Strength of Materials

Handout No.6
Torsion of Non-
Circular Section
Asst. Prof. Dr. Hani Aziz Ameen
Technical College- Baghdad
Dies and Tools Eng. Dept.
E-mail:haniazizameen@yahoo.com
www.mediafire.com/haniazizameen
Strength of materials- Handout No.6 - Torsion of Non- Circular Section- Dr. Hani Aziz Ameen

6-1 Introduction

One of the important methods for the analysis of non circular shafts

is based on experimental results) . Mathematical analysis for non

circular solid sections based on theory of elasticity is rather difficult .So
in this chapter we are setting only the formula of shearing stress for
several non- circular cross sections .

6-2 Torsion of Nom-circular Solid Sections

1- Rectangular Section
From Fig(6-1)

Fig(6-1)
where
b = larger side of the rectangular shaft
h= smaller side of the rectangular shaft
L= length of the shaft
G= modulus of rigidity
h
3 1.8
b
T = applied torque
T
bh 2
T
for square section 4.8
b3
T.L
angle of twist 3 G
bh
Strength of materials- Handout No.6 - Torsion of Non- Circular Section- Dr. Hani Aziz Ameen

2
h
where 3.5 1
b

2- Elliptical Section
From Fig(6-2)

Fig(6-2)
where

16T
ab 2

16LT 1 1
abG a 2 b 2
3- Equilateral Triangle
From Fig (6-3)

Fig(6-3)
Strength of materials- Handout No.6 - Torsion of Non- Circular Section- Dr. Hani Aziz Ameen

where
section

T ....... applied torque

T
0.217Ad
T
0.133Ad 2 G

6-3 Torsion of Thin Walled Tube with Non circular Cross Section

The tube with variable thickness is as shown in Fig(6-4)

Fig(6-4)
Strength of materials- Handout No.6 - Torsion of Non- Circular Section- Dr. Hani Aziz Ameen

where

Consider the equilibrium element along the longitudinal axis

q2 dL = q1 dL

q2 = q1 = q

Mo 0
T q.dL.r 0
dL
T= q . 2 .r
2
T q. 2 A = 0
-1)

The shear stress at any point across the wall thickness is

q
-2)
t
From eq. (6-1) &eq(6-2) it can be obtained

T
2At

6-4 Examples

Example(6-1)
Fig(6-5) shows a torque 600 N.m applied to the rectangular section .
Find the wall thickness ( t ) so that shearing stress 60MN / m2

Fig(6-5)
Strength of materials- Handout No.6 - Torsion of Non- Circular Section- Dr. Hani Aziz Ameen

Solution
T
2At
600
60 * 106
2 * t * (0.03 * 0.06)
t = 2.78 mm

Example(6-2)
Fig(6-6) shows a hollow member having the cross section and subjected
to the action of torque of 203.3 N.m . If the section is symmetrical about
shearing stress across its wall thickness
The mean radius r = 25.4 mm , L = 76.2 mm , t = 6.35mm and 60

Fig(6-6)
Solution
A = 3 ( twist the area subtending the angle rL ) + area of triangle abc.
A 3(2 * * r 2 * (60 / 360) r * L) 0.5 * L * L sin 60
25.4 2 3
A 3(2 * * 25.4 * 76.2) 0.5 * 76.2 * 76.2 * 10322.56mm 2
6 2

T 203.3
=15.51 MPa
2*A*t 2 * 10322.56 * 10 6 * 6.35 * 10 3
Strength of materials- Handout No.6 - Torsion of Non- Circular Section- Dr. Hani Aziz Ameen

6-5 Problems
6-1) Fig(6-7) shows a rectangular strip , find the maximum shear stress in
terms of the applied torque T for the section .

Fig(6-7)
6-2) Fig(6-8) shows the section which is subjected to a torque of
1739.7N.m , find the minimum thickness of the section , if the
shearing stress does not to exceed 41.37 Mpa.

Fig(6-8)
6-3) Fig(6-9) shows the upper and lower portions which constitute a full
ellipse of 153.4mm major axis and 63.5mm minor . Find the
maximum safe torque , if the shearing stress in the material does not
exceed 41.37MPa .
Strength of materials- Handout No.6 - Torsion of Non- Circular Section- Dr. Hani Aziz Ameen

Fig(6-9)