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
d1​ = 150 mmd2​ = 400 mm1440 rpmT1​ = 1500 NT2​ = 375 NP = ?

A belt runs on a 150 mm driving pulley at 1440 rpm. The tension is 1500 N on the tight side and 375 N on the slack side. Find the power P transmitted, in kW.

d1 = 150 mmn1 = 1440 rpmT1 = 1500 NT2 = 375 N
P = kW
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 20B = 48C = 18D = 45

In a compound gear train, gear A (20 teeth) on the input shaft turning at 1440 rpm drives gear B (48 teeth). Gear C (18 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D (45 teeth) on the output shaft. Find the output speed nout.

nin = 1440 rpmA = 20B = 48C = 18D = 45
nout = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 1000 N·md = 25 mmL = 0.5 mφ = ?

A solid brass 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 = 25 mmL = 0.5 mG = 39 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
do​ = ?10 kW, 1450 rpm

A hollow shaft must transmit 10 kW at 1450 rpm. Its inner diameter is to be 0.5 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 60 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

P = 10 kWN = 1450 rpmdi/do = 0.5τallow = 60 MPa
do = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 60σy​ = 30τxy​ = 40MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 60 MPa, σᵧ = 30 MPa and τₓᵧ = 40 MPa (tension positive). Find the angle θp from the x-axis to the direction of the largest principal stress, between −90° and 90°.

σx = 60 MPaσy = 30 MPaτxy = 40 MPa
θp = °
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 60σy​ = −60τxy​ = −10MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 60 MPa, σᵧ = −60 MPa and τₓᵧ = −10 MPa (σz = 0). The material has a yield strength of 350 MPa. Find the factor of safety n against yielding by the Tresca (maximum shear stress) criterion.

σx = 60 MPaσy = −60 MPaτxy = −10 MPaσY = 350 MPa
n =
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
300 kNØ25100 GPaØ100/60800 mmδ = ?

A steel rod (diameter 25 mm, E = 200 GPa) sits inside a tube made of brass (outer diameter 100 mm, inner diameter 60 mm, E = 100 GPa). Both are 800 mm long and are compressed together between rigid plates by 300 kN. Find the shortening δ.

P = 300 kNrod: Ø25 mm, E = 200 GPatube: Ø100/Ø60 mm, E = 100 GPaL = 800 mm
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 35 mmCopper1.5 mØ 16 mmCopper1 mP = 70 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 = 70 kNsegment 1: Ø35 mm, 1.5 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)segment 2: Ø16 mm, 1 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
σmax = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 2 md = 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 = 2 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 80 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 4 md = 60 mmcross-section

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

L = 4 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 60 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx50 mm5 cycles26.7 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 50 mm is followed 5 cycles later by a peak of 26.7 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 50 mmx5 = 26.7 mmn = 5
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 30k2​ = 12m = 100 kg

A 100 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 30 kN/m and k₂ = 12 kN/m. The mass stays level. Ignore damping and the masses of the springs. Find the natural frequency fn of vertical vibration in Hz.

m = 100 kgk1 = 30 kN/mk2 = 12 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: P = 12.72 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.

Belt speed

v = 11.31 m/s

Power

P = (1500 − 375)·11.31 = 12723 W = 12.72 kW

Answer

P = 12.72 kW
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nout = 240 rpm

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.

First stage

nB = 1440·20/48 = 600 rpm = nC

Second stage

nout = 600·18/45 = 240 rpm

Answer

nout = 240 rpm

total ratio = 6 : 1

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 19.15 °

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·25⁴/32 = 38350 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 1000·1000·500/(39000·38350) = 0.3343 rad
φ = 0.3343·180/π = 19.15°

Answer

φ = 19.15°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 18.13 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 = 10000/151.8 = 65.86 N·m

Outer diameter from the allowable stress

T = 65.86 N·m = 65857 N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.5⁴ = 0.9375
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·65857/(π·60·0.9375)) = 18.13 mm
di = 0.5·18.13 = 9.067 mm

Answer

do = 18.13 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 17.75 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: θp = 34.72 °

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(2·40, 60 − 30) = 69.44°

Angle on the element

θp = 34.72°

Answer

θp = 34.72°

Positive angles are counter-clockwise.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: n = 2.877

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. Yield criteria: von Mises predicts yield when σvM = √(σ₁² − σ₁σ₂ + σ₂²) reaches σY; Tresca when the absolute maximum shear stress reaches σY/2.

στxyCσ1​σ2​

Principal stresses

C = 0 MPa, R = 60.83 MPa
σ1 = 60.83 MPa, σ2 = −60.83 MPa, σ3 = 0

Tresca

σmax − σmin = 121.7 MPa
n = 350/121.7 = 2.877

Answer

n = 2.877

n > 1 means the point does not yield; Tresca is slightly more conservative than von Mises.

7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 0.3994 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·25²/4 = 490.9 mm²
At = π(100² − 60²)/4 = 5027 mm²

Combined axial stiffness

ΣEA = 200·10³·490.9 + 100·10³·5027 = 6.008 × 10⁸ N

Shortening

δ = 300000·800/6.008 × 10⁸ = 0.3994 mm

Answer

δ = 0.3994 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 348.2 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·16²/4 = 201.1 mm²
σ1 = 72.76 MPa
σ2 = 348.2 MPa

Largest stress

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

σmax = 348.2 MPa

Answer

σmax = 348.2 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 992.2 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 = 1·2000 = 2000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·2.011 × 10⁶/2000² = 992201 N = 992.2 kN

Answer

Pcr = 992.2 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 111 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 = 0.5·4000 = 2000 mm
KL/r = 2000/15 = 133.3

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/133.3² = 111 MPa

Answer

σcr = 111 MPa
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 = (1/5)·ln(50/26.7) = 0.1255

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.1255/√(39.48 + 0.01574) = 0.01997

Answer

ζ = 0.01997
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 3.262 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 side by side share the deflection and add their forces, so their stiffnesses simply add: k = k1 + k2.

keq = 30 + 12 = 42 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(42000/100) = 20.49 rad/s
fn = 20.49/(2π) = 3.262 Hz

Answer

fn = 3.262 Hz

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