Lab Session.

no 5 Mechanics of Materials

EXPERIMENT.NO.4

Objective:
To determine the modulus of rigidity of the circular shaft made of brass wire

Theory:
A simple torsion test is relatively easy to perform, the angle of twist is increased at a constant
rate and the corresponding torque is measured at predetermined increments. These values can
be graphed to find a number of engineering values. As in a tensile test, there will be an elastic
or linear portion of the curve where a proportional relationship can be used to determine
engineering values. In a Torque vs. Angle of twist relationship, the value that will be determined
is the modulus of rigidity, also known as the shear modulus. By using the polar moment of
inertia and a specific length of shaft, the torque and angle of twist can be used to determine the
shear modulus using the following relationship

Shaft in Torsion
𝝉×𝑳
𝑮=
𝑱×𝜽

𝝉= 𝒓×𝑭

𝝅 × 𝒅𝟒
𝑱=
𝟑𝟐
τ = r x F = torque applied.

J = polar moment of inertia.

θ = angle of twist.
Lab Session.no 5 Mechanics of Materials

L = length of shaft.

d = diameter of shaft

TORISON:
Torsion describes a “twisting” effect, where different parts of an object undergo
different angular displacements (referred to as the “angle of twist”) about the rotational axis.
To create torsion, a torque is necessary.

Torsion happens when the torque causes a shear stress to be applied on the body. When the
shear stress applied to different parts of the body is different, they undergo different amounts
of angular displacements. The maximum angle of twist occurs at the ends of the object while
the middle experiences a zero angle of twist. It can be shown that for an object with a uniform
cross-section under torsion by a torque, the maximum angle of twist is given by:

𝜃=TL/JG

POLAR MOMENT OF INERTIA:

It is a measure of a beam's ability to resist torsion. The "Polar Moment of Inertia" is defined
with respect to an axis perpendicular to the area considered. It is analogous to the "Area
Moment of Inertia" - which characterizes a beam's ability to resist bending - required to predict
deflection and stress in a beam.

"Polar Moment of Inertia of an Area" is also called "Polar Moment of Inertia", "Second Moment
of Area", "Area Moment of Inertia", "Polar Moment of Area" or "Second Area Moment

MODULUS OF RIGIDITY:
Modulus of rigidity (shear modulus) is a number that gives the shear
stress acting on a material per unit area. Here, the deforming force acts parallel to a face of the
object, causing one face to become displaced with respect to another face. This is depicted
below in Fig A. The constant of proportionality relating shear stress and strain is also called as
modulus of rigidity.it is represented by G.

Mathematically,

G=Shear stress/shear strain

Lab Session.no 5 Mechanics of Materials

FIG A

PROCEDURE:

DIAGRAM:

Observations & Calculations:

Total diameter = D’ = 5in

Length of shaft = L = 10in

Depth = 3mm = 0.118

d = D’ – 2 x 0.118 = 4.7637in

r = d / 2 = 2.3818in

J = 50.5565 in4
Lab Session.no 5 Mechanics of Materials

No of Load Angle of Angle of

observations applied twist first twist 𝜽 = 𝜽𝟐 − 𝜽𝟏 𝝉×𝑳
𝑮=
F arm second arm 𝑱×𝜽
θ1 θ2

1. 0.5 0.3 1.5 1.2 0.1963

2. 1.0 0.5 3.0 2.5 0.1884
3. 1.5 1.0 4.5 3.5 0.2019
4. 2.0 1.1 5.5 4.4 0.2141
5. 2.5 2.0 7.5 5.5 0.2141

APPLICATIONS:
 A torsion test measures the strength of any material against maximum
twisting forces. It is an extremely common test used in material mechanics to
measure how much of a twist a certain material can withstand before
cracking or breaking.
 Materials typically used in the manufacturing industry, such as metal
fasteners and beams, are often subject to torsion testing to determine their
strength under duress.

REFERENCES:
 http://pediaa.com/difference-between-torque-and-torsion/
 http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/torsion-shafts-d_947.html
 http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-torsion-test.htm#didyouknowout