Addis Ababa Science and Technology University

College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Strength of Materials II
Worksheet

Torsion of Non-Circular and Thin-Walled Members

1) A thin-walled cross section in the form of a simplified airfoil is shown in the Fig. 1. Determine
the torque it would carry at a maximum shear stress of 20 MPa. Neglect the effect of stress
concentration. Is there any advantage to thicken the inclined plates? Use centerline dimensions.

Fig. 1 Fig. 2
2) A torsional member used for stirring a chemical process is made of a circular tube to which is
welded four rectangular strips as shown in Fig 2 above. The tube has inner and outer diameters
of 94 mm and 100 mm respectively, each strip is 50 mm x 18 mm, and the stirrer is 3 m in
length. If the maximum shearing stress in any part of the cross-section is limited to 56 MN/m2,
neglecting any stress concentration, calculate the maximum torque which can be carried by the
stirrer and the resulting angle of twist over the full length. Take G = 83 GN/m2.

Fig. 3 Fig. 4

Prepared By: Besufekad G. (M.Sc.) MED/AASTU

3) A long tube is subjected to a torque of 200 Nm. The tube has the double-cell, thin-walled, effective
cross-section illustrated in above Fig. 3 above. Assuming that no buckling occurs and that the
twist per unit length of the tube is constant, determine the maximum shear stresses in each wall
of the tube.
4) The torque T causes a rotation of 20 at end B of the stainless steel bar shown in Fig. 4. above.
Knowing that b= 20mm and G= 75 GPa, determine the maximum shearing stress in the bar.
5) A washing machine agitator of the cross-section shown in Fig. 5 below acts as a torsional member
subjected to a torque T. The central tube is 100 mm internal diameter and 12 mm thick; the
rectangular bars are 50 mm x 18 mm section. Determine the maximum value of T which the
shaft can carry if the maximum stress is limited to 80 MN/m2.

Fig. 5 Fig. 6
6) A shaft having the cross section shown in the Fig. 6 above is subjected to a total torque of
T=150 N-m. Estimate the torque (T1 and T2) carried by the two cross sectional components, and
calculate the maximum shear stress in each part, neglecting stress concentrations. Also find the
angle of twist per unit length caused by the applied torque. Take G=25x103 GPa.
7) Calculate the shear stress and the angle of twist (in degrees) for a steel tube (G = 76 GPa) having
the cross section shown in the Fig. 7 below. The tube has length L = 1.5 m and is subjected to a
torque T = 10 kN. m.

Fig. 7
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Prepared By: Besufekad G. (M.Sc.) MED/AASTU

8) Figure below shows part of the stirring mechanism for a chemical process, consisting of a
circular stainless-steel tube of length 2 m, outside diameter 75 mm and wall thickness 6 mm,
welded onto a square mild-steel tube of length 1.5 m. Four blades of rectangular section stainless-
steel, 100 mm x 15 mm, are welded along the full length of the stainless-steel tube as shown.
a) Select a suitable section for the square tube from the available stock list below so that when
the maximum allowable shear stress of 58 MN/m2 is reached in the stainless-steel, the shear
stress in the mild steel of the square tube does not exceed 130 MN/m2.

b) Having selected an appropriate mild steel tube, determine how much the entire mechanism
will twist during operation at a constant torque of 3 kN-m. The shear modulus of stainless
steel is 78 GN/m2 and of mild steel is 83 GN/m2. Neglect the effect of any stress concentration.

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Prepared By: Besufekad G. (M.Sc.) MED/AASTU

 Tutorial
Chapter 5
Torsion of Non-circular and thin-walled members
1) Using 𝜏𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 70 𝑀𝑃𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐺 = 27 𝐺𝑃𝑎, determine for each of the aluminum bars shown the
largest torque T that can be applied and the corresponding angle of twist at end B. Refer to the
figure 1 below.

Fig. 1 Fig. 2

2) Using the 𝜏𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 50 𝑀𝑃𝑎, determine for each of the cold rolled yellow brass bars shown the
largest torque T which may be applied and the corresponding angle of twist. Use G=39 GPa.
Refer to the above figure 2.
3) Knowing that T= 800 Nm, determine for each of the cold rolled yellow brass shown the maximum
stress and angle of twist at end B. Use G= 39 GPa. Refer to the above figure 2.
4) A hollow thin-wall torsion member has two compartments with cross sectional dimensions as
indicated in Figure below. The material is an aluminum alloy for which G=26 GPa. Determine
the torque and unit angle of twist if the maximum shear stress, at locations away from stress
concentrations, is 40 MPa.
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Prepared By: Besufekad G. (M.Sc.) MED/AASTU

5) A rectangular steel bar 25 mm wide and 38 mm deep is subjected to a torque of 450 Nm. Estimate
the maximum shear stress set up in the material of the bar and the angle of twist.
For steel, take G = 80 GN/m2
6) A steel girder has the cross section shown in the figure. The wall thickness is uniformly 1.25 cm.
The stress due to twisting should not exceed 350 MPa. Neglect stress concentrations
a) What is the maximum allowable torque?
b) What is the twist per meter length under that torque?
c) What is the shear stress in the middle web?
7) The median dimensions of the two cells shown in the cellular section of Fig. below are 𝐴1 =
20 𝑚𝑚 × 40 𝑚𝑚 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐴2 = 50 𝑚𝑚 × 40 𝑚𝑚 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑡1 = 2 𝑚𝑚, 𝑡2 =
1.5 𝑚𝑚 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡3 = 3 𝑚𝑚. If the section is subjected to a torque of 320 Nm, determine the angle
of twist per unit length and the maximum shear stress set up. The section is constructed from a
light alloy with a modulus of rigidity G = 30 GN/m2.

8) A hollow member having the cross section shown is formed from sheet metal of 2 mm thickness.
Knowing that the shearing stress must not exceed 3 MPa, determine the largest torque which may
be applied to the member.

9) A hollow brass shaft has the cross section shown. Knowing that the shearing stress must not
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exceed 95 MPa and neglecting the effect of the stress concentrations, determine the largest
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torque that can be applied to the shaft. All dimensions are in mm.

Prepared By: Besufekad G. (M.Sc.) MED/AASTU

10) An aluminum extrusion has the cross section shown in the figure below. If torque T= 300 Nm is
applied,
a) Determine the maximum shear stress that would develop in the three different parts of the
member
b) Find the torsional stiffness of the member. Neglect stress concentrations.
Note: All dimensions are in mm.

Table: Coefficients for rectangular

bar in torsion

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Prepared By: Besufekad G. (M.Sc.) MED/AASTU