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​ = 15N2​ = 16

A 7.5 kW motor running at 1450 rpm drives a pinion with 15 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 16 teeth. Ignore losses. Find the torque T1 on the motor shaft.

P = 7.5 kWn1 = 1450 rpmN1 = 15N2 = 16η = 100%
T1 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 24B = 36C = 48D = 50

A 7.5 kW motor at 1440 rpm drives gear A (24 teeth), which meshes with gear B (36 teeth). Gear C (48 teeth) on the same shaft as B drives gear D (50 teeth) on the output shaft. Each gear mesh has an efficiency of 98%. Find the output torque Tout.

P = 7.5 kWnin = 1440 rpmA = 24B = 36C = 48D = 50ηmesh = 98%
Tout = N·m
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 750 N·md = 40 mmL = 2.5 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 = 750 N·md = 40 mmL = 2.5 mG = 39 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
d = ?20 kW, 1000 rpm

A solid brass shaft transmits 20 kW at 1000 rpm. The shear stress must not exceed 40 MPa and the twist must not exceed 1° per m of length. Find the smallest diameter d that satisfies both limits.

P = 20 kWN = 1000 rpmτallow = 40 MPaθallow = 1°/mG = 39 GPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 110σy​ = 120τxy​ = −60MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 110 MPa, σᵧ = 120 MPa and τₓᵧ = −60 MPa, with σz = 0. Find the absolute maximum shear stress τabs at the point (considering all planes in three dimensions).

σx = 110 MPaσy = 120 MPaτxy = −60 MPaσz = 0
τabs = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 10σy​ = 80τxy​ = 60MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 10 MPa, σᵧ = 80 MPa and τₓᵧ = 60 MPa (tension positive). Find the shear stress τθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 20° clockwise from the x-axis (positive in the same sense as τₓᵧ).

σx = 10 MPaσy = 80 MPaτxy = 60 MPaθ = -20°
τθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
P = ?12600 mm500 mmØ30Ø40δ = 0.2 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 30 mm, length 600 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of brass (diameter 40 mm, length 500 mm, E = 100 GPa). It is fixed at one end and pulled at the other. Find the axial load P that stretches it by 0.2 mm in total.

segment 1: steel, Ø30 mm, 600 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: brass, Ø40 mm, 500 mm, E = 100 GPaδ = 0.2 mm
P = kN
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 35 mmBrass1.5 mØ 20 mmSteel2 mP = 10 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 = 10 kNsegment 1: Ø35 mm, 1.5 m, brass (E = 100 GPa)segment 2: Ø20 mm, 2 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)
σmax = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 4 m30 × 100 mmcross-section

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

L = 4 mE = 200 GPa (steel)b × h = 30 × 100 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 4 md = 80 mmcross-section

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

L = 4 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 80 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 150 kN/mζ = 0.3m = 5 kg

A 5 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 150 kN/m has a viscous damper giving a damping ratio of 0.3. Find the damped natural frequency fd of its free vibration in Hz.

m = 5 kgk = 150 kN/mζ = 0.3
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 80k2​ = 40m = 5 kg

A 5 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 80 kN/m and k₂ = 40 kN/m. The mass stays level. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 5 kgk1 = 80 kN/mk2 = 40 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T1 = 49.39 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·1450/60 = 151.8 rad/s
T1 = P/ω₁ = 7500/151.8 = 49.39 N·m

Answer

T1 = 49.39 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: Tout = 74.63 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.

Output speed

nout = 1440·(24/36)·(48/50) = 921.6 rpm
ωout = 2π·921.6/60 = 96.51 rad/s

Output power and torque

Pout = 7500·0.98² = 7203 W
Tout = Pout/ωout = 7203/96.51 = 74.63 N·m

Answer

Tout = 74.63 N·m
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 10.96 °

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·40⁴/32 = 251327 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 750·1000·2500/(39000·251327) = 0.1913 rad
φ = 0.1913·180/π = 10.96°

Answer

φ = 10.96°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 41.12 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·1000/60 = 104.7 rad/s
T = P/ω = 20000/104.7 = 191 N·m

Diameter for strength

T = 191 N·m = 190986 N·mm
dτ = ∛(16·190986/(π·40)) = 28.97 mm

Diameter for stiffness

θ = 1·π/180/1000 = 1.745 × 10⁻⁵ rad/mm
G = 39 GPa = 39000 MPa
dφ = (32·190986/(π·39000·1.745 × 10⁻⁵))1/4 = 41.12 mm

Governing diameter

Both limits must hold, so the larger diameter governs.

d = max(28.97, 41.12) = 41.12 mm

Answer

d = 41.12 mm

Here stiffness governs.

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τabs = 87.6 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 = 115 MPa, R = √((−5)² + (−60)²) = 60.21 MPa
σ1 = 175.2 MPa, σ2 = 54.79 MPa, σz = 0

Largest of the three circles

τ = max(|σ1 − σ2|, |σ1|, |σ2|)/2 = max(120.4, 175.2, 54.79)/2 = 87.6 MPa

Answer

τabs = 87.6 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: τθ = 23.47 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

τθ = −−35·−0.6428 + 60·0.766 = 23.47 MPa

Answer

τθ = 23.47 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 24.32 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 = 706.9 mm², A₂ = 1257 mm²

Flexibilities

L₁/(E₁A₁) = 600/(200000·706.9) = 4.244 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 500/(100000·1257) = 3.979 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

Load

P = 0.2/8.223 × 10⁻⁶ = 24322 N = 24.32 kN

Answer

P = 24.32 kN
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 31.83 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·35²/4 = 962.1 mm², A2 = π·20²/4 = 314.2 mm²
σ1 = 10.39 MPa
σ2 = 31.83 MPa

Largest stress

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

σmax = 31.83 MPa

Answer

σmax = 31.83 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 27.76 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 = 100·30³/12 = 225000 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 1·4000 = 4000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·225000/4000² = 27758 N = 27.76 kN

Answer

Pcr = 27.76 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 197.4 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 = 0.5·4000 = 2000 mm
KL/r = 2000/20 = 100

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/100² = 197.4 MPa

Answer

σcr = 197.4 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 26.3 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 = √(150000/5) = 173.2 rad/s
fn = 173.2/(2π) = 27.57 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 27.57·√(1 − 0.3²) = 26.3 Hz

Answer

fd = 26.3 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 120 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 side by side share the deflection and add their forces, so their stiffnesses simply add: k = k1 + k2.

keq = 80 + 40 = 120 kN/m

Answer

keq = 120 kN/m

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