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​ = 32N2​ = 36

A 5.5 kW motor running at 1440 rpm drives a pinion with 32 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 36 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 95%. Find the torque T1 on the motor shaft.

P = 5.5 kWn1 = 1440 rpmN1 = 32N2 = 36η = 95%
T1 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 150 mmd2​ = 500 mm960 rpmC = 600 mmθ = ?

An open belt connects a 150 mm pulley and a 500 mm pulley whose centres are 600 mm apart. Find the angle of wrap θ on the smaller pulley, in degrees.

d1 = 150 mmd2 = 500 mmC = 600 mm
θ = °
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 500 N·md = 20 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 = 20 mmL = 0.8 mG = 80 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
d = 40 mmTB​ = 500 N·mTC​ = 100 N·mABC1.2 m1 m

A solid steel shaft of diameter 40 mm is fixed at A. A torque of 500 N·m acts at B, 1.2 m from A, and a torque of 100 N·m in the opposite direction acts at the free end C, a further 1 m along. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

d = 40 mmTB = 500 N·mTC = 100 N·mAB = 1.2 mBC = 1 m
τmax = MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 80σy​ = 20MPaτxy​ = ?

A point has σₓ = 80 MPa and σᵧ = 20 MPa. How large can the shear stress τxy (magnitude) become before the largest principal stress reaches 95 MPa?

σx = 80 MPaσy = 20 MPaσ1 = 95 MPa
τxy = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 130σy​ = 110τxy​ = −50MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 130 MPa, σᵧ = 110 MPa and τₓᵧ = −50 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 25° counter-clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = 130 MPaσy = 110 MPaτxy = −50 MPaθ = 25°
σθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 10 mmBrass3 mP = 35 kN

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

P = 35 kNd = 10 mmL = 3 mE = 100 GPa
ε = µε
8.Axial stress & strainHard
30 kN12400 mm500 mmØ40Ø50σ2​ = ?

A steel segment (diameter 40 mm, length 400 mm, E = 200 GPa) and a segment made of copper (diameter 50 mm, length 500 mm, E = 120 GPa) are joined end to end and fixed between two rigid walls. An axial load of 30 kN acts at the joint, towards segment 2. Find the magnitude of the stress σ2 in segment 2.

segment 1: steel, Ø40 mm, 400 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: copper, Ø50 mm, 500 mm, E = 120 GPaP = 30 kN
σ2 = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 4 md = 30 mmcross-section

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

L = 4 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 30 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 25 kNL = 6 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of steel is fixed at the base and pinned at the top. It must carry 25 kN with a factor of safety of 3 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 25 kNn = 3L = 6 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 40 kN/mc = 320 N·s/mm = 100 kg

A 100 kg mass is supported by a spring with a stiffness of 40 kN/m and a viscous damper with a damping coefficient of 320 N·s/m. Find the damping ratio ζ.

m = 100 kgk = 40 kN/mc = 320 N·s/m
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 10k2​ = 10k3​ = 10m = 50 kg

A 50 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 = 10 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 = 50 kgk1 = 10 kN/mk2 = 10 kN/mk3 = 10 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T1 = 36.47 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·1440/60 = 150.8 rad/s
T1 = P/ω₁ = 5500/150.8 = 36.47 N·m

Answer

T1 = 36.47 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: θ = 146.1 °

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 angle

asin(0.2917) = 16.96°

Angle of wrap

θ = 180 − 2·16.96 = 146.1°

Answer

θ = 146.1°
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 18.24 °

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·20⁴/32 = 15708 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 500·1000·800/(80000·15708) = 0.3183 rad
φ = 0.3183·180/π = 18.24°

Answer

φ = 18.24°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 31.83 MPa

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.

Internal torques

Sense of TC taken as positive.

TBC = TC = 100 N·m
TAB = TC − TB = 100 − 500 = −400 N·m

Maximum shear stress

The segment with the largest internal torque has the largest stress (same diameter).

|T|max = 400 N·m
τmax = 16·400000/(π·40³) = 31.83 MPa

Answer

τmax = 31.83 MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τxy = 33.54 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.

Required radius

C = (80 + 20)/2 = 50 MPa
R = σ1 − C = 95 − 50 = 45 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Shear stress

τxy = √(R² − ((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)²) = √(45² − 30²) = 33.54 MPa

Answer

τxy = 33.54 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = 88.13 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

σθ = 120 + 10·0.6428 + −50·0.766 = 88.13 MPa

Answer

σθ = 88.13 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: ε = 4456 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·10²/4 = 78.54 mm²
σ = P/A = 35·1000/78.54 = 445.6 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for brass = 100 GPa = 100000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 445.6/100000 = 0.004456 = 4456 µε

Answer

ε = 4456 µε
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σ2 = 6.548 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 = 200000·1257/400 = 628319 N/mm
k₂ = 120000·1963/500 = 471239 N/mm

Share of segment 2

F2 = 30000·471239/1.1 × 10⁶ = 12857 N

Stress

σ2 = 12857/1963 = 6.548 MPa (compression)

Answer

σ2 = 6.548 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 10.01 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·30⁴/64 = 39761 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.7·4000 = 2800 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·39761/2800² = 10011 N = 10.01 kN

Answer

Pcr = 10.01 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 60.79 mm

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.

Required critical load

Pcr = n·P = 3·25000 = 75000 N
KL = 0.7·6000 = 4200 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·75000·4200²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 60.79 mm

Answer

d = 60.79 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 276.4, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.08

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·√(40000·100) = 4000 N·s/m

Damping ratio

ζ = c/cc = 320/4000 = 0.08

Answer

ζ = 0.08

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

12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 1.838 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 + 10 = 20 kN/m
keq = 20·10/(20 + 10) = 6.667 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(6667/50) = 11.55 rad/s
fn = 11.55/(2π) = 1.838 Hz

Answer

fn = 1.838 Hz

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