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​ = 60z = 2, 1440 rpm

A worm with 2 start(s) turns at 1440 rpm and drives a worm wheel with 60 teeth. Find the speed nw of the wheel.

z = 2Nw = 60n = 1440 rpm
nw = rpm
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
Ns​ = 24ring fixedNp​ = 12nc​ = ?

In a planetary gear set the sun gear has 24 teeth and each planet gear has 12 teeth. The ring gear is held fixed and the sun is driven at 1500 rpm. Find the speed nc of the planet carrier.

Ns = 24Np = 12ns = 1500 rpm
nc = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d1​ = 40 mmd2​ = 20 mmT = 100 N·mABC1.5 m0.8 m

A stepped solid brass shaft is fixed at A. Segment AB has diameter 40 mm and length 1.5 m; segment BC has diameter 20 mm and length 0.8 m. A torque of 100 N·m acts at the free end C. Find the angle of twist φC of end C, in degrees.

T = 100 N·md1 = 40 mm, L1 = 1.5 md2 = 20 mm, L2 = 0.8 mG = 39 GPa
φC = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 50 kW at 300 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 40 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 50 kWN = 300 rpmτallow = 40 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 60σy​ = 30τxy​ = −60MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 60 MPa, σᵧ = 30 MPa and τₓᵧ = −60 MPa (tension positive). Find the angle θp from the x-axis to the direction of the largest principal stress, between −90° and 90°.

σx = 60 MPaσy = 30 MPaτxy = −60 MPa
θp = °
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = −80σy​ = 10τxy​ = −60MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = −80 MPa, σᵧ = 10 MPa and τₓᵧ = −60 MPa (tension positive). Find the shear stress τθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 45° counter-clockwise from the x-axis (positive in the same sense as τₓᵧ).

σx = −80 MPaσy = 10 MPaτxy = −60 MPaθ = 45°
τθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 30 mmBrass1.5 mP = 65 kN

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

P = 65 kNd = 30 mmL = 1.5 mE = 100 GPa
ε = µε
8.Axial stress & strainHard
40 kN12500 mm300 mmØ20Ø50σ2​ = ?

A steel segment (diameter 20 mm, length 500 mm, E = 200 GPa) and a segment made of bronze (diameter 50 mm, length 300 mm, E = 110 GPa) are joined end to end and fixed between two rigid walls. An axial load of 40 kN acts at the joint, towards segment 2. Find the magnitude of the stress σ2 in segment 2.

segment 1: steel, Ø20 mm, 500 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: bronze, Ø50 mm, 300 mm, E = 110 GPaP = 40 kN
σ2 = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 1 m25 × 80 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of aluminium is fixed at the base and free at the top. Using Euler’s formula, find its critical buckling load Pcr.

L = 1 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)b × h = 25 × 80 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 2 md = 40 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of steel is pinned at both ends. Find its slenderness and the critical buckling stress σcr from Euler’s formula.

L = 2 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 40 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 150 kN/mζ = 0.6m = 500 kg

A 500 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 150 kN/m has a viscous damper giving a damping ratio of 0.6. Find the damped natural frequency fd of its free vibration in Hz.

m = 500 kgk = 150 kN/mζ = 0.6
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 20k2​ = 5m = 10 kg

A 10 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 20 kN/m and k₂ = 5 kN/m. The mass stays level. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 10 kgk1 = 20 kN/mk2 = 5 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nw = 48 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 = 1440·2/60 = 48 rpm

Answer

nw = 48 rpm
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nc = 500 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 = 24 + 2·12 = 48

Willis equation with the ring fixed

Set nr = 0 and solve for the carrier speed.

(1500 − nc)/(0 − nc) = −48/24
nc = ns·Ns/(Ns + Nr) = 1500·24/72 = 500 rpm

Answer

nc = 500 rpm

The carrier turns in the same direction as the sun.

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φC = 8.359 °

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 moments

J1 = π·40⁴/32 = 251327 mm⁴
J2 = π·20⁴/32 = 15708 mm⁴

Twist of each segment

T = 100 N·m = 100000 N·mm
G = 39 GPa = 39000 MPa
φAB = 100000·1500/(39000·251327) = 0.0153 rad
φBC = 100000·800/(39000·15708) = 0.1306 rad

Total twist

φC = 0.0153 + 0.1306 = 0.1459 rad = 8.359°

Answer

φC = 8.359°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 58.74 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·300/60 = 31.42 rad/s
T = P/ω = 50000/31.42 = 1592 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·1.592 × 10⁶/(π·40)) = 58.74 mm

Answer

d = 58.74 mm

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

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: θp = −37.98 °

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.

στxyCσ1​σ2​

Angle on the circle

Point x sits at an angle 2θp from the σ-axis on Mohr’s circle; the quadrant follows from the signs of σₓ − σᵧ and τₓᵧ.

2θp = atan2(2·−60, 60 − 30) = −75.96°

Angle on the element

θp = −37.98°

Answer

θp = −37.98°

Positive angles are counter-clockwise.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τθ = 45 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 = −−45·1 + −60·0 = 45 MPa

Answer

τθ = 45 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: ε = 919.6 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 = 65·1000/706.9 = 91.96 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for brass = 100 GPa = 100000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 91.96/100000 = 0.0009196 = 919.6 µε

Answer

ε = 919.6 µε
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σ2 = 17.34 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 = 200000·314.2/500 = 125664 N/mm
k₂ = 110000·1963/300 = 719948 N/mm

Share of segment 2

F2 = 40000·719948/845612 = 34056 N

Stress

σ2 = 34056/1963 = 17.34 MPa (compression)

Answer

σ2 = 17.34 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 17.99 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 = 80·25³/12 = 104167 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 2·1000 = 2000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·104167/2000² = 17991 N = 17.99 kN

Answer

Pcr = 17.99 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 49.35 MPa

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

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 1257 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(125664/1257) = 10 mm
KL = 1·2000 = 2000 mm
KL/r = 2000/10 = 200

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/200² = 49.35 MPa

Answer

σcr = 49.35 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 2.205 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 = √(150000/500) = 17.32 rad/s
fn = 17.32/(2π) = 2.757 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 2.757·√(1 − 0.6²) = 2.205 Hz

Answer

fd = 2.205 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 25 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 = 20 + 5 = 25 kN/m

Answer

keq = 25 kN/m

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