UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

MECH 3 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

MODULE 3: TORSION
UNIT 3: TORSION OF THIN-WALLED
TUBES
Prepared by:
Brian Jhay Guzman, CE, RMP, ME-1

Instructor:
Shackile Ally C. Asuncion, CE
 UNIT LEARNING OUTCOMES
In this unit, here are the following desired learning outcomes:
✘ Define shear flow.
✘ Relate shear flow and Torque.
✘ Identify the formula for the average shearing stress for thin-
walled tubes.

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 TORSION OF THIN-WALLED TUBES
Simple approximate formulas are available for
thin-walled tubes. Such members are
common in construction where light weight is
of paramount importance.
At this time, it is convenient to introduce the
concept of shear flow q, defined as the shear
force per unit edge length of the middle
surface.

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 TORSION OF THIN-WALLED TUBES
SHEAR FLOW AVERAGE SHEARING STRESS

� � �
�= �= →�=
2� � 2��
Where: Where:
� 푙 � = �푣
푒�
푒 ℎ푒�푖  � 푒
� = �ℎ푒� 푓푙
� 푖 � 푙
� = � �푒 � = �ℎ푒� 푓푙
� 푖
� = �푒� 푒푐푙 푒 � ℎ푒 푐푒�푒푙 푖 푒 푓 � ℎ푒 � 푒 푙푙
� � = � �푒
� = the area of the cross section enclosed by the median � = �푒� 푒푐푙 푒 � ℎ푒 푐푒�푒푙 푖 푒 푓 � ℎ푒 � 푒 푙푙
�
line � = the area of the cross section enclosed by the median
line
4� = �푙 푙 � ℎ푖 푐푘푒
EXAMPLE 1. �
�=
퐺푖푣푒 : 2��

A torque of 600 �∙ �is applied to � ≤ 80 푀�

the rectangular section shown. � = 600 �∙ �
Determine the wall thickness t so
as not to exceed a shear stress of
80 푀� . Required:
�= � 푙 푙 � ℎ푖 푐푘푒
�푙 � 푖 :
� �
�= →� =
2�� 2��
600 �∙ �
�=
80 30 �
2 � � 80 × 106 2
1000 1000 �
� = 0.0015625 � 1.5625 ��

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EXAMPLE 1. �
�=
퐺푖푣푒 : 2��
A torque of 450 푙 ∙ 푓� is
� ≤ 6000 푝푖
applied to the square section
� = 450 푙 ∙ 푓� = 5400 푙 ∙ 푖
shown. Determine the
smallest permissible Required:
dimension a if the shearing �= �푙 푙 � ℎ푖 푐푘푒
stress is limited to 6000 푝푖 .
�푙 � 푖 :
� �
�= → �=
2�� 2� �
� = �2

5400 푙 ∙ 푖
�2 =
푙
2 0.10 푖 6000 2
푖
5400 푙 ∙ 푖
�=
푙
2 0.10 푖 6000 2
푖
� = 2.121 푖

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EXAMPLE 1. �
�=
퐺푖푣푒 : 2��
A tube 2 ��thick has the
� =2�
shape shown. Find the
� = 600 �∙ �
shearing stress caused by a
torque of 600 �∙ �. Required:
�
�푙 � 푖 :
�
�=
2��
� = �푒� 푅푒푐��푙푒 + 2�푒� �푒�푖 −푐푖 푐푙 푒

80 20 � 20
�= � �+ �2
1000 1000 4 1000
600 �∙ �
�=
80 20 � 20 2
2 � �+ �2 �
1000 1000 4 1000 1000
� = 78363385.28 �� 78.363 푀�

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 thanks!
Any questions?
scasuncion@uc-bcf.edu.ph

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 Credits
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