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​ = 48N2​ = 72

A 2.2 kW motor running at 2900 rpm drives a pinion with 48 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 72 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 96%. Find the output torque T2 on the gear shaft.

P = 2.2 kWn1 = 2900 rpmN1 = 48N2 = 72η = 96%
T2 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 120 mmd2​ = 450 mm1500 rpmC = 800 mmT1​ = 2000 NT2​P = ?

An open belt connects a 120 mm driving pulley at 1500 rpm to a 450 mm pulley; the centres are 800 mm apart. The coefficient of friction is 0.3 and the tight-side tension may not exceed 2000 N. Find the largest power P the belt can transmit without slipping, in kW (ignore centrifugal effects).

d1 = 120 mmn1 = 1500 rpmd2 = 450 mmC = 800 mmμ = 0.3T1 = 2000 N
P = kW
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 1000 N·md = 50 mmL = 1.2 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 = 1000 N·md = 50 mmL = 1.2 mG = 39 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
d = 50 mmTB​ = 1500 N·mTC​ = 750 N·mABC3 m2 m

A solid brass shaft of diameter 50 mm is fixed at A. A torque of 1500 N·m acts at B, 3 m from A, and a torque of 750 N·m in the opposite direction acts at the free end C, a further 2 m along. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

d = 50 mmTB = 1500 N·mTC = 750 N·mAB = 3 mBC = 2 m
τmax = MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 130σy​ = 120τxy​ = −10MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 130 MPa, σᵧ = 120 MPa and τₓᵧ = −10 MPa (tension positive). Find the maximum in-plane shear stress τmax.

σx = 130 MPaσy = 120 MPaτxy = −10 MPa
τmax = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = −40σy​ = 0τxy​ = −60MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = −40 MPa, σᵧ = 0 MPa and τₓᵧ = −60 MPa (tension positive). Find the shear stress τθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 60° counter-clockwise from the x-axis (positive in the same sense as τₓᵧ).

σx = −40 MPaσy = 0 MPaτxy = −60 MPaθ = 60°
τθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
P = ?12500 mm300 mmØ25Ø40δ = 0.3 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 25 mm, length 500 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of brass (diameter 40 mm, length 300 mm, E = 100 GPa). It is fixed at one end and pulled at the other. Find the axial load P that stretches it by 0.3 mm in total.

segment 1: steel, Ø25 mm, 500 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: brass, Ø40 mm, 300 mm, E = 100 GPaδ = 0.3 mm
P = kN
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 30 mmCopper0.5 mØ 20 mmCopper1 mP = 30 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 = 30 kNsegment 1: Ø30 mm, 0.5 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)segment 2: Ø20 mm, 1 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
σmax = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 2.5 md = 25 mmcross-section

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

L = 2.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 25 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 2.5 md = 40 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 = 2.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 40 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx25 mm1 cycle19.4 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 25 mm is followed one cycle later by a peak of 19.4 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 25 mmx1 = 19.4 mmn = 1
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 20k2​ = 15k3​ = 10m = 100 kg

A 100 kg mass hangs from spring k₃ = 10 kN/m. The top of k₃ is attached to a rigid bar that hangs from two springs side by side, k₁ = 20 kN/m and k₂ = 15 kN/m; the bar stays level. Ignore damping and the masses of the springs and bar. Find the natural frequency fn of vertical vibration in Hz.

m = 100 kgk1 = 20 kN/mk2 = 15 kN/mk3 = 10 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T2 = 10.43 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·2900/60 = 303.7 rad/s
T1 = P/ω₁ = 2200/303.7 = 7.244 N·m

Output torque

T2 = 7.244·72/48·0.96 = 10.43 N·m

Answer

T2 = 10.43 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: P = 10.53 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 = 2.726 rad

Slack-side tension

eμθ = e0.8178 = 2.266, T₂ = 2000/2.266 = 882.8 N

Power

P = (2000 − 882.8)·9.425 = 10.53 kW

Answer

P = 10.53 kW
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 2.873 °

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·50⁴/32 = 613592 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 1000·1000·1200/(39000·613592) = 0.05015 rad
φ = 0.05015·180/π = 2.873°

Answer

φ = 2.873°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 30.56 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.

Internal torques

Sense of TC taken as positive.

TBC = TC = 750 N·m
TAB = TC − TB = 750 − 1500 = −750 N·m

Maximum shear stress

The segment with the largest internal torque has the largest stress (same diameter).

|T|max = 750 N·m
τmax = 16·750000/(π·50³) = 30.56 MPa

Answer

τmax = 30.56 MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τmax = 11.18 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.

σxyCτmax​

Radius of Mohr’s circle

τmax = R = √(((130 − 120)/2)² + −10²) = 11.18 MPa

Answer

τmax = 11.18 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τθ = 47.32 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 = −−20·0.866 + −60·−0.5 = 47.32 MPa

Answer

τθ = 47.32 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 40.11 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 = 1257 mm²

Flexibilities

L₁/(E₁A₁) = 500/(200000·490.9) = 5.093 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 300/(100000·1257) = 2.387 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

Load

P = 0.3/7.48 × 10⁻⁶ = 40105 N = 40.11 kN

Answer

P = 40.11 kN
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 95.49 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·20²/4 = 314.2 mm²
σ1 = 42.44 MPa
σ2 = 95.49 MPa

Largest stress

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

σmax = 95.49 MPa

Answer

σmax = 95.49 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 24.22 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·25⁴/64 = 19175 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.5·2500 = 1250 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·19175/1250² = 24224 N = 24.22 kN

Answer

Pcr = 24.22 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 126.3 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·40⁴/64 = 125664 mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 1257 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(125664/1257) = 10 mm
KL = 0.5·2500 = 1250 mm
KL/r = 1250/10 = 125

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/125² = 126.3 MPa

Answer

σcr = 126.3 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.04033

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(25/19.4) = 0.2536

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.2536/√(39.48 + 0.06431) = 0.04033

Answer

ζ = 0.04033
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 1.404 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

Only k1 and k2 are in parallel. That pair is in series with k3, so combine them as reciprocals.

k12 = 20 + 15 = 35 kN/m
keq = 35·10/(35 + 10) = 7.778 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(7778/100) = 8.819 rad/s
fn = 8.819/(2π) = 1.404 Hz

Answer

fn = 1.404 Hz

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