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​ = 18N2​ = 48

A 3 kW motor running at 960 rpm drives a pinion with 18 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 48 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 97%. Find the output torque T2 on the gear shaft.

P = 3 kWn1 = 960 rpmN1 = 18N2 = 48η = 97%
T2 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
Ns​ = 30nr​ = ?Np​ = 20carrier fixed

In a planetary gear set the sun gear has 30 teeth and each planet gear has 20 teeth. The planet carrier is held fixed and the sun is driven at 600 rpm. Find the speed nr of the ring gear (magnitude).

Ns = 30Np = 20ns = 600 rpm
nr = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 100 N·md = 25 mmL = 1 mφ = ?

A solid steel 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 = 100 N·md = 25 mmL = 1 mG = 80 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 100 kW at 500 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 75 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 100 kWN = 500 rpmτallow = 75 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = −30σy​ = 60τxy​ = −50MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = −30 MPa, σᵧ = 60 MPa and τₓᵧ = −50 MPa (tension positive). Find the maximum in-plane shear stress τmax.

σx = −30 MPaσy = 60 MPaτxy = −50 MPa
τmax = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​τxy​top surface of the shaft

A solid shaft of diameter 40 mm carries a bending moment of 500 N·m together with a torque of 750 N·m. At the top surface, where the bending stress is tensile and largest, find the maximum in-plane shear stress τmax.

d = 40 mmM = 500 N·mT = 750 N·m
τmax = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 16 mmCopper1.5 mP = 60 kN

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

P = 60 kNd = 16 mmL = 1.5 mE = 117 GPa
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
100 kN12400 mm400 mmØ40Ø50σ2​ = ?

A steel segment (diameter 40 mm, length 400 mm, E = 200 GPa) and a segment made of copper (diameter 50 mm, length 400 mm, E = 120 GPa) are joined end to end and fixed between two rigid walls. An axial load of 100 kN acts at the joint, towards segment 2. Find the magnitude of the stress σ2 in segment 2.

segment 1: steel, Ø40 mm, 400 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: copper, Ø50 mm, 400 mm, E = 120 GPaP = 100 kN
σ2 = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 6 md = 40 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 = 6 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 40 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 110 kNL = 3 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 110 kN with a factor of safety of 2.5 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 110 kNn = 2.5L = 3 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 10 kN/mζ = 0.5m = 15 kg

A 15 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 10 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 = 15 kgk = 10 kN/mζ = 0.5
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 12k2​ = 25m = 100 kg

A 100 kg mass hangs from two springs connected end to end (in series): the upper spring has k₁ = 12 kN/m and the lower one k₂ = 25 kN/m. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 100 kgk1 = 12 kN/mk2 = 25 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T2 = 77.19 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·960/60 = 100.5 rad/s
T1 = P/ω₁ = 3000/100.5 = 29.84 N·m

Output torque

T2 = 29.84·48/18·0.97 = 77.19 N·m

Answer

T2 = 77.19 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nr = 257.1 rpm

Planetary gear sets: the speeds of sun, ring and carrier are linked by the Willis equation (ns − nc)/(nr − nc) = −Nr/Ns: seen from the carrier, the set is an ordinary train with the planets as idlers. Holding one member fixed turns the set into a single-ratio reducer.

Ring gear teeth

Nr = Ns + 2·Np = 30 + 2·20 = 70

Willis equation with the carrier fixed

With nc = 0 the sun drives the ring through the planets, which act as idlers.

nr = −ns·Ns/Nr = −600·30/70 = −257.1 rpm
|nr| = 257.1 rpm

Answer

nr = 257.1 rpm

The ring turns opposite to the sun.

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 1.868 °

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) = 100·1000·1000/(80000·38350) = 0.03259 rad
φ = 0.03259·180/π = 1.868°

Answer

φ = 1.868°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 50.62 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·500/60 = 52.36 rad/s
T = P/ω = 100000/52.36 = 1910 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·1.91 × 10⁶/(π·75)) = 50.62 mm

Answer

d = 50.62 mm

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

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τmax = 67.27 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 = √(((−30 − 60)/2)² + −50²) = 67.27 MPa

Answer

τmax = 67.27 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τmax = 71.73 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.

Stresses at the surface

σ = 32M/(πd³) = 32·500000/(π·40³) = 79.58 MPa
τ = 16T/(πd³) = 16·750000/(π·40³) = 59.68 MPa
στxyCτmax​

Mohr’s circle

C = σ/2 = 39.79 MPa
R = √(39.79² + 59.68²) = 71.73 MPa

Answer

τmax = 71.73 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 3.826 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·16²/4 = 201.1 mm²
σ = P/A = 60·1000/201.1 = 298.4 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for copper = 117 GPa = 117000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 298.4/117000 = 0.002551 = 2551 µε

Elongation

δ = ε·L = 0.002551·1500 mm = 3.826 mm

Answer

δ = 3.826 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σ2 = 24.64 MPa

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.

Stiffnesses

k₁ = 200000·1257/400 = 628319 N/mm
k₂ = 120000·1963/400 = 589049 N/mm

Share of segment 2

F2 = 100000·589049/1.217 × 10⁶ = 48387 N

Stress

σ2 = 48387/1963 = 24.64 MPa (compression)

Answer

σ2 = 24.64 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 2.412 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·40⁴/64 = 125664 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 1·6000 = 6000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·125664/6000² = 2412 N = 2.412 kN

Answer

Pcr = 2.412 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 59.48 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 = 2.5·110000 = 275000 N
KL = 0.7·3000 = 2100 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·275000·2100²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 59.48 mm

Answer

d = 59.48 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 141.2, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 3.559 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 = √(10000/15) = 25.82 rad/s
fn = 25.82/(2π) = 4.109 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 4.109·√(1 − 0.5²) = 3.559 Hz

Answer

fd = 3.559 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 8.108 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 = 1/12 + 1/25 → keq = 12·25/(12 + 25) = 8.108 kN/m

Answer

keq = 8.108 kN/m

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