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​ = 150 mmd2​ = 300 mm1440 rpmn2​ = ?

A 150 mm pulley at 1440 rpm drives a 300 mm pulley by a belt with 1.5 % slip. Find the speed n2 of the driven pulley.

n1 = 1440 rpmd1 = 150 mmd2 = 300 mms = 1.5 %
n2 = rpm
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 125 mmd2​ = 200 mm1500 rpmC = 500 mmθ = ?

An open belt connects a 125 mm pulley and a 200 mm pulley whose centres are 500 mm apart. Find the angle of wrap θ on the smaller pulley, in degrees.

d1 = 125 mmd2 = 200 mmC = 500 mm
θ = °
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
do​ = 40, di​ = 24 mmT = 500 N·mL = 1.5 m

A hollow steel shaft (outer diameter 40 mm, inner diameter 24 mm, length 1.5 m) is fixed at one end and twisted by a torque of 500 N·m at the other. Find the angle of twist φ in degrees.

T = 500 N·mdo = 40 mmdi = 24 mmL = 1.5 mG = 80 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
d = 25 mmT0​ = 400 N·mACBa = 0.5 mb = 1 m

A solid steel shaft of diameter 25 mm is fixed to rigid walls at both ends A and B. A torque of 400 N·m is applied at C, 0.5 m from A and 1 m from B. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

d = 25 mmT0 = 400 N·ma = 0.5 mb = 1 m
τmax = MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = −80σy​ = 40τxy​ = −10MPa

A point has σₓ = −80 MPa, σᵧ = 40 MPa and τₓᵧ = −10 MPa (tension positive). The element is rotated 15° counter-clockwise. Find the normal stress σy′ on the faces of the rotated element that are perpendicular to the rotated y′-axis.

σx = −80 MPaσy = 40 MPaτxy = −10 MPaθ = 15°
σy′ = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​τxy​surface of the shaft

A solid shaft of diameter 50 mm carries an axial compressive force of 70 kN together with a torque of 1000 N·m. At the surface of the shaft, find the maximum in-plane shear stress τmax.

d = 50 mmF = −70 kNT = 1000 N·m
τmax = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 25 mmSteel1.5 mP = 80 kN

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

P = 80 kNd = 25 mmL = 1.5 mE = 200 GPa
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 40 mmCopper0.5 mØ 16 mmSteel1 mP = 115 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 = 115 kNsegment 1: Ø40 mm, 0.5 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)segment 2: Ø16 mm, 1 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)
σmax = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 1 m25 × 40 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 = 1 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)b × h = 25 × 40 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 1 md = 25 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 = 1 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 25 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 20 kN/mc = 500 N·s/mm = 50 kg

A 50 kg mass is supported by a spring with a stiffness of 20 kN/m and a viscous damper with a damping coefficient of 500 N·s/m. Find the damping ratio ζ.

m = 50 kgk = 20 kN/mc = 500 N·s/m
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 30k2​ = 20k3​ = 80m = 50 kg

A 50 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 = 30 kN/m and k₂ = 20 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 = 50 kgk1 = 30 kN/mk2 = 20 kN/mk3 = 80 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: n2 = 709.2 rpm

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.

Speed without slip

1440·150/300 = 720 rpm

With slip

n2 = 720·0.985 = 709.2 rpm

Answer

n2 = 709.2 rpm
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: θ = 171.4 °

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(0.075) = 4.301°

Angle of wrap

θ = 180 − 2·4.301 = 171.4°

Answer

θ = 171.4°
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 2.455 °

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(40⁴ − 24⁴)/32 = 218755 mm⁴

Angle of twist

T = 500 N·m = 500000 N·mm
L = 1.5 m = 1500 mm
G = 80 GPa = 80000 MPa
φ = TL/(GJ) = 500000·1500/(80000·218755) = 0.04286 rad
φ = 0.04286·180/π = 2.455°

Answer

φ = 2.455°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 86.92 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. When both ends are fixed, statics alone gives only TA + TB = T₀; the second equation is compatibility (equal twist of both parts at the loaded section).

Equilibrium and compatibility

TA + TB = 400
TA·a = TB·b
TA = 400·1/1.5 = 266.7 N·m
TB = 400·0.5/1.5 = 133.3 N·m

Maximum shear stress

The larger of the two torques governs (same diameter).

τmax = 16·266667/(π·25³) = 86.92 MPa

Answer

τmax = 86.92 MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σy′ = 36.96 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 for the y′ face

σy′ = −20 − (−60)·0.866 − (−10)·0.5 = 36.96 MPa

Check

The sum of the normal stresses does not change with rotation.

σx′ = −76.96 MPa, σx′ + σy′ = −40 = σx + σy

Answer

σy′ = 36.96 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τmax = 44.47 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 = −70000/(π·50²/4) = −70000/1963 = −35.65 MPa
τ = 16T/(πd³) = 16·1000000/(π·50³) = 40.74 MPa
στxyCτmax​

Mohr’s circle

C = σ/2 = −17.83 MPa
R = √((−17.83)² + 40.74²) = 44.47 MPa

Answer

τmax = 44.47 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 1.222 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·25²/4 = 490.9 mm²
σ = P/A = 80·1000/490.9 = 163 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for steel = 200 GPa = 200000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 163/200000 = 0.0008149 = 814.9 µε

Elongation

δ = ε·L = 0.0008149·1500 mm = 1.222 mm

Answer

δ = 1.222 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 572 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·40²/4 = 1257 mm², A2 = π·16²/4 = 201.1 mm²
σ1 = 91.51 MPa
σ2 = 572 MPa

Largest stress

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

σmax = 572 MPa

Answer

σmax = 572 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 73.43 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 = 40·25³/12 = 52083 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.7·1000 = 700 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·52083/700² = 73435 N = 73.43 kN

Answer

Pcr = 73.43 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 77.11 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·25⁴/64 = 19175 mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 490.9 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(19175/490.9) = 6.25 mm
KL = 1·1000 = 1000 mm
KL/r = 1000/6.25 = 160

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/160² = 77.11 MPa

Answer

σcr = 77.11 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.25

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.

Critical damping

cc = 2·√(k·m) = 2·√(20000·50) = 2000 N·s/m

Damping ratio

ζ = c/cc = 500/2000 = 0.25

Answer

ζ = 0.25

ζ < 1, so the system is underdamped and oscillates as it decays.

12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 3.948 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 = 30 + 20 = 50 kN/m
keq = 50·80/(50 + 80) = 30.77 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(30769/50) = 24.81 rad/s
fn = 24.81/(2π) = 3.948 Hz

Answer

fn = 3.948 Hz

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