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​ = 24, m = 2.5 mm

A 1.5 kW motor running at 1440 rpm drives a pinion with 24 teeth and a module of 2.5 mm. Find the tangential force Ft on the pinion teeth.

P = 1.5 kWn = 1440 rpmN1 = 24m = 2.5 mm
Ft = N
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 80 mmd2​ = 500 mm2880 rpmC = 800 mmθ = ?

An open belt connects an 80 mm pulley and a 500 mm pulley whose centres are 800 mm apart. Find the angle of wrap θ on the smaller pulley, in degrees.

d1 = 80 mmd2 = 500 mmC = 800 mm
θ = °
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d = 12 mmT = 100 N·m200 mmφ = 7.04°

In a torsion test, a solid specimen of diameter 12 mm is twisted by a torque of 100 N·m. The two ends of a gauge length of 200 mm rotate 7.04° relative to each other (the material is still elastic). Find the shear modulus G of the material.

T = 100 N·md = 12 mmL = 200 mmφ = 7.04°
G = GPa
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
do​ = ?100 kW, 1450 rpm

A hollow shaft must transmit 100 kW at 1450 rpm. Its inner diameter is to be 0.75 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 80 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

P = 100 kWN = 1450 rpmdi/do = 0.75τallow = 80 MPa
do = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = −80σy​ = 20τxy​ = −30MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = −80 MPa, σᵧ = 20 MPa and τₓᵧ = −30 MPa (tension positive). Find the maximum in-plane shear stress τmax.

σx = −80 MPaσy = 20 MPaτxy = −30 MPa
τmax = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 60σy​ = 100τxy​ = −40MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 60 MPa, σᵧ = 100 MPa and τₓᵧ = −40 MPa (tension positive). Find the shear stress τθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 50° counter-clockwise from the x-axis (positive in the same sense as τₓᵧ).

σx = 60 MPaσy = 100 MPaτxy = −40 MPaθ = 50°
τθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 20 mmBrass3 mP = 25 kN

Find the elongation δ of the brass bar under the axial load.

P = 25 kNd = 20 mmL = 3 mE = 100 GPa
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
P = ?Ø25120 GPaØ100/50600 mm

A steel rod (diameter 25 mm, E = 200 GPa, allowable stress 120 MPa) sits inside a tube made of copper (outer diameter 100 mm, inner diameter 50 mm, E = 120 GPa, allowable stress 50 MPa). They are compressed together between rigid plates. Find the largest load Pmax.

rod: Ø25 mm, E = 200 GPa, σallow = 120 MPatube: Ø100/Ø50 mm, E = 120 GPa, σallow = 50 MPa
Pmax = kN
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 3 md = 80 mmcross-section

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

L = 3 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 80 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 80 kNL = 2.5 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of aluminium is fixed at the base and pinned at the top. It must carry 80 kN with a factor of safety of 3 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 80 kNn = 3L = 2.5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 20 kN/mζ = 0.35m = 20 kg

A 20 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 20 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 = 20 kgk = 20 kN/mζ = 0.35
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 5k2​ = 25k3​ = 30m = 25 kg

A 25 kg mass hangs from spring k₃ = 30 kN/m. The top of k₃ is attached to a rigid bar that hangs from two springs side by side, k₁ = 5 kN/m and k₂ = 25 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 = 25 kgk1 = 5 kN/mk2 = 25 kN/mk3 = 30 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: Ft = 331.6 N

Gear geometry: the module m sets the tooth size. A gear with N teeth has a pitch diameter d = m·N, two meshing gears have the same module, and their centre distance is a = (d₁ + d₂)/2 = m·(N₁ + N₂)/2. The pitch-line speed is v = π·d·n/60, and the tangential tooth force follows from the torque: Ft = 2T/d.

Torque on the pinion

ω = 2π·1440/60 = 150.8 rad/s
T = P/ω = 1500/150.8 = 9.947 N·m

Pitch diameter

d = m·N = 2.5·24 = 60 mm

Tangential force

Ft = 2T/d = 2·9.947/0.06 = 331.6 N

Answer

Ft = 331.6 N
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: θ = 149.6 °

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.

Belt angle

asin(0.2625) = 15.22°

Angle of wrap

θ = 180 − 2·15.22 = 149.6°

Answer

θ = 149.6°
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: G = 79.96 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·12⁴/32 = 2036 mm⁴
φ = 7.04·π/180 = 0.1229 rad

Shear modulus

T = 100 N·m = 100000 N·mm
G = TL/(Jφ) = 100000·200/(2036·0.1229) = 79957 MPa
G = 79.96 GPa

Answer

G = 79.96 GPa

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

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 39.44 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

Outer diameter from the allowable stress

T = 658.6 N·m = 658572 N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.75⁴ = 0.6836
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·658572/(π·80·0.6836)) = 39.44 mm
di = 0.75·39.44 = 29.58 mm

Answer

do = 39.44 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 34.74 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τmax = 58.31 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 = √(((−80 − 20)/2)² + −30²) = 58.31 MPa

Answer

τmax = 58.31 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τθ = 26.64 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 = −−20·0.9848 + −40·−0.1736 = 26.64 MPa

Answer

τθ = 26.64 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 2.387 mm

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·20²/4 = 314.2 mm²
σ = P/A = 25·1000/314.2 = 79.58 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for brass = 100 GPa = 100000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 79.58/100000 = 0.0007958 = 795.8 µε

Elongation

δ = ε·L = 0.0007958·3000 mm = 2.387 mm

Answer

δ = 2.387 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: Pmax = 335.4 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

Ar = π·25²/4 = 490.9 mm²
At = π(100² − 50²)/4 = 5890 mm²

Combined axial stiffness

ΣEA = 200·10³·490.9 + 120·10³·5890 = 8.05 × 10⁸ N

Governing strain

ε = min(0.0006, 0.0004167) = 0.0004167 (copper)

Largest load

Pmax = 0.0004167·8.05 × 10⁸ = 335430 N = 335.4 kN

Answer

Pmax = 335.4 kN
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 900 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·80⁴/64 = 2.011 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.7·3000 = 2100 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·2.011 × 10⁶/2100² = 899955 N = 900 kN

Answer

Pcr = 900 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 68.23 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 = 3·80000 = 240000 N
KL = 0.7·2500 = 1750 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·240000·1750²/(π³·70000))^(1/4) = 68.23 mm

Answer

d = 68.23 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 102.6, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 4.715 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 = √(20000/20) = 31.62 rad/s
fn = 31.62/(2π) = 5.033 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 5.033·√(1 − 0.35²) = 4.715 Hz

Answer

fd = 4.715 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 3.898 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 = 5 + 25 = 30 kN/m
keq = 30·30/(30 + 30) = 15 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(15000/25) = 24.49 rad/s
fn = 24.49/(2π) = 3.898 Hz

Answer

fn = 3.898 Hz

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