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 80 mm apart. They must be connected by a pair of spur gears with a module of 2.5 mm and a speed reduction of 3 : 1. How many teeth N2 must the gear have?

a = 80 mmm = 2.5 mmi = 3
N2 =
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 16B = 40C = 30D = 45

In a compound gear train, gear A (16 teeth) on the input shaft turning at 1450 rpm drives gear B (40 teeth). Gear C (30 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 = 1450 rpmA = 16B = 40C = 30D = 45
nout = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 250 N·md = 30 mmL = 3 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 = 250 N·md = 30 mmL = 3 mG = 39 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Tdo​ = 40 mm, di​ = 30 mm

A hollow shaft transmits 10 kW at 1450 rpm. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

P = 10 kWN = 1450 rpmdo = 40 mmdi = 30 mm
τmax = MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 60σy​ = −30τxy​ = 40MPa

A point has σₓ = 60 MPa, σᵧ = −30 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 = −30 MPaτxy = 40 MPa
θs = °
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 80σy​ = −10τxy​ = −40MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 80 MPa, σᵧ = −10 MPa and τₓᵧ = −40 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 60° counter-clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = 80 MPaσy = −10 MPaτxy = −40 MPaθ = 60°
σθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
150 kNØ40100 GPaØ100/60600 mmδ = ?

A steel rod (diameter 40 mm, E = 200 GPa) sits inside a tube made of brass (outer diameter 100 mm, inner diameter 60 mm, E = 100 GPa). Both are 600 mm long and are compressed together between rigid plates by 150 kN. Find the shortening δ.

P = 150 kNrod: Ø40 mm, E = 200 GPatube: Ø100/Ø60 mm, E = 100 GPaL = 600 mm
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 30 mmBrass0.5 mØ 20 mmCopper2 mP = 10 kN

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

P = 10 kNsegment 1: Ø30 mm, 0.5 m, brass (E = 100 GPa)segment 2: Ø20 mm, 2 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
δ = mm
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 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 = 5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 40 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 150 kNL = 2.5 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of aluminium is pinned at both ends. It must carry 150 kN with a factor of safety of 3 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 150 kNn = 3L = 2.5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 40 kN/mζ = 0.3m = 2 kg

A 2 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 40 kN/m has a viscous damper giving a damping ratio of 0.3. Find the damped natural frequency fd of its free vibration in Hz.

m = 2 kgk = 40 kN/mζ = 0.3
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 100k2​ = 40m = 5 kg

A 5 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 100 kN/m and k₂ = 40 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 = 5 kgk1 = 100 kN/mk2 = 40 kN/m
fn = Hz

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 = 2·80/2.5 = 64

Split by the ratio

N1 = 64/(1 + 3) = 16
N2 = 3·16 = 48

Answer

N2 = 48
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nout = 386.7 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 = 1450·16/40 = 580 rpm = nC

Second stage

nout = 580·30/45 = 386.7 rpm

Answer

nout = 386.7 rpm

total ratio = 3.75 : 1

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 13.86 °

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·30⁴/32 = 79522 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 250·1000·3000/(39000·79522) = 0.2418 rad
φ = 0.2418·180/π = 13.86°

Answer

φ = 13.86°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 7.666 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·1450/60 = 151.8 rad/s
T = P/ω = 10000/151.8 = 65.86 N·m

Polar second moment of area

J = π(40⁴ − 30⁴)/32 = 171806 mm⁴

Maximum shear stress

τmax = T·(do/2)/J = 65857·20/171806 = 7.666 MPa

Answer

τmax = 7.666 MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: θs = −24.18 °

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 = 40/60.21 = 0.6644, sin 2θs = −45/60.21 = −0.7474
2θs = atan2(−45, 40) = −48.37°

Angle on the element

θs = −24.18°
check: θs − θp = −24.18 − 20.82 = −45°

Answer

θs = −24.18°

Positive angles are counter-clockwise.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = −22.14 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

σθ = 35 + 45·−0.5 + −40·0.866 = −22.14 MPa

Answer

σθ = −22.14 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 0.1194 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·40²/4 = 1257 mm²
At = π(100² − 60²)/4 = 5027 mm²

Combined axial stiffness

ΣEA = 200·10³·1257 + 100·10³·5027 = 7.54 × 10⁸ N

Shortening

δ = 150000·600/7.54 × 10⁸ = 0.1194 mm

Answer

δ = 0.1194 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 0.6149 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·20²/4 = 314.2 mm²
σ1 = 14.15 MPa
σ2 = 31.83 MPa

Add the segment elongations

δ1 = σ1L1/E1 = 14.15·500/100000 = 0.07074 mm
δ2 = σ2L2/E2 = 31.83·2000/117000 = 0.5441 mm
δ = δ1 + δ2 = 0.6149 mm

Answer

δ = 0.6149 mm
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 20.25 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 = 0.7·5000 = 3500 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·125664/3500² = 20249 N = 20.25 kN

Answer

Pcr = 20.25 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 95.43 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 = 3·150000 = 450000 N
KL = 1·2500 = 2500 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·450000·2500²/(π³·70000))^(1/4) = 95.43 mm

Answer

d = 95.43 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 104.8, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 21.47 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 = √(40000/2) = 141.4 rad/s
fn = 141.4/(2π) = 22.51 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 22.51·√(1 − 0.3²) = 21.47 Hz

Answer

fd = 21.47 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 26.63 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 = 100 + 40 = 140 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(140000/5) = 167.3 rad/s
fn = 167.3/(2π) = 26.63 Hz

Answer

fn = 26.63 Hz

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