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​ = 400 mm960 rpmn2​ = ?

A 150 mm pulley at 960 rpm drives a 400 mm pulley by a belt with 2.5 % slip. Find the speed n2 of the driven pulley.

n1 = 960 rpmd1 = 150 mmd2 = 400 mms = 2.5 %
n2 = rpm
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 25B = 40C = 16D = 72

In a compound gear train, gear A (25 teeth) on the input shaft turning at 3000 rpm drives gear B (40 teeth). Gear C (16 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D (72 teeth) on the output shaft. Find the output speed nout.

nin = 3000 rpmA = 25B = 40C = 16D = 72
nout = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d = ?T = 1500 N·mL = 0.5 m

A solid brass shaft 0.5 m long carries a torque of 1500 N·m. The angle of twist between its ends must not exceed 2°. Find the smallest diameter d that meets this limit.

T = 1500 N·mL = 0.5 mG = 39 GPaφallow = 2°
d = mm
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 100 kW at 1800 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 60 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 100 kWN = 1800 rpmτallow = 60 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = −20σy​ = −60MPaτxy​ = ?

A point has σₓ = −20 MPa and σᵧ = −60 MPa. How large can the shear stress τxy (magnitude) become before the largest principal stress reaches 35 MPa?

σx = −20 MPaσy = −60 MPaσ1 = 35 MPa
τxy = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = −60σy​ = 30τxy​ = 40MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = −60 MPa, σᵧ = 30 MPa and τₓᵧ = 40 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 35° counter-clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = −60 MPaσy = 30 MPaτxy = 40 MPaθ = 35°
σθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
P = ?12500 mm200 mmØ20Ø60δ = 0.3 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 20 mm, length 500 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of bronze (diameter 60 mm, length 200 mm, E = 110 GPa). It is fixed at one end and pulled at the other. Find the axial load P that stretches it by 0.3 mm in total.

segment 1: steel, Ø20 mm, 500 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: bronze, Ø60 mm, 200 mm, E = 110 GPaδ = 0.3 mm
P = kN
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 40 mmCopper0.5 mØ 16 mmSteel0.5 mP = 30 kN

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

P = 30 kNsegment 1: Ø40 mm, 0.5 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)segment 2: Ø16 mm, 0.5 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)
δ = mm
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 1.5 m25 × 40 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of aluminium is fixed at both ends. Using Euler’s formula, find its critical buckling load Pcr.

L = 1.5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)b × h = 25 × 40 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 2 md = 60 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of aluminium is fixed at the base and pinned at the top. Find its slenderness and the critical buckling stress σcr from Euler’s formula.

L = 2 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 60 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 25 kN/mζ = 0.5m = 5 kg

A 5 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 25 kN/m has a viscous damper giving a damping ratio of 0.5. Find the damped natural frequency fd of its free vibration in Hz.

m = 5 kgk = 25 kN/mζ = 0.5
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 100k2​ = 50m = 5 kg

A 5 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 100 kN/m and k₂ = 50 kN/m. The mass stays level. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 5 kgk1 = 100 kN/mk2 = 50 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: n2 = 351 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

960·150/400 = 360 rpm

With slip

n2 = 360·0.975 = 351 rpm

Answer

n2 = 351 rpm
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nout = 416.7 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.

First stage

nB = 3000·25/40 = 1875 rpm = nC

Second stage

nout = 1875·16/72 = 416.7 rpm

Answer

nout = 416.7 rpm

total ratio = 7.2 : 1

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 48.67 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 = 1500 N·m = 1.5 × 10⁶ N·mm
L = 0.5 m = 500 mm
G = 39 GPa = 39000 MPa
φ = 2·π/180 = 0.03491 rad
J = TL/(Gφ) = 1.5 × 10⁶·500/(39000·0.03491) = 550921 mm⁴

Diameter

d = (32J/π)1/4 = 48.67 mm

Answer

d = 48.67 mm

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

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 35.58 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·1800/60 = 188.5 rad/s
T = P/ω = 100000/188.5 = 530.5 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·530516/(π·60)) = 35.58 mm

Answer

d = 35.58 mm

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

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τxy = 72.28 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 = (−20 + (−60))/2 = −40 MPa
R = σ1 − C = 35 − (−40) = 75 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Shear stress

τxy = √(R² − ((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)²) = √(75² − 20²) = 72.28 MPa

Answer

τxy = 72.28 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = 7.197 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

σθ = −15 + −45·0.342 + 40·0.9397 = 7.197 MPa

Answer

σθ = 7.197 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 34.88 kN

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

A₁ = 314.2 mm², A₂ = 2827 mm²

Flexibilities

L₁/(E₁A₁) = 500/(200000·314.2) = 7.958 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 200/(110000·2827) = 6.431 × 10⁻⁷ mm/N

Load

P = 0.3/8.601 × 10⁻⁶ = 34880 N = 34.88 kN

Answer

P = 34.88 kN
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 0.475 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·40²/4 = 1257 mm², A2 = π·16²/4 = 201.1 mm²
σ1 = 23.87 MPa
σ2 = 149.2 MPa

Add the segment elongations

δ1 = σ1L1/E1 = 23.87·500/117000 = 0.102 mm
δ2 = σ2L2/E2 = 149.2·500/200000 = 0.373 mm
δ = δ1 + δ2 = 0.475 mm

Answer

δ = 0.475 mm
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 63.97 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 = 0.5·1500 = 750 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·52083/750² = 63970 N = 63.97 kN

Answer

Pcr = 63.97 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 79.31 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·60⁴/64 = 636173 mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 2827 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(636173/2827) = 15 mm
KL = 0.7·2000 = 1400 mm
KL/r = 1400/15 = 93.33

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·70000/93.33² = 79.31 MPa

Answer

σcr = 79.31 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 9.746 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 = √(25000/5) = 70.71 rad/s
fn = 70.71/(2π) = 11.25 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 11.25·√(1 − 0.5²) = 9.746 Hz

Answer

fd = 9.746 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 150 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 = 100 + 50 = 150 kN/m

Answer

keq = 150 kN/m

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