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
Tw​ = ?z = 1, 2900 rpm

A 0.55 kW motor at 2900 rpm drives a worm with 1 start(s). The worm wheel has 60 teeth and the drive has an efficiency of 80%. Find the output torque Tw on the wheel shaft.

z = 1Nw = 60n = 2900 rpmP = 0.55 kWη = 80%
Tw = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 20B = 32C = 20D = 36

An 11 kW motor at 1450 rpm drives gear A (20 teeth), which meshes with gear B (32 teeth). Gear C (20 teeth) on the same shaft as B drives gear D (36 teeth) on the output shaft. Each gear mesh has an efficiency of 95%. Find the output torque Tout.

P = 11 kWnin = 1450 rpmA = 20B = 32C = 20D = 36ηmesh = 95%
Tout = N·m
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
do​ = ?T = 2000 N·m

A hollow shaft must carry a torque of 2000 N·m. Its inner diameter is to be 0.5 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 75 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

T = 2000 N·mdi/do = 0.5τallow = 75 MPa
do = mm
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
do​ = ?20 kW, 1500 rpm

A hollow shaft must transmit 20 kW at 1500 rpm. Its inner diameter is to be 0.7 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 60 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

P = 20 kWN = 1500 rpmdi/do = 0.7τallow = 60 MPa
do = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 10σy​ = 50τxy​ = −30MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 10 MPa, σᵧ = 50 MPa and τₓᵧ = −30 MPa (tension positive). Find the maximum in-plane shear stress τmax.

σx = 10 MPaσy = 50 MPaτxy = −30 MPa
τmax = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 100σy​ = 20τxy​ = −50MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 100 MPa, σᵧ = 20 MPa and τₓᵧ = −50 MPa (σz = 0). The material has a yield strength of 460 MPa. Find the factor of safety n against yielding by the Tresca (maximum shear stress) criterion.

σx = 100 MPaσy = 20 MPaτxy = −50 MPaσY = 460 MPa
n =
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 20 mmAluminium1.5 mP = 120 kN

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

P = 120 kNd = 20 mmL = 1.5 mE = 70 GPa
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
P = ?Ø25100 GPaØ120/50300 mm

A steel rod (diameter 25 mm, E = 200 GPa, allowable stress 160 MPa) sits inside a tube made of brass (outer diameter 120 mm, inner diameter 50 mm, E = 100 GPa, allowable stress 50 MPa). They are compressed together between rigid plates. Find the largest load Pmax.

rod: Ø25 mm, E = 200 GPa, σallow = 160 MPatube: Ø120/Ø50 mm, E = 100 GPa, σallow = 50 MPa
Pmax = kN
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 2.5 m25 × 50 mmcross-section

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

L = 2.5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)b × h = 25 × 50 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 130 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 130 kN with a factor of safety of 2 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 130 kNn = 2L = 3 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 8 kN/mζ = 0.7m = 40 kg

A 40 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 8 kN/m has a viscous damper giving a damping ratio of 0.7. Find the damped natural frequency fd of its free vibration in Hz.

m = 40 kgk = 8 kN/mζ = 0.7
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 25k2​ = 5m = 5 kg

A 5 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 25 kN/m and k₂ = 5 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 = 5 kgk1 = 25 kN/mk2 = 5 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: Tw = 86.93 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.

Wheel speed

nw = n·z/Nw = 2900·1/60 = 48.33 rpm

Output torque

ωw = 2π·48.33/60 = 5.061 rad/s
Tw = η·P/ωw = 0.8·550/5.061 = 86.93 N·m

Answer

Tw = 86.93 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: Tout = 188.3 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 = 1450·(20/32)·(20/36) = 503.5 rpm
ωout = 2π·503.5/60 = 52.72 rad/s

Output power and torque

Pout = 11000·0.95² = 9928 W
Tout = Pout/ωout = 9928/52.72 = 188.3 N·m

Answer

Tout = 188.3 N·m
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 52.52 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.

Outer diameter from the allowable stress

T = 2000 N·m = 2 × 10⁶ N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.5⁴ = 0.9375
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·2 × 10⁶/(π·75·0.9375)) = 52.52 mm
di = 0.5·52.52 = 26.26 mm

Answer

do = 52.52 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 51.4 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 24.23 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·1500/60 = 157.1 rad/s
T = P/ω = 20000/157.1 = 127.3 N·m

Outer diameter from the allowable stress

T = 127.3 N·m = 127324 N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.7⁴ = 0.7599
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·127324/(π·60·0.7599)) = 24.23 mm
di = 0.7·24.23 = 16.96 mm

Answer

do = 24.23 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 22.11 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τmax = 36.06 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 = √(((10 − 50)/2)² + −30²) = 36.06 MPa

Answer

τmax = 36.06 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: n = 3.592

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 = 60 MPa, R = 64.03 MPa
σ1 = 124 MPa, σ2 = −4.031 MPa, σ3 = 0

Tresca

σmax − σmin = 128.1 MPa
n = 460/128.1 = 3.592

Answer

n = 3.592

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

7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 8.185 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 = 120·1000/314.2 = 382 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for aluminium = 70 GPa = 70000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 382/70000 = 0.005457 = 5457 µε

Elongation

δ = ε·L = 0.005457·1500 mm = 8.185 mm

Answer

δ = 8.185 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: Pmax = 516.4 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(120² − 50²)/4 = 9346 mm²

Combined axial stiffness

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

Governing strain

ε = min(0.0008, 0.0005) = 0.0005 (brass)

Largest load

Pmax = 0.0005·1.033 × 10⁹ = 516399 N = 516.4 kN

Answer

Pmax = 516.4 kN
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 28.79 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 = 50·25³/12 = 65104 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.5·2500 = 1250 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·65104/1250² = 28786 N = 28.79 kN

Answer

Pcr = 28.79 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 76.25 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 = 2·130000 = 260000 N
KL = 0.7·3000 = 2100 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·260000·2100²/(π³·70000))^(1/4) = 76.25 mm

Answer

d = 76.25 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 110.2, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 1.607 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 = √(8000/40) = 14.14 rad/s
fn = 14.14/(2π) = 2.251 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 2.251·√(1 − 0.7²) = 1.607 Hz

Answer

fd = 1.607 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 12.33 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 + 5 = 30 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(30000/5) = 77.46 rad/s
fn = 77.46/(2π) = 12.33 Hz

Answer

fn = 12.33 Hz

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