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
N1​ = 72N2​ = 80

A 7.5 kW motor running at 2900 rpm drives a pinion with 72 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 80 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 95%. Find the output torque T2 on the gear shaft.

P = 7.5 kWn1 = 2900 rpmN1 = 72N2 = 80η = 95%
T2 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 16B = 30C = 15D = ?

In a compound gear train, gear A (16 teeth) on the input shaft turns at 960 rpm and drives gear B (30 teeth). Gear C (15 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D on the output shaft. The output must turn at 128 rpm. How many teeth ND must gear D have?

nin = 960 rpmA = 16B = 30C = 15nout = 128 rpm
ND =
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d = ?T = 750 N·mL = 2 m

A solid steel shaft 2 m long carries a torque of 750 N·m. The angle of twist between its ends must not exceed 3°. Find the smallest diameter d that meets this limit.

T = 750 N·mL = 2 mG = 80 GPaφallow = 3°
d = mm
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 5 kW at 300 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 50 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 5 kWN = 300 rpmτallow = 50 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 80σy​ = 120τxy​ = 60MPa

A point has σₓ = 80 MPa, σᵧ = 120 MPa and τₓᵧ = 60 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 = 80 MPaσy = 120 MPaτxy = 60 MPaθ = 60°
σy′ = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
40°D = 400 mm, t = 8 mm, p = 0.8 MPap

A thin-walled cylindrical tank of inner diameter 400 mm and wall thickness 8 mm holds gas at a gauge pressure of 0.8 MPa. It is made from plate welded along a helical seam at 40° to the axis of the cylinder. Find the magnitude of the shear stress |τn| acting along the weld seam.

D = 400 mmt = 8 mmp = 0.8 MPaα = 40°
|τn| = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 12 mmAluminium2.5 mP = 50 kN

Find the axial strain ε in the aluminium bar, in microstrain (µε = 10⁻⁶).

P = 50 kNd = 12 mmL = 2.5 mE = 70 GPa
ε = µε
8.Axial stress & strainHard
80 kN12300 mm300 mmØ30Ø30σ2​ = ?

A steel segment (diameter 30 mm, length 300 mm, E = 200 GPa) and a segment made of brass (diameter 30 mm, length 300 mm, E = 100 GPa) are joined end to end and fixed between two rigid walls. An axial load of 80 kN acts at the joint, towards segment 2. Find the magnitude of the stress σ2 in segment 2.

segment 1: steel, Ø30 mm, 300 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: brass, Ø30 mm, 300 mm, E = 100 GPaP = 80 kN
σ2 = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 5 md = 20 mmcross-section

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

L = 5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 20 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 4 md = 30 mmcross-section

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

L = 4 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 30 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 200 kN/mc = 4380 N·s/mm = 150 kg

A 150 kg mass is supported by a spring with a stiffness of 200 kN/m and a viscous damper with a damping coefficient of 4380 N·s/m. Find the damping ratio ζ.

m = 150 kgk = 200 kN/mc = 4380 N·s/m
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 25k2​ = 5m = 100 kg

A 100 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 25 kN/m and k₂ = 5 kN/m. The mass stays level. Ignore damping and the masses of the springs. Find the natural frequency fn of vertical vibration in Hz.

m = 100 kgk1 = 25 kN/mk2 = 5 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T2 = 26.07 N·m

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.

Motor torque

ω₁ = 2π·2900/60 = 303.7 rad/s
T1 = P/ω₁ = 7500/303.7 = 24.7 N·m

Output torque

T2 = 24.7·80/72·0.95 = 26.07 N·m

Answer

T2 = 26.07 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: ND = 60

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 = 960·16/30 = 512 rpm

Teeth on gear D

ND = C·nC/nout = 15·512/128 = 60

Answer

ND = 60
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 43.7 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.

Required polar moment

T = 750 N·m = 750000 N·mm
L = 2 m = 2000 mm
G = 80 GPa = 80000 MPa
φ = 3·π/180 = 0.05236 rad
J = TL/(Gφ) = 750000·2000/(80000·0.05236) = 358099 mm⁴

Diameter

d = (32J/π)1/4 = 43.7 mm

Answer

d = 43.7 mm

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

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 25.31 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 = 5000/31.42 = 159.2 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·159155/(π·50)) = 25.31 mm

Answer

d = 25.31 mm

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

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σy′ = 38.04 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′ = 100 − (−20)·(−0.5) − 60·0.866 = 38.04 MPa

Check

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

σx′ = 162 MPa, σx′ + σy′ = 200 = σx + σy

Answer

σy′ = 38.04 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: |τn| = 4.924 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. Thin-walled cylinder: hoop stress σh = pr/t and axial stress σa = pr/(2t); these are the principal stresses in the wall.

Wall stresses

r = 400/2 = 200 mm
σh = pr/t = 0.8·200/8 = 20 MPa
σa = pr/(2t) = 10 MPa

Transform to the seam

Take x along the axis (σa) and y around the hoop (σh). The seam’s normal makes 90° − α with the axis.

|τn| = (20 − 10)·sin 40°·cos 40° = 4.924 MPa

Answer

|τn| = 4.924 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: ε = 6316 µε

Hooke’s law: within the elastic range σ = E·ε. Combining with σ = P/A and ε = δ/L gives δ = PL/(AE).

Stress

A = π·12²/4 = 113.1 mm²
σ = P/A = 50·1000/113.1 = 442.1 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for aluminium = 70 GPa = 70000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 442.1/70000 = 0.006316 = 6316 µε

Answer

ε = 6316 µε
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σ2 = 37.73 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 = 200000·706.9/300 = 471239 N/mm
k₂ = 100000·706.9/300 = 235619 N/mm

Share of segment 2

F2 = 80000·235619/706858 = 26667 N

Stress

σ2 = 26667/706.9 = 37.73 MPa (compression)

Answer

σ2 = 37.73 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 2.481 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·20⁴/64 = 7854 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.5·5000 = 2500 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·7854/2500² = 2481 N = 2.481 kN

Answer

Pcr = 2.481 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 9.715 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·30⁴/64 = 39761 mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 706.9 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(39761/706.9) = 7.5 mm
KL = 0.5·4000 = 2000 mm
KL/r = 2000/7.5 = 266.7

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·70000/266.7² = 9.715 MPa

Answer

σcr = 9.715 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.3998

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·√(200000·150) = 10954 N·s/m

Damping ratio

ζ = c/cc = 4380/10954 = 0.3998

Answer

ζ = 0.3998

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

12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 2.757 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

Springs side by side share the deflection and add their forces, so their stiffnesses simply add: k = k1 + k2.

keq = 25 + 5 = 30 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(30000/100) = 17.32 rad/s
fn = 17.32/(2π) = 2.757 Hz

Answer

fn = 2.757 Hz

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