Torsion
Prepared by: Engr. Rommel T. Valmoria
Topics
1. Torsion
2. Flanged Bolt Couplings
3. Torsion of Thin-Walled Tubes
4. Helical Springs
Torsion
• Consider a bar to be rigidly
attached at one end and twisted
at the other end by a torque or
twisting moment T equivalent
to F × d, which is applied
perpendicular to the axis of the
bar, as shown in the figure.
Such a bar is said to be in
torsion
Torsional Shearing Stress, τ
• For a solid or hollow circular
shaft subject to a twisting 𝑇𝜌 𝑇𝑟
moment T, the torsional 𝜏= 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
𝐽 𝐽
shearing stress τ at a distance
ρ from the center of the shaft
is
Where:
J = the polar moment of inertia
of the section
r = the outer radius
Formula:
Sample Problems:
Solution:
1. What is the minimum
diameter of a solid steel shaft
that will not twist through
more than 3° in a 6-m length
when subjected to a torque of
12 kN·m? What maximum
shearing stress is developed?
Use G = 83 GPa.
Solution:
2. A 2-in-diameter steel shaft
rotates at 240 rpm. If the
shearing stress is limited to 12
ksi, determine the maximum
horsepower that can be
transmitted.
Flanged Bolt Couplings
• In shaft connection called
flanged bolt couplings
(see figure), the torque is
transmitted by the
shearing force P created in
he bolts that is assumed to
be uniformly distributed.
For any number of bolts
n, the torque capacity of
the coupling is
Sample Problems
Solution:
1. A flanged bolt coupling
consists of ten 20-mm-diameter
bolts spaced evenly around a
bolt circle 400 mm in diameter.
Determine the torque capacity
of the coupling if the allowable
shearing stress in the bolts is 40
MPa.
2. A flanged bolt coupling Solution:
consists of ten steel ½-in.-
diameter bolts spaced evenly
around a bolt circle 14 in. in
diameter. Determine the torque
capacity of the coupling if the
allowable shearing stress in the
bolts is 6000 psi.
Torsion of Thin-Walled Tube
• The torque applied to thin-walled tubes is
expressed as
Where:
T = the torque in N·mm,
A = the area enclosed by the center line of the tube
(as shown in the stripe-filled portion) in mm2, and
q = the shear flow in N/mm.
Sample Problems
1. A torque of 600 N·m is applied to the Solution:
rectangular section shown in Fig. P-337.
Determine the wall thickness t so as not to
exceed a shear stress of 80 MPa. What is
the shear stress in the short sides? Neglect
stress concentration at the corners.
Helical Springs
• When close-coiled helical spring,
composed of a wire of round rod
of diameter d wound into a helix
of mean radius R with n number
of turns, is subjected to an axial
load P produces the following
stresses and elongation:
• The maximum shearing stress is the sum of the direct shearing
stress τ1 = P/A and the torsional shearing stress τ2 = Tr/J,
with T = PR.
• This formula neglects the curvature of the spring. This is used for
light spring where the ratio d/4R is small.
• For heavy springs and considering the curvature of the spring, A.M. Wahl formula
a more precise, it is given by:
where m is called the spring index and (4m - 1)/(4m - 4) is the Wahl Factor
Sample Problems
1. Determine the maximum shearing stress and elongation in a helical
steel spring composed of 20 turns of 20-mm-diameter wire on a
mean radius of 90 mm when the spring is supporting a load of 1.5
kN. Use Eq. (3-10) and G = 83 GPa.
Solution
2. Two steel springs arranged in series as
shown in Fig. P-347 supports a load P.
The upper spring has 12 turns of 25-
mm-diameter wire on a mean radius of
100 mm. The lower spring consists of 10
turns of 20-mm diameter wire on a mean
radius of 75 mm. If the maximum
shearing stress in either spring must not
exceed 200 MPa, compute the maximum
value of P and the total elongation of the
assembly. Use Eq. (3-10) and G = 83
GPa. Compute the equivalent spring
constant by dividing the load by the total
elongation.
Solution
Seatwork: 10-29-2024
1. Two steel springs arranged in series as shown in Fig. P-
347 supports a load P. The upper spring has 12 turns of 25-mm-
diameter wire on a mean radius of 100 mm. The lower spring
consists of 10 turns of 20-mm diameter wire on a mean radius of
75 mm. If the maximum shearing stress in either spring must not
exceed 200 MPa, compute the maximum value of P and the total
elongation of the assembly. Use Wahl Formula and G = 83 GPa.
Compute the equivalent spring constant by dividing the load by
the total elongation.
2. A torque of 450 lb·ft is applied to the square section shown
in Fig. P-C2. Determine the smallest permissible dimension a
if the shearing stress is limited to 6000 psi.
Reference
• Strength of Materials, 4th edition by Pytel and Singer
Thank You Very Much!
