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 mm720 rpmn2​ = ?

A 100 mm pulley at 720 rpm drives a 300 mm pulley by a belt with 1 % slip. Find the speed n2 of the driven pulley.

n1 = 720 rpmd1 = 100 mmd2 = 300 mms = 1 %
n2 = rpm
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 15B = 36C = 32D = 72

In a compound gear train, gear A (15 teeth) on the input shaft turning at 1450 rpm drives gear B (36 teeth). Gear C (32 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D (72 teeth) on the output shaft. Find the output speed nout.

nin = 1450 rpmA = 15B = 36C = 32D = 72
nout = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 500 N·md = 40 mmL = 2.5 mφ = ?

A solid steel 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 = 40 mmL = 2.5 mG = 80 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Tdo​ = 50 mm, di​ = 25 mm

A hollow shaft transmits 15 kW at 1450 rpm. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

P = 15 kWN = 1450 rpmdo = 50 mmdi = 25 mm
τmax = MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = −10σy​ = 30τxy​ = −10MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = −10 MPa, σᵧ = 30 MPa and τₓᵧ = −10 MPa (tension positive). Find the maximum in-plane shear stress τmax.

σx = −10 MPaσy = 30 MPaτxy = −10 MPa
τmax = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 20σy​ = −20τxy​ = −10MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 20 MPa, σᵧ = −20 MPa and τₓᵧ = −10 MPa (tension positive). Find the shear stress τθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 45° counter-clockwise from the x-axis (positive in the same sense as τₓᵧ).

σx = 20 MPaσy = −20 MPaτxy = −10 MPaθ = 45°
τθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
P = ?12600 mm400 mmØ30Ø50δ = 0.5 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 50 mm, length 400 mm, E = 100 GPa). It is fixed at one end and pulled at the other. Find the axial load P that stretches it by 0.5 mm in total.

segment 1: steel, Ø30 mm, 600 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: brass, Ø50 mm, 400 mm, E = 100 GPaδ = 0.5 mm
P = kN
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 25 mmSteel1.5 mØ 16 mmCopper1 mP = 95 kN

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

P = 95 kNsegment 1: Ø25 mm, 1.5 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)segment 2: Ø16 mm, 1 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
δ = mm
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 1.5 md = 40 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 = 40 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
tx40 mm1 cycle31.1 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 40 mm is followed one cycle later by a peak of 31.1 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 40 mmx1 = 31.1 mmn = 1
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 5k2​ = 80m = 50 kg

A 50 kg mass hangs from two springs connected end to end (in series): the upper spring has k₁ = 5 kN/m and the lower one k₂ = 80 kN/m. Ignore damping and the masses of the springs. Find the natural frequency fn of vertical vibration in Hz.

m = 50 kgk1 = 5 kN/mk2 = 80 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: n2 = 237.6 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

720·100/300 = 240 rpm

With slip

n2 = 240·0.99 = 237.6 rpm

Answer

n2 = 237.6 rpm
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nout = 268.5 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 = 1450·15/36 = 604.2 rpm = nC

Second stage

nout = 604.2·32/72 = 268.5 rpm

Answer

nout = 268.5 rpm

total ratio = 5.4 : 1

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 3.562 °

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) = 500·1000·2500/(80000·251327) = 0.06217 rad
φ = 0.06217·180/π = 3.562°

Answer

φ = 3.562°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 4.293 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·1450/60 = 151.8 rad/s
T = P/ω = 15000/151.8 = 98.79 N·m

Polar second moment of area

J = π(50⁴ − 25⁴)/32 = 575243 mm⁴

Maximum shear stress

τmax = T·(do/2)/J = 98786·25/575243 = 4.293 MPa

Answer

τmax = 4.293 MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τmax = 22.36 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.

στxyCτmax​

Radius of Mohr’s circle

τmax = R = √(((−10 − 30)/2)² + −10²) = 22.36 MPa

Answer

τmax = 22.36 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τθ = −20 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 = −20·1 + −10·0 = −20 MPa

Answer

τθ = −20 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 79.6 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 = 1963 mm²

Flexibilities

L₁/(E₁A₁) = 600/(200000·706.9) = 4.244 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 400/(100000·1963) = 2.037 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

Load

P = 0.5/6.281 × 10⁻⁶ = 79601 N = 79.6 kN

Answer

P = 79.6 kN
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 5.49 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·25²/4 = 490.9 mm², A2 = π·16²/4 = 201.1 mm²
σ1 = 193.5 MPa
σ2 = 472.5 MPa

Add the segment elongations

δ1 = σ1L1/E1 = 193.5·1500/200000 = 1.451 mm
δ2 = σ2L2/E2 = 472.5·1000/117000 = 4.038 mm
δ = δ1 + δ2 = 5.49 mm

Answer

δ = 5.49 mm
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 78.75 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·40⁴/64 = 125664 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.7·1500 = 1050 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·125664/1050² = 78746 N = 78.75 kN

Answer

Pcr = 78.75 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: ζ = 0.04002

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.

Logarithmic decrement

δ = (1/1)·ln(40/31.1) = 0.2517

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.2517/√(39.48 + 0.06334) = 0.04002

Answer

ζ = 0.04002
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 1.544 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 in series share the same force and add their deflections, so they combine as reciprocals: 1/k = 1/k1 + 1/k2.

1/keq = 1/5 + 1/80 → keq = 5·80/(5 + 80) = 4.706 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(4706/50) = 9.701 rad/s
fn = 9.701/(2π) = 1.544 Hz

Answer

fn = 1.544 Hz

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