PRECISION POINT

Engineering
Fundamentals
BEAM THEORY: TORSION 1/1

Introduction Rotational stiffness

When a straight beam is subjected to an axial moment, each The rotational stiffness of a torsionally loaded beam is:
cross section twists around its torsional center. Shear 𝑇 𝐺 ∙ 𝐽𝑇
𝐾𝑧 = =
stresses occur within the cross sectional planes of the beam. 𝜑 𝑙
Maximum torque load
Angular twist For a torsionally loaded beam, the maximum torque load
For a torsionally loaded beam, the angular twist is described can be calculated with:
by: 𝐽𝑇
𝑇∙𝑙 𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑟
𝜑=
𝐺 ∙ 𝐽𝑇 y
tmax
Tmax
l
x

T r
𝐽𝑇 is the torsion constant. It is equal to the polar moment of
inertia 𝐼𝑧 if the cross section is circular.
𝐺 is the shear modulus. The relation between the shear
modulus 𝐺 and the elastic modulus 𝐸 is defined by the For non-circular cross sections warping occurs which
following formula: reduces the effective torsion constant. For these shapes,
𝐸 approximate solutions of the torsion constant are given in
𝐺= ≈ 0.38𝐸 (For most metals)
2(1+𝑣) the table below.

Torsion constant
Cross section Torsion constant JT Cross section Torsion constant JT

y y
r ro
𝜋 ri
𝐽𝑇 = 𝐼𝑧 = 𝑟 4 𝜋 4
2 𝐽𝑇 = 𝐼𝑧 = (𝑟 − 𝑟𝑖4 )
x x 2 𝑜

y y t

9 4 w x
w x 𝐽𝑇 ≈ 𝑤 𝐽𝑇 ≈ 𝑡(𝑤 − 𝑡)3
64

w w

y y t

With h>w
h x 2𝑡(ℎ − 𝑡)2 (𝑤 − 𝑡)2
h x 1
3
𝑤 𝑤4 𝐽𝑇 ≈
𝐽𝑇 ≈ ℎ𝑤 ( − 0.21 (1 −
3 ℎ 12ℎ4
)) ℎ + 𝑤 − 2𝑡

w w

Source:
 Roark’s Formulas for Stress & Strain, Warren C. Young. ISBN 0-07-100373-8
www.jpe.nl