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​N2​ = ?

Two parallel shafts are 96 mm apart. They must be connected by a pair of spur gears with a module of 3 mm and a speed reduction of 3 : 1. How many teeth N2 must the gear have?

a = 96 mmm = 3 mmi = 3
N2 =
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 30B = 40C = 16D = 60

In a compound gear train, gear A (30 teeth) on the input shaft turning at 3000 rpm drives gear B (40 teeth). Gear C (16 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D (60 teeth) on the output shaft. Find the output speed nout.

nin = 3000 rpmA = 30B = 40C = 16D = 60
nout = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d = 12 mmT = 40 N·m400 mmφ = 11.55°

In a torsion test, a solid specimen of diameter 12 mm is twisted by a torque of 40 N·m. The two ends of a gauge length of 400 mm rotate 11.55° relative to each other (the material is still elastic). Find the shear modulus G of the material.

T = 40 N·md = 12 mmL = 400 mmφ = 11.55°
G = GPa
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 20 kW at 1000 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 40 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 20 kWN = 1000 rpmτallow = 40 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 120σy​ = 70τxy​ = 60MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 120 MPa, σᵧ = 70 MPa and τₓᵧ = 60 MPa, with σz = 0. Find the absolute maximum shear stress τabs at the point (considering all planes in three dimensions).

σx = 120 MPaσy = 70 MPaτxy = 60 MPaσz = 0
τabs = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 60σy​ = 20τxy​ = 20MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 60 MPa, σᵧ = 20 MPa and τₓᵧ = 20 MPa (σz = 0). The material has a yield strength of 350 MPa. Find the factor of safety n against yielding by the von Mises (distortion energy) criterion.

σx = 60 MPaσy = 20 MPaτxy = 20 MPaσY = 350 MPa
n =
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 10 mmBrass2 mP = 35 kN

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

P = 35 kNd = 10 mmL = 2 mE = 100 GPa
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 25 mmAluminium0.5 mØ 20 mmSteel2 mP = 75 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 = 75 kNsegment 1: Ø25 mm, 0.5 m, aluminium (E = 70 GPa)segment 2: Ø20 mm, 2 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)
σmax = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 1.5 md = 30 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 = 1.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 30 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 5 md = 40 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 = 5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 40 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 50 kN/mc = 3000 N·s/mm = 500 kg

A 500 kg mass is supported by a spring with a stiffness of 50 kN/m and a viscous damper with a damping coefficient of 3000 N·s/m. Find the damping ratio ζ.

m = 500 kgk = 50 kN/mc = 3000 N·s/m
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 12k2​ = 20m = 5 kg

A 5 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 = 20 kN/m. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 5 kgk1 = 12 kN/mk2 = 20 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: N2 = 48

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.

Total number of teeth

N1 + N2 = 2a/m = 2·96/3 = 64

Split by the ratio

N1 = 64/(1 + 3) = 16
N2 = 3·16 = 48

Answer

N2 = 48
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nout = 600 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 = 3000·30/40 = 2250 rpm = nC

Second stage

nout = 2250·16/60 = 600 rpm

Answer

nout = 600 rpm

total ratio = 5 : 1

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: G = 38.99 GPa

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 moment and angle

J = π·12⁴/32 = 2036 mm⁴
φ = 11.55·π/180 = 0.2016 rad

Shear modulus

T = 40 N·m = 40000 N·mm
G = TL/(Jφ) = 40000·400/(2036·0.2016) = 38988 MPa
G = 38.99 GPa

Answer

G = 38.99 GPa

Compare: steel ≈ 80 GPa, brass ≈ 39 GPa, aluminium ≈ 26 GPa.

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 28.97 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 = 20000/104.7 = 191 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·190986/(π·40)) = 28.97 mm

Answer

d = 28.97 mm

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

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τabs = 80 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 = 95 MPa, R = √(25² + 60²) = 65 MPa
σ1 = 160 MPa, σ2 = 30 MPa, σz = 0

Largest of the three circles

τ = max(|σ1 − σ2|, |σ1|, |σ2|)/2 = max(130, 160, 30)/2 = 80 MPa

Answer

τabs = 80 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: n = 5.534

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 = 40 MPa, R = 28.28 MPa
σ1 = 68.28 MPa, σ2 = 11.72 MPa, σ3 = 0

Von Mises

σvM = √(68.28² − 68.28·11.72 + 11.72²) = 63.25 MPa
n = 350/63.25 = 5.534

Answer

n = 5.534

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

7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 8.913 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·10²/4 = 78.54 mm²
σ = P/A = 35·1000/78.54 = 445.6 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for brass = 100 GPa = 100000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 445.6/100000 = 0.004456 = 4456 µε

Elongation

δ = ε·L = 0.004456·2000 mm = 8.913 mm

Answer

δ = 8.913 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 238.7 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·20²/4 = 314.2 mm²
σ1 = 152.8 MPa
σ2 = 238.7 MPa

Largest stress

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

σmax = 238.7 MPa

Answer

σmax = 238.7 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 71.19 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 = 0.7·1500 = 1050 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·39761/1050² = 71188 N = 71.19 kN

Answer

Pcr = 71.19 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 11.05 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 = 0.5·5000 = 2500 mm
KL/r = 2500/10 = 250

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·70000/250² = 11.05 MPa

Answer

σcr = 11.05 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.3

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.

Critical damping

cc = 2·√(k·m) = 2·√(50000·500) = 10000 N·s/m

Damping ratio

ζ = c/cc = 3000/10000 = 0.3

Answer

ζ = 0.3

ζ < 1, so the system is underdamped and oscillates as it decays.

12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 7.5 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 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 + 1/20 → keq = 12·20/(12 + 20) = 7.5 kN/m

Answer

keq = 7.5 kN/m

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