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​ = 120 mmd2​ = 315 mm2880 rpmn2​ = ?

A 120 mm pulley at 2880 rpm drives a 315 mm pulley by a belt with 4 % slip. Find the speed n2 of the driven pulley.

n1 = 2880 rpmd1 = 120 mmd2 = 315 mms = 4 %
n2 = rpm
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 60B = 80C = 45D = 60

A 2.2 kW motor at 1440 rpm drives gear A (60 teeth), which meshes with gear B (80 teeth). Gear C (45 teeth) on the same shaft as B drives gear D (60 teeth) on the output shaft. Each gear mesh has an efficiency of 95%. Find the output torque Tout.

P = 2.2 kWnin = 1440 rpmA = 60B = 80C = 45D = 60ηmesh = 95%
Tout = N·m
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 400 N·md = 40 mmL = 1 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 = 400 N·md = 40 mmL = 1 mG = 80 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 5 kW at 300 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 75 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 5 kWN = 300 rpmτallow = 75 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
τxy​ = −10MPa

A point has σₓ = 0 MPa, σᵧ = 0 MPa and τₓᵧ = −10 MPa (tension positive). The element is rotated 20° counter-clockwise. Find the normal stress σy′ on the faces of the rotated element that are perpendicular to the rotated y′-axis.

σx = 0 MPaσy = 0 MPaτxy = −10 MPaθ = 20°
σy′ = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = −80σy​ = 90τxy​ = 30MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = −80 MPa, σᵧ = 90 MPa and τₓᵧ = 30 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 30° counter-clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = −80 MPaσy = 90 MPaτxy = 30 MPaθ = 30°
σθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 30 mmAluminium0.5 mP = 15 kN

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

P = 15 kNd = 30 mmL = 0.5 mE = 70 GPa
ε = µε
8.Axial stress & strainHard
60 kN12300 mm500 mmØ25Ø50σ2​ = ?

A steel segment (diameter 25 mm, length 300 mm, E = 200 GPa) and a segment made of bronze (diameter 50 mm, length 500 mm, E = 110 GPa) are joined end to end and fixed between two rigid walls. An axial load of 60 kN acts at the joint, towards segment 2. Find the magnitude of the stress σ2 in segment 2.

segment 1: steel, Ø25 mm, 300 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: bronze, Ø50 mm, 500 mm, E = 110 GPaP = 60 kN
σ2 = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 1 md = 40 mmcross-section

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

L = 1 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 40 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 2 md = 30 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 = 2 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 30 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 5 kN/mζ = 0.35m = 15 kg

A 15 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 5 kN/m has a viscous damper giving a damping ratio of 0.35. Find the damped natural frequency fd of its free vibration in Hz.

m = 15 kgk = 5 kN/mζ = 0.35
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 15k2​ = 80m = 100 kg

A 100 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 15 kN/m and k₂ = 80 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 = 15 kN/mk2 = 80 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: n2 = 1053 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

2880·120/315 = 1097 rpm

With slip

n2 = 1097·0.96 = 1053 rpm

Answer

n2 = 1053 rpm
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: Tout = 23.41 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·(60/80)·(45/60) = 810 rpm
ωout = 2π·810/60 = 84.82 rad/s

Output power and torque

Pout = 2200·0.95² = 1986 W
Tout = Pout/ωout = 1986/84.82 = 23.41 N·m

Answer

Tout = 23.41 N·m
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 1.14 °

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) = 400·1000·1000/(80000·251327) = 0.01989 rad
φ = 0.01989·180/π = 1.14°

Answer

φ = 1.14°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 22.11 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·300/60 = 31.42 rad/s
T = P/ω = 5000/31.42 = 159.2 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·159155/(π·75)) = 22.11 mm

Answer

d = 22.11 mm

In practice you would round up to the next standard size.

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σy′ = 6.428 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 for the y′ face

σy′ = 0 − 0·0.766 − (−10)·0.6428 = 6.428 MPa

Check

The sum of the normal stresses does not change with rotation.

σx′ = −6.428 MPa, σx′ + σy′ = 0 = σx + σy

Answer

σy′ = 6.428 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = −11.52 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

σθ = 5 + −85·0.5 + 30·0.866 = −11.52 MPa

Answer

σθ = −11.52 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: ε = 303.2 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·30²/4 = 706.9 mm²
σ = P/A = 15·1000/706.9 = 21.22 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for aluminium = 70 GPa = 70000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 21.22/70000 = 0.0003032 = 303.2 µε

Answer

ε = 303.2 µε
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σ2 = 17.39 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 = 200000·490.9/300 = 327249 N/mm
k₂ = 110000·1963/500 = 431969 N/mm

Share of segment 2

F2 = 60000·431969/759218 = 34138 N

Stress

σ2 = 34138/1963 = 17.39 MPa (compression)

Answer

σ2 = 17.39 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 62.01 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 = 2·1000 = 2000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·125664/2000² = 62013 N = 62.01 kN

Answer

Pcr = 62.01 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 56.65 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·30⁴/64 = 39761 mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 706.9 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(39761/706.9) = 7.5 mm
KL = 0.7·2000 = 1400 mm
KL/r = 1400/7.5 = 186.7

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/186.7² = 56.65 MPa

Answer

σcr = 56.65 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 2.722 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 = √(5000/15) = 18.26 rad/s
fn = 18.26/(2π) = 2.906 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 2.906·√(1 − 0.35²) = 2.722 Hz

Answer

fd = 2.722 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 4.905 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 = 15 + 80 = 95 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(95000/100) = 30.82 rad/s
fn = 30.82/(2π) = 4.905 Hz

Answer

fn = 4.905 Hz

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