Machine Design: cram pack

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

New problemsBack to the course

In the print window, choose “Save as PDF” to keep a copy on your device.

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​ = 20N2​ = 45

A 2.2 kW motor running at 1440 rpm drives a pinion with 20 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 45 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 95%. Find the torque T1 on the motor shaft.

P = 2.2 kWn1 = 1440 rpmN1 = 20N2 = 45η = 95%
T1 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 40B = 50C = 24D = 36

A 7.5 kW motor at 1440 rpm drives gear A (40 teeth), which meshes with gear B (50 teeth). Gear C (24 teeth) on the same shaft as B drives gear D (36 teeth) on the output shaft. Each gear mesh has an efficiency of 97%. Find the output torque Tout.

P = 7.5 kWnin = 1440 rpmA = 40B = 50C = 24D = 36ηmesh = 97%
Tout = N·m
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 100 N·md = 25 mmL = 2 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 = 100 N·md = 25 mmL = 2 mG = 39 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 20 kW at 1800 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 75 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 20 kWN = 1800 rpmτallow = 75 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = −80σy​ = 60τxy​ = 10MPa

A point has σₓ = −80 MPa, σᵧ = 60 MPa and τₓᵧ = 10 MPa (tension positive). Find the angle θs, between −90° and 90°, from the x-axis to the normal of the plane on which the shear stress has its maximum positive value +R (shear positive in the same sense as τₓᵧ).

σx = −80 MPaσy = 60 MPaτxy = 10 MPa
θs = °
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
40°D = 500 mm, t = 15 mm, p = 3 MPap

A thin-walled cylindrical tank of inner diameter 500 mm and wall thickness 15 mm holds gas at a gauge pressure of 3 MPa. It is made from plate welded along a helical seam at 40° to the axis of the cylinder. Find the normal stress σn acting across the weld seam.

D = 500 mmt = 15 mmp = 3 MPaα = 40°
σn = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
P = ?12400 mm400 mmØ40Ø50δ = 0.25 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 40 mm, length 400 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of copper (diameter 50 mm, length 400 mm, E = 120 GPa). It is fixed at one end and pulled at the other. Find the axial load P that stretches it by 0.25 mm in total.

segment 1: steel, Ø40 mm, 400 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: copper, Ø50 mm, 400 mm, E = 120 GPaδ = 0.25 mm
P = kN
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 35 mmBrass1 mØ 16 mmCopper2 mP = 120 kN

The stepped bar is fixed at the wall and loaded at its free end. Find the largest normal stress σmax in the bar.

P = 120 kNsegment 1: Ø35 mm, 1 m, brass (E = 100 GPa)segment 2: Ø16 mm, 2 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
σmax = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 4 md = 60 mmcross-section

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

L = 4 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 60 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 70 kNL = 1.5 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of aluminium is pinned at both ends. It must carry 70 kN with a factor of safety of 2.5 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 70 kNn = 2.5L = 1.5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 12 kN/mc = 50 N·s/mm = 20 kg

A 20 kg mass is supported by a spring with a stiffness of 12 kN/m and a viscous damper with a damping coefficient of 50 N·s/m. Find the damping ratio ζ.

m = 20 kgk = 12 kN/mc = 50 N·s/m
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 40k2​ = 10k3​ = 80m = 50 kg

A 50 kg mass hangs from spring k₃ = 80 kN/m. The top of k₃ is attached to a rigid bar that hangs from two springs side by side, k₁ = 40 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 = 40 kN/mk2 = 10 kN/mk3 = 80 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T1 = 14.59 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 = 2200/150.8 = 14.59 N·m

Answer

T1 = 14.59 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: Tout = 87.74 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.

Output speed

nout = 1440·(40/50)·(24/36) = 768 rpm
ωout = 2π·768/60 = 80.42 rad/s

Output power and torque

Pout = 7500·0.97² = 7057 W
Tout = Pout/ωout = 7057/80.42 = 87.74 N·m

Answer

Tout = 87.74 N·m
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 7.662 °

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·25⁴/32 = 38350 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 100·1000·2000/(39000·38350) = 0.1337 rad
φ = 0.1337·180/π = 7.662°

Answer

φ = 7.662°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 19.31 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·1800/60 = 188.5 rad/s
T = P/ω = 20000/188.5 = 106.1 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·106103/(π·75)) = 19.31 mm

Answer

d = 19.31 mm

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

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: θs = 40.93 °

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​

Angle on the circle

On Mohr’s circle the top point (+R) is 90° from the principal point σ₁; on the element that is 45°.

cos 2θs = 10/70.71 = 0.1414, sin 2θs = −(−70)/70.71 = 0.9899
2θs = atan2(70, 10) = 81.87°

Angle on the element

θs = 40.93°
check: θs − θp = 40.93 − 85.93 = −45°

Answer

θs = 40.93°

Positive angles are counter-clockwise.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σn = 39.67 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 = 500/2 = 250 mm
σh = pr/t = 3·250/15 = 50 MPa
σa = pr/(2t) = 25 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.

σn = 25·sin²40° + 50·cos²40° = 39.67 MPa

Answer

σn = 39.67 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 76.01 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 = 1257 mm², A₂ = 1963 mm²

Flexibilities

L₁/(E₁A₁) = 400/(200000·1257) = 1.592 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 400/(120000·1963) = 1.698 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

Load

P = 0.25/3.289 × 10⁻⁶ = 76006 N = 76.01 kN

Answer

P = 76.01 kN
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 596.8 MPa

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·35²/4 = 962.1 mm², A2 = π·16²/4 = 201.1 mm²
σ1 = 124.7 MPa
σ2 = 596.8 MPa

Largest stress

The thinner segment has the smaller area, so it carries the larger stress.

σmax = 596.8 MPa

Answer

σmax = 596.8 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 6.867 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·60⁴/64 = 636173 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 2·4000 = 8000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·636173/8000² = 6867 N = 6.867 kN

Answer

Pcr = 6.867 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 58.37 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 = 2.5·70000 = 175000 N
KL = 1·1500 = 1500 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·175000·1500²/(π³·70000))^(1/4) = 58.37 mm

Answer

d = 58.37 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 102.8, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.05103

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·√(12000·20) = 979.8 N·s/m

Damping ratio

ζ = c/cc = 50/979.8 = 0.05103

Answer

ζ = 0.05103

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

12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 3.948 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 = 40 + 10 = 50 kN/m
keq = 50·80/(50 + 80) = 30.77 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(30769/50) = 24.81 rad/s
fn = 24.81/(2π) = 3.948 Hz

Answer

fn = 3.948 Hz

ExamProblems · examproblems.com/courses/machine-design