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​ = 500 mm1500 rpmT1​ = 1200 NT2​ = 240 NP = ?

A belt runs on a 150 mm driving pulley at 1500 rpm. The tension is 1200 N on the tight side and 240 N on the slack side. Find the power P transmitted, in kW.

d1 = 150 mmn1 = 1500 rpmT1 = 1200 NT2 = 240 N
P = kW
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 16B = 24C = 20D = ?

In a compound gear train, gear A (16 teeth) on the input shaft turns at 1440 rpm and drives gear B (24 teeth). Gear C (20 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D on the output shaft. The output must turn at 240 rpm. How many teeth ND must gear D have?

nin = 1440 rpmA = 16B = 24C = 20nout = 240 rpm
ND =
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d1​ = 60 mmd2​ = 25 mmT = 500 N·mABC0.5 m2.5 m

A stepped solid steel shaft is fixed at A. Segment AB has diameter 60 mm and length 0.5 m; segment BC has diameter 25 mm and length 2.5 m. A torque of 500 N·m acts at the free end C. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

T = 500 N·md1 = 60 mm, L1 = 0.5 md2 = 25 mm, L2 = 2.5 m
τmax = MPa
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
d = ?75 kW, 500 rpm

A solid steel shaft transmits 75 kW at 500 rpm. The shear stress must not exceed 50 MPa and the twist must not exceed 0.25° per m of length. Find the smallest diameter d that satisfies both limits.

P = 75 kWN = 500 rpmτallow = 50 MPaθallow = 0.25°/mG = 80 GPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 130σy​ = 60τxy​ = −50MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 130 MPa, σᵧ = 60 MPa and τₓᵧ = −50 MPa, with σz = 0. Find the absolute maximum shear stress τabs at the point (considering all planes in three dimensions).

σx = 130 MPaσy = 60 MPaτxy = −50 MPaσz = 0
τabs = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 90σy​ = −40τxy​ = 10MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 90 MPa, σᵧ = −40 MPa and τₓᵧ = 10 MPa (tension positive). Find the shear stress τθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 30° clockwise from the x-axis (positive in the same sense as τₓᵧ).

σx = 90 MPaσy = −40 MPaτxy = 10 MPaθ = -30°
τθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
250 kNØ2570 GPaØ80/50800 mmδ = ?

A steel rod (diameter 25 mm, E = 200 GPa) sits inside a tube made of aluminium (outer diameter 80 mm, inner diameter 50 mm, E = 70 GPa). Both are 800 mm long and are compressed together between rigid plates by 250 kN. Find the shortening δ.

P = 250 kNrod: Ø25 mm, E = 200 GPatube: Ø80/Ø50 mm, E = 70 GPaL = 800 mm
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 40 mmBrass1 mØ 20 mmSteel1.5 mP = 25 kN

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

P = 25 kNsegment 1: Ø40 mm, 1 m, brass (E = 100 GPa)segment 2: Ø20 mm, 1.5 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)
δ = mm
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 1.5 md = 20 mmcross-section

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

L = 1.5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 20 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 1 md = 25 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of steel is fixed at the base and pinned at the top. 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 = 40 kN/mc = 540 N·s/mm = 80 kg

An 80 kg mass is supported by a spring with a stiffness of 40 kN/m and a viscous damper with a damping coefficient of 540 N·s/m. Find the damping ratio ζ.

m = 80 kgk = 40 kN/mc = 540 N·s/m
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 10k2​ = 20m = 5 kg

A 5 kg mass hangs from two springs connected end to end (in series): the upper spring has k₁ = 10 kN/m and the lower one k₂ = 20 kN/m. Ignore damping and the masses of the springs. Find the natural frequency fn of vertical vibration in Hz.

m = 5 kgk1 = 10 kN/mk2 = 20 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: P = 11.31 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 = (1200 − 240)·11.78 = 11310 W = 11.31 kW

Answer

P = 11.31 kW
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: ND = 80

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.

Intermediate shaft speed

nB = nC = 1440·16/24 = 960 rpm

Teeth on gear D

ND = C·nC/nout = 20·960/240 = 80

Answer

ND = 80
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 163 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.

Stress in each segment

T = 500 N·m = 500000 N·mm
τAB = 16·500000/(π·60³) = 11.79 MPa
τBC = 16·500000/(π·25³) = 163 MPa

Answer

τmax = 163 MPa
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 80.41 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·500/60 = 52.36 rad/s
T = P/ω = 75000/52.36 = 1432 N·m

Diameter for strength

T = 1432 N·m = 1.432 × 10⁶ N·mm
dτ = ∛(16·1.432 × 10⁶/(π·50)) = 52.64 mm

Diameter for stiffness

θ = 0.25·π/180/1000 = 4.363 × 10⁻⁶ rad/mm
G = 80 GPa = 80000 MPa
dφ = (32·1.432 × 10⁶/(π·80000·4.363 × 10⁻⁶))1/4 = 80.41 mm

Governing diameter

Both limits must hold, so the larger diameter governs.

d = max(52.64, 80.41) = 80.41 mm

Answer

d = 80.41 mm

Here stiffness governs.

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τabs = 78.02 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. In three dimensions the absolute maximum shear stress is (σmax − σmin)/2 over all three principal stresses; in plane stress the third one is zero.

στxyCσ1​σ2​

In-plane principal stresses

C = 95 MPa, R = √(35² + (−50)²) = 61.03 MPa
σ1 = 156 MPa, σ2 = 33.97 MPa, σz = 0

Largest of the three circles

τ = max(|σ1 − σ2|, |σ1|, |σ2|)/2 = max(122.1, 156, 33.97)/2 = 78.02 MPa

Answer

τabs = 78.02 MPa

Here the out-of-plane circle governs: the absolute maximum is larger than the in-plane maximum R.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τθ = 61.29 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 = −65·−0.866 + 10·0.5 = 61.29 MPa

Answer

τθ = 61.29 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 0.6398 mm

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

Ar = π·25²/4 = 490.9 mm²
At = π(80² − 50²)/4 = 3063 mm²

Combined axial stiffness

ΣEA = 200·10³·490.9 + 70·10³·3063 = 3.126 × 10⁸ N

Shortening

δ = 250000·800/3.126 × 10⁸ = 0.6398 mm

Answer

δ = 0.6398 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 0.7958 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·20²/4 = 314.2 mm²
σ1 = 19.89 MPa
σ2 = 79.58 MPa

Add the segment elongations

δ1 = σ1L1/E1 = 19.89·1000/100000 = 0.1989 mm
δ2 = σ2L2/E2 = 79.58·1500/200000 = 0.5968 mm
δ = δ1 + δ2 = 0.7958 mm

Answer

δ = 0.7958 mm
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 2.412 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 round section has the same I about every axis.

I = πd⁴/64 = π·20⁴/64 = 7854 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 1·1500 = 1500 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·7854/1500² = 2412 N = 2.412 kN

Answer

Pcr = 2.412 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 157.4 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 = 0.7·1000 = 700 mm
KL/r = 700/6.25 = 112

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/112² = 157.4 MPa

Answer

σcr = 157.4 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.1509

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·√(40000·80) = 3578 N·s/m

Damping ratio

ζ = c/cc = 540/3578 = 0.1509

Answer

ζ = 0.1509

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

12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 5.812 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

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

1/keq = 1/10 + 1/20 → keq = 10·20/(10 + 20) = 6.667 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(6667/5) = 36.51 rad/s
fn = 36.51/(2π) = 5.812 Hz

Answer

fn = 5.812 Hz

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