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​ = 150 mmd2​ = 300 mm960 rpmT1​ = 500 NT2​ = 250 NP = ?

A belt runs on a 150 mm driving pulley at 960 rpm. The tension is 500 N on the tight side and 250 N on the slack side. Find the power P transmitted, in kW.

d1 = 150 mmn1 = 960 rpmT1 = 500 NT2 = 250 N
P = kW
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 25B = 40C = 16D = ?

In a compound gear train, gear A (25 teeth) on the input shaft turns at 960 rpm and drives gear B (40 teeth). Gear C (16 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D on the output shaft. The output must turn at 120 rpm. How many teeth ND must gear D have?

nin = 960 rpmA = 25B = 40C = 16nout = 120 rpm
ND =
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 250 N·md = 30 mmL = 3 mφ = ?

A solid brass 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 = 250 N·md = 30 mmL = 3 mG = 39 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
d = ?20 kW, 300 rpm

A solid aluminium shaft transmits 20 kW at 300 rpm. The shear stress must not exceed 75 MPa and the twist must not exceed 0.5° per m of length. Find the smallest diameter d that satisfies both limits.

P = 20 kWN = 300 rpmτallow = 75 MPaθallow = 0.5°/mG = 26 GPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 0σy​ = 0τxy​ = 50MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 0 MPa, σᵧ = 0 MPa and τₓᵧ = 50 MPa (tension positive). Find the maximum in-plane shear stress τmax.

σx = 0 MPaσy = 0 MPaτxy = 50 MPa
τmax = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 160σy​ = −80τxy​ = −50MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 160 MPa, σᵧ = −80 MPa and τₓᵧ = −50 MPa (σz = 0). The material has a yield strength of 350 MPa. Find the factor of safety n against yielding by the Tresca (maximum shear stress) criterion.

σx = 160 MPaσy = −80 MPaτxy = −50 MPaσY = 350 MPa
n =
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
150 kNØ40110 GPaØ100/50500 mmδ = ?

A steel rod (diameter 40 mm, E = 200 GPa) sits inside a tube made of bronze (outer diameter 100 mm, inner diameter 50 mm, E = 110 GPa). Both are 500 mm long and are compressed together between rigid plates by 150 kN. Find the shortening δ.

P = 150 kNrod: Ø40 mm, E = 200 GPatube: Ø100/Ø50 mm, E = 110 GPaL = 500 mm
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 25 mmAluminium0.5 mØ 16 mmCopper1 mP = 120 kN

The stepped bar is fixed at the wall and loaded at its free end. Find the total elongation δ.

P = 120 kNsegment 1: Ø25 mm, 0.5 m, aluminium (E = 70 GPa)segment 2: Ø16 mm, 1 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
δ = mm
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 1.5 md = 50 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of steel is pinned at both ends. Using Euler’s formula, find its critical buckling load Pcr.

L = 1.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 50 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 3 md = 80 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of aluminium is pinned at both ends. Find its slenderness and the critical buckling stress σcr from Euler’s formula.

L = 3 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 80 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 2 kN/mc = 50 N·s/mm = 2 kg

A 2 kg mass is supported by a spring with a stiffness of 2 kN/m and a viscous damper with a damping coefficient of 50 N·s/m. Find the damping ratio ζ.

m = 2 kgk = 2 kN/mc = 50 N·s/m
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 30k2​ = 40k3​ = 50m = 10 kg

A 10 kg mass hangs from spring k₃ = 50 kN/m. The top of k₃ is attached to a rigid bar that hangs from two springs side by side, k₁ = 30 kN/m and k₂ = 40 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 = 30 kN/mk2 = 40 kN/mk3 = 50 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 = 7.54 m/s

Power

P = (500 − 250)·7.54 = 1885 W = 1.885 kW

Answer

P = 1.885 kW
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: ND = 80

Gear trains: meshing gears have the same speed at the teeth, so n₁·N₁ = n₂·N₂: the gear with fewer teeth turns faster. Gears on one shaft turn at the same speed. Power is passed on (minus losses), so torque goes up when speed goes down: T₂ = T₁·(N₂/N₁)·η, and P = T·ω with ω = 2π·n/60.

Intermediate shaft speed

nB = nC = 960·25/40 = 600 rpm

Teeth on gear D

ND = C·nC/nout = 16·600/120 = 80

Answer

ND = 80
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 13.86 °

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) = 250·1000·3000/(39000·79522) = 0.2418 rad
φ = 0.2418·180/π = 13.86°

Answer

φ = 13.86°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 73.12 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·300/60 = 31.42 rad/s
T = P/ω = 20000/31.42 = 636.6 N·m

Diameter for strength

T = 636.6 N·m = 636620 N·mm
dτ = ∛(16·636620/(π·75)) = 35.1 mm

Diameter for stiffness

θ = 0.5·π/180/1000 = 8.727 × 10⁻⁶ rad/mm
G = 26 GPa = 26000 MPa
dφ = (32·636620/(π·26000·8.727 × 10⁻⁶))1/4 = 73.12 mm

Governing diameter

Both limits must hold, so the larger diameter governs.

d = max(35.1, 73.12) = 73.12 mm

Answer

d = 73.12 mm

Here stiffness governs.

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τmax = 50 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.

στxyCτmax​

Radius of Mohr’s circle

τmax = R = √(((0 − 0)/2)² + 50²) = 50 MPa

Answer

τmax = 50 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: n = 1.346

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 = 40 MPa, R = 130 MPa
σ1 = 170 MPa, σ2 = −90 MPa, σ3 = 0

Tresca

σmax − σmin = 260 MPa
n = 350/260 = 1.346

Answer

n = 1.346

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

7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 0.0834 mm

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

Ar = π·40²/4 = 1257 mm²
At = π(100² − 50²)/4 = 5890 mm²

Combined axial stiffness

ΣEA = 200·10³·1257 + 110·10³·5890 = 8.993 × 10⁸ N

Shortening

δ = 150000·500/8.993 × 10⁸ = 0.0834 mm

Answer

δ = 0.0834 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 6.847 mm

Axially loaded members: each prismatic segment obeys δ = PL/(AE). For members in series the elongations add.

Same force in both segments

The free end carries P, so every section of the bar carries the same axial force P. Only the areas and materials change.

A1 = π·25²/4 = 490.9 mm², A2 = π·16²/4 = 201.1 mm²
σ1 = 244.5 MPa
σ2 = 596.8 MPa

Add the segment elongations

δ1 = σ1L1/E1 = 244.5·500/70000 = 1.746 mm
δ2 = σ2L2/E2 = 596.8·1000/117000 = 5.101 mm
δ = δ1 + δ2 = 6.847 mm

Answer

δ = 6.847 mm
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 269.2 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·50⁴/64 = 306796 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 1·1500 = 1500 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·306796/1500² = 269152 N = 269.2 kN

Answer

Pcr = 269.2 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 30.71 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 = 1·3000 = 3000 mm
KL/r = 3000/20 = 150

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·70000/150² = 30.71 MPa

Answer

σcr = 30.71 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.3953

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.

Critical damping

cc = 2·√(k·m) = 2·√(2000·2) = 126.5 N·s/m

Damping ratio

ζ = c/cc = 50/126.5 = 0.3953

Answer

ζ = 0.3953

ζ < 1, so the system is underdamped and oscillates as it decays.

12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 8.595 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 = 30 + 40 = 70 kN/m
keq = 70·50/(70 + 50) = 29.17 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(29167/10) = 54.01 rad/s
fn = 54.01/(2π) = 8.595 Hz

Answer

fn = 8.595 Hz

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