To perform the Torsion Test on

 Mild Steel Specimen (ASTM E143)

 Cast iron Specimen
Objectives
 To study the shear stress and shear strain behavior of the two different materials.
 To study the failure patterns of these materials in torsion.
 To determine the mechanical properties of the samples like modulus of rigidity, shear
strength, shear strain and ductility in torsion.
Apparatus
 Torsion Testing Machine
 Vernier Calliper
 Steel Rulers
Theory:
Torque
The twisting effect of a force or couple is called Torque. Its unit are N-m. It is denoted by
Double Headed arrows.
Torsion
It is the angular deformation produced by the torque about the longitudinal axis. Following
figure shows the torque applied to circular shaft & its behaviour.

Figure 3.1: Torque Applied on Circular Shaft

Difference between Torque and Bending Moment

Major difference is the plane of application of load or force. Torque is produced by the force
which is applied parallel to the cross sectional axis at an eccentricity while moment is produced
by the force which is applied along any cross sectional axis without any eccentricity. But
basically both are moments.
 P P L P e P
L

Figure 3.2: Difference between Bending moment and Torque

Bending Theory
𝑴 б 𝑬
= =
𝑰 𝒚 𝑹
Equation 3.1

Assumptions in Bending Theory

 Material is homogenous
 Material is isotropic
 It is in elastic range i-e obeys the Hooks law
 Plane section remains plane before and after bending.

Torsion Theory
𝝉 𝑻 𝑮𝜽
= =
𝒓 𝑱 𝑳
Equation 3.2

τ = Torsional shear stress (MPa)

r = Radius of shaft or bar
T = Applied torque
J = Polar moment of inertia (mm4 ) (torsional resistance of any cross section)
G = Modulus of rigidity (modulus of elasticity in shear)
θ =Angle of twist (rad)
L = Length of sample

Assumptions in Torsion Theory

 Material is homogenous
 Material is isotropic
 It obeys the Hooks law
 Cross section of the material is circular
 Plane section remains plane before and after bending
 Length and radius of the sample are same for small angle of twist.

Stresses developed Under Torque

Shearing stresses are developed in the bar when the bar is subjected to the torque. Consider a
shaft subjected to the torque as is shown in figure below.
 Figure 3.3: Shaft subjected to Torque

If we pass a cutting plane at point C, we will see that how forces due to the applied torque T are
developed in the cross section which are parallel to the cross section. These internal shearing
forces are resisted by polar moment of inertia.

Figure 3.4: Cutting Plane along Point C

Significance of Circular Bar under Torsion as Compared to other Sections

An important property of the circular section is that when the circular section is subjected to torsion
every cross section remains plane and undistorted. In other words we can say that various cross
sections along the bar rotate through different amounts and each cross section rotate as a solid rigid
slab. This property is only found in circular bars. But when a bar of square section is subjected to
torsion its various cross sections wrap and do not remain plane.

Figure 3.5: Difference in behavior of the Circular and non-Circular Shaft

Shearing Stress Distribution for Torsion

Shearing stresses produced due to torsion are maximum at the extreme outer fiber and zero at the
neutral axis. While the direct/flexural shear stresses are maximum at the neutral axis and zero at
the extreme outer fiber.
𝑇𝑟
𝜏=
𝐽
 𝑇𝑅
𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝜋 4 Note: this formula is
𝐷
32 for solid circular
Put R = D/2 section
𝑻 𝟏𝟔 𝑻
𝝉𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝝅 =
𝑫 𝟑 𝝅𝑫𝟑
𝟏𝟔
Equation 3.3
τmax τmax

τmax
τmax

Figure 3.6: Shear Stress Distribution for Hollow Circular and Circular Bar under Torsion

Polar Moment of Inertia

Geometric rigidity of the cross section is termed as polar moment of inertia or polar 2nd moment
of area. It is the resistance of a cross section against the twisting. It is equal to the sum of 2 nd
moment of inertia about both cross sectional axis. Stiffness is the resistance of the material
against bending while rigidity is the resistance of the materials against torsional loading.

J = Ix + Iy
Equation 3.4
For hollow circular sections polar moment of inertia is given by:
𝝅
𝒋= (𝑫𝟒𝒐 − 𝑫𝟒𝒊 )
𝟑𝟐
Equation 3.5
For circular sections polar moment of inertia is given by:
𝝅 𝟒
𝒋= 𝑫
𝟑𝟐
Equation 3.6
Torsional rigidity or Modulus of Rigidity
When the material is subjected to pure twist loading the slope of the shear stress versus shear
strain curve is termed as modulus of rigidity or modulus of elasticity in shear. It is denoted by
"G".
 τ
б
E G

Є γ
Figure 3.7: Modulus of Elasticity in Tension Test and Modulus of Rigidity in Torsion Test

The relationship between modulus of rigidity and modulus of elasticity is given as:
𝐸 = 2𝐺(1 + 𝜐)
Equation 3.7
Where" 𝜐" is the Poisson's ratio
Poisson's ratio
The ratio of the lateral strain to longitudinal strain when the material is subjected to axial
loading. And it is always less than 1.
𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏 (𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆)
𝝊=
𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏
Equation 3.8
For isotropic material Poisson's ratio is 0.25 - 0.4
For steel 0.3-0.35 (but 0.3 is mostly used)
For concrete it is 0.15
Relation between Yield Strength in Tension to that in Torsion for Mild Steel
𝝈𝒚
𝝉𝒚 = = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟕𝟕𝝈𝒚 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝝈𝒚
√𝟑
Equation 3.9
This criterion is called Von Mises yield criteria.

Torsional Strength
It is the maximum torsional stress that a material sustains before rupture. It is similar to tensile
strength in tension test.
Torsional Deformation
It is the angular displacement of specimen caused by the specified torque in torsion. It is equal to
angle of twist in radians divided by gage length or effective length.
𝜃
Torsional deformation =
𝐿𝑒
Its units are rad/mm.
Torsional Strain
It is the strain corresponding to specified torque.
Torsional strain = Torsional deformation x radius of the bar
𝜽
𝑻𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏 = 𝜸 = ∗ 𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒖𝒔
𝑳𝒆
Equation 3.10
Where "Le" is the effective length or clear length between the jaws.
Torsional Stress
Shear stress developed in a material subjected to a specified torque in torsion test.
For circular shaft
𝟏𝟔𝑻
𝝉𝒎𝒂𝒙 =
𝝅 ∗ 𝑫𝟑
Equation 3.11
Expected Failure Modes of Mild Steel and Cast iron
Mild Steel
Direction of application of load is at 45 degrees from horizontal axis. And hence shearing stress
are maximum at 45 degrees from the direction of application of load i-e at the horizontal axis.
And also mild steel is weak in shear so failure will be in horizontal plane.

Figure 3.8: Expected Failure Pattern of Mild Steel in Torsion Test

Cast Iron
Maximum tensile stresses will develop at a plane 90 degrees from the line of action of the force
and hence the cast iron is weak in tension so failure will be at 45 degrees from the horizontal
axis. As twisting is a helical type of phenomenon and keep on changing its direction so the
failing plane is also helical.

Figure 3.9: Failure Pattern of Cast Iron in Torsion Test

Note
Shearing stresses are maximum on a plane at an angle of 45 degrees to the direction of
application of the force and tensile stresses are maximum on a plane at an angle of 90 degrees to
the direction of application of force.
Procedure
  Measure the total length, effective length and diameter of the sample.
 Place the specimen in Torsion Testing Machine.
 Rotate the machine counter clockwise and measure the degrees.
 Repeat the same procedure until failure of the specimen occurs.
Observations & Calculations
Liver arm = la =
Diameter of the specimen = D =
Effective length = le =
16𝑇
𝑀𝑎𝑥. 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 = 𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
𝜋 ∗ 𝐷3
𝜃
𝑇𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 = 𝛾 = ∗ 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠
𝐿𝑒

Table 3.1: Observations and Calculations

Sr. No. Angel of Twist Load (P) Applied Shear Shear Remarks
Torque Strain Stress
(T)
(Deg) (Rad) (Ton) (N) (N-m) (Rad) (MPa)
 Graph 1: Comparison Graph between Mild Steel and Cast Iron

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