Torsion constant

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search

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.


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 Jzz, which has an exact analytic equation, by assuming that a plane section before twisting remains plane 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.[1]


The torsional stiffness of a beams with non-circular cross sections is significantly increased if the warping of the end sections is restrained by, for example, stiff end blocks.[3]

Partial Derivation[edit]

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

\theta = \frac{TL}{JG}


\theta is the angle of twist in radians
T is the applied torque
L is the beam length
J is the moment of inertia
G is the Modulus of rigidity (shear modulus) of the material


Examples for specific uniform cross-sectional shapes[edit]


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


r is the radius

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

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

D is the Diameter


J \approx \frac{\pi a^3 b^3}{a^2 + b^2}[5][6]


a is the major radius
b is the minor radius


J \approx \,2.25 a^4[7]


a is half the side length


J \approx\beta a b^3


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 )[5]

Thin walled open tube of uniform thickness[edit]

J = \frac{1}{3}U t^3[9]
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)[edit]

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

J = \frac{2}{3} \pi r t^3[10]
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[edit]

There are a number specialized software tools to calculate the torsion constant using the finite element method.


  1. ^ Archie Higdon et al. "Mechanics of Materials, 4th edition".
  2. ^ Advanced structural mechanics, 2nd Edition, David Johnson
  3. ^ The Influence and Modelling of Warping Restraint on Beams
  4. ^ a b "Area Moment of Inertia." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource.
  5. ^ a b Roark's Formulas for stress & Strain, 7th Edition, Warren C. Young & Richard G. Budynas
  6. ^ Continuum Mechanics, Fridtjov Irjens, Springer 2008, p238, ISBN 978-3-540-74297-5
  7. ^ Torsion Equations, Roy Beardmore,
  8. ^ Advanced Strength and Applied Elasticity, Ugural & Fenster, Elsevier, ISBN 0-444-00160-3
  9. ^ Advanced Mechanics of Materials, Boresi, John Wiley & Sons, ISBN 0-471-55157-0
  10. ^ Roark's Formulas for stress & Strain, 6th Edition, Warren C. Young