Drive Shaft Torsion Testing

The Challenge

Because they rotate at very high speeds and experience high torque forces, driveshafts must be precisely balanced and weighted. Inferior driveshafts can cause problems that affect the drivability of the vehicle. 

Most commonly made of steel, a driveshaft transfers power from the transmission to the wheels of a vehicle. As the drive for light weighting increases the range of materials used in automobiles, composite driveshafts are now being developed; made of carbon and polymer fiber that are designed to break into small fiber fragments upon failure, increasing safety. Composite driveshafts are also lighter weight (than typical steel) with higher torque capacity, higher rpm value, and reduced noise and vibration.

Determining the torque and rotation properties of driveshafts is critical to determine the performance and quality of these safety critical components.

Instron^® MT Series systems offer a range of capacities for torsion testing ideal for testing drive shafts. These systems offer accurate, multi-turn capability with high torsional stiffness. Adjustable horizontal test openings and lathe chuck grips facilitate easy specimen loading.

The system utilizes powerful Bluehill^® Universal software, with a specific torsion application module providing default methods. The TestProfiler module can also be used for more complex loading scenarios, such as applying torque at different rates within the same test or cyclic testing.