MDP 2520 Mechanics of Structures Questions – Torsion Fall 2020

Use median line dimensions for the approximate torsional formulae.

Question One
(a) The steel member of Fig. 1 (a) is formed from a 1500 x 400 x 3 mm sheet, and
has a tensile yield strength Y = 340 MPa. Determine the allowable torque To and
the corresponding angle of twist o. Use a factor of safety (SF) of 2. G = 80 GPa.
(b) The same member is welded along its 1.5 m axial length to form a closed tube,
Fig. 1 (b). Assume weld = 0.75 allowable. Find Tc and c. What is the total shearing
force carried by the 1.5 m weld?

Fig. 1 (a) Fig. 1 (b)

Question Two
The shown cantilevered beam is made of steel (G = 80 GPa) and is 15 m long. The
two forces F at the free end constitute a torque. Calculate the torsional constant K
and the force F needed to twist the free end by 20. Can you twist this beam by this
amount?

Fig. 2

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MDP 2520 Mechanics of Structures Questions – Torsion Fall 2020

Question Three
Each bar in Fig. 3 is made from a ductile material with a yield stress in shear of 140
MPa. Determine the allowable torque for each bar. Use SF = 2.4.

Fig. 3 (a) Fig 3 (b) Fig. 3 (c)

Question Four
A pipe is used for the main support of an earth-moving scraper, Fig. 4 (a) & (b).
Replace the pipe with a hollow square made of the same material, such that the
torsional rigidity (GK) remains the same. Find the thickness “t” of the square tube
that satisfies this requirement, Fig. 4 (c).

Fig. 4 (a) Fig. 4 (b) Fig. 4 (c)

Question Five
A stainless steel cooling tube is subjected to a torque T = 3 kN·m. The radii to the
median line are a = 150 mm and b = 100 mm. The thickness of the wall is t = 3 mm.
Show that this is a closed cross section and find the magnitude of the shear stress.
Also, calculate the torsional constant K. Neglect the dimension of the small opening
where the outer and inner shells are connected.

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MDP 2520 Mechanics of Structures Questions – Torsion Fall 2020

The thickness t = 3 mm

τ
b
a
The space contained
by the tube T

Fig. 5

Question Six
Fig. 6 shows an extruded aluminum tube. Determine the shear flow, the maximum
shear stress, and the rate of the angle of twist  / L. Take E = 70 GPa and Poisson’s
ratio  = 0.33.

Fig. 6 An aluminum tube.

Question Seven
The tube of Fig. 7 is made of bronze. Determine the maximum shear stress, and the
angle of twist at the free end A. E = 100 GPa, and  = 0.34.

Fig. 7 A bronze tube.

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MDP 2520 Mechanics of Structures Questions – Torsion Fall 2020

Question Eight
Determine the maximum torque T that can be applied at B. The allowable shear
stress is 60 MPa for the circular and square tubes.

Fig. 8 A statically indeterminate problem.

Question Nine
(a) Find the length “a” in terms of Rm such that the center of area “c” coincides with
the center of the semicircle.
(b) Find the maximum shear stress caused by a torque T in terms of T, Rm, and the
thickness “b”.
(c) Find the position of the Torsional center T.C. (i.e. find the distance “e”), after
studying the shear center.

Fig. 9

Question Ten
Find the torsional constants “K”, and the maximum shear stresses in terms of “T” for
the cross sections of Fig. 10. Use median line dimensions.

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MDP 2520 Mechanics of Structures Questions – Torsion Fall 2020

Fig. 10 (b)

Fig. 10 (a) Fig. 10 (c)

Fig. 10 (e)
Fig. 10 (d)

Question Eleven
A 3-m long aluminium tube of the shown cross section is subjected to a twisting
moment T = 200 N·m. The outside dimensions of the square portion are 150 ×
150 mm with a thickness of 5 mm to the square and circular portions. Find the shear
stress in the square and circular portions. Also, find the angle of twist. G = 28 GPa.
Use median line dimensions in your calculations.

t=5
150

t=5

150 mm
Fig. 11

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MDP 2520 Mechanics of Structures Questions – Torsion Fall 2020

Question 12
The shown tabular bar is subjected to a twisting moment T = 300 N·m. The outside
dimensions of the square cross section are 50 × 50 mm. The bar is made of
aluminium with G = 28 GPa. The allowable shear stress is 20 MPa and the allowable
angle of twist is 0.025 rad/m. Find the minimum wall thickness tmin. Use median line
dimensions in your calculations.

50
t

50 mm

Formulas
General Formulas

G = E / [2(1+)]

Yield = Yield / 2.0 (Based on maximum shear stress theorem – Tresca). Use it when
solving this problem set.

Yield = Yield / (3) (Based on distortion energy theorem – von Mises)

Closed Thin-Walled Cross Sections (Bredt’s equations)

q = T / (2 A0) N/m ,  = T / (2 t A0) Pa

Rectangular Cross Sections

max = T / (c1 a b2) , = TL / [G(c2 a b3)] , K = c2 a b3

c1 = c2 = ⅓ (1 – 0.63 b/a) for a/b  5

a/b 1.0 1.2 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 4.0 5.0 10.0 

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MDP 2520 Mechanics of Structures Questions – Torsion Fall 2020

c1 0.208 0.219 0.231 0.246 0.258 0.267 0.282 0.291 0.312 ⅓

c2 0.1406 0.166 0.196 0.229 0.249 0.263 0.281 0.291 0.312 ⅓

Open Thin-Walled Cross Sections with different Segment

thicknesses

K =  Ki = i (c2 a b3)i ,  = TL / (GK) , max i = Tbi / K , max = Tbmax / K

Answers
1-a 102 N·m, 30 very high.
1-b 3.825 kN·m, 1.4, Faxial = q L = 286.9 kN.

2 F = 469 N (equals the weight of a 47.8 kg object). A person cannot exert this
force. However for a 200-N force, the corresponding angle is (200/469)*20 = 8.5.
Which is a substantial angle for a beam of this cross-section. This example shows
that a beam with an open cross-section has a low torsional rigidity.

3 (a) 2.06 kN·m. (b) 1.5 kN·m (c) 1.03 kN·m. Note: all these bars have the same
weight per unit length (why?).

4 t  4.85 mm, use the smallest available thickness that satisfies this inequality.
Note: the equation (0.168 – t)3 t = 22.987 x 10-6 can be solved by iteration. Assume
0.168 – t = 0.168, to get t. Then use the obtained value to get a second estimate of t.
However, you will find that the first estimate is correct to three significant digits.

5 τ = 12.7 MPa, and K = 11075861.23 mm4.

6 42 k·N/m, 8.4 MPa, 0.6 /m.

7 4.5 MPa, 0.41

8 Tall = minimum of 4.31 kNm and 5.23 kNm = 4.31 kNm.

9 (a) a = (2) Rm = 1.414 Rm. (b) 0.5 T / (Rm b2). (c) 1.93 Rm.

10
Case (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
K m4 15.75 10-6 364.5 10-9 1.648 10-6 60 10-9 45.77 10-9
max/T m-3 4465.6 71277.8 11204.48 254.6 103 142 103

11 ϕ = 0.049°, τsquare = 0.58 MPa, and τcircle = 0.54 MPa. (The bar can resist higher
values of T.)

12 tmin = 4.5711879 mm = 4.6 mm

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