Texas Tech University

Torsion Test
Experiment

Material & Mechanics Laboratory

ME 3228-001
Group 509
Kathryn Johnson
Eric Duncan
Jason Robison
Bibin Mathew
Jon Daub
Sept/12/2015
Submitted to: Pawn Maharjan

Summary
In calculating the torsion of a rod there are many different properties to consider like the length,
the force applied and the angle of deflection. In the torsion experiment a rod of either steel or
brass was placed with one end in a fixed chuck and the other end was placed in a rotating chuck
then a force was applied to the rod. The objective of the torsion experiment was to determine the
effect of applying a torsional load to a circular section [1]. In the first experiment the steel rod
was placed in the chucks at a set length and a varying torque was applied to measure the angle of
deflection. Experiment 1 was repeated for the brass rod. For Experiment 2 a brass rod was placed
in the chucks and the applied torque was kept constant while the length of the rod was varied to
measure the angle of deflection. The results for experiment 1 show how the torque applied
relates to the angle of defection. The results for experiment 2 shows the effects that the length of
the rod has on the angle of defection. The results of the torsion test show that the torque applied
and the length of the rod are linearly proportional to the angle of defection.

Test Setup & Procedure

For the Torsion Test, the experiments were done to determine the effects of applying torsional
load to a circular section. The lab consisted of a test frame with rotating chucks at the end that
were used for gripping the circular rod. Two circular rods were used for the lab, both having the
same cross-section geometry and the same dimensions, but one made of steel and the other made
of brass. Both of the rods were 0.5 m in length. Torsion Test Lab consisted of two different
experiments. In the first experiment, the length of the rod was kept constant, while the applied
torque varied in each test. These tests were be done on both brass and steel rod. In the second
experiment, a constant torque was applied on the rod, while the length of the rod varied in each
test. Only the brass rod was used for the second experiment.
Before starting the experiment, it is always important to wear any safety equipment required and
follow all the safety precautions. Visually inspect all parts and check all the electrical
connections before starting the experiment. In experiment 1, the length of the rod was kept
constant, and the applied torque varied incrementally. The brass rod was mounted to the test
frame with the rotating chucks, as shown in figure 1. The digital force display was set at 0 N
using the dial, and the rod had 0 angular deflection on the angular scale. A small torque was
applied to the left hand chuck until it read 1 N on the digital force display. After measuring the
angular deflection, the torque applied was increased incrementally. After measuring all the
angular deflections required for the brass rod, the same steps were repeated for the steel rod to
find its angular deflection.

Figure 1

In experiment 2, the torque was kept constant, while the length of the brass rod varied in each
test. The constant force that was applied on the rod was 3 N. The brass rod was mounted to the
test frame with the rotating chucks, as shown in figure 1. The digital force display was set at 3 N
using the dial, and the rod had 0 angular deflection on the angular scale. The torque arm was set
at 0.3 m in length at start, with 3 N constant torque applied to the rod. After measuring the
angular deflection, the length of the torque arm was increased incrementally for the remaining
tests.

Results
The intentions of this experiment was to determine the effects of applying a torsional load to a
circular cross-section of common engineering materials. After all materials were measured, the
data was collected and recorded. First experiment the length of the two rods were kept at a
constant length, then the angular deflection was measured as the force was increased. Second
experiment the brass rod was increased in length and the force was kept constant, then the
angular deflection was then measured again. From the collected data the polar moment of inertia
was calculated using equation 1, with the measured rod diameter and rod length. Some values
were converted to the correct units in order to full fill the formula requirements.
J=

D4
32

Equation 1

Table 1 Torque, Angular Deflection, TL, and J for the Steel Rod
Torque (Nm)
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25

Angular Deflection, (rad)

0.00
0.04
0.07
0.09
0.11
0.13

TL (Nm)
0
0.0155
0.031
0.0465
0.062
0.0775

J (Nm)
0
3.46978E-13
5.55165E-13
6.93957E-13
9.02144E-13
1.04094E-12

Torque vs. Deflection Angle

0.3
0.25
Steel
Linear (Steel)
Brass
Linear (Brass)

0.2
T (Nm)

0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30
(rad)
Figure 1

Table 2 Torque, Angular Deflection, TL, and J for the Brass Rod
J (Nm)
Torque (Nm)
Angular Deflection, (rad)
TL (Nm)
0
0.00
0
0
0.05
0.09
0.0155
6.93957E-13
0.1
0.13
0.031
1.04094E-12
0.15
0.18
0.0465
1.45731E-12
0.2
0.24
0.062
1.87368E-12
0.25
0.28
0.0775
2.22066E-12
These values were calculated in order to give a direct way to calculate the shear modulus using a
length of 310mm. The slope of the graph in figure 2 gives the calculated shear modulus.

TL vs. J
0
0
Steel
Linear (Steel)
Brass
Linear (Brass)

0
TL 0
0
0
0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

Figure 2
Table 3 Angular Deflection with varying length
Length (m)
0.30
0.35
0.40
0.45
0.50

Angular Deflection ()
9.5
10.5
11.5
13
15

Length vs. Angle of Deflection

0.55
0.5
0.45
L (m)

Brass
Linear (Brass)

0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

(rad)
Figure 3

Table 4 Published and Experimental Shear Modulus

And Percentage of Error for Both Rods
Beam

Steel
Brass

Shear Modulus (Gpa)

Experimental

Published

74.4
34.8

79.6
38

Percenta
ge of
Differenc
e
6.53
8.42

The published shear modulus was provided in the published data given. The percent difference
was calculated using equation 2 with the values recorded in lab and values published data.
valuetheoretical value
|experimentaltheoretical
|100
va lue

%Difference=

Equation 2

The experimental shear modulus was calculated using the above values for TL and J by
plugging in to equation 3.
G=

TL
J

Equation 3

Discussion
The data from the experiment can be seen in Table 1.1, below. After the torque and angular
deflection were collected, these numbers are then used to find TL and

as shown in Table

1.2. Plotting the applied torque and angular deflection, as seen in Figure ____, it is evident that
8

these two variables are linearly proportional to each other. As more torque was applied the
angular deflection also increased.

Table 1.1 Torque and Angular

Deflection for Steel Rod

Force (N)

Torque
(Nm)

0
1
2
3
4
5

0
.05
.1
.15
.2
.25

Angular
Deflection
()
0
2.5
4
5
6.5
7.5

All calculations for the data can be found in the Appendix. From the calculations the steel rod
has a shear modulus of 74.4 GPa and the brass rod has a shear modulus of 34.8 GPa. These
results are fairly close to the published shear modulus of 79.6 GPa for steel and 38 GPa, for
brass. These discrepancies were caused from many variables including misreading the
equipment, improper calibration and inconsistencies in the rod from fatigue. The reason for the
difference in shear modulus was from the different properties of the metals including the
diameter, which in the steel rod was much harder and stronger allowing it to resist angular
deflection more than the soft brass rod. There are different applications where both of these
properties would be useful. For instance, in the oil field, when drilling deep into the earth one
would want to use a metal with a high shear modulus to minimize torque. On the other hand, a
lower shear modulus would be ideal for torque springs. These can be found in suspensions of a
car to dampen the bumps in the road; it is also used in the sway bar of a car which adds more
traction around sharp turns.
Experiment 2
The data in this experiment can be found in Table 1.3. When looking at the angular deflection
and length plot in figure it looks very similar to the plot found in figure. These two variables are
linearly proportional to each other. These properties can be used to ones advantage. Like in the
examples discussed above, if the suspension torsion springs are longer that will allow the rider to
9

experience a softer ride as more force will be translated into the torsion of the bar. However, with
the oil drilling example if the drill is too long, that can cause unwanted torque which could lead
up to breaking the drill. If the length cannot be changed but the application requires a more
ridged bar, then either decreasing the torque, and increasing the diameter will result in less
angular deflection.
Length
Angular
Table
1.3
Length
and Angular
(m)
Deflection
()
Deflection
for
Brass
Rod
0.30
9.5
0.35
10.5
0.40
11.5
0.45
13
0.50
15

Conclusion
The purpose of the torsion experiment was to study the effects of an applied torsion on a circular
rod [1].The objective was to record the angular deflection to see its linear dependence on other
variables and ultimately determine the objects shear modulus. The angular deflection was
10

recorded during the first case while the torsion was increased incrementally, and then the force
was kept constant and the length of the rod was lengthened incrementally. The values of the
angular deflection for both rods recorded during the first experiment showed a linear dependence
on the torsional force as it was increased. Both sets of values also yielded a shear modulus close
to the true value given for each material. The angular deflection values recorded while the force
was kept constant and the length nominally increased showed a linear dependence on length as
well. The tests successfully confirmed the angular deflections dependence on force or length
while producing realistic shear modulus values for the materials.

References
1.

11

Appendix
Table 5
Steel Rod:

12

Dimensions:

Diameter= 3mm

Length= 310mm

Polar Moment of Inertia (J) =

Torque= Force (N) x Torque Arm Length (0.05m)

Force (N)
0
1
2
3
4
5

Torque (Nm)
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25

Angular Deflection ()
0
2.5
4
5
6.5
7.5

Table 6
Brass Rod:
Dimensions:

Diameter= 3mm

Length= 310mm

Polar Moment of Inertia (J) =

Torque= Force (N) x Torque Arm Length (0.05m)

Force (N)
0
1
2
3
4
5

Torque (Nm)
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25

Angular Deflection ()
0
5
7.5
10.5
13.5
16

Table 7
Brass Rod:
(Keep Force Constant) F=3N
Length (m)
0.30
0.35
0.40
0.45

Angular Deflection ()
9.5
10.5
11.5
13
13

0.50

15

14