MECHANICS AND MATERIALS LAB

MEMB221

EXPERIMENT 2 - TORSION TEST

SEM 1 2015/16

NAME
1) AHMAD ARIF BIN ZAKARIA
2) KAVIRAJ A/L THIAGARAJAN
3) UDHAYA SHARWIN
4) MUHAMMAD AZWAN MOHAMED MANSOOR
SECTION : 4

GROUP : 5

LAB INSTRUCTOR: Pn. SITI ZUBAIDAH BTE OTHMAN

DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 03/07/2015
DUE DATE : 10/07/2015

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ID
ME093233
ME088972
ME088983
ME094005

TABLE OF CONTENT
NO.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

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CONTENT
TITLE PAGE
TABLE OF CONTENT
SUMMARY
OBJECTIVES
THEORY
EQUIPMENTS
PROCEDURES
DATA AND OBSERVATIONS
ANALYSIS AND RESULTS
DISCUSSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
REFERENCES

PAGE
1
2
3
3
4
5
7
9-10
12-13
14
14
15

Summary

This experiment is to find the Shear Modulus, G of the given specimens through the
measurement of the applied torque and angle of twist. It also to understand the principle of
torsion test.
During this experiment, aluminium and brass were uses as a samples to demonstrate how
materials behave during testing conditions. The torque measuring unit should be calibrated first
before the torsion test was performed, and a graph of calibration was plotted. The torsion test
was conducted and the results was taken based on given formulas, certain calculations were
calculated. From the experiment done, it is known that the shear modulus for Aluminum and
Brass to be 26.11 Gpa and 39.6 Gpa respectively. The results has a little bit different with the
theoretical value, this may happen due to certain errors.
So throughout the experiment, the objectives have been achieved. We able to identify the
modulus of shear and also understand the principle of torsion test.

Objectives

To understand the principles of torsion test.

To determine the modulus of shear, G through measurement of the applied torque and
angle of twist.

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Theory
Torsion is a variation of pure shear where in a structural member is twisted, torsional forces
produce a rotating motion about the longitudinal axis of one end of the member relative to the
other end.
Normally in each test, the torque and twisting angle are measured mainly to determine the shear
modulus, G where the shear modulus G is calculated based on this formula:T G

J
L

Where J

r 2 d 4

2
32

T = Torque
J = Polar moment of inertia
G = Shear modulus
= Angle after application of torque
L = Length of the specimen
d = Diameter of the specimen
r = Radius of the specimen

Specimen with various type of materials, different diameters and lengths are investigated. The
effective torque is recorded with the aid of a reference rod equipped with strain gauges. The
measured torque is displayed on the measurement amplifier. This also incorporates important
principles of electronic measurement of mechanical values into the experimental program. The
unit is primarily intended for practical laboratory experiments.

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EQUIPMENT/DESCRIPTION OF EXPERIMENTAL APPARATUS

The apparatus used consists mainly of :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Loading device with scale and revolution counter for twisting angle measurement
Torque measurement unit
Calibration device
Specimen (Aluminium and Brass)
Track base
Digital torque meter

Loading Device
The torsional loading is transmitted to the specimen
by a worm gear (1) and a hand wheel (4). The
twisting angle at the output and the input is read off
by the two 360 scales (2,3). At the input side of the
gear there is in addition a 5-digit revolution counter
(5) which shows the input revolutions 1:1. The
worm gear has a reduction ratio of 62. The
specimens hexagon ends are set into an axial
moveable socket (6) at the worm gear output end.

Torque Measurement Unit

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In this experiment the toque will be measured by a

reference torsion rod and strain gauges. The specimen is
mounted on one side to the loading device and on the
other side to the torque measurement device.
The load torque applied to the specimen produce shear
stresses in the measurement torsion rod. These shear
stresses are proportional to the load torque. Strain gauges
are used for detecting the shear stresses.
Specimen

Figure 2.2 : Sample Specimen

Technical Data
General data
Main dimension

: 1400 x 350 x 300 (mm)

Weight

: 25kg

Loading device
Worm gear reduction ratio

: 62

Revolution counter

: 5 digit with reset

Output scale

: 360

Input scale

: 360

Indicator

: Adjustable

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Torque measurement unit

Range

: 0 30 Nm

Display

: 6 digit, LED 14 mm

Temperature operating range

: 0 50 C

Power supply

: 230V, 50/60 V

Calibration device
Maximum load

: 30 Nm

Load increment

: 2.5 Nm

Procedure

a) Calibration
I.
II.
III.
IV.

The read out of the amplifier was set to zero

The torque measurement unit was connected to the measurement amplifier
The measurement amplifier was switched on at the back of plane
Press and hold V button and P button to set the read outs to zero. There should no

V.
VI.

be load torque
The load torque was increased by 5 Nm and the read out was noticed
Check the offset after reload and set it to zero if necessary

b) Performing the test

Mounting the specimen
I.
II.

Short specimen is used in this experiment

The specimen was mounted between the loading device and torque-measuring

III.
IV.
V.

unit
19mm hexagon socket was used
Make sure that the shifting holder of the load device is in the mid-position
Make sure that there is no preload on the specimen. If necessary turn the hand

VI.

wheel at the input of the worm gear until the read out of the amplifier is zero
Both indicators at the input and output shaft of the worm gear was set to zero

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VII.

The dial gauge of the compensation unit was set to zero. Hence turn the turnable
scale
Revolution counter was reset

VIII.

I.
II.

Loading the specimen

The hand wheel at the input gear was turned clockwise to load the specimen. Turn
it only for a defined angle increment
Choose an increment of a quarter rotation (90) for the first rotation, for the
second and third rotation of a half-quarter (180) and the 4th to 10th rotation of one

III.

rotation (360)
Divide the rotation at the input by reduction ratio of 62 to calculate the twist angle

IV.
V.

at the specimen
Fracture will occur at 100-200 rotations.
After each angle increment, the deformation of the measuring torsion was

VI.

compensated.
The torque value was read from the display of the amplifier and note is together

VII.
VIII.

with the indicated twist angle.

The results was tabulated
The experiment was repeated with other specimen

DATA AND OBSERVATIONS:

a) Calibration Test
The length of lever bar, = 500mm = 0.5m.
The applied load torque is calculated using the equation of moment which is
Moment = Force x Distance
Load (N)

Applied Load Torque (Nm)

Amplifier Torque (Nm)

2.5

2.25

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10

5.0

4.85

15

7.5

7.20

20

10.0

9.60

25

12.5

12.00

30

15.0

14.60

35

17.5

17.15

40

20.0

19.65

45

22.5

22.35

50

25.0

24.65

55

27.5

27.65

60

30.0

29.70

Table 1: Calibration results table

b) Testing on Samples (Aluminium and Brass)

(Both of length, L =115mm = 0.115m):

i.
ii.

Aluminium (diameter, d1 = 6.2mm = 0.0062m)

Brass = (diameter, d2 = 6.2mm = 0.0062m)

Rotation

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Angle of
Gear Input
( )

Torque, T (Nm)

Angle of
twist, ()

Angle of
twist
(Radian)

Aluminium

Brass

90

1.20

1.80

1.45

0.0253

180

2.25

3.25

2.90

0.0506

270

3.25

3.35

4.35

0.0760

360

3.70

3.50

5.80

0.1012

540

3.85

3.65

8.70

0.1518

720

3.85

3.90

11.61

0.2026

900

3.90

4.64

14.52

0.2534

1080

4.50

5.35

17.42

0.3040

1440

7.75

10.0

23.23

0.4054

1800

11.60

12.60

29.03

0.5067

2160

13.55

13.40

34.84

0.6081

2520

14.25

13.80

40.65

0.7095

2880

14.25

13.85

46.45

0.8107

3240

14.70

14.25

52.26

0.9121

10

3600

14.95

14.40

58.06

1.0133

Table 2: Samples Testing Results

Graph 1

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Graph 2

Graph 3

Analysis and Results

Calibration Curve calculation:

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Gradient of the curve = (24.65-4.85)/ (25-5)

= 0.99
Theoretically the gradient should be = 1.000
Percentage error = (1.000 - 0.99 / 1.000 ) x100 = 1%

Calculation of G for Aluminium:

Gradient = (3.7-1.2)/(0.1012-0.0253) = 32.94

Polar moment of inertia, J = (pi x (diameter)4 ) / 32 = (pi x 0.00624) / 32 = 1.4507 x 10-10 m4
Hence the shear modulus, G = TLo / J = 32.94 X 0.115m / ( 1.4507x10-10m4)
G value for Aluminum = 26.11 GPa
Comparing with theoretical value : 27Gpa
Hence, percentage error = ((27 26.11) / 27) x 100 = 3.3%

Calculation of G for Brass:

Gradient of the curve is = T / = (10-5) / (0.4-0.3) = 50
Polar moment of inertia, J = (pi x (diameter)4 ) / 32 = (pi x 0.00624) / 32 = 1.4509 x 10-10 m4
Hence the shear modulus, G = TLo / J = 50 X 0.115m / (1.4509 x 10-10 m4)

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G for Brass = 39.6 GPa

Comparing with theoretical value : 39 Gpa
Hence, percentage error = ((39 39.6) / 39) x 100 = 1.54%

Discussion

Based on the analysis of the results, the value of G for aluminium and brass is 26.11 GPa and
39.6 GPa which is a little bit different compared to the theoretical ones. And this may due to
errors such as human error (parallax error) or this tools/equipment that used is not accurate. From
this experiment it also shown that aluminium is more ductile than brass as aluminium need less
torque to twist
The difference between specimens tested are its Modulus of Shear , G. Both materials gave us
different values and this indicates that both does not behave the same when subjected to constant
torsional loading. The graphs of actual torque value vs the revolution at gear output in radian also
displays the trend of the curve for both materials, vividly enough for us to inspect the behaviour
at various points of loading
Two common mechanical parts that are subjected to torsion are the transmission shafts in
vehicles for transmitting power from the engine and as simple as the turning of a screwdriver to
turn a screw. The torque makes the shaft twist and at the one end rotates relative to the other

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inducing shear stress on any cross section. In spring, when the spring is compressed or
elongated, it created torsion due to the deflection.

Conclusion
The objective of this experiment is to determine the modulus of shear, G of both the specimen
which is aluminium and brass are achieved. This experiment was done through measurement of
applied torque and angle of twist. The calculations was done using the given formulas and from
the calculation, it was found that, there is a little bit error in finding the shear modulus for both
the specimen. The principle of torsion is clearly understood from the experiment.

Referance

Semester 1 2015/2016. MEMB221 Mechanics and Material Laboratory Manual

COE, Uniten, pp 14-19
Ferdinand P.Beer, E.Russell Johnston, Jr., John T.DeWolf. 2004. Mechanics Of
Materials. 3rd Edition. McGraw Hill. pp 746.

INTERNET :
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/modulus-rigidity-d_946.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shear_modulus.

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