STR6

Torsion of Circular
Sections: Student
Guide

© TecQuipment Ltd 2008

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PE/AD/ajp/djb/0908
 Contents
Section Page

1 INTRODUCTION AND DESCRIPTION 1

Introduction 1
Description 1
How to Set up the Equipment 1

2 EXPERIMENTS 3
Experiment 1: Torsional Deflection of a Solid Rod 3
Experiment 2: The Effect of Rod Length on the Torsional Deflection 5
Experiment 3: Comparison of Solid Rod and Tube 6

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TecQuipment Torsion in Circular Sections: Student Guide

ii
SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION AND DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 Torsion of circular sections experiment

Introduction How to Set up the Equipment

This guide describes how to set up and perform The Torsion of Circular Sections experiment fits into a
experiments on the torsion of circular sections. It clearly Test Frame. Figure 2 shows the Torsion of circular
demonstrates the principles involved and gives practical sections experiment assembled in the Frame.
support to your studies.
Before setting up and using the equipment, always:
Description • Visually inspect all parts, including electrical leads,
for damage or wear.
Figure 1 shows the Torsion of Circular Sections
• Check electrical connections are correct and secure.
experiment. It consists of a backboard with chucks for
• Check all components are secured correctly and
gripping the test specimen at each end. The right-hand
fastenings are sufficiently tight.
chuck connects to a load cell using an arm to measure
• Position the Test Frame safely. Make sure it is on a
torque. A protractor scale on the left-hand chuck
solid level surface, is steady and easily accessible.
measures rotation. A thumbwheel on the protractor
scale twists specimens. Sliding the chuck along the
Never apply excessive loads to any part of the
backboard alters the test specimen length.
equipment.
The backboard has some formulae and data printed
on it. Note this information – it will be useful later.

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TecQuipment Torsion of Circular Sections: Student Guide

Figure 2 Torsion of circular sections in the structures frame

Steps 1 to 3 of the following instructions may already

have been completed for you.
1. Place an assembled Test Frame (refer to the
4. Make sure the Digital Force Display is ‘on’.
separate instructions supplied with the Test Frame
Connect the mini DIN lead from ‘Force Input 1’ on
if necessary) on a workbench. Make sure the
the Digital Force Display to the socket marked
‘window’ of the Test Frame is easily accessible.
‘Force Output’ on to the right underside of the
2. There are two securing nuts in each of the side
backboard.
members of the frame (on the inner track). Move
5. Carefully zero the force meter using the dial.
one to the outer track (see STR1 instruction sheet)
Gently apply a small torque to the left-hand chuck
then slide them to approximately the positions
and release. If necessary, zero the meter again.
shown by the thumbscrews in Figure 2.
3. Lift the backboard into position and have an
assistant secure the backboard with thumbscrews
into the securing nuts. If necessary, level the
backboard by loosening the thumbscrews on one
side and tightening when ready.

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SECTION 2 EXPERIMENTS

Experiment 1: Torsional Deflection of a Solid Rod

This experiment examines the relationship between Force Torque, T Angular deflection
torque and angular deflection of a solid circular section. (N) (Nm) (°)
Further work will show how the properties of the 0 0 0
material affect this relationship. 1
2
With a pencil and a rule, mark the steel and brass rods
3
with these distances from the left-hand end (note that
4
the rubber tip is on the right-hand end):
5
• 15 mm,
• 315 mm, Table 3 Results for a brass rod
• 365 mm, From your results, on the same graph plot torque versus
• 415 mm, angle for both rods
• 465 mm, Comment on the shape of the graph. What does it
• 515 mm. tell us about how angle of deflection varies because of
Wind the thumbwheel down to its stop. Position the an increased torque? Name at least three applications or
steel rod from the right-hand side with the rubber tipped situations where torsional deflection would undesirable
end sticking out. Line up the first mark with the left- and one application where it could be desirable or of
hand chuck (note the jaws of the chuck move outward use.
as they close!). Tighten it fully using the chuck key in Take a look at the formulas on the backboard that
the three holes. predicts the behaviour of the rods. What would happen
Undo the four thumbnuts which stop the chuck from to the relative stiffness of the rod if the diameter were
sliding. Slide the chuck until the last mark (515 mm) increased from 3 mm to 4 mm?
lines up with the right-hand chuck. This procedure sets
the rod length at 500 mm. Fully tighten the right-hand
chuck using the chuck key in each of the three holes.
Wind the thumbwheel until the force meter reads
0.3 N to 0.5 N. Zero the force meter and the angle scale
using the moveable pointer arm. Wind the thumbwheel
so the force meter reads 5 N and then back to zero. If
the angle reading is not zero check the tightness of the
chucks and start again.
Take readings of the angle every 1 N of force: you
should take the reading just as the reading changes.
Take readings to a maximum of 5 N of force. Enter all
the readings into Table 2. To convert the load cell
readings to torque multiply by the torque arm length
(0.05 m).
Repeat the set up and procedure for the brass rod
and enter your results in Table 3.

Force Torque, T Angle of Twist

(N) (Nm) (rad)
0 0 0
3 1.079 27.05
3.4 1.224 30.66
3.8 1.3679 34.27
4.2 1.5116 37.87
4.6 1.6557 41.48
Table 2 Results for steel rod

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TecQuipment Torsion of Circular Sections: Student Guide

Further Work
Measure the diameter of both the rods with the vernier Diameter of brass section, d 3.3
_________ mm
as accurately as you can (remember the affect of a small Polar moment of inertia, J 0.1164 × 10
_________
−12
m
4

error in the diameter!). Calculate J values for each rod Length L 0.5 m
using the formulae on the backboard of the equipment.
Fill in Tables 4 and 5 from your experimental results Torque Angular deflection,
TL Jθ × 10−
13

to establish values of TL and Jθ. Remember you must (Nm) θ (rad)

convert your angle measurements from degrees to 0 0 0 0
radians (2π radians = 360°). 0.05 0.1047 0.025 1.21
0.10 0.1221 0.05 1.42
Diameter of steel section, d _________ mm 0.15 0.1396 0.075 1.62
12 4
Polar moment of inertia, J _________ × 10− m 0.20 0.1396 0.1 1.62
Length L 0.5 m 0.25 0.1919 0.125 2.23
Torque Angular deflection,
TL Jθ × 10−
13 Table 5 Calculated values for a brass rod
(Nm) θ (rad)
0
0.05 Plot a graph of TL against Jθ. Examine the torsion
0.10 formula and say what the value of the gradient
0.15 represents. Does the value compare favourably with
0.20
typical ones?
0.25

Table 4 Calculated values for a steel rod

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 TecQuipment Torsion of Circular Sections: Student Guide

Experiment 2: The Effect of Rod Length on Torsional Deflection

This experiment examines the relationship between the angle reading is not zero check the tightness of the
torsional deflection and rod length at a constant torque. chucks and start again.
If you have completed Experiment 1 you will have Wind the thumbwheel so the torque is 0.15 Nm (a
already completed some of the following steps. In reading of 3 N) and note down the angle in Table 6.
which case you can leave the brass rod in place at Reduce the length of the rod to the next mark (450 mm)
500 mm long. and reset. Take a reading of angle at the same torque
With a pencil and a rule, mark the steel and brass and record. Repeat this procedure for lengths down to
rods these distances from the left-hand end (note that 300 mm.
the rubber tip is on the right-hand end):
Dia. of brass rod _3.3____ mm Force, N 3N
• 15 mm,
• 315 mm,
Length (m) Angular deflection (rad)
• 365 mm,
• 415 mm, 0.30 18.78
• 465 mm, 0.35 21.9
• 515 mm. 0.40 25.05
0.45 28.1
Wind the thumbwheel down to its stop. Position the
0.50 31.31
steel rod from the right-hand side with the rubber tipped
end sticking out. Line up the first mark with the left- Table 6 Results for a brass rod
hand chuck (note the jaws of the chuck move outward
as they close!). Tighten it fully using the chuck key in
each of the three holes. Plot a graph of angular deflection against rod length.
Undo the four thumbnuts which stop the chuck from Comment on the shape of the plot.
sliding. Slide the chuck until the last mark (515 mm) On most front-wheel drive vehicles have unequal
lines up with the right-hand chuck. This procedure sets length drive shafts (from side-to-side). This is because
the rod length at 500 mm. Fully tighten the right-hand of the gearbox position being at one end of the engine.
chuck using the chuck key in each of the three holes. This mismatch in length causes an undesirable effect on
Wind the thumbwheel until the force meter reads the steering as the car accelerates (that is, as torque
0.3 N to 0.5 N. Zero the force meter and the angle scale from the engine increases). Why is that? What could
using the moveable pointer arm. Wind the thumbwheel eliminate the effect?
so the force meter reads 5 N and then back to zero. If

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TecQuipment Torsion of Circular Sections: Student Guide

Experiment 3: Comparison of Solid Rod and Tube

This experiment compares the torsional deflection of a If you have completed Experiment 1, enter your
solid rod and a tube with a similar diameters. results for the solid brass rod in Table 7. If not, repeat
With a pencil and a rule mark the brass tube and the set up and procedure for the solid brass rod.
brass rods at 15 mm and 515 mm from the left-hand end
(the end without the rubber tip). Force Torque Rod angular Tube angular
Wind the angle thumbwheel down to its stop. (N) (Nm) deflection (°) deflection (°)
Position the brass tube in from the right-hand side with 0 0 0 0
the rubber tip end sticking out. Line up the first mark 3 1.08 6 7
with the left-hand chuck (note the jaws of the chuck 3.4 7 7
1.224
move outward as they close!). Tighten it fully using the 3.8 8 8
1.368
chuck key in each of the three holes. 8 9
4.2 1.512
Undo the four thumbnuts that stop the chuck from 4.6 11 11
1.656
sliding. Slide the chuck until the last mark (515 mm)
lines up with the right-hand chuck. This sets the rod Table 7 Results for brass rod and tube
length at 500 mm. Fully tighten the right-hand chuck
using the chuck key in each of the three holes.
Wind the thumbwheel until the force meter reads Calculate the J values for the solid rod and tube. To
0.3 N to 0.5 N. Zero the force meter and the angle scale calculate J for a tube, find J for a solid of the same
with the moveable pointer arm. Wind the thumbwheel diameter then subtract J for the missing material in the
so the force meter reads 5 N and then back to zero. If centre. Examine your results and the J values you have
the angle reading is not zero check the tightness of the calculated and comment on the effect of the missing
chucks and start again. material.
Take readings of the angle every 1 N of force: you Assuming a density of 8450 kgm−3 for brass, work
should take the reading just as the reading changes. out the nominal mass per unit length of both the tube
Take readings to a maximum of 5 N of force. Enter all and the solid rod. Comment on the efficiency of
the readings into Table 7. To convert the load cell designing torsional members out of tube instead of solid
readings to torque multiply by the torque arm length material.
(0.05 m).

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