Machine Design: cram pack

Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 12 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.

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1Formulas and methods

Gears & gear trains

Meshing gears
n1·N1 = n2·N2
Torque
T2 = T1·(N2/N1)·η
Power
P = T·ω, ω = 2π·n/60
Compound train
total ratio = product of the stage ratios

Torsion of shafts

Shear stress
τ = T·r/J
Solid shaft
J = πd⁴/32
Hollow shaft
J = π(D⁴ − d⁴)/32
Angle of twist
φ = TL/(GJ)
Power
P = T·ω = 2πnT/60

Method

  1. Find the polar moment of area: J = πd⁴/32 for a solid shaft.
  2. Shear stress at the surface: τ = T·r/J, with r the outer radius.
  3. Angle of twist: φ = TL/(GJ) in radians.
  4. If power is given, find the torque first with P = T·ω, ω = 2πn/60.

Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Centre
C = (σx + σy)/2
Radius
R = √(((σx − σy)/2)² + τxy²)
Principal stresses
σ1,2 = C ± R
Principal direction
tan 2θp = 2τxy/(σx − σy)
Inclined plane
σθ = C + (σx − σy)/2·cos 2θ + τxy·sin 2θ

Method

  1. Calculate the centre of Mohr’s circle: C = (σx + σy)/2.
  2. Calculate the radius: R = √(((σx − σy)/2)² + τxy²).
  3. The principal stresses are C ± R and the largest in-plane shear stress is R.
  4. Angles on the circle are double the angles on the element: tan 2θp = 2τxy/(σx − σy).

Axial stress & strain

Normal stress
σ = F/A
Strain
ε = ΔL/L
Hooke’s law
σ = E·ε
Elongation
ΔL = FL/(EA)
Thermal strain
εT = α·ΔT

Column buckling

Euler load
Pcr = π²EI/(KL)²
Effective length factor
K = 1 pinned–pinned, 0.5 fixed–fixed, 0.7 fixed–pinned, 2 fixed–free
Critical stress
σcr = Pcr/A
Slenderness
λ = KL/r, r = √(I/A)

Mechanical vibrations

Natural frequency
ωn = √(k/m), fn = ωn/(2π)
From static deflection
ωn = √(g/δst)
Critical damping
cc = 2√(km) = 2mωn
Damping ratio
ζ = c/cc
Damped frequency
ωd = ωn√(1 − ζ²)
Logarithmic decrement
δ = (1/n)·ln(x0/xn), ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²)
Springs in parallel
k = k1 + k2
Springs in series
1/k = 1/k1 + 1/k2

2Practice problems

1.Gears & gear trainsMedium
d1​ = 125 mmd2​ = 400 mm1440 rpmT1​ = 400 NT2​ = 200 NP = ?

A belt runs on a 125 mm driving pulley at 1440 rpm. The tension is 400 N on the tight side and 200 N on the slack side. Find the power P transmitted, in kW.

d1 = 125 mmn1 = 1440 rpmT1 = 400 NT2 = 200 N
P = kW
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 150 mmd2​ = 300 mm960 rpmC = 500 mmT1​ = 2000 NT2​P = ?

An open belt connects a 150 mm driving pulley at 960 rpm to a 300 mm pulley; the centres are 500 mm apart. The coefficient of friction is 0.35 and the tight-side tension may not exceed 2000 N. Find the largest power P the belt can transmit without slipping, in kW (ignore centrifugal effects).

d1 = 150 mmn1 = 960 rpmd2 = 300 mmC = 500 mmμ = 0.35T1 = 2000 N
P = kW
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 500 N·md = 30 mmL = 0.8 mφ = ?

A solid steel shaft is fixed at the wall and twisted by a torque T at its free end. Find the angle of twist φ of the free end, in degrees.

T = 500 N·md = 30 mmL = 0.8 mG = 80 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 5 kW at 500 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 75 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 5 kWN = 500 rpmτallow = 75 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 20σy​ = 80τxy​ = 30MPa

A point has σₓ = 20 MPa, σᵧ = 80 MPa and τₓᵧ = 30 MPa (tension positive). The element is rotated 60° counter-clockwise. Find the normal stress σy′ on the faces of the rotated element that are perpendicular to the rotated y′-axis.

σx = 20 MPaσy = 80 MPaτxy = 30 MPaθ = 60°
σy′ = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 60σy​ = 30τxy​ = −50MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 60 MPa, σᵧ = 30 MPa and τₓᵧ = −50 MPa (σz = 0). The material has a yield strength of 355 MPa. Find the factor of safety n against yielding by the von Mises (distortion energy) criterion.

σx = 60 MPaσy = 30 MPaτxy = −50 MPaσY = 355 MPa
n =
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
P = ?12300 mm300 mmØ25Ø60δ = 0.4 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 25 mm, length 300 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of brass (diameter 60 mm, length 300 mm, E = 100 GPa). It is fixed at one end and pulled at the other. Find the axial load P that stretches it by 0.4 mm in total.

segment 1: steel, Ø25 mm, 300 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: brass, Ø60 mm, 300 mm, E = 100 GPaδ = 0.4 mm
P = kN
8.Axial stress & strainHard
60 kN12400 mm400 mmØ20Ø60σ2​ = ?

A steel segment (diameter 20 mm, length 400 mm, E = 200 GPa) and a segment made of brass (diameter 60 mm, length 400 mm, E = 100 GPa) are joined end to end and fixed between two rigid walls. An axial load of 60 kN acts at the joint, towards segment 2. Find the magnitude of the stress σ2 in segment 2.

segment 1: steel, Ø20 mm, 400 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: brass, Ø60 mm, 400 mm, E = 100 GPaP = 60 kN
σ2 = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 6 md = 80 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of steel is fixed at the base and free at the top. Using Euler’s formula, find its critical buckling load Pcr.

L = 6 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 80 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 1 md = 80 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of steel is fixed at the base and free at the top. Find its slenderness and the critical buckling stress σcr from Euler’s formula.

L = 1 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 80 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 80 kN/mζ = 0.35m = 40 kg

A 40 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 80 kN/m has a viscous damper giving a damping ratio of 0.35. Find the damped natural frequency fd of its free vibration in Hz.

m = 40 kgk = 80 kN/mζ = 0.35
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 10k2​ = 15k3​ = 10m = 10 kg

A 10 kg mass hangs from spring k₃ = 10 kN/m. The top of k₃ is attached to a rigid bar that hangs from two springs side by side, k₁ = 10 kN/m and k₂ = 15 kN/m; the bar stays level. Ignore damping and the masses of the springs and bar. Find the natural frequency fn of vertical vibration in Hz.

m = 10 kgk1 = 10 kN/mk2 = 15 kN/mk3 = 10 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: P = 1.885 kW

Belt drives: without slip, both pulleys have the same rim speed v = π·d·n/60, so n₁·d₁ = n₂·d₂ and the speed ratio is d₂/d₁. Slip s makes the driven pulley a little slower: n₂ = n₁·(d₁/d₂)·(1 − s). The power transmitted is P = (T₁ − T₂)·v, with T₁ the tension on the tight side and T₂ on the slack side. Friction limits the ratio of the tensions: T₁/T₂ = eμθ, where θ is the angle of wrap in radians on the smaller pulley; for an open belt θ = π − 2·asin((d₂ − d₁)/(2C)) with centre distance C.

Belt speed

v = 9.425 m/s

Power

P = (400 − 200)·9.425 = 1885 W = 1.885 kW

Answer

P = 1.885 kW
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: P = 9.5 kW

Belt drives: without slip, both pulleys have the same rim speed v = π·d·n/60, so n₁·d₁ = n₂·d₂ and the speed ratio is d₂/d₁. Slip s makes the driven pulley a little slower: n₂ = n₁·(d₁/d₂)·(1 − s). The power transmitted is P = (T₁ − T₂)·v, with T₁ the tension on the tight side and T₂ on the slack side. Friction limits the ratio of the tensions: T₁/T₂ = eμθ, where θ is the angle of wrap in radians on the smaller pulley; for an open belt θ = π − 2·asin((d₂ − d₁)/(2C)) with centre distance C.

Angle of wrap

θ = 2.84 rad

Slack-side tension

eμθ = e0.9942 = 2.702, T₂ = 2000/2.702 = 740.1 N

Power

P = (2000 − 740.1)·7.54 = 9.5 kW

Answer

P = 9.5 kW
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 3.603 °

Torsion of circular shafts: shear stress grows linearly from zero at the centre to τmax = T·r/J at the surface, with J = πd⁴/32 for a solid shaft and J = π(do⁴ − di⁴)/32 for a hollow one. The angle of twist is φ = TL/(GJ) in radians. Power and torque are linked by P = T·ω.

Polar second moment of area

J = π·30⁴/32 = 79522 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 500·1000·800/(80000·79522) = 0.06288 rad
φ = 0.06288·180/π = 3.603°

Answer

φ = 3.603°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 18.65 mm

Torsion of circular shafts: shear stress grows linearly from zero at the centre to τmax = T·r/J at the surface, with J = πd⁴/32 for a solid shaft and J = π(do⁴ − di⁴)/32 for a hollow one. The angle of twist is φ = TL/(GJ) in radians. Power and torque are linked by P = T·ω.

Torque

ω = 2πN/60 = 2π·500/60 = 52.36 rad/s
T = P/ω = 5000/52.36 = 95.49 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·95493/(π·75)) = 18.65 mm

Answer

d = 18.65 mm

In practice you would round up to the next standard size.

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σy′ = 9.019 MPa

Plane stress transformation: on a plane rotated by θ, σ = (σₓ + σᵧ)/2 + (σₓ − σᵧ)/2·cos 2θ + τₓᵧ·sin 2θ. Mohr’s circle shows all planes at once: its centre is at C = (σₓ + σᵧ)/2 and its radius is R = √(((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)² + τₓᵧ²). The principal stresses are C ± R, and the largest in-plane shear stress is R.

Transformation equation for the y′ face

σy′ = 50 − (−30)·(−0.5) − 30·0.866 = 9.019 MPa

Check

The sum of the normal stresses does not change with rotation.

σx′ = 90.98 MPa, σx′ + σy′ = 100 = σx + σy

Answer

σy′ = 9.019 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: n = 3.515

Plane stress transformation: on a plane rotated by θ, σ = (σₓ + σᵧ)/2 + (σₓ − σᵧ)/2·cos 2θ + τₓᵧ·sin 2θ. Mohr’s circle shows all planes at once: its centre is at C = (σₓ + σᵧ)/2 and its radius is R = √(((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)² + τₓᵧ²). The principal stresses are C ± R, and the largest in-plane shear stress is R. Yield criteria: von Mises predicts yield when σvM = √(σ₁² − σ₁σ₂ + σ₂²) reaches σY; Tresca when the absolute maximum shear stress reaches σY/2.

στxyCσ1​σ2​

Principal stresses

C = 45 MPa, R = 52.2 MPa
σ1 = 97.2 MPa, σ2 = −7.202 MPa, σ3 = 0

Von Mises

σvM = √(97.2² − 97.2·(−7.202) + (−7.202)²) = 101 MPa
n = 355/101 = 3.515

Answer

n = 3.515

n > 1 means the point does not yield; Tresca is slightly more conservative than von Mises.

7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 97.16 kN

Two materials: in series (one after the other) every segment carries the same force and the elongations add: δ = P·Σ L/(E·A). In parallel (side by side between rigid plates) both parts shorten by the same amount, so their strains are equal: the stiffer part takes the larger share, Pi = P·EiAi/ΣEA, and σi = Ei·ε. A bar held between two rigid walls with a load at the junction is statically indeterminate: the two segments share the load in proportion to their stiffness k = EA/L.

Areas

A₁ = 490.9 mm², A₂ = 2827 mm²

Flexibilities

L₁/(E₁A₁) = 300/(200000·490.9) = 3.056 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 300/(100000·2827) = 1.061 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

Load

P = 0.4/4.117 × 10⁻⁶ = 97163 N = 97.16 kN

Answer

P = 97.16 kN
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σ2 = 17.36 MPa

Two materials: in series (one after the other) every segment carries the same force and the elongations add: δ = P·Σ L/(E·A). In parallel (side by side between rigid plates) both parts shorten by the same amount, so their strains are equal: the stiffer part takes the larger share, Pi = P·EiAi/ΣEA, and σi = Ei·ε. A bar held between two rigid walls with a load at the junction is statically indeterminate: the two segments share the load in proportion to their stiffness k = EA/L.

Stiffnesses

k₁ = 200000·314.2/400 = 157080 N/mm
k₂ = 100000·2827/400 = 706858 N/mm

Share of segment 2

F2 = 60000·706858/863938 = 49091 N

Stress

σ2 = 49091/2827 = 17.36 MPa (compression)

Answer

σ2 = 17.36 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 27.56 kN

Euler buckling: a slender column becomes unstable at Pcr = π²EI/(KL)², where KL is the effective length: K = 1 for pinned–pinned, 2 for fixed–free, 0.7 for fixed–pinned and 0.5 for fixed–fixed. It buckles about the axis with the smallest I. The formula holds for slender columns, whose critical stress stays below the yield stress.

Smallest second moment of area

A round section has the same I about every axis.

I = πd⁴/64 = π·80⁴/64 = 2.011 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 2·6000 = 12000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·2.011 × 10⁶/12000² = 27561 N = 27.56 kN

Answer

Pcr = 27.56 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 197.4 MPa

Euler buckling: a slender column becomes unstable at Pcr = π²EI/(KL)², where KL is the effective length: K = 1 for pinned–pinned, 2 for fixed–free, 0.7 for fixed–pinned and 0.5 for fixed–fixed. It buckles about the axis with the smallest I. The formula holds for slender columns, whose critical stress stays below the yield stress.

Smallest second moment of area

A round section has the same I about every axis.

I = πd⁴/64 = π·80⁴/64 = 2.011 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 5027 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(2.011 × 10⁶/5027) = 20 mm
KL = 2·1000 = 2000 mm
KL/r = 2000/20 = 100

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/100² = 197.4 MPa

Answer

σcr = 197.4 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 6.667 Hz

Free vibration of a mass–spring system: the undamped natural frequency is ωn = √(k/m) in rad/s, and fn = ωn/(2π) in Hz. A viscous damper c gives the damping ratio ζ = c/cc, with critical damping cc = 2·√(k·m) = 2·m·ωn. An underdamped system (ζ < 1) oscillates at ωd = ωn·√(1 − ζ²). Springs in parallel add, k = k₁ + k₂; springs in series add as reciprocals, 1/k = 1/k₁ + 1/k₂.

Undamped natural frequency

ωn = √(80000/40) = 44.72 rad/s
fn = 44.72/(2π) = 7.118 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 7.118·√(1 − 0.35²) = 6.667 Hz

Answer

fd = 6.667 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 4.254 Hz

Free vibration of a mass–spring system: the undamped natural frequency is ωn = √(k/m) in rad/s, and fn = ωn/(2π) in Hz. A viscous damper c gives the damping ratio ζ = c/cc, with critical damping cc = 2·√(k·m) = 2·m·ωn. An underdamped system (ζ < 1) oscillates at ωd = ωn·√(1 − ζ²). Springs in parallel add, k = k₁ + k₂; springs in series add as reciprocals, 1/k = 1/k₁ + 1/k₂.

Equivalent stiffness

Only k1 and k2 are in parallel. That pair is in series with k3, so combine them as reciprocals.

k12 = 10 + 15 = 25 kN/m
keq = 25·10/(25 + 10) = 7.143 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(7143/10) = 26.73 rad/s
fn = 26.73/(2π) = 4.254 Hz

Answer

fn = 4.254 Hz

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