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​ = 300 mm1440 rpmn2​ = ?

A 125 mm pulley at 1440 rpm drives a 300 mm pulley by a belt with 2 % slip. Find the speed n2 of the driven pulley.

n1 = 1440 rpmd1 = 125 mmd2 = 300 mms = 2 %
n2 = rpm
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 12B = 50C = 32D = 45

In a compound gear train, gear A (12 teeth) on the input shaft turning at 960 rpm drives gear B (50 teeth). Gear C (32 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D (45 teeth) on the output shaft. Find the output speed nout.

nin = 960 rpmA = 12B = 50C = 32D = 45
nout = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d1​ = 30 mmd2​ = 25 mmT = 250 N·mABC1.2 m2.5 m

A stepped solid brass shaft is fixed at A. Segment AB has diameter 30 mm and length 1.2 m; segment BC has diameter 25 mm and length 2.5 m. A torque of 250 N·m acts at the free end C. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

T = 250 N·md1 = 30 mm, L1 = 1.2 md2 = 25 mm, L2 = 2.5 m
τmax = MPa
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
d = 50 mmTB​ = 200 N·mTC​ = 1000 N·mABC2 m2.5 m

A solid brass shaft of diameter 50 mm is fixed at A. A torque of 200 N·m acts at B, 2 m from A, and a torque of 1000 N·m in the same direction acts at the free end C, a further 2.5 m along. Find the magnitude of the angle of twist φC of end C, in degrees.

d = 50 mmTB = 200 N·mTC = 1000 N·mAB = 2 mBC = 2.5 mG = 39 GPa
φC = °
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 120σy​ = 30MPaτxy​ = ?

A point has σₓ = 120 MPa and σᵧ = 30 MPa. How large can the shear stress τxy (magnitude) become before the largest principal stress reaches 150 MPa?

σx = 120 MPaσy = 30 MPaσ1 = 150 MPa
τxy = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 130σy​ = 60τxy​ = −10MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 130 MPa, σᵧ = 60 MPa and τₓᵧ = −10 MPa (σz = 0). The material has a yield strength of 355 MPa. Find the factor of safety n against yielding by the Tresca (maximum shear stress) criterion.

σx = 130 MPaσy = 60 MPaτxy = −10 MPaσY = 355 MPa
n =
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
250 kNØ25110 GPaØ80/60500 mmδ = ?

A steel rod (diameter 25 mm, E = 200 GPa) sits inside a tube made of bronze (outer diameter 80 mm, inner diameter 60 mm, E = 110 GPa). Both are 500 mm long and are compressed together between rigid plates by 250 kN. Find the shortening δ.

P = 250 kNrod: Ø25 mm, E = 200 GPatube: Ø80/Ø60 mm, E = 110 GPaL = 500 mm
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 35 mmCopper2 mØ 20 mmCopper2 mP = 100 kN

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

P = 100 kNsegment 1: Ø35 mm, 2 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)segment 2: Ø20 mm, 2 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
δ = mm
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 1 m25 × 60 mmcross-section

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

L = 1 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)b × h = 25 × 60 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 135 kNL = 6 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of aluminium is pinned at both ends. It must carry 135 kN with a factor of safety of 2.5 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 135 kNn = 2.5L = 6 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 1 kN/mζ = 0.45m = 10 kg

A 10 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 1 kN/m has a viscous damper giving a damping ratio of 0.45. Find the damped natural frequency fd of its free vibration in Hz.

m = 10 kgk = 1 kN/mζ = 0.45
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 25k2​ = 100m = 10 kg

A 10 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 25 kN/m and k₂ = 100 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 = 10 kgk1 = 25 kN/mk2 = 100 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: n2 = 588 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

1440·125/300 = 600 rpm

With slip

n2 = 600·0.98 = 588 rpm

Answer

n2 = 588 rpm
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nout = 163.8 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 = 960·12/50 = 230.4 rpm = nC

Second stage

nout = 230.4·32/45 = 163.8 rpm

Answer

nout = 163.8 rpm

total ratio = 5.859 : 1

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 81.49 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.

Stress in each segment

T = 250 N·m = 250000 N·mm
τAB = 16·250000/(π·30³) = 47.16 MPa
τBC = 16·250000/(π·25³) = 81.49 MPa

Answer

τmax = 81.49 MPa
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φC = 11.73 °

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 = 1000 N·m
TAB = TC + TB = 1000 + 200 = 1200 N·m

Twist of each segment

J = π·50⁴/32 = 613592 mm⁴
G = 39 GPa = 39000 MPa
φAB = 1.2 × 10⁶·2000/(39000·613592) = 0.1003 rad
φBC = 1 × 10⁶·2500/(39000·613592) = 0.1045 rad

Twist of end C

φC = 0.1003 + 0.1045 = 0.2048 rad → |φC| = 11.73°

Answer

φC = 11.73°
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τxy = 60 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 = (120 + 30)/2 = 75 MPa
R = σ1 − C = 150 − 75 = 75 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Shear stress

τxy = √(R² − ((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)²) = √(75² − 45²) = 60 MPa

Answer

τxy = 60 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: n = 2.702

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. Yield criteria: von Mises predicts yield when σvM = √(σ₁² − σ₁σ₂ + σ₂²) reaches σY; Tresca when the absolute maximum shear stress reaches σY/2.

στxyCσ1​σ2​

Principal stresses

C = 95 MPa, R = 36.4 MPa
σ1 = 131.4 MPa, σ2 = 58.6 MPa, σ3 = 0

Tresca

σmax − σmin = 131.4 MPa
n = 355/131.4 = 2.702

Answer

n = 2.702

n > 1 means the point does not yield; Tresca is slightly more conservative than von Mises.

7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 0.3676 mm

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(80² − 60²)/4 = 2199 mm²

Combined axial stiffness

ΣEA = 200·10³·490.9 + 110·10³·2199 = 3.401 × 10⁸ N

Shortening

δ = 250000·500/3.401 × 10⁸ = 0.3676 mm

Answer

δ = 0.3676 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 7.218 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·35²/4 = 962.1 mm², A2 = π·20²/4 = 314.2 mm²
σ1 = 103.9 MPa
σ2 = 318.3 MPa

Add the segment elongations

δ1 = σ1L1/E1 = 103.9·2000/117000 = 1.777 mm
δ2 = σ2L2/E2 = 318.3·2000/117000 = 5.441 mm
δ = δ1 + δ2 = 7.218 mm

Answer

δ = 7.218 mm
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 53.97 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 = 60·25³/12 = 78125 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 1·1000 = 1000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·78125/1000² = 53974 N = 53.97 kN

Answer

Pcr = 53.97 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 137.6 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 = 2.5·135000 = 337500 N
KL = 1·6000 = 6000 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·337500·6000²/(π³·70000))^(1/4) = 137.6 mm

Answer

d = 137.6 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 174.4, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 1.421 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 = √(1000/10) = 10 rad/s
fn = 10/(2π) = 1.592 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 1.592·√(1 − 0.45²) = 1.421 Hz

Answer

fd = 1.421 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 17.79 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 = 25 + 100 = 125 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(125000/10) = 111.8 rad/s
fn = 111.8/(2π) = 17.79 Hz

Answer

fn = 17.79 Hz

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