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​ = 100 mmd2​ = 300 mm2880 rpmn2​ = ?

A 100 mm pulley at 2880 rpm drives a 300 mm pulley by a belt with 2.5 % slip. Find the speed n2 of the driven pulley.

n1 = 2880 rpmd1 = 100 mmd2 = 300 mms = 2.5 %
n2 = rpm
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 40B = 48C = 36D = 45

In a compound gear train, gear A (40 teeth) on the input shaft turning at 960 rpm drives gear B (48 teeth). Gear C (36 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D (45 teeth) on the output shaft. Find the output speed nout.

nin = 960 rpmA = 40B = 48C = 36D = 45
nout = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
do​ = ?T = 750 N·m

A hollow shaft must carry a torque of 750 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 = 750 N·mdi/do = 0.8τallow = 75 MPa
do = mm
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
d = 40 mmT0​ = 100 N·mACBa = 1 mb = 2.5 m

A solid brass shaft of diameter 40 mm is fixed to rigid walls at both ends A and B. A torque of 100 N·m is applied at C, 1 m from A and 2.5 m from B. Find the reaction torque TA at wall A.

d = 40 mmT0 = 100 N·ma = 1 mb = 2.5 m
TA = N·m
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 30σy​ = −30MPaτxy​ = ?

A point has σₓ = 30 MPa and σᵧ = −30 MPa. How large can the shear stress τxy (magnitude) become before the largest principal stress reaches 80 MPa?

σx = 30 MPaσy = −30 MPaσ1 = 80 MPa
τxy = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​τxy​top surface of the shaft

A solid shaft of diameter 30 mm carries a bending moment of 750 N·m together with a torque of 750 N·m. At the top surface, where the bending stress is tensile and largest, find the largest principal stress σ1.

d = 30 mmM = 750 N·mT = 750 N·m
σ1 = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 20 mmAluminium3 mP = 85 kN

Find the axial strain ε in the aluminium bar, in microstrain (µε = 10⁻⁶).

P = 85 kNd = 20 mmL = 3 mE = 70 GPa
ε = µε
8.Axial stress & strainHard
20 kN12600 mm500 mmØ30Ø50σ2​ = ?

A steel segment (diameter 30 mm, length 600 mm, E = 200 GPa) and a segment made of brass (diameter 50 mm, length 500 mm, E = 100 GPa) are joined end to end and fixed between two rigid walls. An axial load of 20 kN acts at the joint, towards segment 2. Find the magnitude of the stress σ2 in segment 2.

segment 1: steel, Ø30 mm, 600 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: brass, Ø50 mm, 500 mm, E = 100 GPaP = 20 kN
σ2 = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 3 md = 25 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of aluminium is fixed at both ends. Using Euler’s formula, find its critical buckling load Pcr.

L = 3 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 25 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 60 kNL = 5 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of steel is pinned at both ends. It must carry 60 kN with a factor of safety of 2 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 60 kNn = 2L = 5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 10 kN/mζ = 0.5m = 40 kg

A 40 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 10 kN/m has a viscous damper giving a damping ratio of 0.5. Find the damped natural frequency fd of its free vibration in Hz.

m = 40 kgk = 10 kN/mζ = 0.5
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 80k2​ = 100k3​ = 12m = 100 kg

A 100 kg mass hangs from spring k₃ = 12 kN/m. The top of k₃ is attached to a rigid bar that hangs from two springs side by side, k₁ = 80 kN/m and k₂ = 100 kN/m; the bar stays level. Ignore damping and the masses of the springs and bar. Find the natural frequency fn of vertical vibration in Hz.

m = 100 kgk1 = 80 kN/mk2 = 100 kN/mk3 = 12 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: n2 = 936 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

2880·100/300 = 960 rpm

With slip

n2 = 960·0.975 = 936 rpm

Answer

n2 = 936 rpm
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nout = 640 rpm

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.

First stage

nB = 960·40/48 = 800 rpm = nC

Second stage

nout = 800·36/45 = 640 rpm

Answer

nout = 640 rpm

total ratio = 1.5 : 1

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 44.18 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 = 750 N·m = 750000 N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.8⁴ = 0.5904
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·750000/(π·75·0.5904)) = 44.18 mm
di = 0.8·44.18 = 35.35 mm

Answer

do = 44.18 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 37.07 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: TA = 71.43 N·m

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 = 100
TA·a = TB·b
TA = 100·2.5/3.5 = 71.43 N·m
TB = 100·1/3.5 = 28.57 N·m

Answer

TA = 71.43 N·m
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τxy = 74.16 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.

Required radius

C = (30 + (−30))/2 = 0 MPa
R = σ1 − C = 80 − 0 = 80 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Shear stress

τxy = √(R² − ((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)²) = √(80² − 30²) = 74.16 MPa

Answer

τxy = 74.16 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σ1 = 341.5 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.

Stresses at the surface

σ = 32M/(πd³) = 32·750000/(π·30³) = 282.9 MPa
τ = 16T/(πd³) = 16·750000/(π·30³) = 141.5 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Mohr’s circle

C = σ/2 = 141.5 MPa
R = √(141.5² + 141.5²) = 200.1 MPa
σ1 = C + R = 341.5 MPa
σ2 = C − R = −58.6 MPa

Answer

σ1 = 341.5 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: ε = 3865 µε

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·20²/4 = 314.2 mm²
σ = P/A = 85·1000/314.2 = 270.6 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for aluminium = 70 GPa = 70000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 270.6/70000 = 0.003865 = 3865 µε

Answer

ε = 3865 µε
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σ2 = 6.366 MPa

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.

Stiffnesses

k₁ = 200000·706.9/600 = 235619 N/mm
k₂ = 100000·1963/500 = 392699 N/mm

Share of segment 2

F2 = 20000·392699/628319 = 12500 N

Stress

σ2 = 12500/1963 = 6.366 MPa (compression)

Answer

σ2 = 6.366 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 5.888 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 = 0.5·3000 = 1500 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·19175/1500² = 5888 N = 5.888 kN

Answer

Pcr = 5.888 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 74.59 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 = 2·60000 = 120000 N
KL = 1·5000 = 5000 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·120000·5000²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 74.59 mm

Answer

d = 74.59 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 268.1, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 2.179 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 = √(10000/40) = 15.81 rad/s
fn = 15.81/(2π) = 2.516 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 2.516·√(1 − 0.5²) = 2.179 Hz

Answer

fd = 2.179 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 1.688 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

Only k1 and k2 are in parallel. That pair is in series with k3, so combine them as reciprocals.

k12 = 80 + 100 = 180 kN/m
keq = 180·12/(180 + 12) = 11.25 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(11250/100) = 10.61 rad/s
fn = 10.61/(2π) = 1.688 Hz

Answer

fn = 1.688 Hz

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