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
Tw​ = ?z = 1, 1440 rpm

A 0.55 kW motor at 1440 rpm drives a worm with 1 start(s). The worm wheel has 30 teeth and the drive has an efficiency of 50%. Find the output torque Tw on the wheel shaft.

z = 1Nw = 30n = 1440 rpmP = 0.55 kWη = 50%
Tw = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
Ns​ = 18ring fixedNp​ = 24nc​ = ?

In a planetary gear set the sun gear has 18 teeth and each planet gear has 24 teeth. The ring gear is held fixed and the sun is driven at 900 rpm. Find the speed nc of the planet carrier.

Ns = 18Np = 24ns = 900 rpm
nc = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
do​ = 50, di​ = 30 mmT = 500 N·mL = 0.5 m

A hollow aluminium shaft (outer diameter 50 mm, inner diameter 30 mm, length 0.5 m) is fixed at one end and twisted by a torque of 500 N·m at the other. Find the angle of twist φ in degrees.

T = 500 N·mdo = 50 mmdi = 30 mmL = 0.5 mG = 26 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 30 kW at 1450 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 50 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 30 kWN = 1450 rpmτallow = 50 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 50σy​ = 50MPaτxy​ = ?

A point has σₓ = 50 MPa and σᵧ = 50 MPa. How large can the shear stress τxy (magnitude) become before the largest principal stress reaches 110 MPa?

σx = 50 MPaσy = 50 MPaσ1 = 110 MPa
τxy = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 120σy​ = 80τxy​ = −50MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 120 MPa, σᵧ = 80 MPa and τₓᵧ = −50 MPa (tension positive). Find the shear stress τθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 20° clockwise from the x-axis (positive in the same sense as τₓᵧ).

σx = 120 MPaσy = 80 MPaτxy = −50 MPaθ = -20°
τθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
80 kNØ40100 GPaØ80/60800 mmδ = ?

A steel rod (diameter 40 mm, E = 200 GPa) sits inside a tube made of brass (outer diameter 80 mm, inner diameter 60 mm, E = 100 GPa). Both are 800 mm long and are compressed together between rigid plates by 80 kN. Find the shortening δ.

P = 80 kNrod: Ø40 mm, E = 200 GPatube: Ø80/Ø60 mm, E = 100 GPaL = 800 mm
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 35 mmAluminium2 mØ 12 mmAluminium1 mP = 65 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 = 65 kNsegment 1: Ø35 mm, 2 m, aluminium (E = 70 GPa)segment 2: Ø12 mm, 1 m, aluminium (E = 70 GPa)
σmax = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 1.5 m20 × 80 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 = 20 × 80 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 4 md = 60 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of aluminium is fixed at the base and free at the top. Find its slenderness and the critical buckling stress σcr from Euler’s formula.

L = 4 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 60 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 25 kN/mζ = 0.45m = 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 0.45. Find the damped natural frequency fd of its free vibration in Hz.

m = 10 kgk = 25 kN/mζ = 0.45
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 20k2​ = 100m = 10 kg

A 10 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 20 kN/m and k₂ = 100 kN/m. The mass stays level. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 10 kgk1 = 20 kN/mk2 = 100 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: Tw = 54.71 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.

Wheel speed

nw = n·z/Nw = 1440·1/30 = 48 rpm

Output torque

ωw = 2π·48/60 = 5.027 rad/s
Tw = η·P/ωw = 0.5·550/5.027 = 54.71 N·m

Answer

Tw = 54.71 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nc = 192.9 rpm

Planetary gear sets: the speeds of sun, ring and carrier are linked by the Willis equation (ns − nc)/(nr − nc) = −Nr/Ns: seen from the carrier, the set is an ordinary train with the planets as idlers. Holding one member fixed turns the set into a single-ratio reducer.

Ring gear teeth

Nr = Ns + 2·Np = 18 + 2·24 = 66

Willis equation with the ring fixed

Set nr = 0 and solve for the carrier speed.

(900 − nc)/(0 − nc) = −66/18
nc = ns·Ns/(Ns + Nr) = 900·18/84 = 192.9 rpm

Answer

nc = 192.9 rpm

The carrier turns in the same direction as the sun.

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 1.032 °

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 second moment of area

J = π(50⁴ − 30⁴)/32 = 534071 mm⁴

Angle of twist

T = 500 N·m = 500000 N·mm
L = 0.5 m = 500 mm
G = 26 GPa = 26000 MPa
φ = TL/(GJ) = 500000·500/(26000·534071) = 0.018 rad
φ = 0.018·180/π = 1.032°

Answer

φ = 1.032°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 27.2 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·1450/60 = 151.8 rad/s
T = P/ω = 30000/151.8 = 197.6 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·197572/(π·50)) = 27.2 mm

Answer

d = 27.2 mm

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

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τxy = 60 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 = (50 + 50)/2 = 50 MPa
R = σ1 − C = 110 − 50 = 60 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Shear stress

τxy = √(R² − ((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)²) = √(60² − 0²) = 60 MPa

Answer

τxy = 60 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τθ = −25.45 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 = −20·−0.6428 + −50·0.766 = −25.45 MPa

Answer

τθ = −25.45 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 0.1358 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·40²/4 = 1257 mm²
At = π(80² − 60²)/4 = 2199 mm²

Combined axial stiffness

ΣEA = 200·10³·1257 + 100·10³·2199 = 4.712 × 10⁸ N

Shortening

δ = 80000·800/4.712 × 10⁸ = 0.1358 mm

Answer

δ = 0.1358 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 574.7 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·35²/4 = 962.1 mm², A2 = π·12²/4 = 113.1 mm²
σ1 = 67.56 MPa
σ2 = 574.7 MPa

Largest stress

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

σmax = 574.7 MPa

Answer

σmax = 574.7 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 46.79 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 = 80·20³/12 = 53333 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 1·1500 = 1500 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·53333/1500² = 46789 N = 46.79 kN

Answer

Pcr = 46.79 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 2.429 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 = 2·4000 = 8000 mm
KL/r = 8000/15 = 533.3

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·70000/533.3² = 2.429 MPa

Answer

σcr = 2.429 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 7.106 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 − 0.45²) = 7.106 Hz

Answer

fd = 7.106 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 120 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 side by side share the deflection and add their forces, so their stiffnesses simply add: k = k1 + k2.

keq = 20 + 100 = 120 kN/m

Answer

keq = 120 kN/m

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