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​ = 20N2​ = 25

A 7.5 kW motor running at 960 rpm drives a pinion with 20 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 25 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 96%. Find the output torque T2 on the gear shaft.

P = 7.5 kWn1 = 960 rpmN1 = 20N2 = 25η = 96%
T2 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
Ns​ = 18ring fixedNp​ = 12nc​ = ?

In a planetary gear set the sun gear has 18 teeth and each planet gear has 12 teeth. The ring gear is held fixed and the sun is driven at 600 rpm. Find the speed nc of the planet carrier.

Ns = 18Np = 12ns = 600 rpm
nc = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d1​ = 40 mmd2​ = 30 mmT = 750 N·mABC1 m0.5 m

A stepped solid aluminium shaft is fixed at A. Segment AB has diameter 40 mm and length 1 m; segment BC has diameter 30 mm and length 0.5 m. A torque of 750 N·m acts at the free end C. Find the angle of twist φC of end C, in degrees.

T = 750 N·md1 = 40 mm, L1 = 1 md2 = 30 mm, L2 = 0.5 mG = 26 GPa
φC = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
d = ?30 kW, 1000 rpm

A solid steel shaft transmits 30 kW at 1000 rpm. The shear stress must not exceed 75 MPa and the twist must not exceed 0.75° per m of length. Find the smallest diameter d that satisfies both limits.

P = 30 kWN = 1000 rpmτallow = 75 MPaθallow = 0.75°/mG = 80 GPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = −30σy​ = −30τxy​ = 20MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = −30 MPa, σᵧ = −30 MPa and τₓᵧ = 20 MPa, with σz = 0. Find the absolute maximum shear stress τabs at the point (considering all planes in three dimensions).

σx = −30 MPaσy = −30 MPaτxy = 20 MPaσz = 0
τabs = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
35°D = 1500 mm, t = 12 mm, p = 1 MPap

A thin-walled cylindrical tank of inner diameter 1500 mm and wall thickness 12 mm holds gas at a gauge pressure of 1 MPa. It is made from plate welded along a helical seam at 35° to the axis of the cylinder. Find the normal stress σn acting across the weld seam.

D = 1500 mmt = 12 mmp = 1 MPaα = 35°
σn = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 30 mmAluminium1 mP = 70 kN

Find the elongation δ of the aluminium bar under the axial load.

P = 70 kNd = 30 mmL = 1 mE = 70 GPa
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
50 kN12300 mm400 mmØ30Ø40σ2​ = ?

A steel segment (diameter 30 mm, length 300 mm, E = 200 GPa) and a segment made of bronze (diameter 40 mm, length 400 mm, E = 110 GPa) are joined end to end and fixed between two rigid walls. An axial load of 50 kN acts at the joint, towards segment 2. Find the magnitude of the stress σ2 in segment 2.

segment 1: steel, Ø30 mm, 300 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: bronze, Ø40 mm, 400 mm, E = 110 GPaP = 50 kN
σ2 = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 6 md = 30 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 = 6 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 30 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 55 kNL = 1.5 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of steel is pinned at both ends. It must carry 55 kN with a factor of safety of 2.5 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 55 kNn = 2.5L = 1.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx50 mm2 cycles38.9 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 38.9 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 50 mmx2 = 38.9 mmn = 2
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 60k2​ = 100m = 10 kg

A 10 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 60 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 = 60 kN/mk2 = 100 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T2 = 89.52 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 = 7500/100.5 = 74.6 N·m

Output torque

T2 = 74.6·25/20·0.96 = 89.52 N·m

Answer

T2 = 89.52 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nc = 180 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 + 2·12 = 42

Willis equation with the ring fixed

Set nr = 0 and solve for the carrier speed.

(600 − nc)/(0 − nc) = −42/18
nc = ns·Ns/(Ns + Nr) = 600·18/60 = 180 rpm

Answer

nc = 180 rpm

The carrier turns in the same direction as the sun.

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φC = 16.97 °

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 moments

J1 = π·40⁴/32 = 251327 mm⁴
J2 = π·30⁴/32 = 79522 mm⁴

Twist of each segment

T = 750 N·m = 750000 N·mm
G = 26 GPa = 26000 MPa
φAB = 750000·1000/(26000·251327) = 0.1148 rad
φBC = 750000·500/(26000·79522) = 0.1814 rad

Total twist

φC = 0.1148 + 0.1814 = 0.2961 rad = 16.97°

Answer

φC = 16.97°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 40.86 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·1000/60 = 104.7 rad/s
T = P/ω = 30000/104.7 = 286.5 N·m

Diameter for strength

T = 286.5 N·m = 286479 N·mm
dτ = ∛(16·286479/(π·75)) = 26.89 mm

Diameter for stiffness

θ = 0.75·π/180/1000 = 1.309 × 10⁻⁵ rad/mm
G = 80 GPa = 80000 MPa
dφ = (32·286479/(π·80000·1.309 × 10⁻⁵))1/4 = 40.86 mm

Governing diameter

Both limits must hold, so the larger diameter governs.

d = max(26.89, 40.86) = 40.86 mm

Answer

d = 40.86 mm

Here stiffness governs.

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τabs = 25 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 = −30 MPa, R = √(0² + 20²) = 20 MPa
σ1 = −10 MPa, σ2 = −50 MPa, σz = 0

Largest of the three circles

τ = max(|σ1 − σ2|, |σ1|, |σ2|)/2 = max(40, 10, 50)/2 = 25 MPa

Answer

τabs = 25 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 = 52.22 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. 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 = 1500/2 = 750 mm
σh = pr/t = 1·750/12 = 62.5 MPa
σa = pr/(2t) = 31.25 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 = 31.25·sin²35° + 62.5·cos²35° = 52.22 MPa

Answer

σn = 52.22 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 1.415 mm

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·30²/4 = 706.9 mm²
σ = P/A = 70·1000/706.9 = 99.03 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for aluminium = 70 GPa = 70000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 99.03/70000 = 0.001415 = 1415 µε

Elongation

δ = ε·L = 0.001415·1000 mm = 1.415 mm

Answer

δ = 1.415 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σ2 = 16.83 MPa

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.

Stiffnesses

k₁ = 200000·706.9/300 = 471239 N/mm
k₂ = 110000·1257/400 = 345575 N/mm

Share of segment 2

F2 = 50000·345575/816814 = 21154 N

Stress

σ2 = 21154/1257 = 16.83 MPa (compression)

Answer

σ2 = 16.83 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 2.18 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·30⁴/64 = 39761 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 1·6000 = 6000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·39761/6000² = 2180 N = 2.18 kN

Answer

Pcr = 2.18 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 42.27 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 = 2.5·55000 = 137500 N
KL = 1·1500 = 1500 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·137500·1500²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 42.27 mm

Answer

d = 42.27 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 141.9, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.01997

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(50/38.9) = 0.1255

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.1255/√(39.48 + 0.01575) = 0.01997

Answer

ζ = 0.01997
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 160 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 = 60 + 100 = 160 kN/m

Answer

keq = 160 kN/m

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