Torsion Test

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Table of Contents

1.0 Purpose of the laboratory.................................................................................1

2.0 Theory.................................................................................................................2

3.0 Results.................................................................................................................4

4.0 Conclusion and Discussion................................................................................5

4.1 Section 1.........................................................................................................6

4.2 Section 2.........................................................................................................7

5.0 Sources of Error................................................................................................8

6.0 References..........................................................................................................8

Appendix-I................................................................................................................9

Appendix-II............................................................................................................10
1.0 Purpose of the laboratory

Many areas of engineering applications such as bridges, springs, car bodies, aircraft fuselages,

and canoes are being put under pressure. The materials used in this case should not only require

sufficient power but also be able to withstand active torque. Although torsion testing is not as

universal as allergy testing and does not have a standard test procedure, the importance lies in

specific engineering applications and studies of plastic flow in building materials. Torsion testing

is useful for testing brittle materials such as toolbars and testing is used to determine the

performance of the material by torsion testing at high temperatures [1].

In a torsion testing experiment, a hollow or solid shaft is subjected to a torsion testing machine.

The torsion machine torsional forces on one end of the shaft. Due to torsional forces, the

specimen undergoes deformation. This deformation is measured by measuring the angle of twist

of the twisted shaft specimen. The torque and angular displacement are noted by slightly

increasing the amount of torsional force on the shaft. The data is tabulated in Microsoft Excel.

Using Microsoft Excel formulas the stress and strain are calculated. Further, a plot is created

between stress and strain, where stress is the dependent variable and strain is the independent

variable.

In industries, the shafts are used to transfer energy using rotation around its axis by an external

torque. The stress-strain relation provides design engineers with a long list of key parameters

required for application design. The purpose of the torsion test is to determine the behavioral

sample when it is twisted, or under torsional force, due to the inserted intervals that cause shear

stress relative to the axis. Estimated values include modulus of elasticity in shear, shear strength,

torsional fatigue health, ductility, shear strength, and modulus of a break-in shear. These values

are different from those measured by the axial tensile test and are important in production as they
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can be used to mimic service conditions, test quality, and product design, and ensure optimal

performance.

2.0 Theory

A torsion testing machine is an equipment that is used to study the torsional effects on the shafts

and twist in the shaft as a result of applied torque as shown in the figure. In torsion testing

machine assembly, there are two support ends. The shaft specimen is placed in between these

points. One support end holds one end of the shaft which is tightened by the screw and the other

end is placed at the other supportive end which is connected to a motor. The gear motor end is

slowly applied moment on the shaft and the shaft rotates about its axis. The readings of torque

and angular displacement are noted from a digital meter connected to the machine. Then stress

and strain formulas are applied to this data to observe the behavior of stress and strain [2].

Figure 2.1 Torsion Testing Machine

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In a torsion testing experiment, a hollow or solid shaft is subjected to a torsion testing machine.

The torsion machine torsional forces on one end of the shaft. Due to torsional forces, the

specimen undergoes deformation. This deformation is measured by measuring the angle of twist

of the twisted shaft specimen. The torque and angular displacement are noted by slightly

increasing the amount of torsional force on the shaft [1].

Shear stress is the type of stress in which force causes deformation in the material in form of a

slip of planes parallel to the stress that arise in materials. Torsional stress or torsional shear stress

is a type of shear stress which is caused by external torque on a body usually on shafts. The

formula of torsional shear stress is given as

T .c
τ=
J

Where

T = external torque

c = radius of the shaft or radial distance from the axis of the shaft specimen

J = polar moment of inertia

Formula of polar moment of inertia J is given as

For solid shaft

π 4
J= d
32

d = diameter of the circular shaft = 2.c

For hollow shaft

π
J= (d ¿ ¿ o 4−d i4)¿
32

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Where

d o = outside diameter of the circular shaft

d i= inside diameter of the circular shaft

Angular shear strain γ formula is given as [3]

p
γ= ϕ
L

Where

p = radius of the shaft

L= length of the shaft

ϕ = angle of twist

3.0 Results

Based on the data obtained from the torsion testing experiment stress-strain graph is plotted as

shown in Figure 2. The graph shows the behavior of shear stress along with shear strain. The

stress is the dependent variable plotted as y-axis while the shear strain is the independent

variable plotted as x-axis as shown in the graph in Figure 2. The following equation reflects the

relationship between stress and strain

y (x )=83044 x

Here y(x) represents the value of shear stress while x represents the shear strain. The above

equation gives us an approximate stress values for each value of strain. Stress values obtained

from this equation are no accurate because this equation shows the behavior of the trend line for

the scatter plot as shown in graph in Figure 2.

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 Stress-Strain Plot
140.00

120.00 f(x) = 83044.47 x

100.00
Shear Stress

80.00

60.00

40.00

20.00

0.00
0.000000 0.000200 0.000400 0.000600 0.000800 0.001000 0.001200 0.001400 0.001600 0.001800

Shear Strain

Figure 3.1 Stress-Strain graph

4.0 Conclusion and Discussion

Based on the results presented, the following conclusions can be drawn

 Stress and strain calculated from the data shows direct relation with each other.

 Greater the torque applied on the shaft greater will be shear stress in the shaft

 Greater the amount of shear strain greater will be the angle of twist. Since, shear strain

and angle of twist are directly proportional to each other.

 Based on stress calculation, the stress reduces as we move towards the axis of the shaft.

Also, stress is zero at the axis of the shaft.

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4.1 Section 1

Select the size of a hollow steel shaft necessary to transmit 100 hp at 250 rpm without exceeding

allowable shear stress of 7.5 ksi or having a relative angle of twist beyond an allowable value of

0.25° per 1-ft length. The ratio k = di/do = 0.75. Assume the material of the shaft is the material

tested in the experiment.

Relation between horsepower and torque is given as

T ×rpm
hp=
5252

hp ×5252
T=
rpm

Now,

100× 5252
T= N .m
250

T =2100.8 N .m

We know that

T .c
τ max=
J

Also,

τ max=
T. ( d2 )
o

π 4 4
(d −d )
32 o i

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It is given that

d i=0.75× d o

Hence,

do

τ max=
T× ( )
2
π
[d ¿¿ o 4−( 0.75× d 0 )4 ]¿
32

d o =1.2779 m

d i=0.9584 m

4.2 Section 2

Select the size of a solid shaft necessary to transmit 200 kW at 300 rpm without exceeding

allowable shear stress of 60 MPa, or without exceeding an angle of twist of 1° per meter length

of the shaft. Assume the shaft is the same material used in the experiment.

Relation between torque and power is given as

P × 60
T=
2. π . n

Now,

20× 103 × 60
T= N .m
2 × π ×300

T =636.6197 N . m
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Shear stress is given as

T .c
τ max=
J

T × ( d /2 )
τ max=
π 4
d
32

16× T
d 3=
π ×τ max

d=¿

d=37.8064 mm

5.0 Sources of Error

 Imbalance position of the shaft on the machine

 Ends of the shaft are not tightly held

 Poor calibration of the equipment

 Wrong reading due to digital multi meter due voltage drop

 Measure scale is not accurate

 Material is already deformed which can messed up the experiment.

 Some random error and systematic error

6.0 References

[1] Montheillet, F., M. Cohen, and J. J. Jonas. "Axial stresses and texture development during the

torsion testing of Al, Cu and α-Fe." Acta Metallurgica 32, no. 11 (1984): 2077-2089.

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[2] Findley, William Nichols. "A theory for the effect of mean stress on fatigue of metals under

combined torsion and axial load or bending." Journal of Engineering for Industry 81, no. 4

(1959): 301-305.

[3] Beer, Ferdinand P., John T. DeWolf, E. Russell Johnston, and David F. Mazurek. Mechanics

of Materials. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education, 2020.

Appendix-I

Table 1. Specimen information

Specimen Information
D1 0.2410
D2 0.2389
D3 0.2415
D4 0.2435
D avg (in) 0.2412
D avg (m) 0.0061
J (m4) 0.0000000001384
Gage L (m) 0.050

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Appendix-II

Table 2. Recorded and calculated data

Angular Torque (N.m) Shear Strain Shear Stress

Displacement (m/m) (MPa)
(rad)
0.0000 0 0.000000 0.00
0.0025 0.45 0.000153 9.96
0.0050 1.02 0.000306 22.58
0.0075 1.62 0.000460 35.87
0.0100 2.41 0.000613 53.36
0.0125 3.14 0.000766 69.52
0.0150 3.62 0.000919 80.15
0.0175 3.96 0.001072 87.68
0.0200 4.35 0.001225 96.31
0.0225 4.94 0.001379 109.38
0.0250 5.98 0.001532 132.40

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