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​ = 15N2​ = 32

A 1.1 kW motor running at 1440 rpm drives a pinion with 15 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 32 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 98%. Find the torque T1 on the motor shaft.

P = 1.1 kWn1 = 1440 rpmN1 = 15N2 = 32η = 98%
T1 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 25B = 50C = 32D = 72

A 1.5 kW motor at 1450 rpm drives gear A (25 teeth), which meshes with gear B (50 teeth). Gear C (32 teeth) on the same shaft as B drives gear D (72 teeth) on the output shaft. Each gear mesh has an efficiency of 97%. Find the output torque Tout.

P = 1.5 kWnin = 1450 rpmA = 25B = 50C = 32D = 72ηmesh = 97%
Tout = N·m
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
do​ = ?T = 1000 N·m

A hollow shaft must carry a torque of 1000 N·m. Its inner diameter is to be 0.5 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 40 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

T = 1000 N·mdi/do = 0.5τallow = 40 MPa
do = mm
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 15 kW at 500 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 60 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 15 kWN = 500 rpmτallow = 60 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 130σy​ = 90MPaτxy​ = ?

A point has σₓ = 130 MPa and σᵧ = 90 MPa. How large can the shear stress τxy (magnitude) become before the largest principal stress reaches 180 MPa?

σx = 130 MPaσy = 90 MPaσ1 = 180 MPa
τxy = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 160σy​ = −40τxy​ = 40MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 160 MPa, σᵧ = −40 MPa and τₓᵧ = 40 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 = 160 MPaσy = −40 MPaτxy = 40 MPaθ = -30°
τθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
P = ?12600 mm200 mmØ25Ø40δ = 0.3 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 25 mm, length 600 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of brass (diameter 40 mm, length 200 mm, E = 100 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, Ø25 mm, 600 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: brass, Ø40 mm, 200 mm, E = 100 GPaδ = 0.3 mm
P = kN
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 35 mmBrass1 mØ 20 mmCopper1.5 mP = 70 kN

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

P = 70 kNsegment 1: Ø35 mm, 1 m, brass (E = 100 GPa)segment 2: Ø20 mm, 1.5 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
δ = mm
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 5 m20 × 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 = 5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)b × h = 20 × 40 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 145 kNL = 5 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 145 kN with a factor of safety of 3 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 145 kNn = 3L = 5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 25 kN/mζ = 0.7m = 10 kg

A 10 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 25 kN/m has a viscous damper giving a damping ratio of 0.7. Find the damped natural frequency fd of its free vibration in Hz.

m = 10 kgk = 25 kN/mζ = 0.7
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 50k2​ = 5m = 40 kg

A 40 kg mass hangs from two springs connected end to end (in series): the upper spring has k₁ = 50 kN/m and the lower one k₂ = 5 kN/m. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 40 kgk1 = 50 kN/mk2 = 5 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T1 = 7.295 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·1440/60 = 150.8 rad/s
T1 = P/ω₁ = 1100/150.8 = 7.295 N·m

Answer

T1 = 7.295 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: Tout = 41.83 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.

Output speed

nout = 1450·(25/50)·(32/72) = 322.2 rpm
ωout = 2π·322.2/60 = 33.74 rad/s

Output power and torque

Pout = 1500·0.97² = 1411 W
Tout = Pout/ωout = 1411/33.74 = 41.83 N·m

Answer

Tout = 41.83 N·m
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 51.4 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.

Outer diameter from the allowable stress

T = 1000 N·m = 1 × 10⁶ N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.5⁴ = 0.9375
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·1 × 10⁶/(π·40·0.9375)) = 51.4 mm
di = 0.5·51.4 = 25.7 mm

Answer

do = 51.4 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 50.31 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 28.97 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 = 15000/52.36 = 286.5 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·286479/(π·60)) = 28.97 mm

Answer

d = 28.97 mm

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

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τxy = 67.08 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 = (130 + 90)/2 = 110 MPa
R = σ1 − C = 180 − 110 = 70 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Shear stress

τxy = √(R² − ((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)²) = √(70² − 20²) = 67.08 MPa

Answer

τxy = 67.08 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τθ = 106.6 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 = −100·−0.866 + 40·0.5 = 106.6 MPa

Answer

τθ = 106.6 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 38.95 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 = 490.9 mm², A₂ = 1257 mm²

Flexibilities

L₁/(E₁A₁) = 600/(200000·490.9) = 6.112 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 200/(100000·1257) = 1.592 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

Load

P = 0.3/7.703 × 10⁻⁶ = 38945 N = 38.95 kN

Answer

P = 38.95 kN
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 3.584 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·20²/4 = 314.2 mm²
σ1 = 72.76 MPa
σ2 = 222.8 MPa

Add the segment elongations

δ1 = σ1L1/E1 = 72.76·1000/100000 = 0.7276 mm
δ2 = σ2L2/E2 = 222.8·1500/117000 = 2.857 mm
δ = δ1 + δ2 = 3.584 mm

Answer

δ = 3.584 mm
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 2.948 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 = 40·20³/12 = 26667 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.5·5000 = 2500 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·26667/2500² = 2948 N = 2.948 kN

Answer

Pcr = 2.948 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 145.6 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 = 3·145000 = 435000 N
KL = 2·5000 = 10000 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·435000·10000²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 145.6 mm

Answer

d = 145.6 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 274.8, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 5.683 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 = √(25000/10) = 50 rad/s
fn = 50/(2π) = 7.958 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 7.958·√(1 − 0.7²) = 5.683 Hz

Answer

fd = 5.683 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 4.545 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 = 1/50 + 1/5 → keq = 50·5/(50 + 5) = 4.545 kN/m

Answer

keq = 4.545 kN/m

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