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​ = 24, m = 2.5 mm

A 1.5 kW motor running at 1450 rpm drives a pinion with 24 teeth and a module of 2.5 mm. Find the tangential force Ft on the pinion teeth.

P = 1.5 kWn = 1450 rpmN1 = 24m = 2.5 mm
Ft = N
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 48B = 60C = 30D = 50

In a compound gear train, gear A (48 teeth) on the input shaft turning at 1500 rpm drives gear B (60 teeth). Gear C (30 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D (50 teeth) on the output shaft. Find the output speed nout.

nin = 1500 rpmA = 48B = 60C = 30D = 50
nout = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d = ?T = 2000 N·mL = 3 m

A solid steel shaft 3 m long carries a torque of 2000 N·m. The angle of twist between its ends must not exceed 1°. Find the smallest diameter d that meets this limit.

T = 2000 N·mL = 3 mG = 80 GPaφallow = 1°
d = mm
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
d = ?5 kW, 300 rpm

A solid brass shaft transmits 5 kW at 300 rpm. The shear stress must not exceed 40 MPa and the twist must not exceed 0.75° per m of length. Find the smallest diameter d that satisfies both limits.

P = 5 kWN = 300 rpmτallow = 40 MPaθallow = 0.75°/mG = 39 GPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 50σy​ = 20τxy​ = 40MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 50 MPa, σᵧ = 20 MPa and τₓᵧ = 40 MPa (tension positive). Find the maximum in-plane shear stress τmax.

σx = 50 MPaσy = 20 MPaτxy = 40 MPa
τmax = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 160σy​ = 10τxy​ = −50MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 160 MPa, σᵧ = 10 MPa and τₓᵧ = −50 MPa (tension positive). Find the shear stress τθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 60° counter-clockwise from the x-axis (positive in the same sense as τₓᵧ).

σx = 160 MPaσy = 10 MPaτxy = −50 MPaθ = 60°
τθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
P = ?12600 mm300 mmØ20Ø50δ = 0.5 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 20 mm, length 600 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of brass (diameter 50 mm, length 300 mm, E = 100 GPa). It is fixed at one end and pulled at the other. Find the axial load P that stretches it by 0.5 mm in total.

segment 1: steel, Ø20 mm, 600 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: brass, Ø50 mm, 300 mm, E = 100 GPaδ = 0.5 mm
P = kN
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 35 mmCopper2 mØ 12 mmAluminium1 mP = 50 kN

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

P = 50 kNsegment 1: Ø35 mm, 2 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)segment 2: Ø12 mm, 1 m, aluminium (E = 70 GPa)
δ = mm
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 6 md = 40 mmcross-section

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

L = 6 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 40 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 75 kNL = 4 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of steel is fixed at the base and pinned at the top. It must carry 75 kN with a factor of safety of 3 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 75 kNn = 3L = 4 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx50 mm2 cycles30.2 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 50 mm is followed 2 cycles later by a peak of 30.2 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 50 mmx2 = 30.2 mmn = 2
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 20k2​ = 10m = 10 kg

A 10 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 20 kN/m and k₂ = 10 kN/m. The mass stays level. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 10 kgk1 = 20 kN/mk2 = 10 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: Ft = 329.3 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·1450/60 = 151.8 rad/s
T = P/ω = 1500/151.8 = 9.879 N·m

Pitch diameter

d = m·N = 2.5·24 = 60 mm

Tangential force

Ft = 2T/d = 2·9.879/0.06 = 329.3 N

Answer

Ft = 329.3 N
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nout = 720 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 = 1500·48/60 = 1200 rpm = nC

Second stage

nout = 1200·30/50 = 720 rpm

Answer

nout = 720 rpm

total ratio = 2.083 : 1

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 81.34 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 = 2000 N·m = 2 × 10⁶ N·mm
L = 3 m = 3000 mm
G = 80 GPa = 80000 MPa
φ = 1·π/180 = 0.01745 rad
J = TL/(Gφ) = 2 × 10⁶·3000/(80000·0.01745) = 4.297 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Diameter

d = (32J/π)1/4 = 81.34 mm

Answer

d = 81.34 mm

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

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 42.21 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·300/60 = 31.42 rad/s
T = P/ω = 5000/31.42 = 159.2 N·m

Diameter for strength

T = 159.2 N·m = 159155 N·mm
dτ = ∛(16·159155/(π·40)) = 27.26 mm

Diameter for stiffness

θ = 0.75·π/180/1000 = 1.309 × 10⁻⁵ rad/mm
G = 39 GPa = 39000 MPa
dφ = (32·159155/(π·39000·1.309 × 10⁻⁵))1/4 = 42.21 mm

Governing diameter

Both limits must hold, so the larger diameter governs.

d = max(27.26, 42.21) = 42.21 mm

Answer

d = 42.21 mm

Here stiffness governs.

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τmax = 42.72 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.

στxyCτmax​

Radius of Mohr’s circle

τmax = R = √(((50 − 20)/2)² + 40²) = 42.72 MPa

Answer

τmax = 42.72 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τθ = −39.95 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 = −75·0.866 + −50·−0.5 = −39.95 MPa

Answer

τθ = −39.95 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 45.14 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) = 600/(200000·314.2) = 9.549 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 300/(100000·1963) = 1.528 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

Load

P = 0.5/1.108 × 10⁻⁵ = 45138 N = 45.14 kN

Answer

P = 45.14 kN
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 7.204 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·35²/4 = 962.1 mm², A2 = π·12²/4 = 113.1 mm²
σ1 = 51.97 MPa
σ2 = 442.1 MPa

Add the segment elongations

δ1 = σ1L1/E1 = 51.97·2000/117000 = 0.8884 mm
δ2 = σ2L2/E2 = 442.1·1000/70000 = 6.316 mm
δ = δ1 + δ2 = 7.204 mm

Answer

δ = 7.204 mm
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 4.922 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 = 0.7·6000 = 4200 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·125664/4200² = 4922 N = 4.922 kN

Answer

Pcr = 4.922 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 65.32 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 = 3·75000 = 225000 N
KL = 0.7·4000 = 2800 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·225000·2800²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 65.32 mm

Answer

d = 65.32 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 171.5, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.04009

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 = (1/2)·ln(50/30.2) = 0.2521

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.2521/√(39.48 + 0.06355) = 0.04009

Answer

ζ = 0.04009
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 30 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 side by side share the deflection and add their forces, so their stiffnesses simply add: k = k1 + k2.

keq = 20 + 10 = 30 kN/m

Answer

keq = 30 kN/m

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