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​ = 60

A 1.1 kW motor running at 1500 rpm drives a pinion with 16 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 60 teeth. Ignore losses. Find the output torque T2 on the gear shaft.

P = 1.1 kWn1 = 1500 rpmN1 = 16N2 = 60η = 100%
T2 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
Ns​ = 30nr​ = ?Np​ = 15carrier fixed

In a planetary gear set the sun gear has 30 teeth and each planet gear has 15 teeth. The planet carrier is held fixed and the sun is driven at 600 rpm. Find the speed nr of the ring gear (magnitude).

Ns = 30Np = 15ns = 600 rpm
nr = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 500 N·md = 25 mmL = 0.8 mφ = ?

A solid brass shaft is fixed at the wall and twisted by a torque T at its free end. Find the angle of twist φ of the free end, in degrees.

T = 500 N·md = 25 mmL = 0.8 mG = 39 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
d = 40 mmT0​ = 1500 N·mACBa = 1 mb = 0.5 m

A solid aluminium shaft of diameter 40 mm is fixed to rigid walls at both ends A and B. A torque of 1500 N·m is applied at C, 1 m from A and 0.5 m from B. Find the angle of rotation φC of section C, in degrees.

d = 40 mmT0 = 1500 N·ma = 1 mb = 0.5 mG = 26 GPa
φC = °
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = −50σy​ = −80τxy​ = −50MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = −50 MPa, σᵧ = −80 MPa and τₓᵧ = −50 MPa, with σz = 0. Find the absolute maximum shear stress τabs at the point (considering all planes in three dimensions).

σx = −50 MPaσy = −80 MPaτxy = −50 MPaσz = 0
τabs = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
60°D = 500 mm, t = 15 mm, p = 3 MPap

A thin-walled cylindrical tank of inner diameter 500 mm and wall thickness 15 mm holds gas at a gauge pressure of 3 MPa. It is made from plate welded along a helical seam at 60° to the axis of the cylinder. Find the normal stress σn acting across the weld seam.

D = 500 mmt = 15 mmp = 3 MPaα = 60°
σn = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 25 mmSteel1 mP = 35 kN

Find the elongation δ of the steel bar under the axial load.

P = 35 kNd = 25 mmL = 1 mE = 200 GPa
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
P = ?Ø4070 GPaØ100/70800 mm

A steel rod (diameter 40 mm, E = 200 GPa, allowable stress 160 MPa) sits inside a tube made of aluminium (outer diameter 100 mm, inner diameter 70 mm, E = 70 GPa, allowable stress 70 MPa). They are compressed together between rigid plates. Find the largest load Pmax.

rod: Ø40 mm, E = 200 GPa, σallow = 160 MPatube: Ø100/Ø70 mm, E = 70 GPa, σallow = 70 MPa
Pmax = kN
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 3 md = 25 mmcross-section

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

L = 3 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 25 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 6 md = 80 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of steel is fixed at the base and pinned at the top. Find its slenderness and the critical buckling stress σcr from Euler’s formula.

L = 6 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 80 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 80 kN/mζ = 0.6m = 2 kg

A 2 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 80 kN/m has a viscous damper giving a damping ratio of 0.6. Find the damped natural frequency fd of its free vibration in Hz.

m = 2 kgk = 80 kN/mζ = 0.6
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 30k2​ = 50m = 40 kg

A 40 kg mass hangs from two springs connected end to end (in series): the upper spring has k₁ = 30 kN/m and the lower one k₂ = 50 kN/m. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 40 kgk1 = 30 kN/mk2 = 50 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T2 = 26.26 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·1500/60 = 157.1 rad/s
T1 = P/ω₁ = 1100/157.1 = 7.003 N·m

Output torque

T2 = 7.003·60/16·1 = 26.26 N·m

Answer

T2 = 26.26 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nr = 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 = 30 + 2·15 = 60

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 = −600·30/60 = −300 rpm
|nr| = 300 rpm

Answer

nr = 300 rpm

The ring turns opposite to the sun.

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 15.32 °

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 second moment of area

J = π·25⁴/32 = 38350 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 500·1000·800/(39000·38350) = 0.2674 rad
φ = 0.2674·180/π = 15.32°

Answer

φ = 15.32°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φC = 4.384 °

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. When both ends are fixed, statics alone gives only TA + TB = T₀; the second equation is compatibility (equal twist of both parts at the loaded section).

Equilibrium and compatibility

TA + TB = 1500
TA·a = TB·b
TA = 1500·0.5/1.5 = 500 N·m
TB = 1500·1/1.5 = 1000 N·m

Rotation of C

Use segment AC: it is fixed at A and carries TA.

J = π·40⁴/32 = 251327 mm⁴
G = 26 GPa = 26000 MPa
φC = TA·a/(GJ) = 500000·1000/(26000·251327) = 0.07652 rad = 4.384°

Answer

φC = 4.384°
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τabs = 58.6 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. In three dimensions the absolute maximum shear stress is (σmax − σmin)/2 over all three principal stresses; in plane stress the third one is zero.

στxyCσ1​σ2​

In-plane principal stresses

C = −65 MPa, R = √(15² + (−50)²) = 52.2 MPa
σ1 = −12.8 MPa, σ2 = −117.2 MPa, σz = 0

Largest of the three circles

τ = max(|σ1 − σ2|, |σ1|, |σ2|)/2 = max(104.4, 12.8, 117.2)/2 = 58.6 MPa

Answer

τabs = 58.6 MPa

Here the out-of-plane circle governs: the absolute maximum is larger than the in-plane maximum R.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σn = 31.25 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. Thin-walled cylinder: hoop stress σh = pr/t and axial stress σa = pr/(2t); these are the principal stresses in the wall.

Wall stresses

r = 500/2 = 250 mm
σh = pr/t = 3·250/15 = 50 MPa
σa = pr/(2t) = 25 MPa

Transform to the seam

Take x along the axis (σa) and y around the hoop (σh). The seam’s normal makes 90° − α with the axis.

σn = 25·sin²60° + 50·cos²60° = 31.25 MPa

Answer

σn = 31.25 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 0.3565 mm

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 = 35·1000/490.9 = 71.3 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for steel = 200 GPa = 200000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 71.3/200000 = 0.0003565 = 356.5 µε

Elongation

δ = ε·L = 0.0003565·1000 mm = 0.3565 mm

Answer

δ = 0.3565 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: Pmax = 425.4 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

Ar = π·40²/4 = 1257 mm²
At = π(100² − 70²)/4 = 4006 mm²

Combined axial stiffness

ΣEA = 200·10³·1257 + 70·10³·4006 = 5.317 × 10⁸ N

Governing strain

ε = min(0.0008, 0.001) = 0.0008 (steel)

Largest load

Pmax = 0.0008·5.317 × 10⁸ = 425372 N = 425.4 kN

Answer

Pmax = 425.4 kN
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 8.583 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 = 0.7·3000 = 2100 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·19175/2100² = 8583 N = 8.583 kN

Answer

Pcr = 8.583 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 44.76 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 = 0.7·6000 = 4200 mm
KL/r = 4200/20 = 210

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/210² = 44.76 MPa

Answer

σcr = 44.76 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 25.46 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 = √(80000/2) = 200 rad/s
fn = 200/(2π) = 31.83 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 31.83·√(1 − 0.6²) = 25.46 Hz

Answer

fd = 25.46 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 18.75 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 = 1/30 + 1/50 → keq = 30·50/(30 + 50) = 18.75 kN/m

Answer

keq = 18.75 kN/m

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