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​ = 18

A 3 kW motor running at 1450 rpm drives a pinion with 15 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 18 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 98%. Find the torque T1 on the motor shaft.

P = 3 kWn1 = 1450 rpmN1 = 15N2 = 18η = 98%
T1 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 160 mmd2​ = 250 mm1450 rpmC = 1200 mmT1​ = 1000 NT2​P = ?

An open belt connects a 160 mm driving pulley at 1450 rpm to a 250 mm pulley; the centres are 1200 mm apart. The coefficient of friction is 0.35 and the tight-side tension may not exceed 1000 N. Find the largest power P the belt can transmit without slipping, in kW (ignore centrifugal effects).

d1 = 160 mmn1 = 1450 rpmd2 = 250 mmC = 1200 mmμ = 0.35T1 = 1000 N
P = kW
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d = 20 mmT = 50 N·m300 mmφ = 1.4°

In a torsion test, a solid specimen of diameter 20 mm is twisted by a torque of 50 N·m. The two ends of a gauge length of 300 mm rotate 1.4° relative to each other (the material is still elastic). Find the shear modulus G of the material.

T = 50 N·md = 20 mmL = 300 mmφ = 1.4°
G = GPa
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 50 kW at 500 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 50 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 50 kWN = 500 rpmτallow = 50 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 140σy​ = 40τxy​ = 50MPa

A point has σₓ = 140 MPa, σᵧ = 40 MPa and τₓᵧ = 50 MPa (tension positive). The element is rotated 30° counter-clockwise. Find the normal stress σy′ on the faces of the rotated element that are perpendicular to the rotated y′-axis.

σx = 140 MPaσy = 40 MPaτxy = 50 MPaθ = 30°
σy′ = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 20σy​ = 70τxy​ = −40MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 20 MPa, σᵧ = 70 MPa and τₓᵧ = −40 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 20° counter-clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = 20 MPaσy = 70 MPaτxy = −40 MPaθ = 20°
σθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 25 mmCopper2 mP = 120 kN

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

P = 120 kNd = 25 mmL = 2 mE = 117 GPa
ε = µε
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 25 mmCopper2 mØ 12 mmCopper1.5 mP = 65 kN

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

P = 65 kNsegment 1: Ø25 mm, 2 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)segment 2: Ø12 mm, 1.5 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
δ = mm
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 2.5 m40 × 80 mmcross-section

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

L = 2.5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)b × h = 40 × 80 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 2.5 md = 20 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 = 2.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 20 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 100 kN/mζ = 0.35m = 10 kg

A 10 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 100 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 = 10 kgk = 100 kN/mζ = 0.35
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 50k2​ = 80m = 10 kg

A 10 kg mass hangs from two springs connected end to end (in series): the upper spring has k₁ = 50 kN/m and the lower one k₂ = 80 kN/m. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 10 kgk1 = 50 kN/mk2 = 80 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T1 = 19.76 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 = 3000/151.8 = 19.76 N·m

Answer

T1 = 19.76 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: P = 7.995 kW

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.

Angle of wrap

θ = 3.067 rad

Slack-side tension

eμθ = e1.073 = 2.925, T₂ = 1000/2.925 = 341.9 N

Power

P = (1000 − 341.9)·12.15 = 7.995 kW

Answer

P = 7.995 kW
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: G = 39.08 GPa

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 moment and angle

J = π·20⁴/32 = 15708 mm⁴
φ = 1.4·π/180 = 0.02443 rad

Shear modulus

T = 50 N·m = 50000 N·mm
G = TL/(Jφ) = 50000·300/(15708·0.02443) = 39081 MPa
G = 39.08 GPa

Answer

G = 39.08 GPa

Compare: steel ≈ 80 GPa, brass ≈ 39 GPa, aluminium ≈ 26 GPa.

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 45.99 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·500/60 = 52.36 rad/s
T = P/ω = 50000/52.36 = 954.9 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·954930/(π·50)) = 45.99 mm

Answer

d = 45.99 mm

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

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σy′ = 21.7 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′ = 90 − 50·0.5 − 50·0.866 = 21.7 MPa

Check

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

σx′ = 158.3 MPa, σx′ + σy′ = 180 = σx + σy

Answer

σy′ = 21.7 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = 0.1374 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 = 45 + −25·0.766 + −40·0.6428 = 0.1374 MPa

Answer

σθ = 0.1374 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: ε = 2089 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·25²/4 = 490.9 mm²
σ = P/A = 120·1000/490.9 = 244.5 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for copper = 117 GPa = 117000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 244.5/117000 = 0.002089 = 2089 µε

Answer

ε = 2089 µε
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 9.632 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·12²/4 = 113.1 mm²
σ1 = 132.4 MPa
σ2 = 574.7 MPa

Add the segment elongations

δ1 = σ1L1/E1 = 132.4·2000/117000 = 2.264 mm
δ2 = σ2L2/E2 = 574.7·1500/117000 = 7.368 mm
δ = δ1 + δ2 = 9.632 mm

Answer

δ = 9.632 mm
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 11.79 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 = 80·40³/12 = 426667 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 2·2500 = 5000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·426667/5000² = 11791 N = 11.79 kN

Answer

Pcr = 11.79 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 16.11 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·20⁴/64 = 7854 mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 314.2 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(7854/314.2) = 5 mm
KL = 0.7·2500 = 1750 mm
KL/r = 1750/5 = 350

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/350² = 16.11 MPa

Answer

σcr = 16.11 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 14.91 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 = √(100000/10) = 100 rad/s
fn = 100/(2π) = 15.92 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 15.92·√(1 − 0.35²) = 14.91 Hz

Answer

fd = 14.91 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 30.77 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 in series share the same force and add their deflections, so they combine as reciprocals: 1/k = 1/k1 + 1/k2.

1/keq = 1/50 + 1/80 → keq = 50·80/(50 + 80) = 30.77 kN/m

Answer

keq = 30.77 kN/m

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