CHAPTER STRENGTH OF

MATERIALS
3 Torsion
STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Contents

Introduction Statically Indeterminate Shafts

Torsional Loads on Circular Shafts Sample Problem 3.4
Net Torque Due to Internal Stresses Design of Transmission Shafts
Axial Shear Components Stress Concentrations
Shaft Deformations Plastic Deformations
Shearing Strain Elastoplastic Materials
Stresses in Elastic Range Residual Stresses
Normal Stresses Example 3.08/3.09
Torsional Failure Modes Torsion of Noncircular Members
Sample Problem 3.1 Thin-Walled Hollow Shafts
Angle of Twist in Elastic Range Example 3.10

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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Torsional Loads on Circular Shafts

• Interested in stresses and strains of

circular shafts subjected to twisting
couples or torques

• Turbine exerts torque T on the shaft

• Shaft transmits the torque to the

generator

• Generator creates an equal and

opposite torque T’

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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Net Torque Due to Internal Stresses

• Net of the internal shearing stresses is an

internal torque, equal and opposite to the
applied torque,
T    dF     dA

• Although the net torque due to the shearing

stresses is known, the distribution of the stresses
is not.

• Distribution of shearing stresses is statically

indeterminate – must consider shaft
deformations.

• Unlike the normal stress due to axial loads, the

distribution of shearing stresses due to torsional
loads can not be assumed uniform.

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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Shaft Deformations

• From observation, the angle of twist of the

shaft is proportional to the applied torque and
to the shaft length.
 T
L
• When subjected to torsion, every cross-section
of a circular shaft remains in plane and
undistorted.
• Cross-sections for hollow and solid circular
shafts remain in plain and undistorted because
a circular shaft is axisymmetric.

• Cross-sections of noncircular (non-

axisymmetric) shafts are distorted when
subjected to torsion.

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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Shearing Strain

• Consider an interior section of the shaft. As a

torsional load is applied, an element on the
interior cylinder deforms into a rhombus.

• Since the ends of the element remain planar,

the shear strain is γ

• Arc length AA’ can be shown as:


L   or  
L

• Shear strain is proportional to twist and radius

c 
 max  and    max
L c

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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Stresses in Elastic Range
• Multiplying the previous equation by the
shear modulus (modulus of rigidity),

G  G max
c
From Hooke’s Law,   G , so

  max
c
The shearing stress varies linearly with the
radial position in the section.
• Recall that the sum of the moments from
the internal stress distribution is equal to
the torque on the shaft at the section,
 
T    dA  max   2 dA  max J
c c
• The results are known as the elastic torsion
formulas,
Tc T
 max  and  
J J
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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Normal Stresses
• Elements with faces parallel and perpendicular
to the shaft axis are subjected to shear stresses
only. Normal stresses, shearing stresses or a
combination of both may be found for other
orientations.
• Consider an element at 45o to the shaft axis,
F  2 max A0 cos 45   max A0 2
F  max A0 2
 45o     max
A A0 2

• Element a is in pure shear.

• Element c is subjected to a tensile stress on
two faces and compressive stress on the other
two.
• Note that all stresses for elements a and c have
the same magnitude

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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Torsional Failure Modes

• Ductile materials generally fail in

shear. Brittle materials are weaker in
tension than shear.

• When subjected to torsion, a ductile

specimen breaks along a plane of
maximum shear, i.e., a plane
perpendicular to the shaft axis.

• When subjected to torsion, a brittle

specimen breaks along planes
perpendicular to the direction in
which tension is a maximum, i.e.,
along surfaces at 45o to the shaft
axis.

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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Sample Problem 3.1
SOLUTION:
• Cut sections through shafts AB
and BC and perform static
equilibrium analyses to find
torque loadings.
• Apply elastic torsion formulas to
find minimum and maximum
stress on shaft BC.
Shaft BC is hollow with inner and outer
diameters of 90 mm and 120 mm, • Given allowable shearing stress
respectively. Shafts AB and CD are solid and applied torque, invert the
of diameter d. For the loading shown, elastic torsion formula to find the
determine (a) the minimum and maximum required diameter.
shearing stress in shaft BC, (b) the
required diameter d of shafts AB and CD
if the allowable shearing stress in these
shafts is 65 MPa.
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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Sample Problem 3.1
SOLUTION:
• Cut sections through shafts AB and BC
and perform static equilibrium analysis
to find torque loadings.

 M x  0  6 kN  m   TAB  M x  0  6 kN  m   14 kN  m   TBC

TAB  6 kN  m  TCD TBC  20 kN  m

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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Sample Problem 3.1
• Apply elastic torsion formulas to • Given allowable shearing stress and
find minimum and maximum applied torque, invert the elastic torsion
stress on shaft BC. formula to find the required diameter.

c24  c14   0.0604  0.0454 

  Tc Tc 6 kN  m
J  max   65MPa 
2 2 J  c4  c3
2 2
6 4
 13.92 10 m
c  38.9 103 m
TBC c2 20 kN  m 0.060 m 
 max   2   d  2c  77.8 mm
J 13.92 10 6 m 4
 86.2 MPa
 min c1  min 45 mm
 
 max c2 86.2 MPa 60 mm  max  86.2 MPa
 min  64.7 MPa  min  64.7 MPa
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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Angle of Twist in Elastic Range
• Recall that the angle of twist and maximum
shearing strain are related,
c
 max 
L
• In the elastic range, the shearing strain and shear
are related by Hooke’s Law,
 max Tc
 max  
G JG
• Equating the expressions for shearing strain and
solving for the angle of twist,
TL

JG
• If the torsional loading or shaft cross-section
changes along the length, the angle of rotation is
found as the sum of segment rotations
Ti Li
 
i J i Gi

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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Statically Indeterminate Shafts
• Given the shaft dimensions and the applied
torque, we would like to find the torque reactions
at A and B.
• From a free-body analysis of the shaft,
TA  TB  90 lb  ft

which is not sufficient to find the end torques.

The problem is statically indeterminate.
• Divide the shaft into two components which
must have compatible deformations,
TA L1 TB L2 LJ
  1  2   0 TB  1 2 TA
J1G J 2G L2 J1

• Substitute into the original equilibrium equation,

LJ
TA  1 2 TA  90 lb  ft
L2 J1

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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Sample Problem 3.4
SOLUTION:
• Apply a static equilibrium analysis on
the two shafts to find a relationship
between TCD and T0 .
• Apply a kinematic analysis to relate
the angular rotations of the gears.
• Find the maximum allowable torque
Two solid steel shafts are connected on each shaft – choose the smallest.
by gears. Knowing that for each shaft • Find the corresponding angle of twist
G = 11.2 x 106 psi and that the for each shaft and the net angular
allowable shearing stress is 8 ksi, rotation of end A.
determine (a) the largest torque T0
that may be applied to the end of shaft
AB, (b) the corresponding angle
through which end A of shaft AB
rotates.
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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Sample Problem 3.4
SOLUTION:
• Apply a static equilibrium analysis on • Apply a kinematic analysis to relate
the two shafts to find a relationship the angular rotations of the gears.
between TCD and T0 .

rB B  rCC
 M B  0  F 0.875in.  T0 rC 2.45 in.
B  C  C
 M C  0  F 2.45 in.  TCD rB 0.875in.
TCD  2.8 T0  B  2.8C

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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Sample Problem 3.4
• Find the T0 for the maximum • Find the corresponding angle of twist for each
allowable torque on each shaft – shaft and the net angular rotation of end A.
choose the smallest.

TCD L 2.8 561 lb  in.36 in .

C / D  

J CDG 2 0.5 in.4 11.2  106 psi 
 0.0514 rad  2.95o

 max 
TABc T 0.375in.
8000 psi  0 B  2.8C  2.8 2.95o   8.26o
 0.375in.4
J AB
2 A/ B 
TAB L

561lb  in.24 in.
T0  663lb  in. J AB G 
2 0. 375 in. 4

11 .2  10 6
psi
 0.0387 rad  2.22o
TCD c 2.8 T0 0.5 in.
 max  8000 psi   A  B   A / B  8.26o  2.22o  10.48o
J CD  0.5 in.4
2
T0  561lb  in. T0  561lb  in  A  10.48o
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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Design of Transmission Shafts

• Principal transmission shaft • Determine torque applied to shaft at

performance specifications are: specified power and speed,
- power P  T  2fT
- speed P P
T 
 2f
• Designer must select shaft
material and cross-section to • Find shaft cross-section which will not
meet performance specifications exceed the maximum allowable
without exceeding allowable shearing stress,
shearing stress.  max 
Tc
J
J  3 T
 c  solid shafts 
c 2  max
J

 4 4
c2 2c2

c2  c1  
T
 max
hollow shafts 

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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Stress Concentrations
• The derivation of the torsion formula,
Tc
 max 
J
assumed a circular shaft with uniform
cross-section loaded through rigid end
plates.
• The use of flange couplings, gears and
pulleys attached to shafts by keys in
keyways, and cross-section discontinuities
can cause stress concentrations
• Experimental or numerically determined
concentration factors are applied as
Tc
 max  K
J

Fig. 3.32 Stress-concentration factors

for fillets in circular shafts.

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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Plastic Deformations
• With the assumption of a linearly elastic material,
Tc
 max 
J
• If the yield strength is exceeded or the material has
a nonlinear shearing-stress-strain curve, this
expression does not hold.
• Shearing strain varies linearly regardless of material
properties. Application of shearing-stress-strain
curve allows determination of stress distribution.
• The integral of the moments from the internal stress
distribution is equal to the torque on the shaft at the
section,
c c
T    2 d   2   2 d
0 0

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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Elastoplastic Materials *
• At the maximum elastic torque,
J L Y
TY   Y  12 c3 Y Y 
c c

• As the torque is increased, a plastic region


(    Y ) develops around an elastic core (   Y )
Y
L Y
Y 


2 c3 1  1 Y3  
4 T 1  1 Y3 
T Y 
3

4
c 3 3 Y

4
c3 
 3
4 T 1  1 Y 
T 3 Y 4 3
  

• As Y  0, the torque approaches a limiting value,

TP  43 TY  plastic torque
Valid for a solid circular shaft of an
elastoplastic material
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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Residual Stresses
• Plastic region develops in a shaft when subjected to a
large enough torque.
• When the torque is removed, the reduction of stress
and strain at each point takes place along a straight line
to a generally non-zero residual stress.
• On a T- curve, the shaft unloads along a straight line
to an angle greater than zero.
• Residual stresses found from principle of superposition

Tc    dA  0
 
m
J
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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Torsion of Noncircular Members
• Previous torsion formulas are valid for
axisymmetric or circular shafts

• Planar cross-sections of noncircular

shafts do not remain planar and stress
and strain distribution do not vary
linearly

• For uniform rectangular cross-sections,

T TL
 max  
c1ab2 c2ab3G

• At large values of a/b, the maximum

shear stress and angle of twist for other
open sections are the same as a
rectangular bar.

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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Thin-Walled Hollow Shafts
• Summing forces in the x-direction on AB,
 Fx  0   A t Ax    B t B x 
 At A  Bt B   t  q  shear flow

shear stress varies inversely with thickness

• Compute the shaft torque from the integral

of the moments due to shear stress
dM 0  p dF  p t ds   q pds   2q dA
T   dM 0   2q dA  2qA
T

2tA

• Angle of twist
TL ds
 
• A 4 A2G t

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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Example 3.10
Extruded aluminum tubing with a rectangular
cross-section has a torque loading of 24 kip-
in. Determine the shearing stress in each of
the four walls with (a) uniform wall thickness
of 0.160 in. and wall thicknesses of (b) 0.120
in. on AB and CD and 0.200 in. on CD and
BD.
SOLUTION:
• Determine the shear flow through the
tubing walls.
• Find the corresponding shearing stress
with each wall thickness .

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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Example 3.10
SOLUTION: • Find the corresponding shearing
stress with each wall thickness.
• Determine the shear flow through the
tubing walls.
With a uniform wall thickness,
q 1.335 kip in.
 
t 0.160in.
  8.34 ksi

With a variable wall thickness

1.335 kip in.
 AB   AC 
A  3.84 in.2.34 in.  8.986in.
2
0.120in.
T 24 kip - in. kip  AB   BC  11.13 ksi
q 

2 A 2 8.986in.2
 1.

335
in.
1.335 kip in.
 BD   CD 
0.200in.
T

2tA  BC   CD  6.68 ksi

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