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​ = 125 mmd2​ = 450 mm720 rpmn2​ = ?

A 125 mm pulley at 720 rpm drives a 450 mm pulley by a belt with 2.5 % slip. Find the speed n2 of the driven pulley.

n1 = 720 rpmd1 = 125 mmd2 = 450 mms = 2.5 %
n2 = rpm
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 16B = 80C = 40D = 60

In a compound gear train, gear A (16 teeth) on the input shaft turning at 1450 rpm drives gear B (80 teeth). Gear C (40 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D (60 teeth) on the output shaft. Find the output speed nout.

nin = 1450 rpmA = 16B = 80C = 40D = 60
nout = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
do​ = ?T = 400 N·m

A hollow shaft must carry a torque of 400 N·m. Its inner diameter is to be 0.7 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 75 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

T = 400 N·mdi/do = 0.7τallow = 75 MPa
do = mm
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 100 kW at 1450 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 60 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 100 kWN = 1450 rpmτallow = 60 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 40MPaτxy​ = ?

A point has σₓ = 40 MPa and σᵧ = 0 MPa. How large can the shear stress τxy (magnitude) become before the largest principal stress reaches 70 MPa?

σx = 40 MPaσy = 0 MPaσ1 = 70 MPa
τxy = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 60σy​ = −70τxy​ = 60MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 60 MPa, σᵧ = −70 MPa and τₓᵧ = 60 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 20° clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = 60 MPaσy = −70 MPaτxy = 60 MPaθ = -20°
σθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
P = ?12400 mm500 mmØ25Ø60δ = 0.2 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 25 mm, length 400 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of copper (diameter 60 mm, length 500 mm, E = 120 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, Ø25 mm, 400 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: copper, Ø60 mm, 500 mm, E = 120 GPaδ = 0.2 mm
P = kN
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 30 mmAluminium0.5 mØ 12 mmCopper2 mP = 110 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 = 110 kNsegment 1: Ø30 mm, 0.5 m, aluminium (E = 70 GPa)segment 2: Ø12 mm, 2 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
σmax = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 2 m50 × 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 = 2 mE = 200 GPa (steel)b × h = 50 × 100 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 65 kNL = 6 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of steel is fixed at the base and pinned at the top. It must carry 65 kN with a factor of safety of 2.5 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 65 kNn = 2.5L = 6 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx40 mm4 cycles14.6 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 40 mm is followed 4 cycles later by a peak of 14.6 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 40 mmx4 = 14.6 mmn = 4
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 5k2​ = 60m = 25 kg

A 25 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 = 60 kN/m. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 25 kgk1 = 5 kN/mk2 = 60 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: n2 = 195 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

720·125/450 = 200 rpm

With slip

n2 = 200·0.975 = 195 rpm

Answer

n2 = 195 rpm
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nout = 193.3 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 = 1450·16/80 = 290 rpm = nC

Second stage

nout = 290·40/60 = 193.3 rpm

Answer

nout = 193.3 rpm

total ratio = 7.5 : 1

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 32.94 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.

Outer diameter from the allowable stress

T = 400 N·m = 400000 N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.7⁴ = 0.7599
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·400000/(π·75·0.7599)) = 32.94 mm
di = 0.7·32.94 = 23.06 mm

Answer

do = 32.94 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 30.06 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 38.24 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·1450/60 = 151.8 rad/s
T = P/ω = 100000/151.8 = 658.6 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·658572/(π·60)) = 38.24 mm

Answer

d = 38.24 mm

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

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τxy = 45.83 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.

Required radius

C = (40 + 0)/2 = 20 MPa
R = σ1 − C = 70 − 20 = 50 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Shear stress

τxy = √(R² − ((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)²) = √(50² − 20²) = 45.83 MPa

Answer

τxy = 45.83 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = 6.226 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 + 65·0.766 + 60·−0.6428 = 6.226 MPa

Answer

σθ = 6.226 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 36.05 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 = 490.9 mm², A₂ = 2827 mm²

Flexibilities

L₁/(E₁A₁) = 400/(200000·490.9) = 4.074 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 500/(120000·2827) = 1.474 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

Load

P = 0.2/5.548 × 10⁻⁶ = 36049 N = 36.05 kN

Answer

P = 36.05 kN
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 972.6 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·30²/4 = 706.9 mm², A2 = π·12²/4 = 113.1 mm²
σ1 = 155.6 MPa
σ2 = 972.6 MPa

Largest stress

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

σmax = 972.6 MPa

Answer

σmax = 972.6 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 514 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 = 100·50³/12 = 1.042 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 1·2000 = 2000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·1.042 × 10⁶/2000² = 514042 N = 514 kN

Answer

Pcr = 514 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 73.75 mm

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.

Required critical load

Pcr = n·P = 2.5·65000 = 162500 N
KL = 0.7·6000 = 4200 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·162500·4200²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 73.75 mm

Answer

d = 73.75 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 227.8, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.04007

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 = (1/4)·ln(40/14.6) = 0.252

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.252/√(39.48 + 0.06349) = 0.04007

Answer

ζ = 0.04007
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 4.615 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 = 1/5 + 1/60 → keq = 5·60/(5 + 60) = 4.615 kN/m

Answer

keq = 4.615 kN/m

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