Torsion constant

Torsion constant
The torsion constant is a geometrical property of a beam's cross-section which is involved in the relationship between angle of twist and applied torque along the axis of the bar, for a homogeneous linear-elastic bar. That is, the torsion constant describes a beam's torsional stiffness.

History
In 1820, the French engineer A. Duleau derived analytically that the torsion constant of a beam is identical to the second moment of area normal to the section Jzz, which has an exact analytic equation, by assuming that a plane section before twisting remains plane after twisting, and a diameter remains a straight line. Unfortunately, that assumption is correct only in beams with circular cross-sections, and is incorrect for any other shape.[1] For non-circular cross-sections, there are no exact analytical equations for finding the torsion constant. However approximate solutions have been found for many shapes. Non-circular cross-section always have warping deformations that require numerical methods to allow the exact calculation of the torsion constant.[2]

Partial Derivation
For a beam of uniform cross-section along its length:

where is the angle of twist in radians T is the applied torque L is the beam length J is the 2nd Polar Moment of Area G is the Modulus of rigidity (shear modulus) of the material

Torsion constant

Examples for specific uniform cross-sectional shapes

Circle
[3]

where r is the radius This is identical to the second moment of area Jzz and is exact. alternatively write: D is the Diameter s
[3]

where

Ellipse
[4][5]

where a is the major radius b is the minor radius

Square
[6]

where 2a is the side length

Rectangle
where a is the length of the long side b is the length of the short side is found from the following table:
a/b 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 0.141 0.196 0.229 0.249 0.263 0.281 0.291 0.299

10.0 0.312

Torsion constant

3
0.333

[7]

Alternatively the following equation can be used with an error of not greater than 4%:
[4]

Thin walled closed tube of uniform thickness

[8]

A is the mean of the areas enclosed by the inner and outer boundaries t is the wall thickness U is the length of the median boundary

Thin walled open tube of uniform thickness

[9]

t is the wall thickness U is the length of the median boundary (perimeter of median cross section)

Circular thin walled open tube of uniform thickness

This is a tube with a slit cut longitudinally through its wall.
[8]

t is the wall thickness r is the mean radius This is derived from the above equation for an arbitrary thin walled open tube of uniform thickness.

Commercial Products
There are a number specialized software tools to calculate the torsion constant using the finite element method. ShapeDesigner [10] by Mechatools Technologies [11] ShapeBuilder [12] by IES Web [13] STAAD SectionWizard [14] by Bentley [15] SectionAnalyzer [16] by Fornamagic Ltd [17] Strand7 BXS Generator [18] by Strand7 Pty Limited [19]

Torsion constant

References
[1] Archie Higdon et al. "Mechanics of Materials, 4th edition". [2] Advanced structural mechanics, 2nd Edition, David Johnson [3] "Area Moment of Inertia." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource. http:/ / mathworld. wolfram. com/ AreaMomentofInertia. html [4] Roark's Formulas for stress & Strain, 7th Edition, Warren C. Young & Richard G. Budynas [5] Continuum Mechanics, Fridtjov Irjens, Springer 2008, p238, ISBN 978-3-540-74297-5 [6] Torsion Equations, Roy Beardmore, http:/ / www. roymech. co. uk/ Useful_Tables/ Torsion/ Torsion. html [7] Advanced Strength and Applied Elasticity, Ugural & Fenster, Elsevier, ISBN 0-444-00160-3 [8] Roark's Formulas for stress & Strain, 6th Edition, Warren C. Young [9] Advanced Mechanics of Materials, Boresi, John Wiley & Sons, ISBN 0-471-55157-0 [10] http:/ / www. mechatools. com/ en/ shapedesigner. html [11] http:/ / www. mechatools. com [12] http:/ / www. iesweb. com/ products/ shapebuilder/ index. htm [13] http:/ / www. iesweb. com [14] http:/ / www. bentley. com/ en-US/ Products/ STAAD. Pro/ Section-wizard. htm [15] http:/ / www. bentley. com [16] http:/ / fornamagic. com/ download. php?view. 15 [17] http:/ / www. fornamagic. com [18] http:/ / strand7. com [19] http:/ / www. strand7. com

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

Torsion constant Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=563815380 Contributors: Bassplr19, BenFrantzDale, Bradv, Closedmouth, Davius, GTi16V, Greglocock, Kallog, Lockley, RockMagnetist, Suffusion of Yellow, The wub, Zerodamage, 58 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

File:TorsionConstantBar.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:TorsionConstantBar.svg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: TorsionConstantBar.png: Kallog (talk). derivative work: Zerodamage

License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported //creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/