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​ = 45N2​ = 50

A 15 kW motor running at 1500 rpm drives a pinion with 45 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 50 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 95%. Find the torque T1 on the motor shaft.

P = 15 kWn1 = 1500 rpmN1 = 45N2 = 50η = 95%
T1 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 100 mmd2​ = 200 mm1440 rpmC = 600 mmθ = ?

An open belt connects a 100 mm pulley and a 200 mm pulley whose centres are 600 mm apart. Find the angle of wrap θ on the smaller pulley, in degrees.

d1 = 100 mmd2 = 200 mmC = 600 mm
θ = °
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
do​ = ?T = 200 N·m

A hollow shaft must carry a torque of 200 N·m. Its inner diameter is to be 0.75 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 40 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

T = 200 N·mdi/do = 0.75τallow = 40 MPa
do = mm
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 30 kW at 750 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 40 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 30 kWN = 750 rpmτallow = 40 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 140σy​ = −50τxy​ = 10MPa

A point has σₓ = 140 MPa, σᵧ = −50 MPa and τₓᵧ = 10 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 = 140 MPaσy = −50 MPaτxy = 10 MPa
θs = °
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​τxy​surface of the shaft

A solid shaft of diameter 50 mm carries an axial compressive force of 170 kN together with a torque of 250 N·m. At the surface of the shaft, find the largest principal stress σ1.

d = 50 mmF = −170 kNT = 250 N·m
σ1 = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
P = ?12400 mm200 mmØ20Ø50δ = 0.4 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 20 mm, length 400 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of copper (diameter 50 mm, length 200 mm, E = 120 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, Ø20 mm, 400 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: copper, Ø50 mm, 200 mm, E = 120 GPaδ = 0.4 mm
P = kN
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 30 mmBrass1.5 mØ 16 mmCopper1 mP = 105 kN

The stepped bar is fixed at the wall and loaded at its free end. Find the total elongation δ.

P = 105 kNsegment 1: Ø30 mm, 1.5 m, brass (E = 100 GPa)segment 2: Ø16 mm, 1 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
δ = mm
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 2.5 md = 40 mmcross-section

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

L = 2.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 40 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 2 md = 20 mmcross-section

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

L = 2 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 20 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx50 mm4 cycles4 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 50 mm is followed 4 cycles later by a peak of 4 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 50 mmx4 = 4 mmn = 4
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 30k2​ = 25k3​ = 50m = 50 kg

A 50 kg mass hangs from spring k₃ = 50 kN/m. The top of k₃ is attached to a rigid bar that hangs from two springs side by side, k₁ = 30 kN/m and k₂ = 25 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 = 30 kN/mk2 = 25 kN/mk3 = 50 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T1 = 95.49 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·1500/60 = 157.1 rad/s
T1 = P/ω₁ = 15000/157.1 = 95.49 N·m

Answer

T1 = 95.49 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: θ = 170.4 °

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 angle

asin(0.08333) = 4.78°

Angle of wrap

θ = 180 − 2·4.78 = 170.4°

Answer

θ = 170.4°
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 33.4 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.

Outer diameter from the allowable stress

T = 200 N·m = 200000 N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.75⁴ = 0.6836
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·200000/(π·40·0.6836)) = 33.4 mm
di = 0.75·33.4 = 25.05 mm

Answer

do = 33.4 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 29.42 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 36.5 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·750/60 = 78.54 rad/s
T = P/ω = 30000/78.54 = 382 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·381972/(π·40)) = 36.5 mm

Answer

d = 36.5 mm

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

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: θs = −42 °

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 = 10/95.52 = 0.1047, sin 2θs = −95/95.52 = −0.9945
2θs = atan2(−95, 10) = −83.99°

Angle on the element

θs = −42°
check: θs − θp = −42 − 3.005 = −45°

Answer

θs = −42°

Positive angles are counter-clockwise.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σ1 = 1.182 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.

Stresses at the surface

σ = F/A = −170000/(π·50²/4) = −170000/1963 = −86.58 MPa
τ = 16T/(πd³) = 16·250000/(π·50³) = 10.19 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Mohr’s circle

C = σ/2 = −43.29 MPa
R = √((−43.29)² + 10.19²) = 44.47 MPa
σ1 = C + R = 1.182 MPa
σ2 = C − R = −87.76 MPa

Answer

σ1 = 1.182 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 55.44 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 = 314.2 mm², A₂ = 1963 mm²

Flexibilities

L₁/(E₁A₁) = 400/(200000·314.2) = 6.366 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 200/(120000·1963) = 8.488 × 10⁻⁷ mm/N

Load

P = 0.4/7.215 × 10⁻⁶ = 55440 N = 55.44 kN

Answer

P = 55.44 kN
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 6.692 mm

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·30²/4 = 706.9 mm², A2 = π·16²/4 = 201.1 mm²
σ1 = 148.5 MPa
σ2 = 522.2 MPa

Add the segment elongations

δ1 = σ1L1/E1 = 148.5·1500/100000 = 2.228 mm
δ2 = σ2L2/E2 = 522.2·1000/117000 = 4.463 mm
δ = δ1 + δ2 = 6.692 mm

Answer

δ = 6.692 mm
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 81 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·40⁴/64 = 125664 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.7·2500 = 1750 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·125664/1750² = 80996 N = 81 kN

Answer

Pcr = 81 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 17.27 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·20⁴/64 = 7854 mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 314.2 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(7854/314.2) = 5 mm
KL = 0.5·2000 = 1000 mm
KL/r = 1000/5 = 200

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·70000/200² = 17.27 MPa

Answer

σcr = 17.27 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.09999

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 = (1/4)·ln(50/4) = 0.6314

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.6314/√(39.48 + 0.3987) = 0.09999

Answer

ζ = 0.09999
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 3.643 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 = 30 + 25 = 55 kN/m
keq = 55·50/(55 + 50) = 26.19 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(26190/50) = 22.89 rad/s
fn = 22.89/(2π) = 3.643 Hz

Answer

fn = 3.643 Hz

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