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
Nw​ = 45z = 2, 960 rpm

A worm with 2 start(s) turns at 960 rpm and drives a worm wheel with 45 teeth. Find the speed nw of the wheel.

z = 2Nw = 45n = 960 rpm
nw = rpm
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 150 mmd2​ = 250 mm1440 rpmC = 1000 mmθ = ?

An open belt connects a 150 mm pulley and a 250 mm pulley whose centres are 1000 mm apart. Find the angle of wrap θ on the smaller pulley, in degrees.

d1 = 150 mmd2 = 250 mmC = 1000 mm
θ = °
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 500 N·md = 50 mmL = 2.5 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 = 500 N·md = 50 mmL = 2.5 mG = 39 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
do​ = ?75 kW, 500 rpm

A hollow shaft must transmit 75 kW at 500 rpm. Its inner diameter is to be 0.8 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 75 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

P = 75 kWN = 500 rpmdi/do = 0.8τallow = 75 MPa
do = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 130σy​ = 10τxy​ = 30MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 130 MPa, σᵧ = 10 MPa and τₓᵧ = 30 MPa (tension positive). Find the maximum in-plane shear stress τmax.

σx = 130 MPaσy = 10 MPaτxy = 30 MPa
τmax = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​τxy​top surface of the shaft

A solid shaft of diameter 30 mm carries a bending moment of 300 N·m together with a torque of 2000 N·m. At the top surface, where the bending stress is tensile and largest, find the largest principal stress σ1.

d = 30 mmM = 300 N·mT = 2000 N·m
σ1 = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 12 mmAluminium2.5 mP = 20 kN

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

P = 20 kNd = 12 mmL = 2.5 mE = 70 GPa
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
P = ?Ø40120 GPaØ120/70400 mm

A steel rod (diameter 40 mm, E = 200 GPa, allowable stress 200 MPa) sits inside a tube made of copper (outer diameter 120 mm, inner diameter 70 mm, E = 120 GPa, allowable stress 50 MPa). They are compressed together between rigid plates. Find the largest load Pmax.

rod: Ø40 mm, E = 200 GPa, σallow = 200 MPatube: Ø120/Ø70 mm, E = 120 GPa, σallow = 50 MPa
Pmax = kN
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 2.5 m30 × 40 mmcross-section

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

L = 2.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)b × h = 30 × 40 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 25 kNL = 5 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of steel is fixed at the base and free at the top. It must carry 25 kN with a factor of safety of 2 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 25 kNn = 2L = 5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx20 mm4 cycles1.6 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 20 mm is followed 4 cycles later by a peak of 1.6 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 20 mmx4 = 1.6 mmn = 4
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 100k2​ = 40m = 100 kg

A 100 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 100 kN/m and k₂ = 40 kN/m. The mass stays level. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 100 kgk1 = 100 kN/mk2 = 40 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nw = 42.67 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.

Wheel speed

nw = n·z/Nw = 960·2/45 = 42.67 rpm

Answer

nw = 42.67 rpm
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: θ = 174.3 °

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(0.05) = 2.866°

Angle of wrap

θ = 180 − 2·2.866 = 174.3°

Answer

θ = 174.3°
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 2.993 °

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·50⁴/32 = 613592 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 500·1000·2500/(39000·613592) = 0.05224 rad
φ = 0.05224·180/π = 2.993°

Answer

φ = 2.993°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 54.82 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 = 75000/52.36 = 1432 N·m

Outer diameter from the allowable stress

T = 1432 N·m = 1.432 × 10⁶ N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.8⁴ = 0.5904
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·1.432 × 10⁶/(π·75·0.5904)) = 54.82 mm
di = 0.8·54.82 = 43.86 mm

Answer

do = 54.82 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 45.99 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τmax = 67.08 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 = √(((130 − 10)/2)² + 30²) = 67.08 MPa

Answer

τmax = 67.08 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σ1 = 438.1 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) = 32·300000/(π·30³) = 113.2 MPa
τ = 16T/(πd³) = 16·2000000/(π·30³) = 377.3 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Mohr’s circle

C = σ/2 = 56.59 MPa
R = √(56.59² + 377.3²) = 381.5 MPa
σ1 = C + R = 438.1 MPa
σ2 = C − R = −324.9 MPa

Answer

σ1 = 438.1 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 6.316 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·12²/4 = 113.1 mm²
σ = P/A = 20·1000/113.1 = 176.8 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for aluminium = 70 GPa = 70000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 176.8/70000 = 0.002526 = 2526 µε

Elongation

δ = ε·L = 0.002526·2500 mm = 6.316 mm

Answer

δ = 6.316 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: Pmax = 477.8 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·40²/4 = 1257 mm²
At = π(120² − 70²)/4 = 7461 mm²

Combined axial stiffness

ΣEA = 200·10³·1257 + 120·10³·7461 = 1.147 × 10⁹ N

Governing strain

ε = min(0.001, 0.0004167) = 0.0004167 (copper)

Largest load

Pmax = 0.0004167·1.147 × 10⁹ = 477784 N = 477.8 kN

Answer

Pmax = 477.8 kN
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 28.42 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 = 40·30³/12 = 90000 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 1·2500 = 2500 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·90000/2500² = 28424 N = 28.42 kN

Answer

Pcr = 28.42 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 84.76 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 = 2·25000 = 50000 N
KL = 2·5000 = 10000 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·50000·10000²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 84.76 mm

Answer

d = 84.76 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 471.9, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.09999

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.

Logarithmic decrement

δ = (1/4)·ln(20/1.6) = 0.6314

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.6314/√(39.48 + 0.3987) = 0.09999

Answer

ζ = 0.09999
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 140 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 side by side share the deflection and add their forces, so their stiffnesses simply add: k = k1 + k2.

keq = 100 + 40 = 140 kN/m

Answer

keq = 140 kN/m

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