Torsion constant

The torsion constant is a geometrical property of a bar'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. The torsion constant, together with material properties and length, describes a bar's torsional stiffness. The SI unit for torsion constant is m⁴.

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 J_zz, which has an exact analytic equation, by assuming that a plane section before twisting remains planar 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 where warping takes place.

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-sections always have warping deformations that require numerical methods to allow for the exact calculation of the torsion constant.

The torsional stiffness of beams with non-circular cross sections is significantly increased if the warping of the end sections is restrained by, for example, stiff end blocks.

Partial Derivation

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

$\theta = \frac{TL}{JG}$

where

$\theta$ is the angle of twist in radians

T is the applied torque

L is the beam length

J is the torsional constant

G is the Modulus of rigidity (shear modulus) of the material

Examples for specific uniform cross-sectional shapes

Circle

$J_{zz} = J_{xx}+J_{yy} = \frac{\pi r^4}{4} + \frac{\pi r^4}{4} = \frac{\pi r^4}{2}$

where

r is the radius

This is identical to the second moment of area J_zz and is exact.

alternatively write: $J = \frac{\pi D^4}{32}$ where

D is the Diameter

Ellipse

$J \approx \frac{\pi a^3 b^3}{a^2 + b^2}$

where

a is the major radius

b is the minor radius

Square

$J \approx \,2.25 a^4$

where

a is half the side length

Rectangle

$J \approx\beta a b^3$

where

a is the length of the long side

b is the length of the short side

$\beta$ is found from the following table:

a/b	$\beta$
1.0	0.141
1.5	0.196
2.0	0.229
2.5	0.249
3.0	0.263
4.0	0.281
5.0	0.291
6.0	0.299
10.0	0.312
$\infty$	0.333

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

$J \approx a b^3 \left ( \frac{1}{3}-0.21 \frac{b}{a} \left ( 1- \frac{b^4}{12a^4} \right ) \right )$

Thin walled open tube of uniform thickness

$J = \frac{1}{3}Ut^3$

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 (approximation)

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

$J = \frac{2}{3} \pi r t^3$

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 by Mechatools Technologies
• ShapeBuilder by IES, Inc.
• STAAD SectionWizard by Bentley
• SectionAnalyzer by Fornamagic Ltd
• Strand7 BXS Generator by Strand7 Pty Limited