EASTERN MEADITERRANEAN UNIVERSTY

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING
LABORATORY HANDOUT
1979

COURSE

STRENGTH OF MATERIALS- MENG222

Semester: Spring 2007-2008

Lab. No: 1

Name of Exp: Torsion Test

Instructor: Assoc. Lec. Cafer Kizilors
Assistant: Glah Tael

Submitted by:
Student No:
Date: ..
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------EVALUATION
PROCEDURE
RESULTS & GRAPHS
DISCUSSION
REPORT
PRESENTATION
OVERALL MARK

Name and signature (of evaluator):

OBJECT:
To carry out a torsion test to destruction in order to determine the following for a
specimen.
a) The modulus of rigidity.
b) The shear stress at the limit of proportionality.
c) The general characteristics of the torque ,angle of twist relationship.
APPARATUS:
Tecquipment Torsion Testing Machine and Torsiometer ,steel rule and micrometer
.

Standard torsion specimen for use with the torsion testing machine and torsiometer

THEORY:
From the general torsion theory for a circular specimen.
T G

J
L
r

Where,
T = Applied Torque Nm or lbf in
J = Polar second moment of area mm 4 or in 4
G = Modulus of rigidity .

N
or
mm 2

= Angle if twist (over length L).. radians

lbf
in 2

 = Shear stress at radius r

r=

N
mm 2

or

lbf
in 2

radius. mm or in

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE ( In instruction form)

1) Measure the overall length and test diameter of the specimen.
2) Draw a line down the length of the degree of the section of the specimen with a
pencil this serves as a visual aid to the degree of twist being put on the specimen
during loading.
3) Mount the specimen firmly in the Torsion Testing Machine as indicated in the
operating instructionssee later.
If the Torsimeter is to be used the fixing procedure should be carried out as
prescribed.
For each increment of strain record the following :
a) angle of twist of the specimen ( ) in degrees.
b) Applied torque..(T)
c) Angle of twist over the 50 millimeter or 2.00 inch gauge length in radians, as
recorded by the dial gauge indicator..( ) in radians.
d) When the elastic limit has been passed continue to test to destruction with ever
increasing increments of strain, recording for each strain increment,
i) Angle of twist in degrees.
ii) Applied torque.
NOTE: In some tests it may be found unnecessary to use the Torsiometer after the
elastic limithas been reached. The Torsiometer, if this is the case, can be removed
from the specimen and readings of twist taken direct from the machine scales. To
remove the Torsiometer unclamp the two cap screws securing it to the specimen and
slip each end clamp of the Torsiometer off the specimen. The end clamps have been
slotted for this purpose. It is not possible to remove the center cylindrical spacer of
the Torsimeter as this would involve disturbing the end fixing of the specimen ,i.e.
releasing it from the chuck, and this SHOULD NOT BE DONE UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES DURING TEST.
RESULTS:
Initial diameter of specimen..
Final diameter of specimen
Gauge length of specimen.
Initial overall length of specimen.
Final overall length of specimen..
SUGGESTED INCREMENTS OF STRAIN

To ensure that an adequate number of values are obtained from the test ,particularly
during the elastic region of strain, the following is recommended:
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE TORSION TESTING MACHINE AND
TORSIOMETER
(In instruction form)
1) Allow the spring balance to hang free of the torque arm and zero the balance by
adjusting the small knurled screw at the top right hand of the balance.
2) Slide balance along the supporting framework until the two engraved lines, one
on the horizontal cross member of the frame and the other on the balance
assembly block which is sliding along this member, coincide.
3) Slid the hook of the balance under the knife edge on the torque arm with the hook
hanging free at its lowest position.
4) Clamp the specimen in to the jaws of the Torsion Machine and fit the Torsiometer
on to the specimen a full account of this is found earlier in the bulletin under the
mean heading Use and Operation of the Torsiometer.
It is essential when using the Torsion Machine to make sure that the whole length
of the hexagonal ends of the specimen are contained fully within the chuck jaws.
Also when the straining head, specimen and Torsiometer are pushed along the bed
so that the end of the specimen enters the headstock chuck, enter the specimen in
to the chuck until the light compression spring behind the headstock chuck just
beings to compress.
5) when the specimen has been firmly fixed in position clamp the straining head to
the bed.
6) Turn the handle on the straining head until the torque arm is in the horizontal as
shown by the spirit level.
7) Turn the spring balance hand wheel to raise the balance until the hook on the
balance is just contacting the knife edge on the torque arm. This will be seen by
movement of the spirit level bubble.
Care should be exercised to carry out this operation so that the torque arm and
spring balance are zeroed
Both balance hand wheel and straining head hand wheel may have to be adjusted
together to obtain this condition.
8) Zero the fine and course angular displacement dials on the input and output shafts
of the straining head. A knurled nut is provided behind each dial to lock the dial in
position.
9) Zero the revolution counter-by turning clockwise .
10) Adjusting the arm on the Torsiometer so that it just contacts the dial gauge
plunger. A knurled nut is provided for this purpose and a full description is found

under the main heading Use and Operation of Torsiometer earlier in this
bulletin.
11) Zero the dial gauge indicator by rotating the dial.
12) The apparatus is now ready for use and the test specimen can be loaded, in the
desired increments, by turning the handle on the straining head until the specimen
has been rotated the requisite number of degrees as shown on the fine angular
displacement on the machine. BEFORE TAKING TORQUE AND DIAL GAUGE
REDAINGS BRING THE TORQUE ARM BACK INTO HORIZONTAL BY
TURNING THE BALANCE HNDWHEEL.
13) When testing the more elastic materials the Torsiometer dial needs to be reset
periodically to zero due to the limitation on the plunger travel. See use and
Operation of the Torsiometer.
NOTE ON THE CONTENT OF THE LABORATORY REPORT
Once again the content of the report will depend largerly on the type of test carried
out and the detailed investigation required, but for a test similar to that described
above the following suggestion are offered:
Include in the report a dimensioned drawing of the specimen .
Using the tabulated results,
a) Plot a graph of applied Torque T against angle of twist as a base for the
elastic region. Use the slope of this graph to determine the value of the modulus
of rigidity. Also from this graph determine the torque, and then calculate the
shear stress at the limit of proportionality.
b) Plot a graph of applied torque against angle of twist of the specimen as a base,
for the complete test to destruction.
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
1.
2.
3.
4.

State and comment upon the values obtained from the test .
Comment upon the overall result obtained from the test.
Comment upon the apparatus an procedure.
Discuss the errors involved in determining the modules rigidity using the angle of
twist from the machine dial, and compare the result obtained with the value found
by using the Torsiometer.

Tabulate the results as follows:

ELASTIC REGION:
Angle of Twist
(degrees)

Applied Torque
T
Nm(or) ibf in

Angle of twist
0.001
radians

Applied Torque
T
Nm(or) ibf in

f the Torsiometer is used

during the non-elastic range
then record the dial gauge
reading in this column as
before for the Elastic Range.

NON-ELASTIC REGION:
Angle of Twist
(degrees)