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 81 mm apart. They must be connected by a pair of spur gears with a module of 1.5 mm and a speed reduction of 3.5 : 1. How many teeth N1 must the pinion have?

a = 81 mmm = 1.5 mmi = 3.5
N1 =
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 32B = 50C = 48D = 60

A 15 kW motor at 1450 rpm drives gear A (32 teeth), which meshes with gear B (50 teeth). Gear C (48 teeth) on the same shaft as B drives gear D (60 teeth) on the output shaft. Each gear mesh has an efficiency of 97%. Find the output torque Tout.

P = 15 kWnin = 1450 rpmA = 32B = 50C = 48D = 60ηmesh = 97%
Tout = N·m
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 250 N·md = 20 mmL = 0.8 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 = 250 N·md = 20 mmL = 0.8 mG = 80 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Tdo​ = 40 mm, di​ = 28 mm

A hollow shaft transmits 20 kW at 1500 rpm. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

P = 20 kWN = 1500 rpmdo = 40 mmdi = 28 mm
τmax = MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = −80σy​ = −70τxy​ = −40MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = −80 MPa, σᵧ = −70 MPa and τₓᵧ = −40 MPa (tension positive). Find the maximum in-plane shear stress τmax.

σx = −80 MPaσy = −70 MPaτxy = −40 MPa
τmax = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 10σy​ = 80τxy​ = −20MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 10 MPa, σᵧ = 80 MPa and τₓᵧ = −20 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 35° counter-clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = 10 MPaσy = 80 MPaτxy = −20 MPaθ = 35°
σθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
P = ?12400 mm500 mmØ40Ø50δ = 0.4 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 40 mm, length 400 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of aluminium (diameter 50 mm, length 500 mm, E = 70 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, Ø40 mm, 400 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: aluminium, Ø50 mm, 500 mm, E = 70 GPaδ = 0.4 mm
P = kN
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 40 mmSteel2 mØ 20 mmAluminium0.5 mP = 105 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 = 105 kNsegment 1: Ø40 mm, 2 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)segment 2: Ø20 mm, 0.5 m, aluminium (E = 70 GPa)
σmax = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 1 md = 20 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of steel is pinned at both ends. Using Euler’s formula, find its critical buckling load Pcr.

L = 1 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 20 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 6 md = 50 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of steel is fixed at the base and pinned at the top. Find its slenderness and the critical buckling stress σcr from Euler’s formula.

L = 6 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 50 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 150 kN/mζ = 0.7m = 5 kg

A 5 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 150 kN/m has a viscous damper giving a damping ratio of 0.7. Find the damped natural frequency fd of its free vibration in Hz.

m = 5 kgk = 150 kN/mζ = 0.7
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 15k2​ = 20m = 25 kg

A 25 kg mass hangs from two springs connected end to end (in series): the upper spring has k₁ = 15 kN/m and the lower one k₂ = 20 kN/m. Ignore damping and the masses of the springs. Find the natural frequency fn of vertical vibration in Hz.

m = 25 kgk1 = 15 kN/mk2 = 20 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: N1 = 24

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 = 2·81/1.5 = 108

Split by the ratio

N1 = 108/(1 + 3.5) = 24

Answer

N1 = 24
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: Tout = 181.5 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.

Output speed

nout = 1450·(32/50)·(48/60) = 742.4 rpm
ωout = 2π·742.4/60 = 77.74 rad/s

Output power and torque

Pout = 15000·0.97² = 14114 W
Tout = Pout/ωout = 14114/77.74 = 181.5 N·m

Answer

Tout = 181.5 N·m
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 9.119 °

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·20⁴/32 = 15708 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 250·1000·800/(80000·15708) = 0.1592 rad
φ = 0.1592·180/π = 9.119°

Answer

φ = 9.119°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 13.33 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·1500/60 = 157.1 rad/s
T = P/ω = 20000/157.1 = 127.3 N·m

Polar second moment of area

J = π(40⁴ − 28⁴)/32 = 190984 mm⁴

Maximum shear stress

τmax = T·(do/2)/J = 127324·20/190984 = 13.33 MPa

Answer

τmax = 13.33 MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τmax = 40.31 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 = √(((−80 − −70)/2)² + −40²) = 40.31 MPa

Answer

τmax = 40.31 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = 14.24 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 = 45 + −35·0.342 + −20·0.9397 = 14.24 MPa

Answer

σθ = 14.24 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 76.49 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 = 1257 mm², A₂ = 1963 mm²

Flexibilities

L₁/(E₁A₁) = 400/(200000·1257) = 1.592 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 500/(70000·1963) = 3.638 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

Load

P = 0.4/5.229 × 10⁻⁶ = 76491 N = 76.49 kN

Answer

P = 76.49 kN
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 334.2 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·20²/4 = 314.2 mm²
σ1 = 83.56 MPa
σ2 = 334.2 MPa

Largest stress

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

σmax = 334.2 MPa

Answer

σmax = 334.2 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 15.5 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 = 1·1000 = 1000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·7854/1000² = 15503 N = 15.5 kN

Answer

Pcr = 15.5 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 17.48 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·50⁴/64 = 306796 mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 1963 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(306796/1963) = 12.5 mm
KL = 0.7·6000 = 4200 mm
KL/r = 4200/12.5 = 336

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/336² = 17.48 MPa

Answer

σcr = 17.48 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 19.69 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 = √(150000/5) = 173.2 rad/s
fn = 173.2/(2π) = 27.57 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 27.57·√(1 − 0.7²) = 19.69 Hz

Answer

fd = 19.69 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 2.947 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 in series share the same force and add their deflections, so they combine as reciprocals: 1/k = 1/k1 + 1/k2.

1/keq = 1/15 + 1/20 → keq = 15·20/(15 + 20) = 8.571 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(8571/25) = 18.52 rad/s
fn = 18.52/(2π) = 2.947 Hz

Answer

fn = 2.947 Hz

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