BME LVL 100 (G1)

Khaled Elnkhla
Torsion Test

Strength of Materials
Torsion Test

Abstract
The following experiment outlines the proper procedure for determining the shear
modulus for a material. During this exercise, aluminum and brass were both used as
samples to demonstrate how materials behave during testing conditions. By measuring
the applied torque with respect to the angle of twist, the shear modulus, shear stress at the
limit of proportionality, and failure conditions can be found. Ultimately, the shear
modulus for Aluminum and brass was determined to be 3078 and 3708 ksi respectively.

Table of Contents
1.

Introduction & Background.............................................................................3

2.

Equipment and Procedure................................................................................5

2.1.

Equipment................................................................................................5

2.2.

Experiment Setup.....................................................................................6

2.3.

Procedure.................................................................................................6

3.

Data, Analysis & Calculations.........................................................................7

4.

Results............................................................................................................14

5.

Conclusions....................................................................................................14

6.

References......................................................................................................14

1. Introduction & Background

The following experiment is designed to determine the modulus of rigidity.
Utilizing test specimens with a known geometry, specimens can be twisted with the
values for torque simultaneously measured. To perform this task, a torsion testing
machine can be used. The torsion apparatus used in this exercise accepts standard 0.2525
inch diameter cylindrical specimens with hexagonal ends. With the sample secured and
clamped within the machine, the specimen can be twisted by applying a rotational torque
to one end, while the opposing end is kept straight by attaching it to the center of an arm
structure. This arm is held horizontal throughout the procedure by a torque gage
specifically calibrated to read torque for this configuration.
The ultimate goal, the determination of the modulus of rigidity, G, can be
expressed as
G

T L
J

Equation 1
where T is the torque applied, L is the length of the specimen, is the angle of twist in
radians, J is the polar moment of inertia (see below).
J

1
1
R4 d 4
2
32

Equation 2
R and d is the radius and diameter of the cross-sectional test area respectively. Equation 2
is only valid for solid circular regions.
T/ is the slope of the linear portion of the curve when torque is plotted against
the angle of twist. A typical curve is drawn in Figure 1.

Figure 1
Another method of determining G comes from Hooke's law, where
G

or

Equation 3
The value of shear stress is easily expressed by

T r
J

Equation 4
Replacing J in Equation 4 with Equation 2, as well as converting the radial
dimension to the diameter, shear stress can be expressed as
d
T
Tr
16 T

24
K1 T
J
d
d3
32

Equation 5
where K1 is given by
K1

16
d3

Equation 6
Shear stress produced a shear strain expressed as

r
L

Equation 7
Converting the radial dimension to a diameter, the expression for shear strain
becomes
d

r
d

2
K 2
L
L
2L

Equation 8
where K2 is expressed as
K2

d
2L

Equation 9
The apparatus used within this experiment measures the angle of twist in degrees
rather than radians, therefore Equations 8 and 9 can be determined to be

K2
2 L 180

Equation 10
d

K2
2 L 180

Equation 11

2. Equipment and Procedure

2.1.

Equipment
1. Torsion Testing Machine
2. Specimens: In this experiment, aluminum and brass specimens were used.

3. Calipers: Calipers should be used to measure the diameter and length of

the test specimen.

2.2.

Experiment Setup
Measure and record the length and diameter of specimen, as estimated in Figure

1.

Figure 2

The specimen should be secured in the torsion testing machine. The control used
to generate twisting can be used to balance the arm and torque gage. When the apparatus
is set to read zero degrees twist and torque, the angle of twist can be induced.

2.3.

Procedure
Twist is then induced in quarter degree increments. After each application, the

arm should be balanced and the resulting torque recorded.

When 8 degrees of twist has been applied, the twist should be increased in 2
degree increments. Again, the arm should be balanced after each step. Record the torque
and record if any hysteresis effects are experienced.
After 30 degrees of twist has been applied, the twist should be increased first to a
total twist of 90 degrees. Record the torque and note any hysteresis effects. Next,
increment the angle of twist in 90 degree increments until the specimen breaks. After

every increment, record the torque. Usually this process needs to be done fairly quickly to
ensure minimal error due to relaxation in the specimen.

3. Data, Analysis & Calculations

Table 1 catalogs angle and torque applied at each increment.

Table 1

Table 2 lists measured and calculated dimensional data. K 1 and K'2 are determined
using Equation 6 and 11.

Table 2
Table 3 contains the angle and torque for Aluminum as previously displayed in
Table 1. The shear stress and strain are calculated using Equation 5 and 10. Table 4
contains the same information for Brass.
As a sample, K1, K'2, the shear stress, and the shear strain are calculated in
Equation 12 through 15.
K1

16
16

310.791 in 3
3
0.254
d

Equation 12
d
0.254

K2

0.0007
2 L 180
2 3 180

Equation 13

K 1 T 310.791 1 311 psi

Equation 14

K 2 0.0007 0.25 185

Equation 15

Table 3

10

Table 4

11

Figure 3
As shown in Figure 4, the slope of the linear portion of the stress versus strain
curve is approximately 3072 ksi.

Figure 4

12

Figure 5
As shown in Figure 5, the slope of the stress versus strain curve for brass is 3708
ksi.
The limit of proportionality is determined by offsetting a line 0.2% right of the
linear stress versus strain plot, and finding where it crosses the original stress-strain
curve. For Aluminum, the limit of proportionality is graphically determined to be
approximately 22000 psi. Brass exhibited a higher limit of proportionality with a value of
approximately 26500 psi.

13

Figure 6

14

4. Results
The results found within this experiment were somewhat innaccurate. The shear
modulus for Aluminum was determined to be 3072 ksi, which contains nearly 22% error
when compared against the standard 3920 ksi. The experiment using Brass contained
37% error, with 3708 ksi and 5080 ksi as the experimental and accepted values
respectively.
Sources for error occur within the testing apparatus. As noted in the experiment,
even with both degree indicators tightened, the 6 degree wheel and the 360 degree wheel
did not agree on angular measurement. For example, when 30 degrees had been achieved
on the 6 degree wheel, the 360 degree wheel did not read 30 degrees as well.

5. Conclusions
The results in this particular experiment may or may not be acceptable for
practical use. If an application requires a high degree of accuracy of the shear modulus or
shear behavior, more thorough testing must be done.
As an improvement to the experiment, the degree wheels should be further
analyzed to ensure that both agree accurately to the angular behavior of the specimen.

15

6. References
Gilbert, J. A and C. L. Carmen. "Chapter 4 Column Buckling Test." MAE/CE 370
Mechanics of Materials Laboratory Manual. June 2000.
"Copper, UNS C27000 (Yellow brass), OSO70 Temper flat products" MatWeb. Nov 1,
2006. <http://www.matweb.com/search/SpecificMaterial.asp?
bassnum=MCUABQ01>
"Aluminum 2024-T6" MatWeb. Nov 1, 2006.
<http://www.matweb.com/search/SpecificMaterial.asp?bassnum=MA2024T6>

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