LECTURE NO.

23
TORSION OF SOLID NONCIRCULAR SHAFTS

Objectives:
• To explain the expression for τmax and ø for
different shapes of shaft's cross-section
τmax AND ø FOR SOLID NON-CIRCULAR SECTIONS

Notes:
• The “dots” on the edge of each
cross-section, are the points at
which τmax occurs. These points
are “closest” to the center axis
of the shaft.
• A shaft having circular cross-
section is “most efficient”, since
it is subjected to both a smaller
τmax and a smaller  than a
corresponding noncircular shaft
subjected to the same torque
 PROBLEM # 1

The 6061-T6 aluminum bar has a square cross-

section of 25 mm. If it is 2 m long, determine the
τmax in the bar and the rotation of one end relative
to the other end.
 For 6061 – T6 aluminum, G = 26×103 MPa
a  25 mm
LCB  1.5 m  1500 mm
LBA  0.5 m  500 mm

TCB & TBA

C TCB M about C  0

20N-m
 20  TCB  0  TCB  20 N-m

B
TBA M about C  0
C
20 N-m 60 N-m  20  60  TBA  0  TBA  80 N-m
 4.81 TCB 4.81 20 103
 max CB    6.1568 MPa
 25
3 3
a
4.81 TBA 4.81 80 103
 max BA    24.6272 MPa
 25
3 3
a
 max  24.62 MPa Ans.

7.10TCB LCB 7.10TBA L BA

C A  4

aG a 4G
7.10
   20  103
 1500  80  103
 500
3 
 25  26 10
4

 0.0489 rad  2.803o Ans.

 PROBLEM # 2

The C83400 red brass bar has an elliptical cross-

section as shown above. Determine the τmax in the
regions AC and BC, and  of end b relative to C.
 For red bars C83400,
G = 37 × 103 MPa
we have;
a = 50mm and b = 20mm
LAC = 2000mm, LCB = 1500mm
TAC & TCB

A Mabout A = 0
 50 + TAC = 0
50 N-m TAC  TAC = –50 N-m
20 N-m
A
Mabout A = 0
TCB
50 N-m C  +50 – 20 + TCB = 0  TCB = –30 N-m
2 TAC 2  50 1000
 max  AC    1.5915 MPa Ans......
 ab   50  20 
2 2

2 TCB 2  30 1000
 max CB    0.9549 MPa Ans......
 ab   50  20 
2 2
B C 
 a 2
 b 2  TCB LCB
 a 3b3G


 50 2
 20 2
  30  10 3
1500
  50   20   37 103
3 3

 1.12268 10 3 rad

 0.06432o Ans........
 PROBLEM # 3

If the shaft has an equilateral triangle cross section and is

made from an alloy that has an allowable shear stress of τallow
= 75 MPa and a shear modulus of 60 GPa, determine the
maximum allowable torque T that can be applied to end B.
Using the maximum allowable torque, find the corresponding
angle of twist of end B.
 PROBLEM # 4

The 2014-T6 aluminum strut is fixed between the

two walls at A and B. If it has a 2 in. by 2 in. square
cross-section, and is subjected to torques as shown,
determine the reactions at the fixed supports. Also,
what is  at C?
 For 2014-T6 aluminum:
G = 3.9 × 103 ksi = 3.9 × 106 psi
a = 2 in.

Let TA and TB are the torque-reactions at fixed supports A and B respectively.

TA
C D TB Mabout A = 0
A B
 –TA + 40 + 20 – TB = 0
40 lb-ft 20 lb-ft  TA + TB = 60 ---------(1)

From the compatibility criteria, we have B/A = 0

 4 TAC LAC  TCD LCD  TDB LDB   0

7.10
B A
aG
 Since LAC = LCD = LDB = 2
we have;
TAC + TCD + TDB = 0 --------------(2)

TA Mabout A = 0
A
 – TA + TAC = 0
TAC
 TAC = TA
TA Mabout A = 0
C
 – TA + 40 + TCD = 0
TCD
A
40 lb-ft
 TCD = TA – 40

TA C D Mabout A = 0
A  – TA + 40 + 20 - TDB = 0
40 lb-ft 20 lb-ft TDB
 TDB = TA - 60
 Substituting TAC , TCD and TDB in Eq. (2)

TA  TA  40  TA  60  0
 3TA  100
100
 TA   33.33 lb-ft Ans.
3
From Eq. (1), TB = 60 – 33.33 = 26.67 lb-ft. Ans…….

7.10TAC LAC 7.10  33.33 12  2 12

C / A  
 2   3.9 106
4 4
aG
 1.092198 103 rad
 0.06257o Ans.