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 2.2 kW motor at 1440 rpm drives a worm with 1 start(s). The worm wheel has 60 teeth and the drive has an efficiency of 55%. Find the output torque Tw on the wheel shaft.

z = 1Nw = 60n = 1440 rpmP = 2.2 kWη = 55%
Tw = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
Ns​ = 30ring fixedNp​ = 30nc​ = ?

In a planetary gear set the sun gear has 30 teeth and each planet gear has 30 teeth. The ring gear is held fixed and the sun is driven at 600 rpm. Find the speed nc of the planet carrier.

Ns = 30Np = 30ns = 600 rpm
nc = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 1000 N·md = 40 mmL = 1 mφ = ?

A solid steel shaft is fixed at the wall and twisted by a torque T at its free end. Find the angle of twist φ of the free end, in degrees.

T = 1000 N·md = 40 mmL = 1 mG = 80 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 15 kW at 300 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 75 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 15 kWN = 300 rpmτallow = 75 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 60σy​ = 60τxy​ = 40MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 60 MPa, σᵧ = 60 MPa and τₓᵧ = 40 MPa, with σz = 0. Find the absolute maximum shear stress τabs at the point (considering all planes in three dimensions).

σx = 60 MPaσy = 60 MPaτxy = 40 MPaσz = 0
τabs = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
40°D = 800 mm, t = 5 mm, p = 1.2 MPap

A thin-walled cylindrical tank of inner diameter 800 mm and wall thickness 5 mm holds gas at a gauge pressure of 1.2 MPa. It is made from plate welded along a helical seam at 40° to the axis of the cylinder. Find the normal stress σn acting across the weld seam.

D = 800 mmt = 5 mmp = 1.2 MPaα = 40°
σn = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
P = ?12400 mm500 mmØ30Ø30δ = 0.4 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 30 mm, length 400 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of brass (diameter 30 mm, length 500 mm, E = 100 GPa). It is fixed at one end and pulled at the other. Find the axial load P that stretches it by 0.4 mm in total.

segment 1: steel, Ø30 mm, 400 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: brass, Ø30 mm, 500 mm, E = 100 GPaδ = 0.4 mm
P = kN
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 25 mmSteel1.5 mØ 16 mmBrass0.5 mP = 50 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 = 50 kNsegment 1: Ø25 mm, 1.5 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)segment 2: Ø16 mm, 0.5 m, brass (E = 100 GPa)
σmax = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 6 md = 80 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of aluminium is fixed at the base and pinned at the top. Using Euler’s formula, find its critical buckling load Pcr.

L = 6 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 80 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 3 md = 40 mmcross-section

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

L = 3 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 40 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx50 mm2 cycles14.1 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 50 mm is followed 2 cycles later by a peak of 14.1 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 50 mmx2 = 14.1 mmn = 2
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 25k2​ = 10k3​ = 12m = 50 kg

A 50 kg mass hangs from spring k₃ = 12 kN/m. The top of k₃ is attached to a rigid bar that hangs from two springs side by side, k₁ = 25 kN/m and k₂ = 10 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 = 50 kgk1 = 25 kN/mk2 = 10 kN/mk3 = 12 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: Tw = 481.4 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 = 1440·1/60 = 24 rpm

Output torque

ωw = 2π·24/60 = 2.513 rad/s
Tw = η·P/ωw = 0.55·2200/2.513 = 481.4 N·m

Answer

Tw = 481.4 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nc = 150 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 = 30 + 2·30 = 90

Willis equation with the ring fixed

Set nr = 0 and solve for the carrier speed.

(600 − nc)/(0 − nc) = −90/30
nc = ns·Ns/(Ns + Nr) = 600·30/120 = 150 rpm

Answer

nc = 150 rpm

The carrier turns in the same direction as the sun.

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 2.85 °

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·40⁴/32 = 251327 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 1000·1000·1000/(80000·251327) = 0.04974 rad
φ = 0.04974·180/π = 2.85°

Answer

φ = 2.85°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 31.89 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·300/60 = 31.42 rad/s
T = P/ω = 15000/31.42 = 477.5 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·477465/(π·75)) = 31.89 mm

Answer

d = 31.89 mm

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

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τabs = 50 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. In three dimensions the absolute maximum shear stress is (σmax − σmin)/2 over all three principal stresses; in plane stress the third one is zero.

στxyCσ1​σ2​

In-plane principal stresses

C = 60 MPa, R = √(0² + 40²) = 40 MPa
σ1 = 100 MPa, σ2 = 20 MPa, σz = 0

Largest of the three circles

τ = max(|σ1 − σ2|, |σ1|, |σ2|)/2 = max(80, 100, 20)/2 = 50 MPa

Answer

τabs = 50 MPa

Here the out-of-plane circle governs: the absolute maximum is larger than the in-plane maximum R.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σn = 76.17 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 = 800/2 = 400 mm
σh = pr/t = 1.2·400/5 = 96 MPa
σa = pr/(2t) = 48 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.

σn = 48·sin²40° + 96·cos²40° = 76.17 MPa

Answer

σn = 76.17 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 40.39 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 = 706.9 mm², A₂ = 706.9 mm²

Flexibilities

L₁/(E₁A₁) = 400/(200000·706.9) = 2.829 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 500/(100000·706.9) = 7.074 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

Load

P = 0.4/9.903 × 10⁻⁶ = 40392 N = 40.39 kN

Answer

P = 40.39 kN
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 248.7 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·25²/4 = 490.9 mm², A2 = π·16²/4 = 201.1 mm²
σ1 = 101.9 MPa
σ2 = 248.7 MPa

Largest stress

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

σmax = 248.7 MPa

Answer

σmax = 248.7 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 78.75 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 = 0.7·6000 = 4200 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·2.011 × 10⁶/4200² = 78746 N = 78.75 kN

Answer

Pcr = 78.75 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 21.93 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·40⁴/64 = 125664 mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 1257 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(125664/1257) = 10 mm
KL = 1·3000 = 3000 mm
KL/r = 3000/10 = 300

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/300² = 21.93 MPa

Answer

σcr = 21.93 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.1002

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 = (1/2)·ln(50/14.1) = 0.6329

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.6329/√(39.48 + 0.4006) = 0.1002

Answer

ζ = 0.1002
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 2.128 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 = 25 + 10 = 35 kN/m
keq = 35·12/(35 + 12) = 8.936 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(8936/50) = 13.37 rad/s
fn = 13.37/(2π) = 2.128 Hz

Answer

fn = 2.128 Hz

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