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​ = 20N2​ = 72

A 7.5 kW motor running at 1500 rpm drives a pinion with 20 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 72 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 97%. Find the torque T1 on the motor shaft.

P = 7.5 kWn1 = 1500 rpmN1 = 20N2 = 72η = 97%
T1 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 16B = 24C = 40D = 72

A 4 kW motor at 960 rpm drives gear A (16 teeth), which meshes with gear B (24 teeth). Gear C (40 teeth) on the same shaft as B drives gear D (72 teeth) on the output shaft. Each gear mesh has an efficiency of 95%. Find the output torque Tout.

P = 4 kWnin = 960 rpmA = 16B = 24C = 40D = 72ηmesh = 95%
Tout = N·m
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 400 N·md = 25 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 = 400 N·md = 25 mmL = 1.2 mG = 39 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
do​ = ?5 kW, 750 rpm

A hollow shaft must transmit 5 kW at 750 rpm. Its inner diameter is to be 0.75 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 60 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

P = 5 kWN = 750 rpmdi/do = 0.75τallow = 60 MPa
do = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = −80σy​ = −80τxy​ = 20MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = −80 MPa, σᵧ = −80 MPa and τₓᵧ = 20 MPa, with σz = 0. Find the absolute maximum shear stress τabs at the point (considering all planes in three dimensions).

σx = −80 MPaσy = −80 MPaτxy = 20 MPaσz = 0
τabs = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
20°D = 800 mm, t = 15 mm, p = 0.8 MPap

A thin-walled cylindrical tank of inner diameter 800 mm and wall thickness 15 mm holds gas at a gauge pressure of 0.8 MPa. It is made from plate welded along a helical seam at 20° to the axis of the cylinder. Find the magnitude of the shear stress |τn| acting along the weld seam.

D = 800 mmt = 15 mmp = 0.8 MPaα = 20°
|τn| = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
100 kNØ25100 GPaØ120/50500 mmδ = ?

A steel rod (diameter 25 mm, E = 200 GPa) sits inside a tube made of brass (outer diameter 120 mm, inner diameter 50 mm, E = 100 GPa). Both are 500 mm long and are compressed together between rigid plates by 100 kN. Find the shortening δ.

P = 100 kNrod: Ø25 mm, E = 200 GPatube: Ø120/Ø50 mm, E = 100 GPaL = 500 mm
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 40 mmBrass2 mØ 12 mmSteel2 mP = 85 kN

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

P = 85 kNsegment 1: Ø40 mm, 2 m, brass (E = 100 GPa)segment 2: Ø12 mm, 2 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)
δ = mm
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 6 md = 80 mmcross-section

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

L = 6 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 80 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 60 kNL = 3 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 60 kN with a factor of safety of 3 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 60 kNn = 3L = 3 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 20 kN/mζ = 0.5m = 200 kg

A 200 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 20 kN/m has a viscous damper giving a damping ratio of 0.5. Find the damped natural frequency fd of its free vibration in Hz.

m = 200 kgk = 20 kN/mζ = 0.5
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 50k2​ = 60k3​ = 12m = 25 kg

A 25 kg mass hangs from spring k₃ = 12 kN/m. The top of k₃ is attached to a rigid bar that hangs from two springs side by side, k₁ = 50 kN/m and k₂ = 60 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 = 50 kN/mk2 = 60 kN/mk3 = 12 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T1 = 47.75 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·1500/60 = 157.1 rad/s
T1 = P/ω₁ = 7500/157.1 = 47.75 N·m

Answer

T1 = 47.75 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: Tout = 96.96 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.

Output speed

nout = 960·(16/24)·(40/72) = 355.6 rpm
ωout = 2π·355.6/60 = 37.23 rad/s

Output power and torque

Pout = 4000·0.95² = 3610 W
Tout = Pout/ωout = 3610/37.23 = 96.96 N·m

Answer

Tout = 96.96 N·m
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 18.39 °

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·25⁴/32 = 38350 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 400·1000·1200/(39000·38350) = 0.3209 rad
φ = 0.3209·180/π = 18.39°

Answer

φ = 18.39°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 19.92 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·750/60 = 78.54 rad/s
T = P/ω = 5000/78.54 = 63.66 N·m

Outer diameter from the allowable stress

T = 63.66 N·m = 63662 N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.75⁴ = 0.6836
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·63662/(π·60·0.6836)) = 19.92 mm
di = 0.75·19.92 = 14.94 mm

Answer

do = 19.92 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 17.55 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τabs = 50 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. In three dimensions the absolute maximum shear stress is (σmax − σmin)/2 over all three principal stresses; in plane stress the third one is zero.

σxyCσ1​σ2​

In-plane principal stresses

C = −80 MPa, R = √(0² + 20²) = 20 MPa
σ1 = −60 MPa, σ2 = −100 MPa, σz = 0

Largest of the three circles

τ = max(|σ1 − σ2|, |σ1|, |σ2|)/2 = max(40, 60, 100)/2 = 50 MPa

Answer

τabs = 50 MPa

Here the out-of-plane circle governs: the absolute maximum is larger than the in-plane maximum R.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: |τn| = 3.428 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. Thin-walled cylinder: hoop stress σh = pr/t and axial stress σa = pr/(2t); these are the principal stresses in the wall.

Wall stresses

r = 800/2 = 400 mm
σh = pr/t = 0.8·400/15 = 21.33 MPa
σa = pr/(2t) = 10.67 MPa

Transform to the seam

Take x along the axis (σa) and y around the hoop (σh). The seam’s normal makes 90° − α with the axis.

|τn| = (21.33 − 10.67)·sin 20°·cos 20° = 3.428 MPa

Answer

|τn| = 3.428 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 0.04841 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(120² − 50²)/4 = 9346 mm²

Combined axial stiffness

ΣEA = 200·10³·490.9 + 100·10³·9346 = 1.033 × 10⁹ N

Shortening

δ = 100000·500/1.033 × 10⁹ = 0.04841 mm

Answer

δ = 0.04841 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 8.868 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·40²/4 = 1257 mm², A2 = π·12²/4 = 113.1 mm²
σ1 = 67.64 MPa
σ2 = 751.6 MPa

Add the segment elongations

δ1 = σ1L1/E1 = 67.64·2000/100000 = 1.353 mm
δ2 = σ2L2/E2 = 751.6·2000/200000 = 7.516 mm
δ = δ1 + δ2 = 8.868 mm

Answer

δ = 8.868 mm
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 78.75 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 = 0.7·6000 = 4200 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·2.011 × 10⁶/4200² = 78746 N = 78.75 kN

Answer

Pcr = 78.75 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 69.56 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 = 3·60000 = 180000 N
KL = 0.7·3000 = 2100 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·180000·2100²/(π³·70000))^(1/4) = 69.56 mm

Answer

d = 69.56 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 120.8, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 1.378 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 = √(20000/200) = 10 rad/s
fn = 10/(2π) = 1.592 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 1.592·√(1 − 0.5²) = 1.378 Hz

Answer

fd = 1.378 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 3.311 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 = 50 + 60 = 110 kN/m
keq = 110·12/(110 + 12) = 10.82 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(10820/25) = 20.8 rad/s
fn = 20.8/(2π) = 3.311 Hz

Answer

fn = 3.311 Hz

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