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
d1​ = 100 mmd2​ = 450 mm960 rpmT1​ = 500 NT2​ = 150 NP = ?

A belt runs on a 100 mm driving pulley at 960 rpm. The tension is 500 N on the tight side and 150 N on the slack side. Find the power P transmitted, in kW.

d1 = 100 mmn1 = 960 rpmT1 = 500 NT2 = 150 N
P = kW
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 16B = 45C = 15D = ?

In a compound gear train, gear A (16 teeth) on the input shaft turns at 2880 rpm and drives gear B (45 teeth). Gear C (15 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D on the output shaft. The output must turn at 480 rpm. How many teeth ND must gear D have?

nin = 2880 rpmA = 16B = 45C = 15nout = 480 rpm
ND =
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d = ?T = 500 N·mL = 0.8 m

A solid steel shaft 0.8 m long carries a torque of 500 N·m. The angle of twist between its ends must not exceed 2°. Find the smallest diameter d that meets this limit.

T = 500 N·mL = 0.8 mG = 80 GPaφallow = 2°
d = mm
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 10 kW at 3000 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 40 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 10 kWN = 3000 rpmτallow = 40 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 60σy​ = 40τxy​ = 30MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 60 MPa, σᵧ = 40 MPa and τₓᵧ = 30 MPa (tension positive). Find the maximum in-plane shear stress τmax.

σx = 60 MPaσy = 40 MPaτxy = 30 MPa
τmax = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 160σy​ = −10τxy​ = 10MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 160 MPa, σᵧ = −10 MPa and τₓᵧ = 10 MPa (tension positive). Find the shear stress τθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 20° counter-clockwise from the x-axis (positive in the same sense as τₓᵧ).

σx = 160 MPaσy = −10 MPaτxy = 10 MPaθ = 20°
τθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
200 kNØ3070 GPaØ100/60800 mmδ = ?

A steel rod (diameter 30 mm, E = 200 GPa) sits inside a tube made of aluminium (outer diameter 100 mm, inner diameter 60 mm, E = 70 GPa). Both are 800 mm long and are compressed together between rigid plates by 200 kN. Find the shortening δ.

P = 200 kNrod: Ø30 mm, E = 200 GPatube: Ø100/Ø60 mm, E = 70 GPaL = 800 mm
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 35 mmBrass2 mØ 20 mmBrass2 mP = 80 kN

The stepped bar is fixed at the wall and loaded at its free end. Find the largest normal stress σmax in the bar.

P = 80 kNsegment 1: Ø35 mm, 2 m, brass (E = 100 GPa)segment 2: Ø20 mm, 2 m, brass (E = 100 GPa)
σmax = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 2.5 md = 80 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 = 2.5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 80 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 90 kNL = 1 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of steel is pinned at both ends. It must carry 90 kN with a factor of safety of 2.5 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 90 kNn = 2.5L = 1 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx20 mm1 cycle9.4 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 20 mm is followed one cycle later by a peak of 9.4 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 20 mmx1 = 9.4 mmn = 1
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 60k2​ = 25k3​ = 80m = 40 kg

A 40 kg mass hangs from spring k₃ = 80 kN/m. The top of k₃ is attached to a rigid bar that hangs from two springs side by side, k₁ = 60 kN/m and k₂ = 25 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 = 40 kgk1 = 60 kN/mk2 = 25 kN/mk3 = 80 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: P = 1.759 kW

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 speed

v = 5.027 m/s

Power

P = (500 − 150)·5.027 = 1759 W = 1.759 kW

Answer

P = 1.759 kW
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: ND = 32

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 = 2880·16/45 = 1024 rpm

Teeth on gear D

ND = C·nC/nout = 15·1024/480 = 32

Answer

ND = 32
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 34.75 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.

Required polar moment

T = 500 N·m = 500000 N·mm
L = 0.8 m = 800 mm
G = 80 GPa = 80000 MPa
φ = 2·π/180 = 0.03491 rad
J = TL/(Gφ) = 500000·800/(80000·0.03491) = 143239 mm⁴

Diameter

d = (32J/π)1/4 = 34.75 mm

Answer

d = 34.75 mm

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

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 15.94 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·3000/60 = 314.2 rad/s
T = P/ω = 10000/314.2 = 31.83 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·31831/(π·40)) = 15.94 mm

Answer

d = 15.94 mm

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

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τmax = 31.62 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 = √(((60 − 40)/2)² + 30²) = 31.62 MPa

Answer

τmax = 31.62 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τθ = −46.98 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.

Transformation equation

τθ = −85·0.6428 + 10·0.766 = −46.98 MPa

Answer

τθ = −46.98 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 0.3244 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·30²/4 = 706.9 mm²
At = π(100² − 60²)/4 = 5027 mm²

Combined axial stiffness

ΣEA = 200·10³·706.9 + 70·10³·5027 = 4.932 × 10⁸ N

Shortening

δ = 200000·800/4.932 × 10⁸ = 0.3244 mm

Answer

δ = 0.3244 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 254.6 MPa

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·35²/4 = 962.1 mm², A2 = π·20²/4 = 314.2 mm²
σ1 = 83.15 MPa
σ2 = 254.6 MPa

Largest stress

The thinner segment has the smaller area, so it carries the larger stress.

σmax = 254.6 MPa

Answer

σmax = 254.6 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 222.3 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 = 1·2500 = 2500 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·2.011 × 10⁶/2500² = 222253 N = 222.3 kN

Answer

Pcr = 222.3 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 39.04 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 = 2.5·90000 = 225000 N
KL = 1·1000 = 1000 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·225000·1000²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 39.04 mm

Answer

d = 39.04 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 102.5, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.1193

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 = (1/1)·ln(20/9.4) = 0.755

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.755/√(39.48 + 0.5701) = 0.1193

Answer

ζ = 0.1193
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 5.109 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 = 60 + 25 = 85 kN/m
keq = 85·80/(85 + 80) = 41.21 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(41212/40) = 32.1 rad/s
fn = 32.1/(2π) = 5.109 Hz

Answer

fn = 5.109 Hz

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