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​ = 16, m = 2 mm

An 11 kW motor running at 2900 rpm drives a pinion with 16 teeth and a module of 2 mm. Find the tangential force Ft on the pinion teeth.

P = 11 kWn = 2900 rpmN1 = 16m = 2 mm
Ft = N
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 100 mmd2​ = 400 mm960 rpmC = 500 mmθ = ?

An open belt connects a 100 mm pulley and a 400 mm pulley whose centres are 500 mm apart. Find the angle of wrap θ on the smaller pulley, in degrees.

d1 = 100 mmd2 = 400 mmC = 500 mm
θ = °
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d = ?T = 250 N·mL = 2 m

A solid aluminium shaft 2 m long carries a torque of 250 N·m. The angle of twist between its ends must not exceed 2°. Find the smallest diameter d that meets this limit.

T = 250 N·mL = 2 mG = 26 GPaφallow = 2°
d = mm
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
do​ = ?75 kW, 1450 rpm

A hollow shaft must transmit 75 kW at 1450 rpm. Its inner diameter is to be 0.8 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 80 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

P = 75 kWN = 1450 rpmdi/do = 0.8τallow = 80 MPa
do = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 0σy​ = −40τxy​ = 20MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 0 MPa, σᵧ = −40 MPa and τₓᵧ = 20 MPa (tension positive). Find the maximum in-plane shear stress τmax.

σx = 0 MPaσy = −40 MPaτxy = 20 MPa
τmax = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 50σy​ = 120τxy​ = −10MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 50 MPa, σᵧ = 120 MPa and τₓᵧ = −10 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 35° counter-clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = 50 MPaσy = 120 MPaτxy = −10 MPaθ = 35°
σθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
P = ?12400 mm300 mmØ20Ø40δ = 0.3 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 20 mm, length 400 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of brass (diameter 40 mm, length 300 mm, E = 100 GPa). It is fixed at one end and pulled at the other. Find the axial load P that stretches it by 0.3 mm in total.

segment 1: steel, Ø20 mm, 400 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: brass, Ø40 mm, 300 mm, E = 100 GPaδ = 0.3 mm
P = kN
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 40 mmSteel1 mØ 16 mmAluminium0.5 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: Ø40 mm, 1 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)segment 2: Ø16 mm, 0.5 m, aluminium (E = 70 GPa)
σmax = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 2.5 m20 × 100 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 = 2.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)b × h = 20 × 100 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 15 kNL = 2.5 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of aluminium is pinned at both ends. It must carry 15 kN with a factor of safety of 2.5 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 15 kNn = 2.5L = 2.5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 200 kN/mζ = 0.7m = 20 kg

A 20 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 200 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 = 200 kN/mζ = 0.7
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 20k2​ = 80m = 100 kg

A 100 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 20 kN/m and k₂ = 80 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 = 100 kgk1 = 20 kN/mk2 = 80 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: Ft = 2264 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 = 11000/303.7 = 36.22 N·m

Pitch diameter

d = m·N = 2·16 = 32 mm

Tangential force

Ft = 2T/d = 2·36.22/0.032 = 2264 N

Answer

Ft = 2264 N
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: θ = 145.1 °

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.

Belt angle

asin(0.3) = 17.46°

Angle of wrap

θ = 180 − 2·17.46 = 145.1°

Answer

θ = 145.1°
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 48.67 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.

Required polar moment

T = 250 N·m = 250000 N·mm
L = 2 m = 2000 mm
G = 26 GPa = 26000 MPa
φ = 2·π/180 = 0.03491 rad
J = TL/(Gφ) = 250000·2000/(26000·0.03491) = 550921 mm⁴

Diameter

d = (32J/π)1/4 = 48.67 mm

Answer

d = 48.67 mm

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

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 37.62 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·1450/60 = 151.8 rad/s
T = P/ω = 75000/151.8 = 493.9 N·m

Outer diameter from the allowable stress

T = 493.9 N·m = 493929 N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.8⁴ = 0.5904
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·493929/(π·80·0.5904)) = 37.62 mm
di = 0.8·37.62 = 30.1 mm

Answer

do = 37.62 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 31.56 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τmax = 28.28 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 = √(((0 − −40)/2)² + 20²) = 28.28 MPa

Answer

τmax = 28.28 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = 63.63 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 = 85 + −35·0.342 + −10·0.9397 = 63.63 MPa

Answer

σθ = 63.63 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 34.27 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 = 314.2 mm², A₂ = 1257 mm²

Flexibilities

L₁/(E₁A₁) = 400/(200000·314.2) = 6.366 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 300/(100000·1257) = 2.387 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

Load

P = 0.3/8.754 × 10⁻⁶ = 34272 N = 34.27 kN

Answer

P = 34.27 kN
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 174.1 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·40²/4 = 1257 mm², A2 = π·16²/4 = 201.1 mm²
σ1 = 27.85 MPa
σ2 = 174.1 MPa

Largest stress

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

σmax = 174.1 MPa

Answer

σmax = 174.1 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 5.264 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 = 100·20³/12 = 66667 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 2·2500 = 5000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·66667/5000² = 5264 N = 5.264 kN

Answer

Pcr = 5.264 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 51.27 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 = 2.5·15000 = 37500 N
KL = 1·2500 = 2500 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·37500·2500²/(π³·70000))^(1/4) = 51.27 mm

Answer

d = 51.27 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 195, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 11.37 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 = √(200000/20) = 100 rad/s
fn = 100/(2π) = 15.92 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 15.92·√(1 − 0.7²) = 11.37 Hz

Answer

fd = 11.37 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 5.033 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 = 20 + 80 = 100 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(100000/100) = 31.62 rad/s
fn = 31.62/(2π) = 5.033 Hz

Answer

fn = 5.033 Hz

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