wahl’s Formula and G = 83 GPa. Compute the
equivalent spring constant by dividing the load
by the total elongation.
 REFERENCES
Strength of Materials 4th ed by Singer and Pytel
Mechanics of Materials 6th ed by Beer and Johnston
https://mathalino.com/reviewer/mechanics-and-strength-of-materials/torsion
https://mathalino.com/reviewer/mechanics-and-strength-of-materials/helical-
springs
THANKS