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​ = 18, m = 3 mm

An 11 kW motor running at 960 rpm drives a pinion with 18 teeth and a module of 3 mm. Find the tangential force Ft on the pinion teeth.

P = 11 kWn = 960 rpmN1 = 18m = 3 mm
Ft = N
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 150 mmd2​ = 250 mm720 rpmC = 1000 mmT1​ = 800 NT2​P = ?

An open belt connects a 150 mm driving pulley at 720 rpm to a 250 mm pulley; the centres are 1000 mm apart. The coefficient of friction is 0.35 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 = 150 mmn1 = 720 rpmd2 = 250 mmC = 1000 mmμ = 0.35T1 = 800 N
P = kW
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d = ?T = 500 N·mL = 1.2 m

A solid brass shaft 1.2 m long carries a torque of 500 N·m. The angle of twist between its ends must not exceed 0.5°. Find the smallest diameter d that meets this limit.

T = 500 N·mL = 1.2 mG = 39 GPaφallow = 0.5°
d = mm
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Tdo​ = 40 mm, di​ = 30 mm

A hollow shaft transmits 100 kW at 750 rpm. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

P = 100 kWN = 750 rpmdo = 40 mmdi = 30 mm
τmax = MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 60σy​ = −80τxy​ = 40MPa

A point has σₓ = 60 MPa, σᵧ = −80 MPa and τₓᵧ = 40 MPa (tension positive). Find the angle θs, between −90° and 90°, from the x-axis to the normal of the plane on which the shear stress has its maximum positive value +R (shear positive in the same sense as τₓᵧ).

σx = 60 MPaσy = −80 MPaτxy = 40 MPa
θs = °
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 30σy​ = 70τxy​ = 20MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 30 MPa, σᵧ = 70 MPa and τₓᵧ = 20 MPa (tension positive). Find the shear stress τθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 25° counter-clockwise from the x-axis (positive in the same sense as τₓᵧ).

σx = 30 MPaσy = 70 MPaτxy = 20 MPaθ = 25°
τθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
P = ?12400 mm400 mmØ40Ø30δ = 0.25 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 40 mm, length 400 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of brass (diameter 30 mm, length 400 mm, E = 100 GPa). It is fixed at one end and pulled at the other. Find the axial load P that stretches it by 0.25 mm in total.

segment 1: steel, Ø40 mm, 400 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: brass, Ø30 mm, 400 mm, E = 100 GPaδ = 0.25 mm
P = kN
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 40 mmAluminium2 mØ 16 mmCopper0.5 mP = 80 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 = 80 kNsegment 1: Ø40 mm, 2 m, aluminium (E = 70 GPa)segment 2: Ø16 mm, 0.5 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
σmax = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 2 m25 × 40 mmcross-section

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

L = 2 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)b × h = 25 × 40 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 40 kNL = 3 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of aluminium is fixed at the base and free at the top. It must carry 40 kN with a factor of safety of 2.5 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 40 kNn = 2.5L = 3 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 12 kN/mζ = 0.35m = 5 kg

A 5 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 12 kN/m has a viscous damper giving a damping ratio of 0.35. Find the damped natural frequency fd of its free vibration in Hz.

m = 5 kgk = 12 kN/mζ = 0.35
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 12k2​ = 12m = 25 kg

A 25 kg mass hangs from two springs connected end to end (in series): the upper spring has k₁ = 12 kN/m and the lower one k₂ = 12 kN/m. Ignore damping and the masses of the springs. Find the natural frequency fn of vertical vibration in Hz.

m = 25 kgk1 = 12 kN/mk2 = 12 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: Ft = 4053 N

Gear geometry: the module m sets the tooth size. A gear with N teeth has a pitch diameter d = m·N, two meshing gears have the same module, and their centre distance is a = (d₁ + d₂)/2 = m·(N₁ + N₂)/2. The pitch-line speed is v = π·d·n/60, and the tangential tooth force follows from the torque: Ft = 2T/d.

Torque on the pinion

ω = 2π·960/60 = 100.5 rad/s
T = P/ω = 11000/100.5 = 109.4 N·m

Pitch diameter

d = m·N = 3·18 = 54 mm

Tangential force

Ft = 2T/d = 2·109.4/0.054 = 4053 N

Answer

Ft = 4053 N
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: P = 2.964 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 = 3.042 rad

Slack-side tension

eμθ = e1.065 = 2.9, T₂ = 800/2.9 = 275.9 N

Power

P = (800 − 275.9)·5.655 = 2.964 kW

Answer

P = 2.964 kW
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 65.1 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.

Required polar moment

T = 500 N·m = 500000 N·mm
L = 1.2 m = 1200 mm
G = 39 GPa = 39000 MPa
φ = 0.5·π/180 = 0.008727 rad
J = TL/(Gφ) = 500000·1200/(39000·0.008727) = 1.763 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Diameter

d = (32J/π)1/4 = 65.1 mm

Answer

d = 65.1 mm

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

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 148.2 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.

Torque

ω = 2πN/60 = 2π·750/60 = 78.54 rad/s
T = P/ω = 100000/78.54 = 1273 N·m

Polar second moment of area

J = π(40⁴ − 30⁴)/32 = 171806 mm⁴

Maximum shear stress

τmax = T·(do/2)/J = 1.273 × 10⁶·20/171806 = 148.2 MPa

Answer

τmax = 148.2 MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: θs = −30.13 °

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.

στxyCτmax​

Angle on the circle

On Mohr’s circle the top point (+R) is 90° from the principal point σ₁; on the element that is 45°.

cos 2θs = 40/80.62 = 0.4961, sin 2θs = −70/80.62 = −0.8682
2θs = atan2(−70, 40) = −60.26°

Angle on the element

θs = −30.13°
check: θs − θp = −30.13 − 14.87 = −45°

Answer

θs = −30.13°

Positive angles are counter-clockwise.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τθ = 28.18 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 = −−20·0.766 + 20·0.6428 = 28.18 MPa

Answer

τθ = 28.18 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 34.48 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 = 706.9 mm²

Flexibilities

L₁/(E₁A₁) = 400/(200000·1257) = 1.592 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 400/(100000·706.9) = 5.659 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

Load

P = 0.25/7.25 × 10⁻⁶ = 34481 N = 34.48 kN

Answer

P = 34.48 kN
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 397.9 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·40²/4 = 1257 mm², A2 = π·16²/4 = 201.1 mm²
σ1 = 63.66 MPa
σ2 = 397.9 MPa

Largest stress

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

σmax = 397.9 MPa

Answer

σmax = 397.9 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 35.98 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 = 40·25³/12 = 52083 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.5·2000 = 1000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·52083/1000² = 35983 N = 35.98 kN

Answer

Pcr = 35.98 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 101.5 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 = 2.5·40000 = 100000 N
KL = 2·3000 = 6000 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·100000·6000²/(π³·70000))^(1/4) = 101.5 mm

Answer

d = 101.5 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 236.4, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 7.304 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 = √(12000/5) = 48.99 rad/s
fn = 48.99/(2π) = 7.797 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 7.797·√(1 − 0.35²) = 7.304 Hz

Answer

fd = 7.304 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 2.466 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

Springs in series share the same force and add their deflections, so they combine as reciprocals: 1/k = 1/k1 + 1/k2.

1/keq = 1/12 + 1/12 → keq = 12·12/(12 + 12) = 6 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(6000/25) = 15.49 rad/s
fn = 15.49/(2π) = 2.466 Hz

Answer

fn = 2.466 Hz

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