MMEN 326

Torsion of Non-Circular Sections


 In theory of torsion of circular
shafts it was assumed that:
 The plane transverse sections
remain plane.
 The shear strain varies linearly
 The above assumptions do not hold
good in case of torsion of non-
circular solid sections.
 Warping of non-circular cross-
sections during application of
torque makes the analysis of non-
circular shafts difficult.
 Mathematical analysis for non-
circular sections based on theory
of elasticity is rather difficult.
 For analysis of non-circular shafts
one of the important methods
(based on experimental results) is
called the ‘Membrane analogy’ or
‘Soap film analogy method’
Introduction
Membrane analogy’ or ‘Soap film analogy method’
 A soap film is stretched over a hole geometrically similar to the cross-
section of the shaft and a light differential pressure is applied to it.
 The shape of the film after the application of slight pressure is given by
a partial differential equation which is similar to the partial differential
equation under torsion. This similarity or analogy makes the job of
finding the stresses very simple.
 Under this method the following points are worth noting:
 The slope of a tangenial line at any point A on the surface of
inflated soap film is proportional to the shearing stress, at a point
vertically below the point A.
 The direction of the shear stress, vertically below A is in the
direction of the tangent to the curve obtained by joining all the
points on the surface of the soap film having heights equal to the
height of point A.
 The twisting torque is proportional to twice the volume enclosed by
soap film.
 In case of hollow sections soap film analogy is difficult to use because of
the difficulty of maintaining a suitable surface for the film.
 Rectangular sections
 Mathematical analysis gives the following useful results for the simple Maximum shear stress ():
sections.
 Fig. **a shows the cross-section of the rectangular shaft.
 Let:

Angle of twist ()):

Approximate

 Fig. ***(b) shows the shear stress distribution for a rectangular section.
It may be noted that:
 The maximum shear stress occurs at the centres of the larger
sides. More accurate
 The maximum shear stress occurs on a surface nearest to the shaft
axis and not at a point of maximum distance from the axis.
 The points (L, M, N, P) farthest from the centre have zero shear
stresses.
 Elliptical section
 Fig. **a shows the cross-section of the rectangular shaft.
 Let:

Maximum shear stress ():

 The maximum shear stress occurs at the ends of the minor

axis.
Angle of twist ()):

Torsional stiffness (k):

 Equilateral triangle
 Fig. **a shows the cross-section of an equilateral triangle section.
 Let:

Maximum shear stress ():

 Maximum shear stress occurs at the centre of each side while

the shear stress at each corner is equal to zero
Angle of twist ()):

Torsional stiffness (k):

 Regular hexagon
 Let:  Let:
Maximum shear stress ():
Angle of twist ()):
Regular Octagon
Note:
 In the above cases, the
maximum shear stress occurs
at a point where a largest
inscribed circle touches.
Maximum shear stress ():  In general the greatest shear
stress occurs at or near one
of the points of contact of
the largest inscribed circle.
 If the surface is concave, the
maximum shear stress may
Angle of twist ()): occur at the point of greater
concavity
 Examples
1. A rectangular steel shaft 50 mm × 25 mm is subjected to a torque of 2 kNm. Find:
a. Maximum shear stress developed in the shaft;
b. Angular twist per metre length. Take: C = 80 GN/m2
b. Angular twist per metre length

a. Maximum shear stress

 Examples
2. A rectangular steel shaft is transmitting power at 300 r.p.m., lifting a load of 40 kN at a speed of 10 m/min. If
the maximum permissible shear stress in the shaft is 45 MN/m2 and efficiency of the crane gearing is 60
percent, determine:
a. Size of the shaft;
b. Angle of twist per metre length.
Take: C = 78·4 MN/m2; Breadth to depth ratio = 1·5.
 Input work per minute

 Also work done:

a. Size of shaft  For a rectangular shaft:

 Work done per minute = load lifted × speed =
40 × 10 = 400 kNm/min
 Examples
2. A rectangular steel shaft is transmitting power at 300 r.p.m., lifting a load of 40 kN at a speed of 10 m/min. If
the maximum permissible shear stress in the shaft is 45 MN/m2 and efficiency of the crane gearing is 60
percent, determine:
a. Size of the shaft;
b. Angle of twist per metre length.
Take: C = 78·4 MN/m2; Breadth to depth ratio = 1·5.

b. Angle of twist per metre length

 Examples
3. A shaft of elliptical section is subjected to torque of 2·5 kNm. If the maximum shear stress in the shaft is not
to exceed 80 MN/m2 determine:
a. The major and minor axes, if major axis = 1·5 minor axis.
b. The angular twist per metre length.
Take: C = 80 GN/m2.

b. Angle of twist per metre length

a. Major axis (a) and minor axis (b):

 Torsion of Non Circular thin section
 In applications such as aeroplane structure the torsion of a non-circular
thin section is quite important.
 The method used to find shear stresses and angle of twist is simplified
by assuming uniform shear stress distribution in the cross-section of
the tube.
 Fig*** shows a tube of non-circular thin section with varying thickness.
 Consider an element LMNSS'N'M'L' of the tube as shown in Fig**.
 The element is in equilibrium under the action of the shearing forces
due to the shearing stresses.
 Since the longitudinal forces must be equal and opposite for
equilibrium, therefore:
Shear force on face LL'S'S = Shear force on face MM'N’N

 Shear flow (q) is a constant = shear force per unit length

 Torsion of Non Circular thin section
 Now consider a across-section of the  What is the area of the shaded region
given tube (Fig. **). OAB?
 Take a small length s along the Area of OAB
centre line.
 Consider a point P on the small length
Twice the area of OAB
s and let t be the thickness of the
tube at point P.
 Torque taken by the area of length Therefore, twice the area within the
s and of thickness t: centre line (i.e. central contour line) is:

Where A is the area enclosed by the  This equation gives the

centre line of the tube shear stress in a thin
section at any point where
Therefore:
 Total torque taken by the section thickness is t.

 The above equation is generally known

as Bredt-Batho formula
 Torsion of Non Circular thin section
Angle of twist ()
 To obtain angle of twist, we equate
the strain energy to the external work
done by the torque.
 The strain energy of a body of small
volume V subjected to shear stress 
is given by:

 Work done due to torque T

 Torsion of Thin Rectangular Section
 Consider a thin rectangular section shown in Fig***  Angular twist per unit length:

 Maximum shear stress:

 Let  Maximum shear stress occurs at

 The above results can be applied to sections built up

of rectangular strips and having only one boundary
such as angle section, T section etc
 Torque on the section:
Torsion of Thin Rectangular Section
 Torsion of Thin Rectangular Section
The following relations hold good for the sections shown in the previous page
 Examples
1. A closed cellular square section, shown in Fig. ***, is subjected to a torque of 500 Nm. Neglecting stress
concentration, determine:
a. Maximum shear stress;  Area, A = 200 × 200 = 4 × 104 mm2 = 4 × 10–2 m2
b. Twist per unit length. a. Maximum shear stress, 
Take: C = 80 GN/m2.

b. Twist per unit length

 When t is constant, the above equation reduces to

where, lp = Periphery length of the wall
= 4 × 200 = 800 mm = 0·8 m.
 Examples
1. Shows an open rectangular section acted upon by a twisted moment. If the shear stress induced is 5·5 MN/m2
find the value of the twisting moment.
 Since it is an open section, it can be replaced by a rectangular
section of thickness = 3 mm
 Total breadth (b) given by the total length is:

 For a rectangular section:

 Examples
2. An extruded section in light alloy is in the form of a semicircle of 90 mm and thickness 4 mm. If a torque is
applied to the section and the angle of twist is limited to 3·5° in a length of 1 metre, find the torque and the
maximum shear stress. Take: C = 26 GN/m2.

 The semicircular section having only one boundary can be

treated as thin rectangular section of width b = R and
thickness t.

 Torque

 Mean radius of the semicircular

section, R = 45 mm = 0·045 m.
 Thickness of the section, t = 0·004 m  Maximum shear stress

 Angle of twist,  = 3·5° per metre

length
 Examples
3. A shaft of hollow square section is of uniform wall thickness of 4 mm and centre line of the wall forms a
square of 200 mm side. It is to be replaced by a solid circular shaft of the same material and having the same
torsional stiffness. If the stress concentration factor K at the inner corners of the hollow square section is 1·7
and the twisting moment applied is 800 Nm find :
a. Diameter of the solid shaft;
b. Maximum shear stresses in both the shafts.
 Examples
3. Solution…

a. Diameter of the shaft b. Maximum shear stresses in the

shafts.
 For the solid circular shaft
of diameter D:  Hollow section:
𝑇 𝐶𝜃
=
 When t is constant, the above equation 𝐽 𝐿
reduces to:
 Torsional stiffness:

= = 𝐶𝐽

 Peripheral length (lp) of wall = 4 × 200 =  But torsional stiffness of

800 mm = 0·8 m hollow section equals
 Solid circular section:
Torsional stiffness of solid
 Torsional stiffness: section
 Examples
4. A 250 mm × 250 mm I-section with flanges and web 10 mm thick is subjected to a torque of 700 Nm.
Neglecting the stress concentration find:
a. Maximum shear stress developed in the section;
b. Twist per unit length.
Take: C = 80 GN/m2
a. Maximum shear stress, : b. Twist per unit length:
 Total length of the equivalent
rectangular section:
Thank You !!