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​ = 160 mmd2​ = 250 mm1450 rpmn2​ = ?

A 160 mm pulley at 1450 rpm drives a 250 mm pulley by a belt with 3 % slip. Find the speed n2 of the driven pulley.

n1 = 1450 rpmd1 = 160 mmd2 = 250 mms = 3 %
n2 = rpm
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
Ns​ = 16nr​ = ?Np​ = 30carrier fixed

In a planetary gear set the sun gear has 16 teeth and each planet gear has 30 teeth. The planet carrier is held fixed and the sun is driven at 900 rpm. Find the speed nr of the ring gear (magnitude).

Ns = 16Np = 30ns = 900 rpm
nr = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d = 15 mmT = 100 N·m300 mmφ = 4.32°

In a torsion test, a solid specimen of diameter 15 mm is twisted by a torque of 100 N·m. The two ends of a gauge length of 300 mm rotate 4.32° relative to each other (the material is still elastic). Find the shear modulus G of the material.

T = 100 N·md = 15 mmL = 300 mmφ = 4.32°
G = GPa
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
d = ?15 kW, 500 rpm

A solid aluminium shaft transmits 15 kW at 500 rpm. The shear stress must not exceed 75 MPa and the twist must not exceed 0.25° per m of length. Find the smallest diameter d that satisfies both limits.

P = 15 kWN = 500 rpmτallow = 75 MPaθallow = 0.25°/mG = 26 GPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 30σy​ = −10τxy​ = −60MPa

A point has σₓ = 30 MPa, σᵧ = −10 MPa and τₓᵧ = −60 MPa (tension positive). The element is rotated 20° clockwise. Find the normal stress σy′ on the faces of the rotated element that are perpendicular to the rotated y′-axis.

σx = 30 MPaσy = −10 MPaτxy = −60 MPaθ = -20°
σy′ = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 70σy​ = 80τxy​ = 10MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 70 MPa, σᵧ = 80 MPa and τₓᵧ = 10 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 30° counter-clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = 70 MPaσy = 80 MPaτxy = 10 MPaθ = 30°
σθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
300 kNØ30110 GPaØ100/60800 mmδ = ?

A steel rod (diameter 30 mm, E = 200 GPa) sits inside a tube made of bronze (outer diameter 100 mm, inner diameter 60 mm, E = 110 GPa). Both are 800 mm long and are compressed together between rigid plates by 300 kN. Find the shortening δ.

P = 300 kNrod: Ø30 mm, E = 200 GPatube: Ø100/Ø60 mm, E = 110 GPaL = 800 mm
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 25 mmAluminium1.5 mØ 12 mmSteel2 mP = 35 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 = 35 kNsegment 1: Ø25 mm, 1.5 m, aluminium (E = 70 GPa)segment 2: Ø12 mm, 2 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)
σmax = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 1.5 md = 80 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 = 1.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 80 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 90 kNL = 2 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of aluminium is fixed at the base and free at the top. It must carry 90 kN with a factor of safety of 2.5 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 90 kNn = 2.5L = 2 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 15 kN/mζ = 0.7m = 25 kg

A 25 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 15 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 = 25 kgk = 15 kN/mζ = 0.7
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 80k2​ = 15m = 25 kg

A 25 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 80 kN/m and k₂ = 15 kN/m. The mass stays level. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 25 kgk1 = 80 kN/mk2 = 15 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: n2 = 900.2 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

1450·160/250 = 928 rpm

With slip

n2 = 928·0.97 = 900.2 rpm

Answer

n2 = 900.2 rpm
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nr = 189.5 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 = 16 + 2·30 = 76

Willis equation with the carrier fixed

With nc = 0 the sun drives the ring through the planets, which act as idlers.

nr = −ns·Ns/Nr = −900·16/76 = −189.5 rpm
|nr| = 189.5 rpm

Answer

nr = 189.5 rpm

The ring turns opposite to the sun.

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: G = 80.06 GPa

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 moment and angle

J = π·15⁴/32 = 4970 mm⁴
φ = 4.32·π/180 = 0.0754 rad

Shear modulus

T = 100 N·m = 100000 N·mm
G = TL/(Jφ) = 100000·300/(4970·0.0754) = 80056 MPa
G = 80.06 GPa

Answer

G = 80.06 GPa

Compare: steel ≈ 80 GPa, brass ≈ 39 GPa, aluminium ≈ 26 GPa.

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 71.22 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·500/60 = 52.36 rad/s
T = P/ω = 15000/52.36 = 286.5 N·m

Diameter for strength

T = 286.5 N·m = 286479 N·mm
dτ = ∛(16·286479/(π·75)) = 26.89 mm

Diameter for stiffness

θ = 0.25·π/180/1000 = 4.363 × 10⁻⁶ rad/mm
G = 26 GPa = 26000 MPa
dφ = (32·286479/(π·26000·4.363 × 10⁻⁶))1/4 = 71.22 mm

Governing diameter

Both limits must hold, so the larger diameter governs.

d = max(26.89, 71.22) = 71.22 mm

Answer

d = 71.22 mm

Here stiffness governs.

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σy′ = −43.89 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 for the y′ face

σy′ = 10 − 20·0.766 − (−60)·(−0.6428) = −43.89 MPa

Check

The sum of the normal stresses does not change with rotation.

σx′ = 63.89 MPa, σx′ + σy′ = 20 = σx + σy

Answer

σy′ = −43.89 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = 81.16 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 + −5·0.5 + 10·0.866 = 81.16 MPa

Answer

σθ = 81.16 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 0.3457 mm

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

Ar = π·30²/4 = 706.9 mm²
At = π(100² − 60²)/4 = 5027 mm²

Combined axial stiffness

ΣEA = 200·10³·706.9 + 110·10³·5027 = 6.943 × 10⁸ N

Shortening

δ = 300000·800/6.943 × 10⁸ = 0.3457 mm

Answer

δ = 0.3457 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 309.5 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·25²/4 = 490.9 mm², A2 = π·12²/4 = 113.1 mm²
σ1 = 71.3 MPa
σ2 = 309.5 MPa

Largest stress

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

σmax = 309.5 MPa

Answer

σmax = 309.5 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 441 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·80⁴/64 = 2.011 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 2·1500 = 3000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·2.011 × 10⁶/3000² = 440978 N = 441 kN

Answer

Pcr = 441 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 101.5 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 = 2.5·90000 = 225000 N
KL = 2·2000 = 4000 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·225000·4000²/(π³·70000))^(1/4) = 101.5 mm

Answer

d = 101.5 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 157.6, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 2.784 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 = √(15000/25) = 24.49 rad/s
fn = 24.49/(2π) = 3.898 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 3.898·√(1 − 0.7²) = 2.784 Hz

Answer

fd = 2.784 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 95 kN/m

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 = 80 + 15 = 95 kN/m

Answer

keq = 95 kN/m

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