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​ = 16N2​ = 60

A 3 kW motor running at 1450 rpm drives a pinion with 16 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 60 teeth. Ignore losses. Find the torque T1 on the motor shaft.

P = 3 kWn1 = 1450 rpmN1 = 16N2 = 60η = 100%
T1 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 80 mmd2​ = 250 mm1500 rpmC = 1200 mmT1​ = 1200 NT2​P = ?

An open belt connects an 80 mm driving pulley at 1500 rpm to a 250 mm pulley; the centres are 1200 mm apart. The coefficient of friction is 0.35 and the tight-side tension may not exceed 1200 N. Find the largest power P the belt can transmit without slipping, in kW (ignore centrifugal effects).

d1 = 80 mmn1 = 1500 rpmd2 = 250 mmC = 1200 mmμ = 0.35T1 = 1200 N
P = kW
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d1​ = 30 mmd2​ = 25 mmT = 100 N·mABC1 m1 m

A stepped solid brass shaft is fixed at A. Segment AB has diameter 30 mm and length 1 m; segment BC has diameter 25 mm and length 1 m. A torque of 100 N·m acts at the free end C. Find the angle of twist φC of end C, in degrees.

T = 100 N·md1 = 30 mm, L1 = 1 md2 = 25 mm, L2 = 1 mG = 39 GPa
φC = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Tdo​ = 75 mm, di​ = 60 mm

A hollow shaft transmits 75 kW at 750 rpm. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

P = 75 kWN = 750 rpmdo = 75 mmdi = 60 mm
τmax = MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 90σy​ = 80MPaτxy​ = ?

A point has σₓ = 90 MPa and σᵧ = 80 MPa. How large can the shear stress τxy (magnitude) become before the largest principal stress reaches 140 MPa?

σx = 90 MPaσy = 80 MPaσ1 = 140 MPa
τxy = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 60σy​ = 90τxy​ = 10MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 60 MPa, σᵧ = 90 MPa and τₓᵧ = 10 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 50° counter-clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = 60 MPaσy = 90 MPaτxy = 10 MPaθ = 50°
σθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 16 mmAluminium1.5 mP = 35 kN

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

P = 35 kNd = 16 mmL = 1.5 mE = 70 GPa
ε = µε
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 35 mmCopper1.5 mØ 20 mmSteel0.5 mP = 70 kN

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

P = 70 kNsegment 1: Ø35 mm, 1.5 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)segment 2: Ø20 mm, 0.5 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)
δ = mm
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 1.5 m40 × 50 mmcross-section

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

L = 1.5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)b × h = 40 × 50 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 6 md = 60 mmcross-section

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

L = 6 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 60 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx10 mm3 cycles5.7 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 10 mm is followed 3 cycles later by a peak of 5.7 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 10 mmx3 = 5.7 mmn = 3
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 40k2​ = 5m = 100 kg

A 100 kg mass hangs from two springs connected end to end (in series): the upper spring has k₁ = 40 kN/m and the lower one k₂ = 5 kN/m. Ignore damping and the masses of the springs. Find the natural frequency fn of vertical vibration in Hz.

m = 100 kgk1 = 40 kN/mk2 = 5 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T1 = 19.76 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·1450/60 = 151.8 rad/s
T1 = P/ω₁ = 3000/151.8 = 19.76 N·m

Answer

T1 = 19.76 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: P = 4.901 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 = 3 rad

Slack-side tension

eμθ = e1.05 = 2.857, T₂ = 1200/2.857 = 420 N

Power

P = (1200 − 420)·6.283 = 4.901 kW

Answer

P = 4.901 kW
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φC = 5.678 °

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 moments

J1 = π·30⁴/32 = 79522 mm⁴
J2 = π·25⁴/32 = 38350 mm⁴

Twist of each segment

T = 100 N·m = 100000 N·mm
G = 39 GPa = 39000 MPa
φAB = 100000·1000/(39000·79522) = 0.03224 rad
φBC = 100000·1000/(39000·38350) = 0.06686 rad

Total twist

φC = 0.03224 + 0.06686 = 0.09911 rad = 5.678°

Answer

φC = 5.678°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 19.53 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.

Torque

ω = 2πN/60 = 2π·750/60 = 78.54 rad/s
T = P/ω = 75000/78.54 = 954.9 N·m

Polar second moment of area

J = π(75⁴ − 60⁴)/32 = 1.834 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Maximum shear stress

τmax = T·(do/2)/J = 954930·37.5/1.834 × 10⁶ = 19.53 MPa

Answer

τmax = 19.53 MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τxy = 54.77 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 = (90 + 80)/2 = 85 MPa
R = σ1 − C = 140 − 85 = 55 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Shear stress

τxy = √(R² − ((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)²) = √(55² − 5²) = 54.77 MPa

Answer

τxy = 54.77 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = 87.45 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 = 75 + −15·−0.1736 + 10·0.9848 = 87.45 MPa

Answer

σθ = 87.45 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: ε = 2487 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·16²/4 = 201.1 mm²
σ = P/A = 35·1000/201.1 = 174.1 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for aluminium = 70 GPa = 70000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 174.1/70000 = 0.002487 = 2487 µε

Answer

ε = 2487 µε
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 1.49 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·35²/4 = 962.1 mm², A2 = π·20²/4 = 314.2 mm²
σ1 = 72.76 MPa
σ2 = 222.8 MPa

Add the segment elongations

δ1 = σ1L1/E1 = 72.76·1500/117000 = 0.9328 mm
δ2 = σ2L2/E2 = 222.8·500/200000 = 0.557 mm
δ = δ1 + δ2 = 1.49 mm

Answer

δ = 1.49 mm
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 167.1 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 rectangle buckles about its weak axis, using the smaller dimension cubed.

Imin = h·b³/12 = 50·40³/12 = 266667 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.7·1500 = 1050 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·266667/1050² = 167104 N = 167.1 kN

Answer

Pcr = 167.1 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 12.34 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·60⁴/64 = 636173 mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 2827 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(636173/2827) = 15 mm
KL = 1·6000 = 6000 mm
KL/r = 6000/15 = 400

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/400² = 12.34 MPa

Answer

σcr = 12.34 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.02981

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.

Logarithmic decrement

δ = (1/3)·ln(10/5.7) = 0.1874

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.1874/√(39.48 + 0.03511) = 0.02981

Answer

ζ = 0.02981
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 1.061 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 in series share the same force and add their deflections, so they combine as reciprocals: 1/k = 1/k1 + 1/k2.

1/keq = 1/40 + 1/5 → keq = 40·5/(40 + 5) = 4.444 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(4444/100) = 6.667 rad/s
fn = 6.667/(2π) = 1.061 Hz

Answer

fn = 1.061 Hz

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