Laboratory of Mechanics of Materials

Department of Mechanical Engineering

QUIZ 10%
Practice Experimental stress PRESENTATION AND
5%
analysis elements PARTICIPATION

3 subject to twisting ANNOTATIONS 10%

CALCULATIONS 10%
RESULTS 25%
NAME DISCUSSION OF RESULTS 15%
ID STUDENT QUESTIONS 15%
CONCLUSIONS AND
LAB GROUP 10%
REFERENCES
INSTRUCTOR TOTAL 100%

OBJECTIVE

• The students experimentally determine the shear stress induced in a circular bar
subjected to torsion. He also compared the strain to that obtained previously
analytically. Finally, students will determine the reliability of the experimental
technique.

FUNDAMENTS

Pure shear is represented as an example of "torque wrenches" and wrenches to tighten

nuts, bolts, etc. In these elements due to its circular geometry and form of application of torque, it
can demonstrate the presence of pure shear conditions in each of the sections along its length, as
shown in Figure 1.

As mentioned at the beginning of this practice, your goal is to experimentally determine the shear
stress, however through the strain gauges cannot measure the shear using Hooke's law cutting (=
G) directly. This is because gauges cannot measure “directly " unitary angular deformation only
measure unitary longitudinal deformation.

However, if properly orient gauges parallel to the directions of maximum normal strain on the region
that we know is under a state of pure shear, it can relate to the angular deflection measured
deformation 

Figure 1. Structural element subjected to torsion, the arrows

represent the element shear,  (R.C. Hilbbeler, 2011)

To relate the strain measured by the gauge along the principal axes and angular deformation is
performed as follows:

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 Laboratory of Mechanics of Materials
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mohr's circle for a state of pure shear stress shown in Figure 2. From this figure you can see that the
main axes of the elements subjected to pure shear are oriented at 45 degrees to the axis of the bar,
one of tension and one compression, plus the magnitudes of both are numerically equal to , as it is
shown in Figure 3.

Figure 2. - Mohr's circle for a state of pure shear stress (R.C. Hilbbeler, 2011)

Pure shear Main strain

Figure 3. - Orientation of the principal stresses (axial strain) (R.C. Hilbbeler, 2011)

For the experimental analysis we apply Hooke's Law for angle strain:
=G

Where stiffness modulus (G) is related to the modulus of elasticity as follows:

0.5𝐸
𝐺=
1+
MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT USED

• E = 0.71E6 kgf / cm2

•  = 0.33
• máx (Allowable) = 131 MPa
• Meter Vernier
• Strain gauge
• Aluminum bar of circular section

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 Laboratory of Mechanics of Materials
Department of Mechanical Engineering

ANNOTATIONS

CALCULATIONS

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 Laboratory of Mechanics of Materials
Department of Mechanical Engineering

RESULTS

1. Fill in the table for each of the experiments in which the theoretical and experimental
results are observed and the error between both methods

Material: Aluminum Connection: ¼ bridge

Load  analytical Experimental Error

Kg cm/cm Kg/cm2 Kg/cm2 %

Material: Aluminum Connection: 1/2 bridge

Load  analytical Experimental Error

Kg cm/cm Kg/cm2 Kg/cm2 %

Material: Aluminum Connection: 1 bridge

Load  analytical Experimental Error

Kg cm/cm Kg/cm2 Kg/cm2 %

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

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 Laboratory of Mechanics of Materials
Department of Mechanical Engineering

QUESTIONS

1. Why does the percentage of error in the different connections change? (1/4 bridge, ½puente,
full bridge)

2. How would be the strain shear if torsion bar was steel instead of aluminum? (more, less, equal)?
Justify your answer for both: experimental strain shear and analytical strain shear.

3. According to the experimental technique in practice, it is possible to measure the strain beyond
the yield stress? Justify your answer

4. What is the main reason why we measure the state of stress in the toolbar using the full bridge
connection?

CONCLUSIONS AND REFERENCES

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