What Does
Torque Mean?
Torque is a vector quantity that refers to the moment of torsional force applied on a body so that it starts rotating about an axis, fulcrum or pivot.
Torque is also known as torsion because it refers to the twisting of an object.
Corrosionpedia Explains Torque
Torque is calculated as the product of a force and a position vector r on which the force is applied. The SI unit of torque is Newton meter or N-m.
T = r x F
An object tends to deform when a force is applied that is more than the tensile strength of an object because a large amount of strain acts on the object. Deformation refers to modifications in the shape or size of an object due to applied forces or a change in temperature.
Deformation usually appears as strain and is usually caused by forces such as:
- Tensile (pulling)
- Compressive (pushing)
- Shear
- Bending
- Torsion (twisting)
Torque plays an important role because most equipment is subject to axial rotation. Equipment operated in a harsh corrosive environment may weaken and become vulnerable to failure when subjected to a small amount of torsion if not protected with a corrosion resistant paint or coating.