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​ = 315 mm1500 rpmT1​ = 500 NT2​ = 250 NP = ?

A belt runs on a 150 mm driving pulley at 1500 rpm. The tension is 500 N on the tight side and 250 N on the slack side. Find the power P transmitted, in kW.

d1 = 150 mmn1 = 1500 rpmT1 = 500 NT2 = 250 N
P = kW
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 125 mmd2​ = 200 mm720 rpmC = 800 mmθ = ?

An open belt connects a 125 mm pulley and a 200 mm pulley whose centres are 800 mm apart. Find the angle of wrap θ on the smaller pulley, in degrees.

d1 = 125 mmd2 = 200 mmC = 800 mm
θ = °
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 750 N·md = 40 mmL = 2.5 mφ = ?

A solid brass 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 = 750 N·md = 40 mmL = 2.5 mG = 39 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 50 kW at 1500 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 50 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 50 kWN = 1500 rpmτallow = 50 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 60σy​ = −40MPaτxy​ = ?

A point has σₓ = 60 MPa and σᵧ = −40 MPa. How large can the shear stress τxy (magnitude) become before the largest principal stress reaches 80 MPa?

σx = 60 MPaσy = −40 MPaσ1 = 80 MPa
τxy = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 100σy​ = −30τxy​ = −30MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 100 MPa, σᵧ = −30 MPa and τₓᵧ = −30 MPa (σz = 0). Find the von Mises equivalent stress σvM.

σx = 100 MPaσy = −30 MPaτxy = −30 MPa
σvM = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 30 mmCopper2 mP = 80 kN

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

P = 80 kNd = 30 mmL = 2 mE = 117 GPa
ε = µε
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 25 mmAluminium2 mØ 12 mmBrass1 mP = 60 kN

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

P = 60 kNsegment 1: Ø25 mm, 2 m, aluminium (E = 70 GPa)segment 2: Ø12 mm, 1 m, brass (E = 100 GPa)
δ = mm
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 3 m40 × 50 mmcross-section

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

L = 3 mE = 200 GPa (steel)b × h = 40 × 50 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 1 md = 30 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 = 30 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 150 kN/mζ = 0.5m = 25 kg

A 25 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 150 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 = 25 kgk = 150 kN/mζ = 0.5
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 20k2​ = 25m = 100 kg

A 100 kg mass hangs from two springs connected end to end (in series): the upper spring has k₁ = 20 kN/m and the lower one k₂ = 25 kN/m. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 100 kgk1 = 20 kN/mk2 = 25 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: P = 2.945 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 = 11.78 m/s

Power

P = (500 − 250)·11.78 = 2945 W = 2.945 kW

Answer

P = 2.945 kW
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: θ = 174.6 °

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(0.04688) = 2.687°

Angle of wrap

θ = 180 − 2·2.687 = 174.6°

Answer

θ = 174.6°
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 10.96 °

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·40⁴/32 = 251327 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 750·1000·2500/(39000·251327) = 0.1913 rad
φ = 0.1913·180/π = 10.96°

Answer

φ = 10.96°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 31.89 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·1500/60 = 157.1 rad/s
T = P/ω = 50000/157.1 = 318.3 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·318310/(π·50)) = 31.89 mm

Answer

d = 31.89 mm

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

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τxy = 48.99 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 = (60 + (−40))/2 = 10 MPa
R = σ1 − C = 80 − 10 = 70 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Shear stress

τxy = √(R² − ((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)²) = √(70² − 50²) = 48.99 MPa

Answer

τxy = 48.99 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σvM = 128.8 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. 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 = 35 MPa, R = 71.59 MPa
σ1 = 106.6 MPa, σ2 = −36.59 MPa, σ3 = 0

Von Mises

σvM = √(106.6² − 106.6·(−36.59) + (−36.59)²) = 128.8 MPa

Answer

σvM = 128.8 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: ε = 967.3 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 = 80·1000/706.9 = 113.2 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for copper = 117 GPa = 117000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 113.2/117000 = 0.0009673 = 967.3 µε

Answer

ε = 967.3 µε
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 8.797 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·25²/4 = 490.9 mm², A2 = π·12²/4 = 113.1 mm²
σ1 = 122.2 MPa
σ2 = 530.5 MPa

Add the segment elongations

δ1 = σ1L1/E1 = 122.2·2000/70000 = 3.492 mm
δ2 = σ2L2/E2 = 530.5·1000/100000 = 5.305 mm
δ = δ1 + δ2 = 8.797 mm

Answer

δ = 8.797 mm
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 119.4 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 = 50·40³/12 = 266667 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.7·3000 = 2100 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·266667/2100² = 119360 N = 119.4 kN

Answer

Pcr = 119.4 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 111 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·30⁴/64 = 39761 mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 706.9 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(39761/706.9) = 7.5 mm
KL = 1·1000 = 1000 mm
KL/r = 1000/7.5 = 133.3

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/133.3² = 111 MPa

Answer

σcr = 111 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 10.68 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 = √(150000/25) = 77.46 rad/s
fn = 77.46/(2π) = 12.33 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 12.33·√(1 − 0.5²) = 10.68 Hz

Answer

fd = 10.68 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 11.11 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 = 1/20 + 1/25 → keq = 20·25/(20 + 25) = 11.11 kN/m

Answer

keq = 11.11 kN/m

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