Chapter III
TORSION
3.3 Torsion of Thin-Walled Tubes
Although torsion of noncircular shafts
requires advanced methods of analysis, fairly
simple approximate formulas are available for
thin-walled tubes.
Such members are common in
construction where light weight is of paramount
importance, such as in automobiles and
airplanes.
Figure 3.7 (a) Thin-walled tube in torsion; (b) shear stress in
the wall of the tube; (c) shear flows on wall element.
Consider the thin-walled tube subjected
to the torque T shown in Fig. 3.7(a). We assume
the tube to be prismatic (constant cross section),
but the wall thickness t is allowed to vary within
the cross section.
The surface that lies midway between
the inner and outer boundaries of the tube is
called the middle surface.
If t is small compared to the overall
dimensions of the cross section, the shear stress 𝜏
induced by torsion can be shown to be almost
constant through the wall thickness of the tube
and directed tangent to the middle surface, as
illustrated in Fig. 3.7(b).
It is convenient to introduce
the concept of shear flow 𝑞, defined as the
shear force per unit edge length of the middle
surface. Thus, the shear flow is
𝑞 = 𝜏𝑡 Equation (3.7)
If the shear stress is not constant through
the wall thickness, then 𝜏 in Eq. (3.7) should be
viewed as the average shear stress.
We now show that the shear flow is
constant throughout the tube. This result can be
obtained by considering equilibrium of the
element shown in Fig. 3.7(c).
In labeling the shear flows, we assume
that q varies in the longitudinal (𝑥) as well as the
circumferential (𝑠) directions. Thus, the terms
(𝜕𝑞/𝜕𝑥)𝑑𝑥 and (𝜕𝑞/𝜕𝑠)𝑑𝑠 represent the changes
in the shear flow over the distances 𝑑𝑥 and 𝑑𝑠,
respectively.
The force acting on each side of the
element is equal to the shear flow multiplied by
the edge length, resulting in the equilibrium
equations
𝜕𝑞
∑ 𝐹𝑥 = 0 (𝑞 + 𝑑𝑠) 𝑑𝑥 − 𝑞𝑑𝑥 = 0
𝜕𝑠
𝜕𝑞
∑ 𝐹𝑠 = 0 (𝑞 + 𝑑𝑥) 𝑑𝑠 − 𝑞𝑑𝑠 = 0
𝜕𝑥
which yield 𝜕𝑞/𝜕𝑥 = 𝜕𝑞/𝜕𝑠 = 0, thereby proving
that the shear flow is constant throughout the
tube.
To relate the shear flow to the applied
torque T, consider the cross section of the tube in
Fig. 3.8. The shear force acting over the
infinitesimal edge length 𝑑𝑠 of the middle
surface is 𝑑𝑃 = 𝑞𝑑𝑠.
Figure 3.8 Calculating the resultant of the shear flow acting
on the cross section of the tube. Resultant is a
couple equal to the internal torque T.
The moment of this force about an
arbitrary point O in the cross section is
𝑟𝑑𝑃 = (𝑞𝑑𝑠)𝑟, where 𝑟 is the perpendicular
distance of 𝑂 from the line of action of 𝑑𝑃.
Equilibrium requires that the sum of these
moments must be equal to the applied torque 𝑇;
that is,
𝑇 = ∮ 𝑞𝑟 𝑑𝑠 (𝑎)
𝑠
where the integral is taken over the closed curve
formed by the intersection of the middle surface
and the cross section, called the median line.
The integral in Eq. (a) need not be
evaluated formally. Recalling that 𝑞 is constant,
we can take it outside the integral sign, so that
Eq. (a) can be written as 𝑇 = 𝑞 ∮𝑠 𝑟𝑑𝑠 .
But from Fig. 3.8 we see that 𝑟𝑑𝑠 = 2𝑑𝐴0 ,
where 𝑑𝐴0 is the area of the shaded triangle.
Therefore, , where 𝐴0 is the area of the cross
section that is enclosed by the median line.
 Consequently, Eq. (a) becomes from which the angle of twist of the tube is
𝑇 = 2𝐴0 𝑞 Equation (3.8a)
𝑇𝐿 𝑑𝑠
𝜃= ∮ Equation (3.9a)
from which the shear flow is 4𝐺𝐴0 2 𝑠 𝑡
𝑇
𝑞= Equation (3.8b) If t is constant, we have∮𝑠 𝑑𝑠/𝑡 = 𝑆/𝑡, where 𝑆 is
2𝐴0
the length of the median line. Therefore, Eq.
We can find the angle of twist of the (3.9a) becomes
tube by equating the work done by the shear
stress in the tube to the work of the applied 𝑇𝐿𝑆
𝜃= (𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡) Equation (3.9b)
torque 𝑇. 4𝐺𝐴0 2 𝑡
Let us start by determining the work done
by the shear flow acting on the element in Fig. If the tube is not cylindrical, its cross
3.7(c). sections do not remain plane but tend to warp.
When the ends of the tube are attached to rigid
plates or supports, the end sections cannot
warp.
As a result, the torsional stiffness of the
tube is increased and the state of stress
becomes more complicated—there are normal
stresses in addition to the shear stress. However, if
Figure 3.9 Deformation of element caused by shear flow. the tube is slender (length much greater than
the cross-sectional dimensions), warping is
The deformation of the element is shown confined to relatively small regions near the ends
in Fig. 3.9, where 𝛾 is the shear strain of the of the tube (Saint Venant’s principle).
element. We see that work is done on the Tubes with very thin walls can fail by
element by the shear force 𝑑𝑃 = 𝑞𝑑𝑠 as it moves buckling (the walls ‘‘fold’’ like an accordion)
through the distance 𝛾𝑑𝑥. while the stresses are still within their elastic
If we assume that 𝛾 is proportional to 𝜏 ranges.
(Hooke’s law), this work is For this reason, the use of very thin walls is
1 1 not recommended. In general, the shear stress
𝑑𝑈 = (force × distance) = (𝑞𝑑𝑠)(𝛾𝑑𝑥) that results in buckling depends on the shape of
2 2
𝜏 the cross section and the material properties.
Substituting 𝛾 = = 𝑞/(𝐺𝑡) yields For example, steel tubes of circular cross
𝐺

𝑞2 section require 𝑟 = 𝑡 < 50 to forestall buckling

𝑑𝑈 = 𝑑𝑠𝑑𝑥 (𝑏) due to torsion.
2𝐺𝑡
Sharp re-entrant corners in the cross
The work 𝑈 of the shear flow for the entire section of the tube should also be avoided
tube is obtained by integrating Eq. (b) over the because they cause stress concentration. It has
middle surface of the tube. Noting that 𝑞 and 𝐺 been found that the shear stress at the inside
are constants and 𝑡 is independent of 𝑥, we boundary of a corner can be considerably
obtain higher than the average stress. The stress
concentration e¤ect diminishes as the radius 𝑎 of
𝑞2 𝐿 𝑑𝑠 𝑞 2 𝐿 𝑑𝑠 the corner is increased, becoming negligible
𝑈= ∫ (∮ ) 𝑑𝑥 = ∮ (𝑐)
2𝐺 0 𝑠 𝑡 2𝐺 𝑠 𝑡 when 𝑎 = 𝑡 > 2.5, approximately.

Conservation of energy requires U to be

equal to the work of the applied torque; that is,
𝑈 = 𝑇𝜃/2. After substituting the expression for 𝑞
from Eq. (3.8b) into Eq. (c), we obtain

𝑇 2 𝐿 𝑑𝑠 1
( ) ∮ = 𝑇𝜃
2𝐴0 2𝐺 𝑠 𝑡 2
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE
3.3 A steel tube with the cross section shown
carries a torque T. The tube is 6 ft long and
has a constant wall thickness of 3/8 in. (1)
Compute the torsional sti¤ness 𝑘 = 𝑇/𝜃 of the
tube. (2) If the tube is twisted through 0.5°,
determine the shear stress in the wall of the tube.
Use G=12 x106 psi, and neglect stress
concentrations at the corners.
3.4 An aluminum tube, 1.2 m long, has the
semicircular cross section shown in the figure.
If stress concentrations at the corners are
neglected, determine (1) the torque that causes
a maximum shear stress of 40 MPa, and (2) the
corresponding angle of twist of the tube. Use
G=28 GPa for aluminum.

Solution:
Solution: Part 1
Part 1 Because the shear flow is constant in a prismatic
Because the wall thickness is constant, the angle tube, the maximum shear stress occurs in the
of twist is given by Eq. (3.9b): thinnest part of the wall, which is the semicircular
portion with t=2 mm. Therefore, the shear flow
𝑇𝐿𝑆
𝜃= that causes a maximum shear stress of 40 MPa is
4𝐺𝐴0 2 𝑡
𝑞 = 𝜏𝑡 = (40 × 106 )(0.002) = 80 × 103 𝑁/𝑚
Therefore, the torsional sti¤ness of the tube can
be computed from The cross-sectional area enclosed by the
median line is
𝑇 4𝐺𝐴0 2 𝑡
𝑘= = 𝜋𝑟 2 𝜋(0.025)2
𝜃 𝐿𝑆 𝐴0 = = = 0.9817 × 10−3 𝑚2
2 2
The area enclosed by the median line is
6+4 which results in the torque—see Eq. (3.8a):
𝐴0 = ave. width × height = ( ) (5) = 25 𝑖𝑛2 .
2
𝑇 = 2𝐴0 𝑞 = 2(0.9817 × 10−3 )(80 × 103 )
and the length of the median line is 𝑻 = 𝟏𝟓𝟕. 𝟎𝟕 𝑵 ∙ 𝒎
𝑆 = 6 + 4 + 2√12 + 52 = 20.20 𝑖𝑛.
Part 2
Consequently, the torsional sti¤ness becomes The cross section consists of two parts, labeled
4(12 × 106 )(25)2 (3/8) (1) and (2) in the figure, each having a constant
𝑘= = 7.735 × 106 𝑙𝑏 ∙ 𝑖𝑛./𝑟𝑎𝑑 thickness. Hence, we can write
(6 × 12)(20.20)
𝒌 = 𝟏𝟑𝟓. 𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎𝟑 𝒍𝒃 ∙ 𝒊𝒏./𝒅𝒆𝒈 𝑑𝑠 1 1 𝑆1 𝑆2
∮ = ∫ 𝑑𝑠 + ∫ 𝑑𝑠 = +
𝑠 𝑡 𝑡1 𝑆1 𝑡2 𝑆2 𝑡1 𝑡2
Part 2
The torque required to produce an angle of twist where 𝑆1 and 𝑆2 are the lengths of the median
of 0.5° is lines of parts (1) and (2), respectively. Therefore,
𝑇 = 𝑘𝜃 = (135.0 × 103 )(0.5) = 67.5 × 103 𝑙𝑏 ∙ 𝑖𝑛. 𝑑𝑠 𝜋𝑟 2𝑟 𝜋(25) 2(3)
∮ = + = + = 55.94
𝑡 𝑡1 𝑡2 2 3
which results in the shear flow 𝑠

𝑇 67.5 × 103 and Eq. (3.9a) yields for the angle of twist
𝑞= = = 1350 𝑙𝑏/𝑖𝑛.
2𝐴0 2(25)
𝑇𝐿 𝑑𝑠 157.07(1.2)
𝜃= 2 ∮ = (55.94)
which results in the shear flow 4𝐺𝐴0 𝑠 𝑡 4(28 × 109 )(0.9817 × 10−3 )2
𝑞 1350
𝜏= = = 𝟑𝟔𝟎𝟎 𝒑𝒔𝒊. 𝜽 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟗𝟕𝟕 𝒓𝒂𝒅. = 𝟓. 𝟔𝟎°
𝑡 3/8