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​ = 12N2​ = 80

A 1.5 kW motor running at 960 rpm drives a pinion with 12 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 80 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 98%. Find the output torque T2 on the gear shaft.

P = 1.5 kWn1 = 960 rpmN1 = 12N2 = 80η = 98%
T2 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 32B = 36C = 45D = 48

A 7.5 kW motor at 960 rpm drives gear A (32 teeth), which meshes with gear B (36 teeth). Gear C (45 teeth) on the same shaft as B drives gear D (48 teeth) on the output shaft. Each gear mesh has an efficiency of 97%. Find the output torque Tout.

P = 7.5 kWnin = 960 rpmA = 32B = 36C = 45D = 48ηmesh = 97%
Tout = N·m
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d = 12 mmT = 30 N·m250 mmφ = 5.41°

In a torsion test, a solid specimen of diameter 12 mm is twisted by a torque of 30 N·m. The two ends of a gauge length of 250 mm rotate 5.41° relative to each other (the material is still elastic). Find the shear modulus G of the material.

T = 30 N·md = 12 mmL = 250 mmφ = 5.41°
G = GPa
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
d = 60 mmT0​ = 750 N·mACBa = 2 mb = 2.5 m

A solid brass shaft of diameter 60 mm is fixed to rigid walls at both ends A and B. A torque of 750 N·m is applied at C, 2 m from A and 2.5 m from B. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

d = 60 mmT0 = 750 N·ma = 2 mb = 2.5 m
τmax = MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 20σy​ = 60τxy​ = −30MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 20 MPa, σᵧ = 60 MPa and τₓᵧ = −30 MPa (tension positive). Find the angle θp from the x-axis to the direction of the largest principal stress, between −90° and 90°.

σx = 20 MPaσy = 60 MPaτxy = −30 MPa
θp = °
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
20°D = 600 mm, t = 6 mm, p = 1.5 MPap

A thin-walled cylindrical tank of inner diameter 600 mm and wall thickness 6 mm holds gas at a gauge pressure of 1.5 MPa. It is made from plate welded along a helical seam at 20° to the axis of the cylinder. Find the magnitude of the shear stress |τn| acting along the weld seam.

D = 600 mmt = 6 mmp = 1.5 MPaα = 20°
|τn| = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
P = ?12300 mm500 mmØ40Ø40δ = 0.25 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 40 mm, length 300 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of aluminium (diameter 40 mm, length 500 mm, E = 70 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, Ø40 mm, 300 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: aluminium, Ø40 mm, 500 mm, E = 70 GPaδ = 0.25 mm
P = kN
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 30 mmSteel1 mØ 16 mmAluminium2 mP = 120 kN

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

P = 120 kNsegment 1: Ø30 mm, 1 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)segment 2: Ø16 mm, 2 m, aluminium (E = 70 GPa)
δ = mm
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 4 md = 60 mmcross-section

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

L = 4 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 60 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 20 kNL = 4 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of steel is pinned at both ends. It must carry 20 kN with a factor of safety of 2 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 20 kNn = 2L = 4 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx30 mm3 cycles11.7 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 30 mm is followed 3 cycles later by a peak of 11.7 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 30 mmx3 = 11.7 mmn = 3
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 5k2​ = 20k3​ = 60m = 25 kg

A 25 kg mass hangs from spring k₃ = 60 kN/m. The top of k₃ is attached to a rigid bar that hangs from two springs side by side, k₁ = 5 kN/m and k₂ = 20 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 = 25 kgk1 = 5 kN/mk2 = 20 kN/mk3 = 60 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T2 = 97.48 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·960/60 = 100.5 rad/s
T1 = P/ω₁ = 1500/100.5 = 14.92 N·m

Output torque

T2 = 14.92·80/12·0.98 = 97.48 N·m

Answer

T2 = 97.48 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: Tout = 84.23 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 = 960·(32/36)·(45/48) = 800 rpm
ωout = 2π·800/60 = 83.78 rad/s

Output power and torque

Pout = 7500·0.97² = 7057 W
Tout = Pout/ωout = 7057/83.78 = 84.23 N·m

Answer

Tout = 84.23 N·m
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: G = 39.02 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·12⁴/32 = 2036 mm⁴
φ = 5.41·π/180 = 0.09442 rad

Shear modulus

T = 30 N·m = 30000 N·mm
G = TL/(Jφ) = 30000·250/(2036·0.09442) = 39018 MPa
G = 39.02 GPa

Answer

G = 39.02 GPa

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

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 9.824 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. When both ends are fixed, statics alone gives only TA + TB = T₀; the second equation is compatibility (equal twist of both parts at the loaded section).

Equilibrium and compatibility

TA + TB = 750
TA·a = TB·b
TA = 750·2.5/4.5 = 416.7 N·m
TB = 750·2/4.5 = 333.3 N·m

Maximum shear stress

The larger of the two torques governs (same diameter).

τmax = 16·416667/(π·60³) = 9.824 MPa

Answer

τmax = 9.824 MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: θp = −61.85 °

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.

στxyCσ1​σ2​

Angle on the circle

Point x sits at an angle 2θp from the σ-axis on Mohr’s circle; the quadrant follows from the signs of σₓ − σᵧ and τₓᵧ.

2θp = atan2(2·−30, 20 − 60) = −123.7°

Angle on the element

θp = −61.85°

Answer

θp = −61.85°

Positive angles are counter-clockwise.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: |τn| = 12.05 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. Thin-walled cylinder: hoop stress σh = pr/t and axial stress σa = pr/(2t); these are the principal stresses in the wall.

Wall stresses

r = 600/2 = 300 mm
σh = pr/t = 1.5·300/6 = 75 MPa
σa = pr/(2t) = 37.5 MPa

Transform to the seam

Take x along the axis (σa) and y around the hoop (σh). The seam’s normal makes 90° − α with the axis.

|τn| = (75 − 37.5)·sin 20°·cos 20° = 12.05 MPa

Answer

|τn| = 12.05 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 36.35 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 = 1257 mm², A₂ = 1257 mm²

Flexibilities

L₁/(E₁A₁) = 300/(200000·1257) = 1.194 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 500/(70000·1257) = 5.684 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

Load

P = 0.25/6.878 × 10⁻⁶ = 36349 N = 36.35 kN

Answer

P = 36.35 kN
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 17.9 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·30²/4 = 706.9 mm², A2 = π·16²/4 = 201.1 mm²
σ1 = 169.8 MPa
σ2 = 596.8 MPa

Add the segment elongations

δ1 = σ1L1/E1 = 169.8·1000/200000 = 0.8488 mm
δ2 = σ2L2/E2 = 596.8·2000/70000 = 17.05 mm
δ = δ1 + δ2 = 17.9 mm

Answer

δ = 17.9 mm
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 313.9 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 round section has the same I about every axis.

I = πd⁴/64 = π·60⁴/64 = 636173 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.5·4000 = 2000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·636173/2000² = 313939 N = 313.9 kN

Answer

Pcr = 313.9 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 50.7 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 = 2·20000 = 40000 N
KL = 1·4000 = 4000 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·40000·4000²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 50.7 mm

Answer

d = 50.7 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 315.6, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.04989

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.

Logarithmic decrement

δ = (1/3)·ln(30/11.7) = 0.3139

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.3139/√(39.48 + 0.09851) = 0.04989

Answer

ζ = 0.04989
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 4.228 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 = 5 + 20 = 25 kN/m
keq = 25·60/(25 + 60) = 17.65 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(17647/25) = 26.57 rad/s
fn = 26.57/(2π) = 4.228 Hz

Answer

fn = 4.228 Hz

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