Mechanics Of Material

Torsion

Dr/Ahmed Fathi Mohamed Salih

University Of Bahri

Civil Engineering Department

3- 3

Introduction
Torque is a moment that twists a member
about its longitudinal axis.
If the angle of rotation is small, the length of
the shaft and its radius will remain
unchanged

Torsional Loads on Circular

Shafts
Interested in stresses and strains of
circular shafts subjected to twisting
couples or torques
Turbine exerts torque T on the shaft
Shaft transmits the torque to the
generator
Generator creates an equal and
opposite torque T on the shaft
(action-reaction principle)

3. The Torsion Formula

When material is linear-elastic, Hookes law

applies.
A linear variation in shear strain leads to
a corresponding linear variation in shear
stress along any radial lineTc
on the cross
Tp
max
or
section.
J
J
max = maximum shear stress in the shaft
= shear stress
T = resultant internal torque
J = polar moment of inertia of cross-sectional area
c = outer radius of the shaft
p = intermediate distance

5.2
THE
TORSION
FORMULA
Solid shaft
J can be determined using area element in the form
of a differential ring or annulus having thickness d
and circumference 2 .
For this ring, dA = 2 d

J is a geometric property of the circular area and

is always positive. Common units used for its
measurement are mm4 and m4.

Tubular shaft

Angle of Twist

Integrating over the entire length L of the

shaft, we have
T x dx

J xG
0
L

= angle of twist
T(x) = internal torque
J(x) = shafts polar moment of inertia
G = shear modulus of elasticity for
the material

Assume material is homogeneous, G is

constant, thus

*Used when several different torque, cross section

and shear modulus varied

Sign convention is
determined by right hand rule,
TL
TL

*
JG

JG

Example 4
The shaft is supported by two bearings and is subjected to
three torques. Determine the shear stress developed at
points A and B, located at 75 mm as outer diam and 15
mm as inner diam respectively.

Solution for Example 4

From the free-body diagram of the left segment,

0;

4250 3000 T 0 T 1250 kNmm

The polar moment of inertia for the shaft is

4
7
J

75

4.97 10 mm

Since point A is at = c = 75 mm,

B

Tc 1250 75

1.89 MPa (Ans)

7
J
4.97 10

Likewise for point B, at =15 mm, we have

B

Tc 1250 15

0.377 MPa (Ans)

J
4.97 107

Example 5
The two solid steel shafts are coupled together using the
meshed gears. Determine the angle of twist of end A of shaft AB
when the torque 45 Nm is applied. Take G to be 80 GPa. Shaft
AB is free to rotate within bearings E and F, whereas shaft DC
is fixed at D. Each shaft has a diameter of 20 mm.

Solution for Example 5

From free body diagram,

F 45 / 0.15 300 N
TD x 300 0.075 22.5 Nm
Angle of twist at C is

22.51.5
TLDC

0.0269 rad
4
9
JG
2 0.001 8010

Since the gears at the end of the shaft are in mesh,

B 0.15 0.0269 0.075 0.0134 rad

Solution for Example 5

Since the angle of twist of end A with respect to end B of shaft
AB
caused
45 245
Nm,
T by
L the torque
A/ B

AB

AB

JG

2 0.010

8010
9

0.0716 rad

The
of end A is therefore
A rotation
B A / B 0.0134 0.0716 0.0850 rad (Ans)

Example 6
The tapered shaft is made of a material having a shear
modulus G. Determine the angle of twist of its end B when
subjected to the torque.

Solution for Example 6

From free body diagram, the internal torque is T.
c2 c1 c2 c
c c

c c2 x 2 1
L
x
L

Thus, at x, J x c2 x c2 c1
2
L

For angle of twist,

L

2T

G 0

dx
c2 c1

c2 x

2TL c22 c1c2 c12

3 3
3G
c1 c2

(Ans)

Power Transmission

Power is defined as the work performed per

unit of time.
For a rotating shaft with a torque, the power is

P T where shaft angular velocity, d / dt

Since 1 cycle 2 rad 2f

equation is

, the

,power

P 2fT

For shaft design, the design or geometric

parameter is
J
T

allow

4. Power Transmission
Example 7

A solid steel shaft AB is to be used to transmit 3750 W

from the motor M to which it is attached. If the shaft
rotates
at =175 rpm and the steel has an allowable shear stress
of allow allow =100 MPa, determine the required
diameter of the shaft to the nearest mm.

Power Transmission
Solution for Example 7
The torque on the shaft is
P T
175 2
T 204.6 Nm
60

3750 T

Since,

J c4
T

c 2 c allow

2T

allow

1/ 3

2 204.6 1000

100

1/ 3

10.92 mm

As 2c = 21.84 mm, select a shaft having a diameter of 22 mm