Chapter -4

Torsion
By : Kumar shantveerayya
 content
 Introduction
 Torsion Formula
 Assumptions
 Power Transmitted by shaft
 Torsional Rigidity
Introduction
• Torsion is a moment that twists/deforms a member about its longitudinal axis
• By observation, if angle of rotation is small, length of shaft and its radius
remain unchanged
• The moment of couple acting on the shaft is called torque or turning moment
or twisting moment.
 Principal stresses and cracking due to pure torsion

Shearing stresses develop in the four faces

principal stresses

principal tensile strength exceeds the maximum tensile strength of the

beam, cracking will occur spiraling around the outside surface of the
beam
crack

Closed stirrups and longitudinal bars in the corners of the section

 Torque = turning force x diameter of shaft
T=FxR
T=Torque
F=Turning force
S=Radius of the shaft
Unit of Torque(T) is N.mm or kN.mm

ANGLE OF TWIST (θ)

When the shaft is subjected to Torque (T),point A on the surface of the shaft comes to A’
position. The angle AOA’ at the centre of the shaft is called the angle of twist.

Angle of twist is measured in radians.

 SHEAR STRESS IN SHAFT:(ζ)
When a shaft is subjected to equals and opposite end couples, whose axes
coincide with the axis of the shaft, the shaft is said to be in pure torsion and at any
point in the section of the shaft stress will be induced. That stress is called shear
stress in shaft.
Modulus of Elasticity in Shear ( MODULUS OF RIGIDITY (G) OR (C) )

The ratio of the shear stress to the shear strain is called the modulus of elasticity in
shear or Modulus of Rigidity and in represented by the symbol

Power Transmitted By a Shaft:

In practical application, the diameter of the shaft must sometimes be calculated from
the power which it is required to transmit. Given the power required to be transmitted,
speed in rpm ‘N' Torque T, the formula connecting these quantities can be derived as
follows:
• Torsional Stiffness:
The torsional stiffness k is defined as the torque per radian twist.

For a ductile material, the plastic flow begins first in the outer surface.
For a material which is weaker in shear longitudinally than transversely – for instance a
wooden shaft, with the fibres parallel to axis the first cracks will be produced by the
shearing stresses acting in the axial section and they will upper on the surface of the
shaft in the longitudinal direction.
In the case of a material which is weaker in tension than in shear. For instance a, circular
shaft of cast iron or a cylindrical piece of chalk a crack along a helix inclined at 450 to the
axis of shaft often occurs.
 STRENGTH OF SHAFTS
Maximum torque or power the shaft can transmit from one pulley to another, is called
strength of shaft.

(A) For solid circular shafts: (B) for hollow circular shaft
Maximum torque (T)is given by :

D = dia. of the shaft

ζ =shear stress in the shaft D= outer dia of shaft
d= inner dia of shaft.
POLAR MOMENT OF INERTIA : (J)
• The moment of inertia of a plane area, with respect to an axis perpendicular to
the plane of the figure is called polar moment of inertia.
As per the perpendicular axis theorem.
 ASSUMPTION IN THE THEORY OF TORSION:
• The material of shaft is uniform throughout the length.
• The twist along the shaft is uniform
• The shaft is of uniform circular section throughout the length.
• Cross section of the shaft, which are plane before twist remain plain after twist.
• All radii which are straight before twist remain straight after twist.
 TORSION EQUATION
• Consider solid circular shaft of radius R subjected to
a torque T at one end, the other end being fixed
• Under the action of this torque a radial line at the
free end of the shaft twists through an angle θ,
• Point A moves to B, and AB subtends an angle ‘γ' at
the fixed end.
• This is then the angle of distortion of the shaft i.e
the shear strain.
Since angle in radius = arc / Radius
arc AB = Rθ = L γ [since L and γ also constitute the arc AB]
Thus, γ = Rθ / L
From the definition of Modulus of rigidity in shear
 where γ is the shear stress set up at radius R

Stresses: Let us consider a small strip of radius r and thickness dr which is subjected to
shear stress ζ'.
The force set up on each element = stress × area = ζ ' × 2p r dr (approximately)
This force will produce a moment or torque about the center axis of the shaft.

The total torque T on the section will be the sum of all the contributions.
Torsional Stiffness:
EXAMPLE 2: A Shaft of 60 mm diameter rotates with 180 rpm. If permissible shear
stress is 100 Mpa, find torque and power in KW