TORSION TEST

OBJECTIVES
1. Investigate the relationship between trosional moment and torsional angle.
2. Investigate the relationship between clamping length and torsional angle.
3. Determine the shear modulus of steel, brass, and aluminum.
Equipment:
 Terco MT3005 Twist and Bend Machine.
 Mitutoyo dial gauge.
 Test pieces/Specimen: Three test pieces made of steel, brass, and
aluminum. Each test piece is 8 mm in diameter and 650 mm in length. They
have and maximum of 600 mm distance between supports with graduations
of 50 mm.
 Hez key wrench: 5mm.
PROCEDURE
1. Check safety: safety is always number one! Wear protection at all times.
Move the weights and test piece with care.
2. Set the span: set the bearers at the both ends so that a desired span is
obtained. You may measure the span by a rulero or simply by a test piece,
wich has grooves graduated at 50 mm intervals. For easy setup, the span is
measured between the two interior surfaces of the bearer holding blocks.
3. Place the test piece: place a test piece through the torsional fastening
components of the bearers. Use the graduations on the test piece to align it
with the span set by the bearers. Lock the test piece into the fixed bearer
first. Then fasten the test piece to the level of the movable bearer and make
sure that it is in close contact with the upper limit pin.
4. Set the dial gauge:
 Set the dial gauge on top of the groove of the level. For more
accurate measurement, the probe of the gage should by lined up to
the middle of the groove. There is a mark in the level to indicate the
midpoint. From the mark to the central axis of the test piece is 57,3
mm.
 Lowee the gague so that its small needle points to about 10 on the
dial. (10 mm preset)
 Initialize the gague toz ero by twisting its outer ring.
 Load the weigth to the hanging slot at the end of the level. The lenght
of the level (momento arm) is 100 mm (between the hanging slot to
the central axis of the test piece).
 Read the torsional angle. Since the interval between the groove of
the level and the center of the test piece is 57,3 mm, 1 mm deflection
(one revolution of the large needle of the gague) correspons to 1° of
twisting. For extending probe, the deflection should be read using the
inside numbers, i.e., the numbers increase as the small needle turns
 CC and the large needle turns CCW. The deflection is calculated by
the following formula:
D=D small + Dlarge∗10−2 (mm)

Where D small and Dlarge are the readings of the small and large needles
respectively. D is the measured deformation. You should record the
Reading of Dsmall and Dlarge during the measurement and calculate D
afterwards.
RESULTS AND TESTS
1. Investigate the relationship between trosional moment and torsional
angle.
In this test, we apply various loads at the end of the level as shown in Table 1 and
record the measurements of torsional angle. A Steel test piece is used and the
span (clamping length) is set at 600 mm. You also need to calculate the torsional
momento or torque:
T =FR
Where T=torsional momento or torque (N-mm); F=load (N); and R=lenght of
momento arm (mm).
In this test R=100 mm. Record the torsional angles in Table 1. Enter the data using
a spreadsheet software, calculate the torsional momento and draw realtionship
curve of torsional angle (degree) and torsional momento (N-mm).
Table 1. Torsional moment vs. Torsional angle
Brass
Load Torsional Moment Small Needle Large Needle Torsional Angle
F (N) T (N-mm) Reading (mm) Reading (x10-2 mm) θ (degree)
2,5 0,25 0 0,61 0,61
7,5 0,75 1 0,95 1,95
12,5 1,25 3 0,28 3,28
17,5 1,75 4 0,57 4,57
22,5 2,25 5 0,9 5,9
 BRASS
7
6

Torsional Angle (degree) 5

4
3
2
1
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Torsional Moment (N-mm)

Steel
Load F Torsional Moment Small Needle Large Needle Torsional Angle
(N) T (N-mm) Reading (mm) Reading (x10-2 mm) θ (degree)
2,5 0,25 0 0,27 0,27
7,5 0,75 0 0,81 0,81
12,5 1,25 1 0,57 1,57
17,5 1,75 1 0,95 1,95
22,5 2,25 2 0,51 2,51

STEEL
3
Torsional Angle (degree)

2.5

1.5

0.5

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Torsional Moment (N-mm)
Aluminum
Load Torsional Moment Small Needle Large Needle Torsional Angle
F (N) T (N-mm) Reading (mm) Reading (x10-2 mm) θ (degree)
2,5 0,25 0 0,82 0,82
7,5 0,75 2 0,44 2,44
12,5 1,25 4 0,15 4,15
17,5 1,75 6 0,85 6,85
22,5 2,25 7 0,52 7,52

ALUMINUM
8
7
Torsional Angle (degrees)

6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Torsional Moment (N-mm)

2. Investigate the realtionship between clamping length and torsional

angle.
In this test, we apply a single load of 12,5 N at the end of the level. Set the spans
(clamping lenght) as shown in Table 2 and record the measurements of torsional
angle. Enter the data using a spreadsheet software and draw relationship curve
between twisting angle (degree) and clamping length (mm).
Table 2. Clamping lenght vs. Twisting angle
Brass
Clamping Small Large Twisting
Length L Needle Needle Angle θ
(mm) Reading Reading (degree
(mm) (x10-2 mm) )
100 0 0,41 0,41
200 0 0,92 0,92
300 1 0,77 1,77
400 2 0,21 2,21
500 2 0,65 2,65
600 3 0,44 3,44
Steel
Clampin Small Needle Large Needle Twisting
g Length Reading Reading Angle θ
L (mm) (mm) (x10-2 mm) (degree)
100 0 0,32 0,32
200 0 0,54 0,54
300 0 0,75 0,75
400 0 0,97 0,97
500 1 0,09 1,09
600 1 0,57 1,57

Aluminum
Clampin Small Large Needle Twistin
g Needle Reading (x10-2 g
Length Reading mm) Angle
L (mm) (mm) θ
(degre
e)
100 0 0,9 0,9
200 1 0,46 1,46
300 2 0,22 2,22
400 2 0,9 2,9
500 3 0,52 3,52
600 4 0,15 4,15

BRASS
4
3.5
Twisting Angle θ (degree)

3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Clamping Length L (mm)
 STEEL
1.8
1.6

Twisting Angle θ (degree)

1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Clamping Length L (mm)

ALUMINUM
4.5
4
Twisting Angle θ (degree)

3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Clamping Length L (mm)

3. Determine the shear modulus of steel, brass, and aluminum.

In this test, we repeat Test 1 for different materials of brass and aluminum and
record the measurements of twisting angle in Table 3. We then calculate the shear
modulus or modulus of rigidity G:
180∗T∗L
G=
π∗θ∗J
Where G=sear modulus or modulus of rigidity (N/mm 2); T=torsional moment or
torque (N-mm); L=clamping lenght (mm); θ=twisting angle (degrees); and J=polar
moment of inertia (mm4).
In this test, L=600 mm, T is calculated by T=F*R using R=100 mm, J is calculated
by the following formula using r=4 mm (radius of the test piece):
 π r4 π r4 π r 4
J=I x + I y = + =
4 4 2
Enter the shear modulus in Table 3. Compare the shear modulus of steel, brass,
and aluminum. Include your analysis in your lab report.
Table 3. Shear Modulus.
Small Large
Torsional Twisting Shear
Load Needle Needle
Material Moment T Angle θ J Modulus G
F (N) Readin Reading
(N-mm) (degree) (N/mm2)
g (mm) (x10-2 mm)
402,123859 79,1571747
7,5 0,75 0 0,81 0,81
7 2
402,123859 68,0650865
Steel 12,5 1,25 1 0,57 1,57
7 4
402,123859 76,7215693
17,5 1,75 1 0,95 1,95
7 4
402,123859 32,8806725
7,5 0,75 1 0,95 1,95
7 8
402,123859 32,5799347
Brass 12,5 1,25 3 0,28 3,28
7 2
402,123859 32,7367746
17,5 1,75 4 0,57 4,57
7 7
402,123859 26,2775866
7,5 0,75 2 0,44 2,44
7 9
Aluminu 402,123859 25,7499243
12,5 1,25 4 0,15 4,15
m 7 1
402,123859 21,8404467
17,5 1,75 6 0,85 6,85
7 5

Material Accepted Experimental value % Error

Steel 83 74,64794354 10,06272%
Brass 41 32,73246065 20,16473%
Aluminum 28 24,62265258 12,06196%

CONCLUSIONS
Ductile materials have higher torsional rigidity, modulus of rigidity, and shear yield
stress and it fractures at a higher value of angle of twist, whereas brittle materials
have lower torsional rigidity, modulus of rigidity and shear yield stress and it
fractures at a lower value of angle of twist. In this lab, it shows that steel is the
most ductile material while aluminum is the most brittle material compared to steel
and brass.