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​ = 20

A 0.75 kW motor running at 960 rpm drives a pinion with 16 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 20 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 98%. Find the torque T1 on the motor shaft.

P = 0.75 kWn1 = 960 rpmN1 = 16N2 = 20η = 98%
T1 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 125 mmd2​ = 250 mm1440 rpmC = 600 mmθ = ?

An open belt connects a 125 mm pulley and a 250 mm pulley whose centres are 600 mm apart. Find the angle of wrap θ on the smaller pulley, in degrees.

d1 = 125 mmd2 = 250 mmC = 600 mm
θ = °
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 0.8 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 75 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

T = 2000 N·mdi/do = 0.8τallow = 75 MPa
do = mm
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
do​ = ?5 kW, 1800 rpm

A hollow shaft must transmit 5 kW at 1800 rpm. Its inner diameter is to be 0.5 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 50 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

P = 5 kWN = 1800 rpmdi/do = 0.5τallow = 50 MPa
do = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 10σy​ = 100MPaτxy​ = ?

A point has σₓ = 10 MPa and σᵧ = 100 MPa. How large can the shear stress τxy (magnitude) become before the largest principal stress reaches 140 MPa?

σx = 10 MPaσy = 100 MPaσ1 = 140 MPa
τxy = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 130σy​ = 30τxy​ = 40MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 130 MPa, σᵧ = 30 MPa and τₓᵧ = 40 MPa (σz = 0). The material has a yield strength of 355 MPa. Find the factor of safety n against yielding by the Tresca (maximum shear stress) criterion.

σx = 130 MPaσy = 30 MPaτxy = 40 MPaσY = 355 MPa
n =
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
300 kNØ20120 GPaØ120/50500 mmδ = ?

A steel rod (diameter 20 mm, E = 200 GPa) sits inside a tube made of copper (outer diameter 120 mm, inner diameter 50 mm, E = 120 GPa). Both are 500 mm long and are compressed together between rigid plates by 300 kN. Find the shortening δ.

P = 300 kNrod: Ø20 mm, E = 200 GPatube: Ø120/Ø50 mm, E = 120 GPaL = 500 mm
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 40 mmSteel1.5 mØ 16 mmBrass1 mP = 40 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 = 40 kNsegment 1: Ø40 mm, 1.5 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)segment 2: Ø16 mm, 1 m, brass (E = 100 GPa)
σmax = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 1.5 md = 20 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)d = 20 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 140 kNL = 2.5 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of steel is fixed at both ends. It must carry 140 kN with a factor of safety of 2.5 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 140 kNn = 2.5L = 2.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 1 kN/mζ = 0.7m = 10 kg

A 10 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 1 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 = 10 kgk = 1 kN/mζ = 0.7
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 25k2​ = 25m = 50 kg

A 50 kg mass hangs from two springs connected end to end (in series): the upper spring has k₁ = 25 kN/m and the lower one k₂ = 25 kN/m. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 50 kgk1 = 25 kN/mk2 = 25 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T1 = 7.46 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·960/60 = 100.5 rad/s
T1 = P/ω₁ = 750/100.5 = 7.46 N·m

Answer

T1 = 7.46 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: θ = 168 °

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(0.1042) = 5.979°

Angle of wrap

θ = 180 − 2·5.979 = 168°

Answer

θ = 168°
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 61.27 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 − 0.8⁴ = 0.5904
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·2 × 10⁶/(π·75·0.5904)) = 61.27 mm
di = 0.8·61.27 = 49.02 mm

Answer

do = 61.27 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: do = 14.23 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·1800/60 = 188.5 rad/s
T = P/ω = 5000/188.5 = 26.53 N·m

Outer diameter from the allowable stress

T = 26.53 N·m = 26526 N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.5⁴ = 0.9375
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·26526/(π·50·0.9375)) = 14.23 mm
di = 0.5·14.23 = 7.115 mm

Answer

do = 14.23 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 13.93 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τxy = 72.11 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 = (10 + 100)/2 = 55 MPa
R = σ1 − C = 140 − 55 = 85 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Shear stress

τxy = √(R² − ((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)²) = √(85² − 45²) = 72.11 MPa

Answer

τxy = 72.11 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: n = 2.465

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. Yield criteria: von Mises predicts yield when σvM = √(σ₁² − σ₁σ₂ + σ₂²) reaches σY; Tresca when the absolute maximum shear stress reaches σY/2.

στxyCσ1​σ2​

Principal stresses

C = 80 MPa, R = 64.03 MPa
σ1 = 144 MPa, σ2 = 15.97 MPa, σ3 = 0

Tresca

σmax − σmin = 144 MPa
n = 355/144 = 2.465

Answer

n = 2.465

n > 1 means the point does not yield; Tresca is slightly more conservative than von Mises.

7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 0.1266 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·20²/4 = 314.2 mm²
At = π(120² − 50²)/4 = 9346 mm²

Combined axial stiffness

ΣEA = 200·10³·314.2 + 120·10³·9346 = 1.184 × 10⁹ N

Shortening

δ = 300000·500/1.184 × 10⁹ = 0.1266 mm

Answer

δ = 0.1266 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 198.9 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 = 31.83 MPa
σ2 = 198.9 MPa

Largest stress

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

σmax = 198.9 MPa

Answer

σmax = 198.9 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 4.922 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·20⁴/64 = 7854 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.7·1500 = 1050 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·7854/1050² = 4922 N = 4.922 kN

Answer

Pcr = 4.922 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 48.74 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 = 2.5·140000 = 350000 N
KL = 0.5·2500 = 1250 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·350000·1250²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 48.74 mm

Answer

d = 48.74 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 102.6, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 1.137 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 = √(1000/10) = 10 rad/s
fn = 10/(2π) = 1.592 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 1.592·√(1 − 0.7²) = 1.137 Hz

Answer

fd = 1.137 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 12.5 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 in series share the same force and add their deflections, so they combine as reciprocals: 1/k = 1/k1 + 1/k2.

1/keq = 1/25 + 1/25 → keq = 25·25/(25 + 25) = 12.5 kN/m

Answer

keq = 12.5 kN/m

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