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​ = 16N2​ = 18

A 7.5 kW motor running at 1500 rpm drives a pinion with 16 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 18 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 95%. Find the output torque T2 on the gear shaft.

P = 7.5 kWn1 = 1500 rpmN1 = 16N2 = 18η = 95%
T2 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 150 mmd2​ = 300 mm960 rpmC = 500 mmT1​ = 1000 NT2​P = ?

An open belt connects a 150 mm driving pulley at 960 rpm to a 300 mm pulley; the centres are 500 mm apart. The coefficient of friction is 0.35 and the tight-side tension may not exceed 1000 N. Find the largest power P the belt can transmit without slipping, in kW (ignore centrifugal effects).

d1 = 150 mmn1 = 960 rpmd2 = 300 mmC = 500 mmμ = 0.35T1 = 1000 N
P = kW
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 100 N·md = 25 mmL = 2 mφ = ?

A solid steel 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 = 100 N·md = 25 mmL = 2 mG = 80 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 100 kW at 1450 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 40 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 100 kWN = 1450 rpmτallow = 40 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 50σy​ = −10MPaτxy​ = ?

A point has σₓ = 50 MPa and σᵧ = −10 MPa. How large can the shear stress τxy (magnitude) become before the largest principal stress reaches 105 MPa?

σx = 50 MPaσy = −10 MPaσ1 = 105 MPa
τxy = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 10σy​ = −40τxy​ = −20MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 10 MPa, σᵧ = −40 MPa and τₓᵧ = −20 MPa (σz = 0). The material has a yield strength of 275 MPa. Find the factor of safety n against yielding by the von Mises (distortion energy) criterion.

σx = 10 MPaσy = −40 MPaτxy = −20 MPaσY = 275 MPa
n =
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 12 mmSteel1 mP = 115 kN

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

P = 115 kNd = 12 mmL = 1 mE = 200 GPa
ε = µε
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 35 mmSteel1 mØ 12 mmCopper1 mP = 50 kN

The stepped bar is fixed at the wall and loaded at its free end. Find the total elongation δ.

P = 50 kNsegment 1: Ø35 mm, 1 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)segment 2: Ø12 mm, 1 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
δ = mm
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 2 m25 × 50 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 mE = 200 GPa (steel)b × h = 25 × 50 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 5 kNL = 1 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 5 kN with a factor of safety of 2.5 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 5 kNn = 2.5L = 1 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 2 kN/mζ = 0.45m = 8 kg

An 8 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 2 kN/m has a viscous damper giving a damping ratio of 0.45. Find the damped natural frequency fd of its free vibration in Hz.

m = 8 kgk = 2 kN/mζ = 0.45
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 12k2​ = 20m = 10 kg

A 10 kg mass hangs from two springs connected end to end (in series): the upper spring has k₁ = 12 kN/m and the lower one k₂ = 20 kN/m. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 10 kgk1 = 12 kN/mk2 = 20 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T2 = 51.03 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.

Motor torque

ω₁ = 2π·1500/60 = 157.1 rad/s
T1 = P/ω₁ = 7500/157.1 = 47.75 N·m

Output torque

T2 = 47.75·18/16·0.95 = 51.03 N·m

Answer

T2 = 51.03 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: P = 4.75 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.

Angle of wrap

θ = 2.84 rad

Slack-side tension

eμθ = e0.9942 = 2.702, T₂ = 1000/2.702 = 370 N

Power

P = (1000 − 370)·7.54 = 4.75 kW

Answer

P = 4.75 kW
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 3.735 °

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·25⁴/32 = 38350 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 100·1000·2000/(80000·38350) = 0.06519 rad
φ = 0.06519·180/π = 3.735°

Answer

φ = 3.735°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 43.77 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·1450/60 = 151.8 rad/s
T = P/ω = 100000/151.8 = 658.6 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·658572/(π·40)) = 43.77 mm

Answer

d = 43.77 mm

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

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τxy = 79.53 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 = (50 + (−10))/2 = 20 MPa
R = σ1 − C = 105 − 20 = 85 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Shear stress

τxy = √(R² − ((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)²) = √(85² − 30²) = 79.53 MPa

Answer

τxy = 79.53 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: n = 4.787

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 = −15 MPa, R = 32.02 MPa
σ1 = 17.02 MPa, σ2 = −47.02 MPa, σ3 = 0

Von Mises

σvM = √(17.02² − 17.02·(−47.02) + (−47.02)²) = 57.45 MPa
n = 275/57.45 = 4.787

Answer

n = 4.787

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

7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: ε = 5084 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·12²/4 = 113.1 mm²
σ = P/A = 115·1000/113.1 = 1017 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for steel = 200 GPa = 200000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 1017/200000 = 0.005084 = 5084 µε

Answer

ε = 5084 µε
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 4.038 mm

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·12²/4 = 113.1 mm²
σ1 = 51.97 MPa
σ2 = 442.1 MPa

Add the segment elongations

δ1 = σ1L1/E1 = 51.97·1000/200000 = 0.2598 mm
δ2 = σ2L2/E2 = 442.1·1000/117000 = 3.779 mm
δ = δ1 + δ2 = 4.038 mm

Answer

δ = 4.038 mm
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 32.13 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 = 1·2000 = 2000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·65104/2000² = 32128 N = 32.13 kN

Answer

Pcr = 32.13 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 26.8 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 = 2.5·5000 = 12500 N
KL = 2·1000 = 2000 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·12500·2000²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 26.8 mm

Answer

d = 26.8 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 298.5, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 2.247 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 = √(2000/8) = 15.81 rad/s
fn = 15.81/(2π) = 2.516 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 2.516·√(1 − 0.45²) = 2.247 Hz

Answer

fd = 2.247 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 7.5 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 in series share the same force and add their deflections, so they combine as reciprocals: 1/k = 1/k1 + 1/k2.

1/keq = 1/12 + 1/20 → keq = 12·20/(12 + 20) = 7.5 kN/m

Answer

keq = 7.5 kN/m

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