An Analysis of the Thin-Walled Torsion Specimen

Abstract

A detailed finite element analysis has been conducted of the thin-walled torsion specimen. This specimen, when properly gripped, provides an approximation to the simple shear deformation field. Variations through the thickness of the specimen are small for the shear stress but can be large for the axial normal stress. Plastic deformation extends into the shoulder region requiring a correction factor to be used when converting the applied twist at the grips to average shear strain across the gauge section. This correction factor can be numerically quantified and used in data reduction.