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
Nw​ = 80z = 2, 2900 rpm

A worm with 2 start(s) turns at 2900 rpm and drives a worm wheel with 80 teeth. Find the speed nw of the wheel.

z = 2Nw = 80n = 2900 rpm
nw = rpm
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 160 mmd2​ = 400 mm2880 rpmC = 1000 mmθ = ?

An open belt connects a 160 mm pulley and a 400 mm pulley whose centres are 1000 mm apart. Find the angle of wrap θ on the smaller pulley, in degrees.

d1 = 160 mmd2 = 400 mmC = 1000 mm
θ = °
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d = ?T = 200 N·mL = 2 m

A solid steel shaft 2 m long carries a torque of 200 N·m. The angle of twist between its ends must not exceed 1°. Find the smallest diameter d that meets this limit.

T = 200 N·mL = 2 mG = 80 GPaφallow = 1°
d = mm
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 30 kW at 500 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 75 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 30 kWN = 500 rpmτallow = 75 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = −70σy​ = 120τxy​ = 30MPa

A point has σₓ = −70 MPa, σᵧ = 120 MPa and τₓᵧ = 30 MPa (tension positive). Find the angle θs, between −90° and 90°, from the x-axis to the normal of the plane on which the shear stress has its maximum positive value +R (shear positive in the same sense as τₓᵧ).

σx = −70 MPaσy = 120 MPaτxy = 30 MPa
θs = °
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = −60σy​ = 120τxy​ = 10MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = −60 MPa, σᵧ = 120 MPa and τₓᵧ = 10 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 40° counter-clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = −60 MPaσy = 120 MPaτxy = 10 MPaθ = 40°
σθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
P = ?12600 mm400 mmØ20Ø40δ = 0.25 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 20 mm, length 600 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of copper (diameter 40 mm, length 400 mm, E = 120 GPa). It is fixed at one end and pulled at the other. Find the axial load P that stretches it by 0.25 mm in total.

segment 1: steel, Ø20 mm, 600 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: copper, Ø40 mm, 400 mm, E = 120 GPaδ = 0.25 mm
P = kN
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 40 mmAluminium0.5 mØ 12 mmSteel2 mP = 110 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 = 110 kNsegment 1: Ø40 mm, 0.5 m, aluminium (E = 70 GPa)segment 2: Ø12 mm, 2 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)
σmax = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 1.5 m50 × 100 mmcross-section

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

L = 1.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)b × h = 50 × 100 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 115 kNL = 6 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 115 kN with a factor of safety of 3 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 115 kNn = 3L = 6 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 100 kN/mζ = 0.6m = 150 kg

A 150 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 100 kN/m has a viscous damper giving a damping ratio of 0.6. Find the damped natural frequency fd of its free vibration in Hz.

m = 150 kgk = 100 kN/mζ = 0.6
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 80k2​ = 12m = 50 kg

A 50 kg mass hangs from two springs connected end to end (in series): the upper spring has k₁ = 80 kN/m and the lower one k₂ = 12 kN/m. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 50 kgk1 = 80 kN/mk2 = 12 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nw = 72.5 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.

Wheel speed

nw = n·z/Nw = 2900·2/80 = 72.5 rpm

Answer

nw = 72.5 rpm
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: θ = 166.2 °

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(0.12) = 6.892°

Angle of wrap

θ = 180 − 2·6.892 = 166.2°

Answer

θ = 166.2°
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 41.33 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 = 200 N·m = 200000 N·mm
L = 2 m = 2000 mm
G = 80 GPa = 80000 MPa
φ = 1·π/180 = 0.01745 rad
J = TL/(Gφ) = 200000·2000/(80000·0.01745) = 286479 mm⁴

Diameter

d = (32J/π)1/4 = 41.33 mm

Answer

d = 41.33 mm

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

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 33.89 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·500/60 = 52.36 rad/s
T = P/ω = 30000/52.36 = 573 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·572958/(π·75)) = 33.89 mm

Answer

d = 33.89 mm

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

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: θs = 36.24 °

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.

στxyCτmax​

Angle on the circle

On Mohr’s circle the top point (+R) is 90° from the principal point σ₁; on the element that is 45°.

cos 2θs = 30/99.62 = 0.3011, sin 2θs = −(−95)/99.62 = 0.9536
2θs = atan2(95, 30) = 72.47°

Angle on the element

θs = 36.24°
check: θs − θp = 36.24 − 81.24 = −45°

Answer

θs = 36.24°

Positive angles are counter-clockwise.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = 24.22 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 = 30 + −90·0.1736 + 10·0.9848 = 24.22 MPa

Answer

σθ = 24.22 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 20.49 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 = 1257 mm²

Flexibilities

L₁/(E₁A₁) = 600/(200000·314.2) = 9.549 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 400/(120000·1257) = 2.653 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

Load

P = 0.25/1.22 × 10⁻⁵ = 20489 N = 20.49 kN

Answer

P = 20.49 kN
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 972.6 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·12²/4 = 113.1 mm²
σ1 = 87.54 MPa
σ2 = 972.6 MPa

Largest stress

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

σmax = 972.6 MPa

Answer

σmax = 972.6 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 913.9 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 = 100·50³/12 = 1.042 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 1·1500 = 1500 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·1.042 × 10⁶/1500² = 913852 N = 913.9 kN

Answer

Pcr = 913.9 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 150.5 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 = 3·115000 = 345000 N
KL = 2·6000 = 12000 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·345000·12000²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 150.5 mm

Answer

d = 150.5 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 319, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 3.287 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 = √(100000/150) = 25.82 rad/s
fn = 25.82/(2π) = 4.109 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 4.109·√(1 − 0.6²) = 3.287 Hz

Answer

fd = 3.287 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 10.43 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 = 1/80 + 1/12 → keq = 80·12/(80 + 12) = 10.43 kN/m

Answer

keq = 10.43 kN/m

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