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​ = 24, m = 2.5 mm

A 7.5 kW motor running at 1440 rpm drives a pinion with 24 teeth and a module of 2.5 mm. Find the tangential force Ft on the pinion teeth.

P = 7.5 kWn = 1440 rpmN1 = 24m = 2.5 mm
Ft = N
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 18B = 48C = 30D = ?

In a compound gear train, gear A (18 teeth) on the input shaft turns at 1440 rpm and drives gear B (48 teeth). Gear C (30 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D on the output shaft. The output must turn at 324 rpm. How many teeth ND must gear D have?

nin = 1440 rpmA = 18B = 48C = 30nout = 324 rpm
ND =
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
do​ = 75, di​ = 38 mmT = 400 N·mL = 2.5 m

A hollow aluminium shaft (outer diameter 75 mm, inner diameter 38 mm, length 2.5 m) is fixed at one end and twisted by a torque of 400 N·m at the other. Find the angle of twist φ in degrees.

T = 400 N·mdo = 75 mmdi = 38 mmL = 2.5 mG = 26 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Tdo​ = 50 mm, di​ = 38 mm

A hollow shaft transmits 50 kW at 750 rpm. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

P = 50 kWN = 750 rpmdo = 50 mmdi = 38 mm
τmax = MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 10MPaτxy​ = ?

A point has σₓ = 10 MPa and σᵧ = 0 MPa. How large can the shear stress τxy (magnitude) become before the largest principal stress reaches 65 MPa?

σx = 10 MPaσy = 0 MPaσ1 = 65 MPa
τxy = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​τxy​surface of the shaft

A solid shaft of diameter 30 mm carries an axial compressive force of 200 kN together with a torque of 750 N·m. At the surface of the shaft, find the largest principal stress σ1.

d = 30 mmF = −200 kNT = 750 N·m
σ1 = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 30 mmBrass2 mP = 95 kN

Find the axial strain ε in the brass bar, in microstrain (µε = 10⁻⁶).

P = 95 kNd = 30 mmL = 2 mE = 100 GPa
ε = µε
8.Axial stress & strainHard
80 kN12300 mm200 mmØ30Ø60σ2​ = ?

A steel segment (diameter 30 mm, length 300 mm, E = 200 GPa) and a segment made of copper (diameter 60 mm, length 200 mm, E = 120 GPa) are joined end to end and fixed between two rigid walls. An axial load of 80 kN acts at the joint, towards segment 2. Find the magnitude of the stress σ2 in segment 2.

segment 1: steel, Ø30 mm, 300 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: copper, Ø60 mm, 200 mm, E = 120 GPaP = 80 kN
σ2 = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 6 m50 × 100 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)b × h = 50 × 100 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 75 kNL = 4 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of steel is pinned at both ends. It must carry 75 kN with a factor of safety of 3 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 75 kNn = 3L = 4 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 2 kN/mζ = 0.35m = 10 kg

A 10 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 2 kN/m has a viscous damper giving a damping ratio of 0.35. Find the damped natural frequency fd of its free vibration in Hz.

m = 10 kgk = 2 kN/mζ = 0.35
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 10k2​ = 60m = 50 kg

A 50 kg mass hangs from two springs connected end to end (in series): the upper spring has k₁ = 10 kN/m and the lower one k₂ = 60 kN/m. Ignore damping and the masses of the springs. Find the natural frequency fn of vertical vibration in Hz.

m = 50 kgk1 = 10 kN/mk2 = 60 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: Ft = 1658 N

Gear geometry: the module m sets the tooth size. A gear with N teeth has a pitch diameter d = m·N, two meshing gears have the same module, and their centre distance is a = (d₁ + d₂)/2 = m·(N₁ + N₂)/2. The pitch-line speed is v = π·d·n/60, and the tangential tooth force follows from the torque: Ft = 2T/d.

Torque on the pinion

ω = 2π·1440/60 = 150.8 rad/s
T = P/ω = 7500/150.8 = 49.74 N·m

Pitch diameter

d = m·N = 2.5·24 = 60 mm

Tangential force

Ft = 2T/d = 2·49.74/0.06 = 1658 N

Answer

Ft = 1658 N
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: ND = 50

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.

Intermediate shaft speed

nB = nC = 1440·18/48 = 540 rpm

Teeth on gear D

ND = C·nC/nout = 30·540/324 = 50

Answer

ND = 50
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 0.7595 °

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(75⁴ − 38⁴)/32 = 2.902 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Angle of twist

T = 400 N·m = 400000 N·mm
L = 2.5 m = 2500 mm
G = 26 GPa = 26000 MPa
φ = TL/(GJ) = 400000·2500/(26000·2.902 × 10⁶) = 0.01326 rad
φ = 0.01326·180/π = 0.7595°

Answer

φ = 0.7595°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 38.92 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.

Torque

ω = 2πN/60 = 2π·750/60 = 78.54 rad/s
T = P/ω = 50000/78.54 = 636.6 N·m

Polar second moment of area

J = π(50⁴ − 38⁴)/32 = 408885 mm⁴

Maximum shear stress

τmax = T·(do/2)/J = 636620·25/408885 = 38.92 MPa

Answer

τmax = 38.92 MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τxy = 59.79 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 = (10 + 0)/2 = 5 MPa
R = σ1 − C = 65 − 5 = 60 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Shear stress

τxy = √(R² − ((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)²) = √(60² − 5²) = 59.79 MPa

Answer

τxy = 59.79 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σ1 = 58.6 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 = F/A = −200000/(π·30²/4) = −200000/706.9 = −282.9 MPa
τ = 16T/(πd³) = 16·750000/(π·30³) = 141.5 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Mohr’s circle

C = σ/2 = −141.5 MPa
R = √((−141.5)² + 141.5²) = 200.1 MPa
σ1 = C + R = 58.6 MPa
σ2 = C − R = −341.5 MPa

Answer

σ1 = 58.6 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: ε = 1344 µε

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·30²/4 = 706.9 mm²
σ = P/A = 95·1000/706.9 = 134.4 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for brass = 100 GPa = 100000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 134.4/100000 = 0.001344 = 1344 µε

Answer

ε = 1344 µε
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σ2 = 22.14 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 = 200000·706.9/300 = 471239 N/mm
k₂ = 120000·2827/200 = 1.696 × 10⁶ N/mm

Share of segment 2

F2 = 80000·1.696 × 10⁶/2.168 × 10⁶ = 62609 N

Stress

σ2 = 62609/2827 = 22.14 MPa (compression)

Answer

σ2 = 22.14 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 40.8 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 = 100·50³/12 = 1.042 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.7·6000 = 4200 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·1.042 × 10⁶/4200² = 40797 N = 40.8 kN

Answer

Pcr = 40.8 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 78.07 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 = 3·75000 = 225000 N
KL = 1·4000 = 4000 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·225000·4000²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 78.07 mm

Answer

d = 78.07 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 204.9, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 2.108 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 = √(2000/10) = 14.14 rad/s
fn = 14.14/(2π) = 2.251 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 2.251·√(1 − 0.35²) = 2.108 Hz

Answer

fd = 2.108 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 2.084 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 in series share the same force and add their deflections, so they combine as reciprocals: 1/k = 1/k1 + 1/k2.

1/keq = 1/10 + 1/60 → keq = 10·60/(10 + 60) = 8.571 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(8571/50) = 13.09 rad/s
fn = 13.09/(2π) = 2.084 Hz

Answer

fn = 2.084 Hz

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