Torsion Test For Mild Steel Bars

TORSION TEST ON MILD STEEL BARS
OBJECT
1. To study the linearly elastic behaviour of mild steel under torsion and to
determine the shear modulus of elasticity, G.
2. To study the complete behavior of mild steel under torsion and to determine
qualitatively the relationship between torsional load and angle of twist for a
full range of strains till failure.
3. To determine whether the metallic materials fail in tension, compression, or
shear when it is subjected to pure shear.
APPARATUS
Torsion Testing machine, Specimen

(Capacity 57 Kgf-m or 5000 in-lb)
INTRODUCTION
Torsion is a particular case of shear. The torsion test gives a clear insight into
the behaviour of metal parts like axles, shafts and twist drills, as the test approaches
service conditions. Torsion tests at elevated temperatures are supposed to give an
idea of the forgeable nature of the metal. The test enables us to determine the
modulus of elasticity in shear and the shear yield strength.
Torsion loading results in twisting of one section of a body with respect to a
contiguous section. For a circular cross-section, in the absence of the other loads,
pure shear stress state exists at each point. Torsional elastic shear stresses vary
linearly from zero at the axis of twist to a maximum at the extreme fibers. Thus, in a
solid circular bar, when the surface fibers reach the yield shear stress they are, in a
sense, supported by elastic interior fibers. Consequently, the elastic resistance of the
remainder of the section masks the effect of yielding of the surface fibers during
their early stage of yielding. Therefore, it is practically impossible to determine when
the extreme fibers of the solid specimen in torsion start to yield. This difficulty is
overcome by the use of hollow (thin-walled) specimens, which give more sensitive
measures of the elastic-plastic transition since all the fibers are at about the same
stress. However, for thin-walled tubes with large ratios of diameter vs. thickness (D/t
> 10) there is a tendency for premature local buckling failure to occur. Therefore the
actual dimensions of the specimen used must be carefully chosen.
THEORY
A system loading which causes one section of a bar or shaft to rotate about its
central longitudinal axis relatively to another such section, and which thus produces
twist or torsion in the bar, constitutes a torsional load. The load may be composed
of forces acting in any direction but the twisting or torsional effect is provided by the
couples formed by these forces in planes normal to the central axis. For any
2
homogeneous isotropic material, the initial portion of the shearing stress-strain

diagram is a straight line.
The torsional shearing stresses in a circular cross section vary from zero at
the axis of the section to a maximum value at the extreme fibers. If no bending is
present, pure shear exists.
The torsional deformation is measured as angular twist. The modulus of elasticity in

shear or rigidity modulus (G) can be calculated from the equation
T ×L
G=
J ×φ where T is the torsional load in kgf-cm, L is the length of specimen in
cm, J is the polar moment of inertia of the specimen cross-section about the axis of
the specimen in cm4 and Φ is the angle of twist in radians.
4
J=
π× d
32 where d is the diameter of the specimen.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MACHINE
Torsion testing machine consists of two independent chucks where the

specimen can be placed, one of which is rotated by means of an electric motor and
the speed is reduced through a suitable reduction gear. The twist is communicated
through the test piece to the other jaw on which a weighted pendulum is attached.
The resistance to deflection of the pendulum causes a torque, to be applied

to the test piece and the angle of deflection of pendulum is the measure of torque.
The history of the test is recorded autographically on a chart attached to a drum
which is secured to that jaw whose movement is done through worm and worm
wheel.
A pencil is screwed, to the pendulum whose deflection causes movement of

the pencil in the direction perpendicular to the line of rotation by its contact with a
guide curve fastened to the frame of the machine.
2
3
The calibration curve is so plotted that the movement of the pencil is

perpendicular in direction to the plane of rotation. The height of the curve is the
measure of the torque. Each vertical cm = 2000 kgf-cm of torsional moment. The
machine is built for maximum twisting moment at about 5000 lbs.inch (57 kgf-m).
The horizontal scale (abscissa) gives the angle of twist which is 1 cm = 3.926 o.
It is equipped with jaws for accommodating test pieces of 1/2”, 5/8”, 3/4”
size either square or circular with square shoulders, or 10 mm, 15 mm and 20 mm
sizes either square or circular with square shoulders.
FAILURE OF MATERIALS UNDER TORSION
Ductile materials fail in shear when subjected to torsion. Specimens will break along
a plane perpendicular to its longitudinal axis.
Brittle materials are generally weaker in tension than in shear. When subjected to
torsion a specimen tends to break along surfaces which are perpendicular to the
direction in which tension is maximum.
F F’
WORKING INSTRUCTIONS
3
4
Draw a neat sketch of the apparatus and label the salient parts.
First of all, measure the diameter of the test piece with the help of Vernier
calipers.
Now rotate the wheel with the help of worm such that the moveable jaw
takes the symmetrical position as that of fixed jaw. Place the specimen in between
the two jaws by pressing against the spring in moveable jaw.
Release the pencil point on the graph wrapped over the drum and rotate the
worm wheel with the handle (or switch on the electric motor) until the specimen
breaks.
Measure the ordinate and abscissa on the graph when the specimen breaks
and observe the fracture.
OBSERVATIONS
1) Diameter of the test specimen =

2) Length between ends =
3) Torque at yield =
4) Torque at fracture =
5) Angle of twist at yield =
6) Angle of twist at fracture =
Calculation:
4
π× d
Polar moment of inertia = J = 32
T ×L
Rigidity Modulus (G) kg/cm2 = J×φ
T yp ×r
Shear stress at yield Τyp = J
T fr ×r
Shear stress at fracture Τfr = J
Nature of fracture:
QUESTIONAIRE
4
5
1. Explain with sketches the distribution of shear stress over a solid circular
section and a hollow circular section subjected to twisting moment.
2. Did this material fail in tension, compression or shear? What

observations bring you to that conclusion?

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TORSION TEST ON MILD STEEL BARS

Torsion Testing machine, Specimen

homogeneous isotropic material, the initial portion of the shearing stress-strain

The torsional deformation is measured as angular twist. The modulus of elasticity in

DESCRIPTION OF THE MACHINE

Torsion testing machine consists of two independent chucks where the

The resistance to deflection of the pendulum causes a torque, to be applied

A pencil is screwed, to the pendulum whose deflection causes movement of

The calibration curve is so plotted that the movement of the pencil is

FAILURE OF MATERIALS UNDER TORSION

1) Diameter of the test specimen =

2. Did this material fail in tension, compression or shear? What

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