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​ = 20, m = 4 mm

A 3 kW motor running at 2900 rpm drives a pinion with 20 teeth and a module of 4 mm. Find the tangential force Ft on the pinion teeth.

P = 3 kWn = 2900 rpmN1 = 20m = 4 mm
Ft = N
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 40B = 50C = 16D = ?

In a compound gear train, gear A (40 teeth) on the input shaft turns at 1440 rpm and drives gear B (50 teeth). Gear C (16 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D on the output shaft. The output must turn at 384 rpm. How many teeth ND must gear D have?

nin = 1440 rpmA = 40B = 50C = 16nout = 384 rpm
ND =
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
do​ = ?T = 2000 N·m

A hollow shaft must carry a torque of 2000 N·m. Its inner diameter is to be 0.5 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 75 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

T = 2000 N·mdi/do = 0.5τallow = 75 MPa
do = mm
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
d = 40 mmTB​ = 400 N·mTC​ = 500 N·mABC1.5 m0.5 m

A solid steel shaft of diameter 40 mm is fixed at A. A torque of 400 N·m acts at B, 1.5 m from A, and a torque of 500 N·m in the same direction acts at the free end C, a further 0.5 m along. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

d = 40 mmTB = 400 N·mTC = 500 N·mAB = 1.5 mBC = 0.5 m
τmax = MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = −60σy​ = −60τxy​ = 40MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = −60 MPa, σᵧ = −60 MPa and τₓᵧ = 40 MPa (tension positive). Find the maximum in-plane shear stress τmax.

σx = −60 MPaσy = −60 MPaτxy = 40 MPa
τmax = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 20σy​ = 90τxy​ = 40MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 20 MPa, σᵧ = 90 MPa and τₓᵧ = 40 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 45° clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = 20 MPaσy = 90 MPaτxy = 40 MPaθ = -45°
σθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
P = ?12300 mm400 mmØ40Ø50δ = 0.5 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 40 mm, length 300 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of aluminium (diameter 50 mm, length 400 mm, E = 70 GPa). It is fixed at one end and pulled at the other. Find the axial load P that stretches it by 0.5 mm in total.

segment 1: steel, Ø40 mm, 300 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: aluminium, Ø50 mm, 400 mm, E = 70 GPaδ = 0.5 mm
P = kN
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 35 mmBrass0.5 mØ 20 mmCopper2 mP = 95 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 = 95 kNsegment 1: Ø35 mm, 0.5 m, brass (E = 100 GPa)segment 2: Ø20 mm, 2 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
σmax = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 2 m30 × 60 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 = 2 mE = 200 GPa (steel)b × h = 30 × 60 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 5 md = 80 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 = 5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 80 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 10 kN/mζ = 0.7m = 20 kg

A 20 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 10 kN/m has a viscous damper giving a damping ratio of 0.7. Find the damped natural frequency fd of its free vibration in Hz.

m = 20 kgk = 10 kN/mζ = 0.7
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 5k2​ = 10m = 20 kg

A 20 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 5 kN/m and k₂ = 10 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 = 20 kgk1 = 5 kN/mk2 = 10 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: Ft = 247 N

Gear geometry: the module m sets the tooth size. A gear with N teeth has a pitch diameter d = m·N, two meshing gears have the same module, and their centre distance is a = (d₁ + d₂)/2 = m·(N₁ + N₂)/2. The pitch-line speed is v = π·d·n/60, and the tangential tooth force follows from the torque: Ft = 2T/d.

Torque on the pinion

ω = 2π·2900/60 = 303.7 rad/s
T = P/ω = 3000/303.7 = 9.879 N·m

Pitch diameter

d = m·N = 4·20 = 80 mm

Tangential force

Ft = 2T/d = 2·9.879/0.08 = 247 N

Answer

Ft = 247 N
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: ND = 48

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 = 1440·40/50 = 1152 rpm

Teeth on gear D

ND = C·nC/nout = 16·1152/384 = 48

Answer

ND = 48
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 52.52 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 = 2000 N·m = 2 × 10⁶ N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.5⁴ = 0.9375
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·2 × 10⁶/(π·75·0.9375)) = 52.52 mm
di = 0.5·52.52 = 26.26 mm

Answer

do = 52.52 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 51.4 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 71.62 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 + 400 = 900 N·m

Maximum shear stress

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

|T|max = 900 N·m
τmax = 16·900000/(π·40³) = 71.62 MPa

Answer

τmax = 71.62 MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τmax = 40 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.

στxyCτmax​

Radius of Mohr’s circle

τmax = R = √(((−60 − −60)/2)² + 40²) = 40 MPa

Answer

τmax = 40 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = 15 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 = 55 + −35·0 + 40·−1 = 15 MPa

Answer

σθ = 15 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 121.8 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) = 300/(200000·1257) = 1.194 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 400/(70000·1963) = 2.91 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

Load

P = 0.5/4.104 × 10⁻⁶ = 121835 N = 121.8 kN

Answer

P = 121.8 kN
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 302.4 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·20²/4 = 314.2 mm²
σ1 = 98.74 MPa
σ2 = 302.4 MPa

Largest stress

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

σmax = 302.4 MPa

Answer

σmax = 302.4 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 266.5 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 = 60·30³/12 = 135000 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.5·2000 = 1000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·135000/1000² = 266479 N = 266.5 kN

Answer

Pcr = 266.5 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 44.22 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·80⁴/64 = 2.011 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 5027 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(2.011 × 10⁶/5027) = 20 mm
KL = 0.5·5000 = 2500 mm
KL/r = 2500/20 = 125

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·70000/125² = 44.22 MPa

Answer

σcr = 44.22 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 2.542 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.

Undamped natural frequency

ωn = √(10000/20) = 22.36 rad/s
fn = 22.36/(2π) = 3.559 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 3.559·√(1 − 0.7²) = 2.542 Hz

Answer

fd = 2.542 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 4.359 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 = 5 + 10 = 15 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(15000/20) = 27.39 rad/s
fn = 27.39/(2π) = 4.359 Hz

Answer

fn = 4.359 Hz

ExamProblems · examproblems.com/courses/machine-design