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​ = 12N2​ = 48

A 3 kW motor running at 1440 rpm drives a pinion with 12 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 48 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 97%. Find the torque T1 on the motor shaft.

P = 3 kWn1 = 1440 rpmN1 = 12N2 = 48η = 97%
T1 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 125 mmd2​ = 450 mm1450 rpmC = 800 mmθ = ?

An open belt connects a 125 mm pulley and a 450 mm pulley whose centres are 800 mm apart. Find the angle of wrap θ on the smaller pulley, in degrees.

d1 = 125 mmd2 = 450 mmC = 800 mm
θ = °
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
do​ = 30, di​ = 21 mmT = 750 N·mL = 1.5 m

A hollow steel shaft (outer diameter 30 mm, inner diameter 21 mm, length 1.5 m) is fixed at one end and twisted by a torque of 750 N·m at the other. Find the angle of twist φ in degrees.

T = 750 N·mdo = 30 mmdi = 21 mmL = 1.5 mG = 80 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Tdo​ = 80 mm, di​ = 64 mm

A hollow shaft transmits 20 kW at 500 rpm. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

P = 20 kWN = 500 rpmdo = 80 mmdi = 64 mm
τmax = MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 0σy​ = 20τxy​ = 50MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 0 MPa, σᵧ = 20 MPa and τₓᵧ = 50 MPa (tension positive). Find the angle θp from the x-axis to the direction of the largest principal stress, between −90° and 90°.

σx = 0 MPaσy = 20 MPaτxy = 50 MPa
θp = °
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​τxy​surface of the shaft

A solid shaft of diameter 60 mm carries an axial compressive force of 50 kN together with a torque of 500 N·m. At the surface of the shaft, find the maximum in-plane shear stress τmax.

d = 60 mmF = −50 kNT = 500 N·m
τmax = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 12 mmAluminium2.5 mP = 100 kN

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

P = 100 kNd = 12 mmL = 2.5 mE = 70 GPa
ε = µε
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 30 mmSteel0.5 mØ 16 mmSteel1 mP = 75 kN

The stepped bar is fixed at the wall and loaded at its free end. Find the total elongation δ.

P = 75 kNsegment 1: Ø30 mm, 0.5 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)segment 2: Ø16 mm, 1 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)
δ = mm
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 6 md = 50 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 = 6 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 50 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 2.5 md = 50 mmcross-section

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

L = 2.5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 50 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 150 kN/mζ = 0.6m = 15 kg

A 15 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 150 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 = 15 kgk = 150 kN/mζ = 0.6
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 5k2​ = 40m = 100 kg

A 100 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 5 kN/m and k₂ = 40 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 = 5 kN/mk2 = 40 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T1 = 19.89 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·1440/60 = 150.8 rad/s
T1 = P/ω₁ = 3000/150.8 = 19.89 N·m

Answer

T1 = 19.89 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: θ = 156.6 °

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(0.2031) = 11.72°

Angle of wrap

θ = 180 − 2·11.72 = 156.6°

Answer

θ = 156.6°
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 13.33 °

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(30⁴ − 21⁴)/32 = 60428 mm⁴

Angle of twist

T = 750 N·m = 750000 N·mm
L = 1.5 m = 1500 mm
G = 80 GPa = 80000 MPa
φ = TL/(GJ) = 750000·1500/(80000·60428) = 0.2327 rad
φ = 0.2327·180/π = 13.33°

Answer

φ = 13.33°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 6.436 MPa

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 = 20000/52.36 = 382 N·m

Polar second moment of area

J = π(80⁴ − 64⁴)/32 = 2.374 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Maximum shear stress

τmax = T·(do/2)/J = 381972·40/2.374 × 10⁶ = 6.436 MPa

Answer

τmax = 6.436 MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: θp = 50.65 °

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.

στxyCσ1​σ2​

Angle on the circle

Point x sits at an angle 2θp from the σ-axis on Mohr’s circle; the quadrant follows from the signs of σₓ − σᵧ and τₓᵧ.

2θp = atan2(2·50, 0 − 20) = 101.3°

Angle on the element

θp = 50.65°

Answer

θp = 50.65°

Positive angles are counter-clockwise.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τmax = 14.74 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 = F/A = −50000/(π·60²/4) = −50000/2827 = −17.68 MPa
τ = 16T/(πd³) = 16·500000/(π·60³) = 11.79 MPa
στxyCτmax​

Mohr’s circle

C = σ/2 = −8.842 MPa
R = √((−8.842)² + 11.79²) = 14.74 MPa

Answer

τmax = 14.74 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: ε = 12631 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·12²/4 = 113.1 mm²
σ = P/A = 100·1000/113.1 = 884.2 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for aluminium = 70 GPa = 70000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 884.2/70000 = 0.01263 = 12631 µε

Answer

ε = 12631 µε
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 2.13 mm

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·30²/4 = 706.9 mm², A2 = π·16²/4 = 201.1 mm²
σ1 = 106.1 MPa
σ2 = 373 MPa

Add the segment elongations

δ1 = σ1L1/E1 = 106.1·500/200000 = 0.2653 mm
δ2 = σ2L2/E2 = 373·1000/200000 = 1.865 mm
δ = δ1 + δ2 = 2.13 mm

Answer

δ = 2.13 mm
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 34.33 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·50⁴/64 = 306796 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.7·6000 = 4200 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·306796/4200² = 34331 N = 34.33 kN

Answer

Pcr = 34.33 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 35.25 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·50⁴/64 = 306796 mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 1963 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(306796/1963) = 12.5 mm
KL = 0.7·2500 = 1750 mm
KL/r = 1750/12.5 = 140

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·70000/140² = 35.25 MPa

Answer

σcr = 35.25 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 12.73 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 = √(150000/15) = 100 rad/s
fn = 100/(2π) = 15.92 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 15.92·√(1 − 0.6²) = 12.73 Hz

Answer

fd = 12.73 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 3.376 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 = 5 + 40 = 45 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(45000/100) = 21.21 rad/s
fn = 21.21/(2π) = 3.376 Hz

Answer

fn = 3.376 Hz

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