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​ = 16N2​ = 45

A 4 kW motor running at 1440 rpm drives a pinion with 16 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 45 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 98%. Find the torque T1 on the motor shaft.

P = 4 kWn1 = 1440 rpmN1 = 16N2 = 45η = 98%
T1 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 125 mmd2​ = 315 mm960 rpmC = 1000 mmT1​ = 800 NT2​P = ?

An open belt connects a 125 mm driving pulley at 960 rpm to a 315 mm pulley; the centres are 1000 mm apart. The coefficient of friction is 0.3 and the tight-side tension may not exceed 800 N. Find the largest power P the belt can transmit without slipping, in kW (ignore centrifugal effects).

d1 = 125 mmn1 = 960 rpmd2 = 315 mmC = 1000 mmμ = 0.3T1 = 800 N
P = kW
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d = 20 mmT = 75 N·m200 mmφ = 0.68°

In a torsion test, a solid specimen of diameter 20 mm is twisted by a torque of 75 N·m. The two ends of a gauge length of 200 mm rotate 0.68° relative to each other (the material is still elastic). Find the shear modulus G of the material.

T = 75 N·md = 20 mmL = 200 mmφ = 0.68°
G = GPa
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 20 kW at 1500 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 75 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 20 kWN = 1500 rpmτallow = 75 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 60σy​ = 100MPaτxy​ = ?

A point has σₓ = 60 MPa and σᵧ = 100 MPa. How large can the shear stress τxy (magnitude) become before the largest principal stress reaches 145 MPa?

σx = 60 MPaσy = 100 MPaσ1 = 145 MPa
τxy = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 130σy​ = 40τxy​ = 30MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 130 MPa, σᵧ = 40 MPa and τₓᵧ = 30 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 20° clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = 130 MPaσy = 40 MPaτxy = 30 MPaθ = -20°
σθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 16 mmBrass1 mP = 20 kN

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

P = 20 kNd = 16 mmL = 1 mE = 100 GPa
ε = µε
8.Axial stress & strainHard
P = ?Ø4070 GPaØ100/60800 mm

A steel rod (diameter 40 mm, E = 200 GPa, allowable stress 150 MPa) sits inside a tube made of aluminium (outer diameter 100 mm, inner diameter 60 mm, E = 70 GPa, allowable stress 70 MPa). They are compressed together between rigid plates. Find the largest load Pmax.

rod: Ø40 mm, E = 200 GPa, σallow = 150 MPatube: Ø100/Ø60 mm, E = 70 GPa, σallow = 70 MPa
Pmax = kN
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 3 md = 80 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 = 3 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 80 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 5 md = 60 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of steel is fixed at both ends. Find its slenderness and the critical buckling stress σcr from Euler’s formula.

L = 5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 60 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 150 kN/mζ = 0.7m = 8 kg

An 8 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 150 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 = 8 kgk = 150 kN/mζ = 0.7
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 80k2​ = 80k3​ = 25m = 100 kg

A 100 kg mass hangs from spring k₃ = 25 kN/m. The top of k₃ is attached to a rigid bar that hangs from two springs side by side, k₁ = 80 kN/m and k₂ = 80 kN/m; the bar stays level. Ignore damping and the masses of the springs and bar. Find the natural frequency fn of vertical vibration in Hz.

m = 100 kgk1 = 80 kN/mk2 = 80 kN/mk3 = 25 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T1 = 26.53 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 = 4000/150.8 = 26.53 N·m

Answer

T1 = 26.53 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: P = 2.953 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.

Angle of wrap

θ = 2.951 rad

Slack-side tension

eμθ = e0.8854 = 2.424, T₂ = 800/2.424 = 330 N

Power

P = (800 − 330)·6.283 = 2.953 kW

Answer

P = 2.953 kW
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: G = 80.46 GPa

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 moment and angle

J = π·20⁴/32 = 15708 mm⁴
φ = 0.68·π/180 = 0.01187 rad

Shear modulus

T = 75 N·m = 75000 N·mm
G = TL/(Jφ) = 75000·200/(15708·0.01187) = 80461 MPa
G = 80.46 GPa

Answer

G = 80.46 GPa

Compare: steel ≈ 80 GPa, brass ≈ 39 GPa, aluminium ≈ 26 GPa.

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 20.52 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 = 20000/157.1 = 127.3 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·127324/(π·75)) = 20.52 mm

Answer

d = 20.52 mm

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

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τxy = 61.85 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 + 100)/2 = 80 MPa
R = σ1 − C = 145 − 80 = 65 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Shear stress

τxy = √(R² − ((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)²) = √(65² − 20²) = 61.85 MPa

Answer

τxy = 61.85 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = 100.2 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 = 85 + 45·0.766 + 30·−0.6428 = 100.2 MPa

Answer

σθ = 100.2 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: ε = 994.7 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·16²/4 = 201.1 mm²
σ = P/A = 20·1000/201.1 = 99.47 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for brass = 100 GPa = 100000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 99.47/100000 = 0.0009947 = 994.7 µε

Answer

ε = 994.7 µε
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: Pmax = 452.4 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

Ar = π·40²/4 = 1257 mm²
At = π(100² − 60²)/4 = 5027 mm²

Combined axial stiffness

ΣEA = 200·10³·1257 + 70·10³·5027 = 6.032 × 10⁸ N

Governing strain

ε = min(0.00075, 0.001) = 0.00075 (steel)

Largest load

Pmax = 0.00075·6.032 × 10⁸ = 452389 N = 452.4 kN

Answer

Pmax = 452.4 kN
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 154.3 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·80⁴/64 = 2.011 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 1·3000 = 3000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·2.011 × 10⁶/3000² = 154342 N = 154.3 kN

Answer

Pcr = 154.3 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 71.06 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 = 0.5·5000 = 2500 mm
KL/r = 2500/15 = 166.7

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/166.7² = 71.06 MPa

Answer

σcr = 71.06 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 15.56 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 = √(150000/8) = 136.9 rad/s
fn = 136.9/(2π) = 21.79 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 21.79·√(1 − 0.7²) = 15.56 Hz

Answer

fd = 15.56 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 2.34 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

Only k1 and k2 are in parallel. That pair is in series with k3, so combine them as reciprocals.

k12 = 80 + 80 = 160 kN/m
keq = 160·25/(160 + 25) = 21.62 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(21622/100) = 14.7 rad/s
fn = 14.7/(2π) = 2.34 Hz

Answer

fn = 2.34 Hz

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