Torsion in Solid and Thin-Walled Sections

7.
TORSION IN SOLID AND

THIN-WALLED SECTIONS
7.1 General
• In analyzing members in torsion one has to
differentiate between UNIFORM TORSION
(SAINT –VENANT TORSION PROBLEM) and
NON UNIFORM (TORSION WITH
RESTRAINED WARPING)
• Saint Venant Torsion theory is applicable only
when the torsion is UNIFORM.
• In case of NON UNIFORM TORSION one has to
apply the theory of torsion with restrained
warping
7.1 General
The following points should be observed when

dealing with torsion:
• If a torque is applied to a uniform bar the

originally plane sections become warped,
In general, the warping displacement u is
not zero.
• The warping displacement u is zero only if
the cross section is circular.
7.1 General
RECTANGULAR SHAFT BEFORE APPLYING A

TORQUE
7.1 General
RECTANGULAR SHAFT AFTER A TORQUE IS

APPLIED
7.1 General
Warping of a rectangular Section due to applied torque

7.1 General
• The torsion is said to be uniform only if the
warping is free to occur.
7.1 General
Limitations on the Application of Saint Venant Theory
• If the cross section of a member DOES

NOT WARP and the axis of rotation goes
through the shear centre Saint Venant
Theory is always applicable
• In all other cases Saint Venant theory is

applicable only if a uniformly distributed
torque is applied along the member and
the member can warp freely.
7.2 UNIFORM TORSION OF SOLID
CIRCULAR SECTIONS
CIRCULAR SECTIONS
THE SHEAR STRESS CAUSED BY A TORQUE

CIRCULAR SECTIONS
• The Shear stress caused by a torque at a

point is given by
 max
 r
R
Where:
max=Maximum shear stress
R=Radius of the bar
r=distance of the point from the centre of the bar
CIRCULAR SECTIONS
The maximum shear stress caused by an
applied torque is obtained as follows:
• The applied torque is given by:
 max 2
M T   r   dA   r  dA
A
R A
  dA  I p  Polar moment of inertia

2
But r
A
 max  I p
 MT 
R
MT  R
Thus  max
Ip
CIRCULAR SECTIONS
DEFORMATIONS CAUSED BY A TORQUE

CIRCULAR SECTIONS
DEFORMATIONS CAUSED BY A TORQUE

CIRCULAR SECTIONS
• The shear strain is given by
d
 r  r  
dx
But   G  
  G  r  
with
  angle of twist
d
   rate of change angle of twist along the member
dx
CIRCULAR SECTIONS
The rate of change of angle of twist is determined by
the applied torque as shown below
M T   r   dA   G r dA  G  r dA
 2
 2
A A A
But
 dA  I p
2
r
A
 M T  G I p
Thus
MT
 
GI p
7.3 TORSION CONSTANT
• The Torsion Constant (herein denoted by
IT) gives the relationship between the applied
torque and the strains caused by the torque. In
general:
M T  G I T
OR
MT
 
GI T
For circular cross sections the torsion constant IT is
equal to the polar moment of inertia I
7.4 UNIFORM TORSION OF SOLID NON
CIRCULAR SECTIONS
• It is important to note that the method used to

handle solid circular cross sections can not be
used to solve problems involving solid non
circular sections.
• Problems involving solid non circular sections

can be solved with the help of Saint Venant
Theory.
CIRCULAR SECTIONS
• Using the Saint Venant theory one can show that
the torsion constant IT is generally given by:
I T  2    ( y, z )dydz
z y
y
x
z
CIRCULAR SECTIONS
 ( y, z ) is a stress function defined by
• Where:
d
 xs  G 
dn
The axes s, n & x form a right angled coordinate system

CIRCULAR SECTIONS
With the help of the stress function Deformations and
Stresses caused by an applied Torque are generally
given by:
d MT
1)     rate of change of angle of twist
dx GI T
L
MT
2)    vdx   dx
0
GI T
M T d d
3)  xy   G 
I T dz dz
M T d d
4)  xz   G 
I T dy dy
(y,z) IT WT max
Examples of Stress Functions
circle
rectangle
Where
7.5 Uniform Torsion in Thin-walled Open Sections
• A section is said to be thin-walled if its

thickness is small when compared with the
other dimensions
t <<h
max
max
• In case of a thin-walled rectangular section the following can

be shown:
1 2
1)The Stress function can be   t y 2
approximated by:
4
1 3
2) The torsion constant is given by : I T  ht
3
MT
3) maximum shear stress is given by :  max  t
IT
3M T

ht 2
• Saint Venant Torsion theory assumes that

a general thin walled section e.g.
Is made of small rectangular thin-walled sections and

that under the action of a torque each individual
rectangular section will be twisted by the same
amount 
• Let the Torsion moment resisted by a

rectangular section (i ) be MT(i) From above it
follows
 1 3 
M T (i )  GI T ( i )   G  h( i )t( i ) 
3 
whereby
t( i )  thickness of sec tion (i )
h( i )  height of sec tion (i )
• The summation of the torsion moments resisted by all

the rectangular sections acting upon the section is
equal to the applied torque MT(i) i.e.
1
 3 

M T   M T ( i )   GI T ( i )   G   h( i )t(i ) 
3 
But M T  G I T

1

I T   h( i )t( i )
3
3

• Example

1 3
I T  h1t1  h2t 2  h3t3
3
3 3

• For each individual rectangular section (i)

the maximum shear stress is determined by its
thickness (ti) For the whole section the
maximum shear stress will occur at the
thickest part. This is given by:
3M T
 max   t
 hiti
3 max
7.6 Uniform Torsion in Thin-walled Closed Sections
•For the purpose of analyzing a closed section a

longitudinal cut is made so that the closed section is
converted into an open section.
• The Shear stresses for the opened section

are determined as discussed in section 7.5
• Continuity requirements at the point on the

cross section where the cut was made are
used to determine a continuous shear flow
(hereinafter denoted by T1), which will be
required to correct the shear stresses
calculated for the opened section
Continuous Shear Shear Stresses caused

Flow (T1) needed by T1are uniformly
to ensure continuity distributed over the
requirements thickness
• The applied torque is equal to the sum of

the torque resisted by the opened section
(MT(open)) and the torque resisted by the
continuous shear flow MT(csf)
• Moment resisted by the opened section is
given by:
 G    h(i )t(i )  
 1 3 
M T ( open )
3 
• Moment resisted by the continuous shear
flow (MT(csf)) is obtained as follows:
M T ( csf )   T1  ds  rt D
M T ( csf )  T1  rt D  ds
but
rt D  ds  2 xArea of the shaded triangle
 r  ds  2 xAm
D
t
Am
where
Am  Area enclosed by the centre line
• Thus: M T ( csf )  2  Am  T1
We have seen M T  M t ( open)  M T ( csf )
 M T  G   hi ti3   2  Am  T1
1
3
It can be shown that G   hi ti3  is so small compared to 2  Am  T1

1
3
that one can neglect it.
Therefore: M T  2  Am  T1
MT
Thus the continuous shear flow is given by : T1  .
2 Am
T1
And the associated shear stress at a po int is given by : 
t( s )
where ( s ) is the coordinate of the po int along the centre  line
The maximum shear stress occur at the point where the

section has the smallest thickness i.e. where t(s)= (tmin)
T1 MT
Thus  max  
t min 2  Am  t min
The torsion constant for a closed section is given by:
2
4A
I T ( closed )  m

ds
t

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7.

TORSION IN SOLID AND

The following points should be observed when

• If a torque is applied to a uniform bar the

RECTANGULAR SHAFT BEFORE APPLYING A

RECTANGULAR SHAFT AFTER A TORQUE IS

Warping of a rectangular Section due to applied torque

Limitations on the Application of Saint Venant Theory

• If the cross section of a member DOES

• In all other cases Saint Venant theory is

THE SHEAR STRESS CAUSED BY A TORQUE

• The Shear stress caused by a torque at a

  dA  I p  Polar moment of inertia

DEFORMATIONS CAUSED BY A TORQUE

DEFORMATIONS CAUSED BY A TORQUE

• It is important to note that the method used to

• Problems involving solid non circular sections

The axes s, n & x form a right angled coordinate system

• A section is said to be thin-walled if its

• In case of a thin-walled rectangular section the following can

• Saint Venant Torsion theory assumes that

Is made of small rectangular thin-walled sections and

• Let the Torsion moment resisted by a

• The summation of the torsion moments resisted by all

• For each individual rectangular section (i)

•For the purpose of analyzing a closed section a

• The Shear stresses for the opened section

• Continuity requirements at the point on the

Continuous Shear Shear Stresses caused

• The applied torque is equal to the sum of

It can be shown that G   hi ti3  is so small compared to 2  Am  T1

The maximum shear stress occur at the point where the

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