On the torsion of chiral bars in gradient elasticity

This paper contains a study of the problem of torsion of chiral bars with arbitrary cross-sections in the context of the linear theory of gradient elasticity. The solution is expressed in terms of solutions of four auxiliary plane problems characterized by loads which depend only on the constitutive coefficients. It is shown that, in general, the torsion produces extension (or contraction) and bending effects. The results are used to investigate the torsion of a homogeneous circular bar. In contrast with the case of achiral circular cylinders, the torsion and extension cannot be treated independently of each other.