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CHAPTER 3 – TORSION

3-a. Introduction
Torsion refers to the twisting of a structural member when it is loaded by couples that produce rotation about its
longitudinal axis. The moment of the couple is equal to the product of one of the forces and the perpendicular distance
between the lines of action of the forces. Torsion occurs in many physical situations. For instance, the drive shaft of a
vehicle, while it delivers power from one point to another, is being stressed by a torsional moment. Many times a system
of pulleys might be attached to a common drive shaft and will serve to input various torques to the drive shaft.
The formulas that will be developed in this topic is limited to the stresses and deformations produced in circular
bars subjected to torsion. Examples of such bars are axles and drive shafts in machinery, propeller shafts, drill rods,
screwdrivers, and steering rods.

3-b. Derivation of Torsion Formulas

Consider a bar or shaft of circular cross section twisted by couples T acting at the ends. From considerations of
symmetry, we can show that the cross sections of the circular bars rotate as rigid bodies about the longitudinal axis, with
radii remaining straight and the cross sections remaining plane and circular.
During twisting, there will be a rotation about the longitudinal axis of one end of the bar with respect to the other.
In Fig. 3-1, a fiber AB on the outside surface, which is originally straight, will be twisted into a helix AC as the shaft is
twisted through the angle .

Fig. 3-1
Consider any internal fiber located a radial distance  from the axis of the shaft. Since the projection upon a
transverse section of straight radial lines in the section remains straight, the radius of such a fiber also rotates through the
angle , causing a total shearing deformation s equal to DE. The length of this deformation is the arc of a circle whose
radius is  and which is subtended by the angle of  radians; the length is given by
s = DE = 
The unit deformation of this fiber is

δs ρθ
γ  
L L
The shearing stress at this typical fiber is determined from Hooke’s law to be

τ  Gγ   Gθ  ρ Equation 3.1
 L 
This equation may be called the equation of compatibility, since the stresses expressed by it are compatible with the
elastic deformations. Note that each of the terms in the parentheses in this equation is a constant that does not depend on
the particular internal fiber chosen for analysis; the product of these terms represents a constant. Therefore we conclude
that the shearing stress at any internal fiber is determined by the product of a constant and a variable radial distance; that
is, the stress distribution along any radius varies linearly with the radial distance from the axis of the shaft. For the stress
variation along the radius OB, the maximum stress occurs at the outside fiber.
Figure 3-2 shows the free-body diagram of the left portion when the shaft is divided into two segments by the
cutting plane M-N.
A differential area of section M-N at a radial distance  from the axis of the shaft carries the differential resisting
load dP =  dA. By considering an area infinitesimally small, we may assume the stress to be uniform over such area.
Since the function of this resisting load dP is to produce resistance to the applied torque T, the load must be directed
perpendicular to the radius  in order to produce the maximum effect.
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Fig. 3-2

To satisfy the condition of static equilibrium, we apply M = 0, or the fact that the applied torque T is equal to the
resisting torque Tr. The resisting torque Tr is the sum of the resisting torques developed by all differential loads dP.
T  Tr   ρ dP   ρ τ dA
Replacing  by its value from Equation 3.1 gives
Gθ
T 
L
 ρ 2 dA

or, since ∫ 2 dA = J, the polar moment of inertia of the cross section,

Gθ
T  J
L
This is usually written
θ  TL Equation 3.2
JG
By replacing the product G /L in Equation 3.1 by its equivalent value T/J from Equation 3.2, we obtain
Tρ
τ  Equation 3.3
J
Equation 3.3 is called the torsion formula.
The formula that determines the maximum shearing stress is a more common form of the torsion formula. It is
obtained by replacing  by the radius r of the shaft:
Max . τ  Tr Equation 3.4
J
Note that since Hooke’s law was used in deriving these equations, the stresses must not exceed the proportional limit;
also, these formulas are applicable only to circular shafts, either solid or hollow. The values of polar moments of inertia
for circular shafts are the following:

Solid shaft: Hollow shaft:

In many practical applications, shafts are used to transmit power. From dynamics, it is known that the power P
transmitted by a constant torque T rotating at a constant angular speed  is given by
 = T
where  is measured in radians per unit time. If the shaft is rotating with a frequency of f revolutions per unit time,  = 2
f, and we have
P = 2 f T Equation 3.5
P
Thus the torque can be expressed as T
2f