ABSTRACT

The following experiment outlines the proper procedures for determining the shear modulus
for a material. The experiment conducted is to determine the torsion properties subjected to
pure torque loading, identify type of fracture surface under pure torque and to validate the
data between experimental and theoretical values. During this experiment, mild steel was
used as samples to demonstrate how materials behave during testing conditions. By
measuring the applied torque with the respect to the angle of twist, the shear modulus, shear
stress at the limit of proportionality and failure conditions can be found. We can conclude
that not all deformation is elongation or compressive. The concept of stress and strain can be
extended to inclined shearing or distortional effects. In solid mechanics, torsion is the
twisting of an object due to an applied torque.
THEORY

In solid mechanics, torsion is the twisting of an object due to an applied torque. It is

expressed in unit of Newton meters (Nm). In sections perpendicular to the torque axis, the
resultant shear stress in this section is perpendicular to the radius. Torsion occurs when any
shaft is subjected to a torque. The shaft is rotating such as drive shafts on engines, motors,
and turbines or stationary such as with a bolt or screw. The torque make the shaft twist and
one end rotates relative to the other inducing shear stress on any cross section. Failure might
occur due to shear stress on any cross section. Failure might occur due to shear alone or
because the shear is accompanied by stretching or bending.

For shafts of uniform cross-section the torsion is:

𝐽
T =𝑟 =

T is the applied torque or moment of torsion in Nm. T is the maximum shear stress at the
outer surface. JT is the torsion constant for the section. It is identical to the second moment of
area Jzz for concentric circular tubes or round solid shafts only. For other shapes, J must be
determined by other means. For solid shafts, the membrane analogy is useful, and for thin
walled tubes of arbitrary shape, the shear flow approximation is fairly good, if the section is
not re-entrant. For thick walled tubes of arbitrary shape, there is no simple solution, and finite
element analysis (FEA) may be the best method. r is the distance between the rotational axis
and the farthest point in the section ( at the outer surface). L is the length of the object the
torque is being applied to or over. θ is the angle of twist in radians. G is the shear modulus or
more commonly the modulus of rigidity and is usually given in Giga Pascal ( GPa ). The
product JT G is called the torsional rigidity WT.

The shear stress at a point within a shaft is:

Note that the highest shear stress occurs on the surface of the shaft, where the radius is
maximum. High stresses at the surface may be compounded by stress concentration such as
rough spots. Thus, shafts for use in high torsion are polished to a fine surface finish to reduce
the maximum stress in the shaft and increase their service life.

The angle of twist can be found by using:

Consider a cylindrical bar subjected to a torsional moment at one end. The twisting moment
is resisted by shear stresses set up in the cross section of the bar. zero at centre, max at
surface

τ = shear stress, Pa
MT = torsional moment, Nm
r = radial distance measured from centre of bar, m
J = polar moment of inertia,𝑚4

For the shear stress

The maximum shear stress at the surface of the bar is

For a tubular specimen, the shear stress on the outer surface is

Where
D1 = Outside diameter of tube
D2 = Inside diameter of tube
Both equation of stress is applied only for a linear relationship.
Torsion Test

Torsion test are made on materials to determine such properties as the modulus elasticity in
shear, the torsion yield strength and the modulus of rupture. It is often used for testing brittle
materials and can be tested in full-sized parts, i.e., shafts, axles and twist drills which are
subjected to torsion loading in service.

Figure 1

Example of Drive Shaft subject to torsion in service

This experiment is designed to determine the modulus of rigidity. Utilizing test specimens
with a known geometry, specimens can be twisted with the values for torque simultaneously
measured. With the sample secured and clamped within the Torsion Test Machine, the
specimen can be twisted by applying a rotational torque to one end, while the opposing end is
kept straight
APPARATUS

1. Torsion Test Machine

2. Torque Meter

3. Vernier Calipers
4. Mild steel
9. Experimental Procedure

1. Measure the specimen size and overall length

Figure 9 - Specimen
2. Put the specimen and fix it at the end on the machine chuck and the zero reading is
needed to be set all on gauge.

Figure 10 - Shifting Specimen holder

3. The hand wheel is needed to turn it on the clockwise to provide the applied load

Figure 8 – Worm Gear

4. For the rotation it increment is needed to be choose a quarter rotation (90° ) and the
start with second and third rotation (180° ) and for the forth and to 10 rotation of one
rotation (360° ).

5. For the reading the turning the hand wheel at the position first or second or other then
the dial gauge is needed to set to be initial value as 0 and from that the reading of
torque will display at torque meter.

Figure 3 – Torque Meter

6. Record the data that obtain from the torque meter and the rotation of handwheel and
plot the graph from the given data.
RESULT

Angle of twist Angle of twist Torque (Nm) Shear stress Shear Strain
( °) (rad) (MPa)
90° 1.571 1.00 23.58 0.057
90° 1.571 2.25 53.07 0.057
90° 1.571 3.85 90.80 0.057
90° 1.571 6.20 146.23 0.057
180° 3.142 11.25 265.33 0.114
180° 3.142 15.80 372.64 0.114
180° 3.142 18.70 441.04 0.114
180° 3.142 20.20 476.42 0.114
360° 6.283 21.50 507.08 0.227
360° 6.283 21.80 514.15 0.227
360° 6.283 22.00 518.87 0.227
360° 6.283 20.90 492.92 0.227
360° 6.283 5.25 123.82 0.227
360° 6.283 Fracture - 0.227
Sample Calculation

Specimen Details

Material : Mild Steel

Length, L : 0.083 m
Diameter, D : 0.006 m
Radius, R : 0.003 m

π
Polar moment of inertia, J = (Radius, R)4
2

π
= (0.003)4
2

= 1.272 x 10−10 m4

(Torque,T) (Radius,R)
Shear Stress, τ =
(Polar moment of inertia,J)

(1.00 Nm) (0.003 m)

=
1.272 x 10−10 m4

= 23.58 MPa

(Radius,R)(Angle of Twist,ϴ)
Shear Strain, γ =
(Length,L)

(0.003 m) (1.571 rad)

= (0.083 m)

= 0.057
Experimental value for

Shear Stress,τ
Modulus of Rigidity, G =
Shear Strain,γ

23.58 MPa
=
0.057

= 413 MPa

Theoretical value for Modulus of Rigidity, G for mild steel is 80 GPa.

Theoretical value− Experimental value

Percentage of error = x 100%
Theoretical value

80 GPa−413MPa
= x 100%
80 GPa

= 99.5%
DISCUSSION

In Torsion Test, we have used mild steel as our specimen with a length of 0.083 mm and

diameter of 0.006 m. We have obtained value of polar moment of inertia which is 1.272 x 〖

10 〗^(-10) m^4. For the first four rotations, we have fixed an increment of a quarter

rotations ,the torque value increased with a quite great increment. The torque value started
from 1.00 Nm to 6.20 Nm. The shear stress and shear strain values started with a value of
23.58 MPa and 0.057respectively.

Then for the next four rotations, we have fixed an increment of a half rotation the torque
values increased with a lesser increment than quarter rotation. The torque value started from
11.25Nm to 20.20Nm. The shear stress value started from 265.33MPa until 476.42 MPa
while the shear strain value started from 0.114.

Then we have increased the increment to five full rotations until the torque values decreased
drastically from 20.90 to 5.25. The shear stress value dropped down from 507.08MPa until
123.82MPa with shear strain value is 0.227. There is no drop value for shear strain.

The shear strain value is kept on increasing until the specimen fractured. This is because the
shear strain does not dependent on torque. Shear strain is dependent on the angle of twist. As
the angle of twist is kept on increasing, the shear strain will increases and vice versa. Shear
strain does not experience the drop of increment value due to rotation. The shear strain
increased with a quite uniform increment.

(Mohamad Fareez Firdhaus Bin Roslan 2017665814)

2) From the data, we can conclude that the value for torque is kept on increasing. But,
when the specimen is nearly fractured, the torque value dropped drastically, so does the shear
stress value. As the torque value increases, the shear stress value will also increases and vice
versa.

From the calculated value of shear stress and shear strain, we can achieve the value of
Modulus of Rigidity of the specimen. The value for Modulus of Rigidity can be calculated by
calculating the ration of shear stress to shear strain. The calculated value is 413 MPa. From
theory, the value of Modulus of Rigidity for mild steel is 80 GPa. Therefore, there is about
99.5% of percentage error in this experiment.

Those errors may be caused by errors that have been encountered during the experiment.
There are three types of errors that may be occurred. They are human error, systematic error
and random error. Human error may be occurred because of faulty procedure adopted by us.
We could have made an error during scale reading. Our eyes probably did not perpendicular
to the scale of the torsion test machine.

We also may have encountered error during reading the torque meter as we have advised to
read the value simultaneously to the rotation. The value on the torque meter may change in
short of time so that we have to be alert and take the value fast. But we may have delayed the
value reading that lead to error in experimental data.

(Mohamad Kamarul Aziehan Bin Mat Yatim 2017806416)

CONCLUSION

The experiment of torsion test was accomplish, We have concluded that the higher
angle of twist, the higher the strain of specimen and same goes with shear stress. The higher
the load torque the higher the shear stress of specimen. When the angle of twist reached the
maximum, the specimen will be fracture. The type specimen that used is mild steel and it
brittle properties it is prove when done experiment. After completely this experiment, we can
conclude that every material (metal) have their own characteristics. Its reaction shows the
behaviour when subjected to pure torque and the following properties were obtained is max
shear stress, types of fractures relationship between torque and angle of twist and strain, its
obey the Hooke’s law. The understanding of the torsion is become clear and the objective is
accepted. ( Mohamad Fareez Firdhaus Bin Roslan 2017665814)

Based on this experiment, we can concluded that when the angle of twist is higher, the strain
and the shear stress also higher as the angle of twist has reached the maximum limit the
specimen will be fracture due to its behaviour. From this torsion experiment we can identify
the behaviour and properties of the specimen, type of fracture occurred and applied the
Hooke’s Law.So we clearly understanding the concept of the torsion which obeyed to this
Hookes Law.

(Mohamad Kamarul Aziehan Bin Mat Yatim 2017806416)

REFERENCES