CE3100-Structural Engineering Laboratory

Experiment 3- Torsion of Open and Closed Section

Name: Khushal Rathi

Roll NO : CE18B016
Experiment Date : 21-03-2022
Submission date : 28-03-2022
Aim:
To compare and study the behavior of a closed and open section subjected to torsion

Details of Test Specimen:

A neat sketch of the test specimens along with its dimensions and
relevant geometric properties

Closed Section

Diameter = 24.7 mm

Open Section

Outer diameter = 24.7 mm

Thickness = 1.8 mm
Inner diameter = 22.9 mm

Apparatus:
1. Strain Gauge : To measure strain at two locations- one near the fixed end and one
near the free end
2. Computer : To receive and store the values of strain gauge
3. Vernier Calipers : To measure the cross section properties of the beam
4. Weights of 1Kg and 2Kg : To load the section

Assumptions in the Theories of Torsion and its implications:

1. Plane sections remain plane after the application of torsion. This is true only in case
of closed sections.
2. After applying torsion, the horizontal distance between two vertical planes does not
change. There is no axial deformation.
3. Only rotation is allowed along the length of the section.
4. There is a linear relationship between angle of rotation and distance from the point of
application of load.

Sketch of Experimental Setup

Procedure
Closed sections:
1. The hollow circular rod is mounted above the ground with the help of erection stands and
clamps.A loading arm is hung at the end of the rod which can carry the weights.
2. Raw Strain gauge is mounted at a cross-section.At two locations,dial gauges are placed for
measuring deflection.
3. Dial and strain gauge readings are noted initially when there is no load applied.
4. The weights are increased in steps of 2kg and the corresponding strains and deflections are
noted down while loading.

Open sections:
1. The hollow circular rod with a thin slit is mounted above the ground with the help of erection
stands and clamps. A loading arm is hung at the end of the rod which can carry the weights.
2. Rectangular strain rosettes are placed at 0,45,90 degree near the open end of the slit and a
similar rosette is placed at 180 degree opposite to the slit.
3. At two locations,dial gauges are placed for measuring deflection.
4. The weights are increased in steps of 1kg and the corresponding strains and deflections are
noted down while loading.
Observations:

Table – 1: Readings from the strain gauge at various locations for open section

Strain gauge reading

Location 1 Location 2
Load 0⁰ 45⁰ 90⁰ 0⁰ 45⁰ 90⁰
0 -0.12 -0.17 0.19 -0.15 -0.39 -0.33
1 83.20 148.13 -14.06 -10.77 -146.95 3.17
2 143.29 299.27 -19.87 -27.61 -301.46 21.86
3 155.99 498.74 -6.49 -56.77 -517.29 78.90
4 120.40 689.11 13.93 -91.52 -725.12 154.87
5 1.96 978.69 60.17 -154.22 -1031.71 281.72

Table – 2: Rotation at various locations for open section

Rotation(mm)

Load Left Right

0 26.8 64.4
1 27.8 72.9
2 28.7 81
3 30.1 91
4 31.3 101.1
5 33.6 118.4
Table – 3: Readings from the strain gauge at the given location for closed section

Strain Gauge Readings

Load 0 45 90

0 0.56 0.38 0.38

2 -22.93 -238.12 -2.33
4 -39.15 -438.00 -6.63
6 -58.52 -617.58 -11.50
8 -73.41 -761.54 -12.29
10 -86.48 -878.493 -15.5188

Table – 4: Rotation at various locations for closed section

Rotation(mm)
Load Left Right
0 65.8 68.2
2 65.6 69.3
4 65.5 70.5
6 65.5 71.4
8 65.5 72.2
10 65.4 73
Detailed Calculations:
Table – 5: Strains at various locations for open section

Strain
Load (x10^-6)
(Kg) Location 1 Location 2

Εxx Εyy Εxy Εxx Εyy Εxy

0 -0.12 0.19 -0.40 -0.15 -0.33 -0.28
1 83.20 -14.06 227.12 -10.77 3.17 -286.31
2 143.29 -19.87 475.12 -27.61 21.86 -597.17
3 155.99 -6.49 847.98 -56.77 78.90 -1056.72
4 120.40 13.93 1243.89 -91.52 154.87 -1513.58
5 1.96 60.17 1895.25 -154.22 281.72 -2190.93

Table – 6: Comparison of strains at various locations for open section

Location 2 (Observed)
Location 1 (Observed)

Torque Principal Principal

(N-m) Principal Principal
Strain Strain
Direction Direction
(deg) (deg)
εp1 εp2 εp1 εp2
0.000 135.1 -66 39.1 8 -120 21.4
0.120 251.0 -174 44.4 57 -203 24.2
0.258 369.0 -278 44.6 115 -300 28.3

0.383 441.0 -336 44.7 151 -360 29.1

0.449 389.0 -291 44.7 129 -318 28.4

0.383 274.0 -189 44.7 74 -224 25.2
0.258 150.5 -78 40.4 18 -133 24.7
Table – 7: Rotation at various locations for open section

Observed
Load Torque Rotation (deg.)
(Kg) (Nm) Location Location
1 2
0 0.000 4.629234948 34.53804675
1 0.121 8.746162263 53.35164124
2 0.242 14.96028882 65.09523119
3 0.363 20.02034784 71.40128255
4 0.485 28.83750091 77.11779614
5 0.606 -65.25876226 -79.14417441

Table – 8: Strains at various locations for closed section

Location 1
Load (kg)
Εxx Εxy Εyy
0 0.56 0.38 -0.17
2 -22.93 -2.33 -450.97
4 -39.15 -6.63 -830.23
6 -58.52 -11.50 -1165.15
8 -73.41 -12.29 -1437.38
10 -86.48 -15.52 -1654.99

Table – 9: Comparison of strains at various locations for closed section

Location 1 (Observed)
Torque
Principal Strain
(N-m) Principal
Direction
εp1 εp2
0.000 0.66 0.27 44.38
6.671 438.46 -463.72 44.35
11.968 807.50 -853.28 44.44
16.775 1130.37 -1200.39 44.42
20.797 1394.85 -1480.55 44.39
23.544 1604.37 -1706.37 44.39
Table – 10: Rotation at various locations for closed section

Observed
Load Torqu Rotation (deg.)
(Kg) e Location 1 Location 2
(N-m)
0 0.000 -0.9277857745 5.089836509
2 6.671 -1.391526653 10.54961157
4 11.968 -1.391526653 14.52640453
6 16.775 -1.391526653 17.9464461
8 20.797 -1.855085253 21.23931055
10 23.544 -79.36983029 -79.73582029

Table – 11: Torque vs Angle of Twist for Closed Section

Angle of twist per unit

Torque
length
(N-m)
0.000 0.000
6.671 0.072
11.968 0.096
16.775 0.116
20.797 0.139
23.544 -0.002
Table – 12: Torque vs Angle of Twist for Open Section

Angle of twist per

Torque
unit
(N-m)
length(observed)
0.000 0.180
0.121 0.269
0.242 0.302
0.363 0.310
0.485 0.291
0.606 -0.084

Graphs:
Figure – 1: Torque vs. angle of twist per unit length for open section
Figure – 2: Torque vs. principal direction for open section

Figure – 3: Torque vs. major principal strain for open section

 Figure – 4: Torque vs. minor principal strain for open section

Figure – 5: Torque vs. principal direction for closed section

Figure – 6: Torque vs. major principal strain for closed section

Figure – 7: Torque vs. minor principal strain for closed section

Figure – 8: Torque vs. angle of twist per unit length for closed section

Discussion:
1. The open section takes significantly less torque than the closed section, demonstrating how much
weaker it is.
2. We can also conclude that the closed parts are stiffer than the open sections based on the angle of
twist of the open and closed sections.
3. There are a few discrepancies due to human error in taking readings, considerable amounts of
swings in dial gauges, and certain mistakes in strain gauge calibration.
4. Stresses are higher towards the slit in an open section. There is a stress and strain discontinuity near the
open end of the slit.
Lab readings signed by TA :