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​ = 125 mmd2​ = 250 mm1450 rpmT1​ = 800 NT2​ = 200 NP = ?

A belt runs on a 125 mm driving pulley at 1450 rpm. The tension is 800 N on the tight side and 200 N on the slack side. Find the power P transmitted, in kW.

d1 = 125 mmn1 = 1450 rpmT1 = 800 NT2 = 200 N
P = kW
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 12B = 36C = 16D = 72

In a compound gear train, gear A (12 teeth) on the input shaft turning at 1440 rpm drives gear B (36 teeth). Gear C (16 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D (72 teeth) on the output shaft. Find the output speed nout.

nin = 1440 rpmA = 12B = 36C = 16D = 72
nout = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 1000 N·md = 40 mmL = 3 mφ = ?

A solid steel 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 = 40 mmL = 3 mG = 80 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
d = ?10 kW, 1500 rpm

A solid brass shaft transmits 10 kW at 1500 rpm. The shear stress must not exceed 40 MPa and the twist must not exceed 0.5° per m of length. Find the smallest diameter d that satisfies both limits.

P = 10 kWN = 1500 rpmτallow = 40 MPaθallow = 0.5°/mG = 39 GPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 30σy​ = −50τxy​ = 40MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 30 MPa, σᵧ = −50 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 = 30 MPaσy = −50 MPaτxy = 40 MPa
θp = °
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = −80σy​ = 0τxy​ = 20MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = −80 MPa, σᵧ = 0 MPa and τₓᵧ = 20 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 50° counter-clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = −80 MPaσy = 0 MPaτxy = 20 MPaθ = 50°
σθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 12 mmCopper2 mP = 30 kN

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

P = 30 kNd = 12 mmL = 2 mE = 117 GPa
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 40 mmAluminium0.5 mØ 16 mmCopper1.5 mP = 115 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 = 115 kNsegment 1: Ø40 mm, 0.5 m, aluminium (E = 70 GPa)segment 2: Ø16 mm, 1.5 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
σmax = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 2.5 md = 20 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 = 20 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 4 md = 60 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of steel is fixed at the base and free at the top. 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
k = 8 kN/mζ = 0.3m = 25 kg

A 25 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 8 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 = 25 kgk = 8 kN/mζ = 0.3
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 15k2​ = 100m = 10 kg

A 10 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 15 kN/m and k₂ = 100 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 = 10 kgk1 = 15 kN/mk2 = 100 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: P = 5.694 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 = 9.49 m/s

Power

P = (800 − 200)·9.49 = 5694 W = 5.694 kW

Answer

P = 5.694 kW
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nout = 106.7 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 = 1440·12/36 = 480 rpm = nC

Second stage

nout = 480·16/72 = 106.7 rpm

Answer

nout = 106.7 rpm

total ratio = 13.5 : 1

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 8.549 °

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·40⁴/32 = 251327 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 1000·1000·3000/(80000·251327) = 0.1492 rad
φ = 0.1492·180/π = 8.549°

Answer

φ = 8.549°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 37.15 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·1500/60 = 157.1 rad/s
T = P/ω = 10000/157.1 = 63.66 N·m

Diameter for strength

T = 63.66 N·m = 63662 N·mm
dτ = ∛(16·63662/(π·40)) = 20.09 mm

Diameter for stiffness

θ = 0.5·π/180/1000 = 8.727 × 10⁻⁶ rad/mm
G = 39 GPa = 39000 MPa
dφ = (32·63662/(π·39000·8.727 × 10⁻⁶))1/4 = 37.15 mm

Governing diameter

Both limits must hold, so the larger diameter governs.

d = max(20.09, 37.15) = 37.15 mm

Answer

d = 37.15 mm

Here stiffness governs.

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: θp = 22.5 °

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, 30 − −50) = 45°

Angle on the element

θp = 22.5°

Answer

θp = 22.5°

Positive angles are counter-clockwise.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = −13.36 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 = −40 + −40·−0.1736 + 20·0.9848 = −13.36 MPa

Answer

σθ = −13.36 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 4.534 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·12²/4 = 113.1 mm²
σ = P/A = 30·1000/113.1 = 265.3 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for copper = 117 GPa = 117000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 265.3/117000 = 0.002267 = 2267 µε

Elongation

δ = ε·L = 0.002267·2000 mm = 4.534 mm

Answer

δ = 4.534 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 572 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·40²/4 = 1257 mm², A2 = π·16²/4 = 201.1 mm²
σ1 = 91.51 MPa
σ2 = 572 MPa

Largest stress

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

σmax = 572 MPa

Answer

σmax = 572 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 5.062 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·20⁴/64 = 7854 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.7·2500 = 1750 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·7854/1750² = 5062 N = 5.062 kN

Answer

Pcr = 5.062 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 6.94 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 = 2·4000 = 8000 mm
KL/r = 8000/15 = 533.3

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/533.3² = 6.94 MPa

Answer

σcr = 6.94 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 2.716 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 = √(8000/25) = 17.89 rad/s
fn = 17.89/(2π) = 2.847 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 2.847·√(1 − 0.3²) = 2.716 Hz

Answer

fd = 2.716 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 17.07 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 = 15 + 100 = 115 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(115000/10) = 107.2 rad/s
fn = 107.2/(2π) = 17.07 Hz

Answer

fn = 17.07 Hz

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