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​ = 125 mmd2​ = 400 mm2880 rpmn2​ = ?

A 125 mm pulley at 2880 rpm drives a 400 mm pulley by a belt with 2 % slip. Find the speed n2 of the driven pulley.

n1 = 2880 rpmd1 = 125 mmd2 = 400 mms = 2 %
n2 = rpm
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
Ns​ = 24ring fixedNp​ = 12nc​ = ?

In a planetary gear set the sun gear has 24 teeth and each planet gear has 12 teeth. The ring gear is held fixed and the sun is driven at 900 rpm. Find the speed nc of the planet carrier.

Ns = 24Np = 12ns = 900 rpm
nc = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
do​ = ?T = 1000 N·m

A hollow shaft must carry a torque of 1000 N·m. Its inner diameter is to be 0.75 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 60 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

T = 1000 N·mdi/do = 0.75τallow = 60 MPa
do = mm
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
d = 60 mmTB​ = 250 N·mTC​ = 500 N·mABC1.2 m2 m

A solid steel shaft of diameter 60 mm is fixed at A. A torque of 250 N·m acts at B, 1.2 m from A, and a torque of 500 N·m in the same direction acts at the free end C, a further 2 m along. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

d = 60 mmTB = 250 N·mTC = 500 N·mAB = 1.2 mBC = 2 m
τmax = MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 0σy​ = −30τxy​ = −30MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 0 MPa, σᵧ = −30 MPa and τₓᵧ = −30 MPa (tension positive). Find the angle θp from the x-axis to the direction of the largest principal stress, between −90° and 90°.

σx = 0 MPaσy = −30 MPaτxy = −30 MPa
θp = °
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 130σy​ = 20τxy​ = −20MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 130 MPa, σᵧ = 20 MPa and τₓᵧ = −20 MPa (tension positive). Find the shear stress τθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 25° counter-clockwise from the x-axis (positive in the same sense as τₓᵧ).

σx = 130 MPaσy = 20 MPaτxy = −20 MPaθ = 25°
τθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 25 mmSteel1 mP = 75 kN

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

P = 75 kNd = 25 mmL = 1 mE = 200 GPa
ε = µε
8.Axial stress & strainHard
100 kN12300 mm500 mmØ30Ø30σ2​ = ?

A steel segment (diameter 30 mm, length 300 mm, E = 200 GPa) and a segment made of brass (diameter 30 mm, length 500 mm, E = 100 GPa) are joined end to end and fixed between two rigid walls. An axial load of 100 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, 500 mm, E = 100 GPaP = 100 kN
σ2 = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 1 md = 25 mmcross-section

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

L = 1 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 25 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 135 kNL = 2 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of steel is fixed at the base and free at the top. It must carry 135 kN with a factor of safety of 3 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 135 kNn = 3L = 2 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx50 mm5 cycles26.7 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 50 mm is followed 5 cycles later by a peak of 26.7 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 50 mmx5 = 26.7 mmn = 5
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 30k2​ = 30k3​ = 20m = 50 kg

A 50 kg mass hangs from spring k₃ = 20 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 = 30 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 = 30 kN/mk2 = 30 kN/mk3 = 20 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: n2 = 882 rpm

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.

Speed without slip

2880·125/400 = 900 rpm

With slip

n2 = 900·0.98 = 882 rpm

Answer

n2 = 882 rpm
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nc = 300 rpm

Planetary gear sets: the speeds of sun, ring and carrier are linked by the Willis equation (ns − nc)/(nr − nc) = −Nr/Ns: seen from the carrier, the set is an ordinary train with the planets as idlers. Holding one member fixed turns the set into a single-ratio reducer.

Ring gear teeth

Nr = Ns + 2·Np = 24 + 2·12 = 48

Willis equation with the ring fixed

Set nr = 0 and solve for the carrier speed.

(900 − nc)/(0 − nc) = −48/24
nc = ns·Ns/(Ns + Nr) = 900·24/72 = 300 rpm

Answer

nc = 300 rpm

The carrier turns in the same direction as the sun.

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 49.89 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.

Outer diameter from the allowable stress

T = 1000 N·m = 1 × 10⁶ N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.75⁴ = 0.6836
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·1 × 10⁶/(π·60·0.6836)) = 49.89 mm
di = 0.75·49.89 = 37.42 mm

Answer

do = 49.89 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 43.95 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 17.68 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 = 500 N·m
TAB = TC + TB = 500 + 250 = 750 N·m

Maximum shear stress

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

|T|max = 750 N·m
τmax = 16·750000/(π·60³) = 17.68 MPa

Answer

τmax = 17.68 MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: θp = −31.72 °

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.

στxyCσ1​σ2​

Angle on the circle

Point x sits at an angle 2θp from the σ-axis on Mohr’s circle; the quadrant follows from the signs of σₓ − σᵧ and τₓᵧ.

2θp = atan2(2·−30, 0 − −30) = −63.43°

Angle on the element

θp = −31.72°

Answer

θp = −31.72°

Positive angles are counter-clockwise.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τθ = −54.99 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

τθ = −55·0.766 + −20·0.6428 = −54.99 MPa

Answer

τθ = −54.99 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: ε = 763.9 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·25²/4 = 490.9 mm²
σ = P/A = 75·1000/490.9 = 152.8 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for steel = 200 GPa = 200000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 152.8/200000 = 0.0007639 = 763.9 µε

Answer

ε = 763.9 µε
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σ2 = 32.65 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 = 100000·706.9/500 = 141372 N/mm

Share of segment 2

F2 = 100000·141372/612611 = 23077 N

Stress

σ2 = 23077/706.9 = 32.65 MPa (compression)

Answer

σ2 = 32.65 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 9.462 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·25⁴/64 = 19175 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 2·1000 = 2000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·19175/2000² = 9462 N = 9.462 kN

Answer

Pcr = 9.462 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 90.43 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 = 3·135000 = 405000 N
KL = 2·2000 = 4000 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·405000·4000²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 90.43 mm

Answer

d = 90.43 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 176.9, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.01997

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 = (1/5)·ln(50/26.7) = 0.1255

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.1255/√(39.48 + 0.01574) = 0.01997

Answer

ζ = 0.01997
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

Only k1 and k2 are in parallel. That pair is in series with k3, so combine them as reciprocals.

k12 = 30 + 30 = 60 kN/m
keq = 60·20/(60 + 20) = 15 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(15000/50) = 17.32 rad/s
fn = 17.32/(2π) = 2.757 Hz

Answer

fn = 2.757 Hz

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