DM1309

Torsion Test
4th March 4, 2016

Nikita Gupta
1508500
Abstract

Torsion is when a rotational twisting force is applied onto an object. From torsion testing mechanical
properties of a material such as shear stress, shear strain, modulus of rigidity can be found that allow
the most appropriate material to be used in a design context.

The following experiments were conducted to understand and prove the formula:

= =

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Apparatus and Procedure

1) Avery torsion testing machine

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The hollow steel is mounted into the machine. The ends are secured into an input shaft and a torque
shaft. It has an outer diameter of 20.3mm and inner diameter of 15.9mm. Gradually the torque crank
is manually increased to 200,000 Nmm in 10,000 Nmm increments, which applies a rotational force.
The semi shear strain is read from the Tinsley strain measuring bridge. This number has to be doubled
to find shear strain values. Data is gathered for both loading and unloading torque.

2) Torsional deflection testing machine

After the solid steel and brass rods are mounted into the machine and secured into the chucks, then
the force is manually increased to 5N in 1N increments. The angular deflection can then be read and
recorded. The angular deflection is in degrees and needs converting into radius to calculate other
results.

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Results

1) Shear stress strain results using avery torsion testing machine

Torque (Nmm) Shear strain (loading) Shear strain (unloading)

0 0 0
10000 112 96
20000 228 208
30000 354 316
40000 460 432
50000 586 540
60000 688 662
70000 802 754
80000 924 872
90000 1034 986
100000 1150 1106
110000 1268 1220
120000 1390 1336
130000 1506 1446
140000 1582 1574
150000 1700 1668
160000 1806 1782
170000 1936 1914
180000 2062 2006
190000 2170 2150
200000 2304 2294

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Graph given from previous experiment results:

2) Effect of length on torsion

Brass rod

Brass Rod: Length = 500mm, Diameter = 3mm

Force (N) Torque (Nm) Angular Deflection Angular Deflection
(degrees) (Radian)
0 0 0 0
1 0.5 7 0.12217304764
2 1.0 11 0.19198621772
3 1.5 15 0.2617993878
4 2.0 19.5 0.34033920414
5 2.5 24 0.41887902048

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 Brass Rod: Force = 5N, Diameter = 3mm
Rod Length (mm) Torque (Nm) Angular Deflection Angular Deflection
(degrees) (Radian)
500 2.5 24 0.41887902048
450 2.25 23 0.40142572796
400 2.0 22 0.38397243544
350 1.75 21 0.36651914292
300 1.5 20 0.3490658504

Steel rod

Steel Rod: Length = 500mm, Diameter = 3mm

Force (N) Torque (Nm) Angular Deflection Angular Deflection
(degrees) (Radian)
0 0 0 0
1 0.05 3 0.05235987756
2 0.1 5 0.0872664626
3 0.15 7 0.12217304764
4 0.2 9 0.15707963268
5 0.25 11 0.19198621772

Steel Rod: Force = 5N, Diameter = 3mm

Rod Length (mm) Torque (Nm) Angular Deflection Angular Deflection
(degrees) (Radian)
500 0.25 11 0.19198621772
450 0.25 10.5 0.18325957146
400 0.25 10 0.1745329252
350 0.25 8.75 0.15271630955
300 0.25 8 0.1396263401688

Force 500mm 450mm 400mm 350mm 300mm

(N) Angular Angular Angular Angular Angular Deflection
Deflection Deflection Deflection Deflection (Radian)
(Radian) (Radian) (Radian) (Radian)
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1 0.05 0.05235987756 0.0349066 0.0349066 0.0174533 0.0261799
2 0.1 0.0872664626 0.0698132 0.0523599 0.0523599 0.0436332
3 0.15 0.12217304764 0.0959931 0.0872665 0.0698132 0.0610865
4 0.2 0.15707963268 0.13090 0.10472 0.1003564 0.0959931
5 0.25 0.19198621772 0.18325957146 0.1745329252 0.15271630955 0.1396263401688

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 3) Effect of diameter on torsion

6mm Diameter 8mm Diameter

Angular Angular
Radius Load (N) Deflection (Rad) Torque (Nm) Load (N) Deflection (Rad) Torque (Nm)
0.125 0.5 0.00349066 0.0625 1.7 0.00349066 0.2125
0.125 1.7 0.010472 0.2125 5.2 0.010472 0.65
0.125 3.1 0.0174533 0.3875 9.2 0.0174533 1.15
0.125 4.3 0.0244346 0.5375 12.0 0.0244346 1.5
0.125 5.5 0.0314159 0.6875 16.8 0.0314159 2.1
0.125 6.7 0.0383972 0.8375 20.3 0.0383972 2.5375
0.125 7.9 0.0453786 1.1375 23.9 0.0453786 2.9875
0.125 9.1 0.0523599 1.1375 27.3 0.0523599 3.4125

10mm Diameter 12mm Diameter

Angular Angular
Radius Load (N) Deflection (Rad) Torque (Nm) Load (N) Deflection (Rad) Torque (Nm)
0.125 5.1 0.00349066 0.6375 6.6 0.00349066 0.825
0.125 14.4 0.010472 1.8 23.4 0.010472 2.925
0.125 22.9 0.0174533 2.8625 36.2 0.0174533 4.525
0.125 32.5 0.0244346 4.0625 57.4 0.0244346 7.175
0.125 40.0 0.0314159 5 74.7 0.0314159 9.3375
0.125 41.6 0.0383972 5.2 92.8 0.0383972 11.6
0.125 43.6 0.0453786 5.45 107.0 0.0453786 13.375
0.125 48.4 0.0523599 6.05 124.1 0.0523599 15.5125

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Calculations

1) Shear stress strain results using avery torsion testing machine

Finding J (polar moment of inertia)

( )4 ( )4
=
2 2
Where:

Polar moment of inertia

Outer radius

Inner radius

(10.15)4 (7.95)4
= 10397.22577
2 2

Finding shear stress

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Torque Shear stress (MPa)
0 0
10000 9.762219485
20000 19.52443897
30000 29.28665845
40000 39.04887794
50000 48.81109742
60000 58.57331691
70000 68.33553639
80000 78.09775588
90000 87.85997536
100000 97.62219485
110000 107.3844143
120000 117.1466338
130000 126.9088533
140000 136.6710728
150000 146.4332923
160000 156.1955118
170000 165.9577312
180000 175.7199507
190000 185.4821702
200000 195.2443897

10000(10.15)
= 9.762219485
10397.22577

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Shear stress over shear strain graph

Red = loading

Blue = unloading

Estimate for G (Shear modulus)

(9.762219485 103 ) (19.52443897 103 )

= 88.74744986 GPa
(110 106 ) (220 106 )

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Using the initial formula:

= =

The results above can prove that

=

T J Shear Stress r

0 10397.22577 0 0 10.15 0
10000 10397.22577 0.96179502313529 9.762219485 10.15 0.96179502313529
20000 10397.22577 1.9235900462706 19.52443897 10.15 1.9235900462706
30000 10397.22577 2.8853850694059 29.28665845 10.15 2.8853850694059
40000 10397.22577 3.8471800925412 39.04887794 10.15 3.8471800925412
50000 10397.22577 4.8089751156765 48.81109742 10.15 4.8089751156765
60000 10397.22577 5.7707701388118 58.57331691 10.15 5.7707701388118
70000 10397.22577 6.732565161947 68.33553639 10.15 6.732565161947
80000 10397.22577 7.6943601850823 78.09775588 10.15 7.6943601850823
90000 10397.22577 8.6561552082176 87.85997536 10.15 8.6561552082176
100000 10397.22577 9.6179502313529 97.62219485 10.15 9.6179502313529
110000 10397.22577 10.579745254488 107.3844143 10.15 10.579745254488
120000 10397.22577 11.541540277624 117.1466338 10.15 11.541540277624
130000 10397.22577 12.503335300759 126.9088533 10.15 12.503335300759
140000 10397.22577 13.465130323894 136.6710728 10.15 13.465130323894
150000 10397.22577 14.426925347029 146.4332923 10.15 14.426925347029
160000 10397.22577 15.388720370165 156.1955118 10.15 15.388720370165
170000 10397.22577 16.3505153933 165.9577312 10.15 16.3505153933
180000 10397.22577 17.312310416435 175.7199507 10.15 17.312310416435
190000 10397.22577 18.274105439571 185.4821702 10.15 18.274105439571
200000 10397.22577 19.235900462706 195.2443897 10.15 19.235900462706

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 2) Effect of length on torsion

Using the formula

=

Where:

G shear modulus

Angular deflection (radius)

Steel Rods

Length (mm) Torque Angular Moment of Shear Modulus

Deflection Inertia (GPa)
500 0.05 0.05235987756 7.9521564044 60
450 0.05 0.0349066 7.9521564044 81.1
400 0.05 0.0349066 7.9521564044 72.1
350 0.05 0.0174533 7.9521564044 126.1
300 0.05 0.0261799 7.9521564044 72.1

0.25

0.2

0.15
Torque (Nm)

500mm
450mm
400mm
0.1
350mm
300mm

0.05

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
Angular Deflection (Radian)
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Using the initial formula:

= =

The results above can prove

=

T J Shear Angular Length

Modulus Deflection (mm)
(GPa)
0.05 7.9521564044 0.0063 60 0.05235987756 500 0.0063
0.05 7.9521564044 0.0063 81.1 0.0349066 450 0.0063
0.05 7.9521564044 0.0063 72.1 0.0349066 400 0.0063
0.05 7.9521564044 0.0063 126.1 0.0174533 350 0.0063
0.05 7.9521564044 0.0063 72.1 0.0261799 300 0.0063

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 3) Diameter and Angular Deflection

18

16

14

12

10
Torque

6mm
8mm
8
10mm
6 12mm

0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06
Angular Deflection (Rad)

Finding modulus of rigidity G

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Diameter (mm) Calculation G (GPa)
6 69.17
1.075 0.4
0.04886924 1.272 1010

8 65.16
3.2 0.4
0.04886924 4.02 1010

10 45.13
5.4125 0.4
0.04886924 9.8175 1010

12 59.06
14.6875 0.4
0.04886924 2.0357 109

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Errors
There are several factors which effected the data and the results.

Parallax error

The angle at which the measurements are read can effect the readings. This can be avoided by reading
the data straight on, however it is difficult to do so when reading measurements by eye.

Resolution error

The increments in which the data is measured may not be small enough to accurately gather results.
On top of this the experimenter may often round to the closest increment especially when using scales
or reading off gauges thus effecting the overall results.

Personal error

This is essentially human error. This happens when the experimenter wrongly takes measurements or
sets up data, does not set up the equipment or use the apparatus properly, or carry out calculations
wrong. This can be put down to carelessness but is also a difficult error to rectify.

Theory supporting results

The theory looked at with this report is torsion theory. This theory states shear stress is proportional
to shear strain and that pure torsion is linear.

This formula should also be proved via the results gathered.

= =

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Real life application

Torsion effects our daily lives, whether its the force needed to open a twist cap bottle, tightening a
bolt or on large scale structures such as planes and bridges which support large loads. For all of these,
it is important to understand the amount of torque needed as well as the modulus of rigidity and point
of failure to choose the most suitable material and the safety factors that need to be in place.

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Discussion

Modulus of rigidity is the ratio of shear stress to shear strain and measures the test pieces reaction
to shear stress. A higher G value means that when the torque is applied onto the material, there will
be a smaller deformation along the length when compared to a lower G value.

The experiment found a G value of 88.7 GPa. When this value is compared to the accepted value of
80 GPa for the steel test piece, there is a difference in results of percentage error 10.875%. This can
be put down to errors made when conducting the experiment. However, the result found is still in an
acceptable range to adequately understand the importance of the results.

Using the data given from the elastic-plastic deformation graph, the shear stress at the limit of
proportionality lies approximately 300 MPa. After this point shear stress and shear strain are no longer
proportional and therefore the gradient will no longer to be linear.

Looking at the graph, it is difficult to determine a yield point based on the shape of the graph alone.
Therefore the proof shear stress is used in the situation and can be found at 0.05% shear strain offset.
This reads to 340 MPa.

The first experiment allows us to prove:

=

As can be seen from the table in the calculations section. The figures for both parts of the
equation come to the same number, thus proving that this part of the formula is true for torsion test
conducted.

Looking at the results of length on torsion, the remainder of the formula can be proved:

=

From the table in the calculations section, the calculated values are the same for both sides of the
formula.

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Conclusion

While the results from this experiment should not be used in commercial purposes, it does allow us
to understand torsion theory, which can be summed up into the formula:

= =

From this we can understand the base principles on which torsion theory is built. Experiments like this
one determine the shear stress, modulus of rigidity, proportional limit and the angle of deflection
when a load is applied onto a beam. Designers and engineers can then evaluate these results to find
the most suitable material when torsion related constraints are placed into a design context.

The procedure of the experiment can be done to be made more accurate and ideally should be carried
out several times, to then determine an average, however even from these results we can see a direct
effect of torsion onto a material.

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References

http://eng.sut.ac.th/metal/images/stories/pdf/Lab_4Torsion_Eng.pdf

http://www.learneasy.info/MDME/MEMmods/MEM23061A/Torsion/Torsion.html

http://www.scribd.com/doc/48248422/Torsion-of-Cylindrical-Rods#scribd

http://www.scribd.com/doc/136565/Mechanics-of-Materials-Torsion-Test

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/torsion-shafts-d_947.html

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