CHAPTER TWO

TORSION
Introduction-1
Torsion refers to the twisting of a straight bar when it is loaded by moments (or torques) that
tend to produce rotation about the longitudinal axis of the bar.
Moments that produce twisting of a bar, such as the moments T1 and T2 in Fig. 2-1, are called
torques or twisting moments. Cylindrical members that are subjected to torques and transmit
power through rotation are called shafts; for instance, the drive shaft of an automobile or the
propeller shaft of a ship. Most shafts have circular cross sections, either solid or tubular.
The moment of a couple may be represented by a vector in the form of a double-headed arrow
(Fig. 2-1b). The arrow is perpendicular to the plane containing the couple, and therefore in this
case both arrows are parallel to the axis of the bar or a curved arrow acting in the direction of
rotation (Fig. 2-1c).

Figure-2-1
Consider a prismatic bar of circular cross section twisted by torques T acting at the ends (Fig. 2-
1a).
Since every cross section of the bar is identical, and since every cross section is subjected to the
same internal torque T, we say that the bar is in pure torsion. From considerations of symmetry,
it can be proved that cross sections of the bar do not change in shape as they rotate about the
longitudinal axis. In other words, all cross sections remain plane and circular and all radii remain
straight. Furthermore, if the angle of rotation between one end of the bar and the other is small,
neither the length of the bar nor its radius will change.

Figure-2-2
To aid in visualizing the deformation of the bar, imagine that the left-hand end of the bar (Fig. 2-
2a) is fixed in position. Then, under the action of the torque T, the right-hand end will rotate
(with respect to the left-hand end) through a small angle , known as the angle of twist (or angle
of rotation). Because of this rotation, a straight longitudinal line pq on the surface of the bar will
become a helical curve pq where qis the position of point q after the end cross section has
rotated through the angle (Fig. 2-2b).
The angle of twist changes along the axis of the bar, and at intermediate cross sections it will
have a value f(x) that is between zero at the left-hand end and at the right-hand end. If every
cross section of the bar has the same radius and is subjected to the same torque (pure torsion), the
angle f(x) will vary linearly between the ends.

Derivation of the torsion formula:

Geometric assumptions for the derivation of the shear formula on a circular shaft member with
a torque applied:
a plane x-section perpendicular to the axis of the member remains plane, thus there is no
strain in the x-section
there is no change in length, thus there is no normal strain in length
within the elastic limit, Hookes Law is applied thus shear stress and strain
(corresponding to the angle of twist ) are in proportional correlation

Figure-2-3

From figure-2-3c = due to circular

= due to length

Equate the two equations = , = but =

Now = 1


in this equation is constant because G is shear modules which is constant and is the ratio

of angle to length is constant throughout the length, so is dependent on only.
Thus, when = r, = max
Lets see the fig below for small dA

= , = = ( )

Moment for dA, = = 2

= 2 , but 2 is polar moment of inertia (Ip)

Thus = .2

Angle of Twist or angle of rotation

= From this = if we integrate this in length L

0 =
0 = ..3

Now from those 3 formulas

From eqn. 1 = =

From eqn. 2 = = equate this two equations

= = 4

From eqn. 3 = = ...........5

From eqn. 4 and 5

= = , this is torsion formula

Circular Tubes
Circular tubes are more efficient than solid bars in resisting torsional loads. As we know, the
shear stresses in a solid circular bar are maximum at the outer boundary of the cross section and
zero at the center. Therefore, most of the material in a solid shaft is stressed significantly below
the maximum shear stress. Furthermore, the stresses near the center of the cross section have a
smaller moment arm r for use in determining the torque
By contrast, in a typical hollow tube most of the material is near the outer boundary of the cross
section where both the shear stresses and the moment arms are highest. Thus, if weight reduction
and savings of material are important, it is advisable to use a circular tube.
The analysis of the torsion of a circular tube is almost identical to that for a solid bar. The same
basic expressions for the shear stresses may be used .Of course, the radial distance r is limited to
the range r1 to r2, where r1 is the inner radius and r2 is the outer radius of the bar.

The only difference is polar moment of inertia Ip. Therefore, the polar moment of inertia of the
cross-sectional area of a tube is

The preceding expressions can also be written in the following forms

in which r is the average radius of the tube, equal to (r1 + r2)/2; d is the average diameter, equal
to (d1 + d2)/2; and t is the wall thickness
If the tube is relatively thin so that the wall thickness t is small compared to the average radius r,
we may disregard the terms t2approximately zero. With this simplification, we obtain the
following approximateformulas for the polar moment of inertia:
The quantities r and d are the average radius and diameter, not the maximums.