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​ = 120 mmd2​ = 450 mm1500 rpmT1​ = 1500 NT2​ = 750 NP = ?

A belt runs on a 120 mm driving pulley at 1500 rpm. The tension is 1500 N on the tight side and 750 N on the slack side. Find the power P transmitted, in kW.

d1 = 120 mmn1 = 1500 rpmT1 = 1500 NT2 = 750 N
P = kW
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 20B = 45C = 45D = 50

In a compound gear train, gear A (20 teeth) on the input shaft turning at 960 rpm drives gear B (45 teeth). Gear C (45 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 = 960 rpmA = 20B = 45C = 45D = 50
nout = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d1​ = 60 mmd2​ = 40 mmT = 2000 N·mABC1 m1.5 m

A stepped solid steel shaft is fixed at A. Segment AB has diameter 60 mm and length 1 m; segment BC has diameter 40 mm and length 1.5 m. A torque of 2000 N·m acts at the free end C. Find the angle of twist φC of end C, in degrees.

T = 2000 N·md1 = 60 mm, L1 = 1 md2 = 40 mm, L2 = 1.5 mG = 80 GPa
φC = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Tdo​ = 75 mm, di​ = 45 mm

A hollow shaft transmits 20 kW at 300 rpm. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

P = 20 kWN = 300 rpmdo = 75 mmdi = 45 mm
τmax = MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 0σy​ = −30τxy​ = −60MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 0 MPa, σᵧ = −30 MPa and τₓᵧ = −60 MPa (tension positive). Find the maximum in-plane shear stress τmax.

σx = 0 MPaσy = −30 MPaτxy = −60 MPa
τmax = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 70σy​ = 120τxy​ = 30MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 70 MPa, σᵧ = 120 MPa and τₓᵧ = 30 MPa (tension positive). Find the shear stress τθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 30° clockwise from the x-axis (positive in the same sense as τₓᵧ).

σx = 70 MPaσy = 120 MPaτxy = 30 MPaθ = -30°
τθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 12 mmCopper3 mP = 70 kN

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

P = 70 kNd = 12 mmL = 3 mE = 117 GPa
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 40 mmBrass1.5 mØ 12 mmCopper1.5 mP = 60 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 = 60 kNsegment 1: Ø40 mm, 1.5 m, brass (E = 100 GPa)segment 2: Ø12 mm, 1.5 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
σmax = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 5 md = 30 mmcross-section

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

L = 5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 30 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 20 kNL = 1.5 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of steel is pinned at both ends. It must carry 20 kN with a factor of safety of 3 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 20 kNn = 3L = 1.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 1 kN/mc = 60 N·s/mm = 5 kg

A 5 kg mass is supported by a spring with a stiffness of 1 kN/m and a viscous damper with a damping coefficient of 60 N·s/m. Find the damping ratio ζ.

m = 5 kgk = 1 kN/mc = 60 N·s/m
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 60k2​ = 60m = 20 kg

A 20 kg mass hangs from two springs connected end to end (in series): the upper spring has k₁ = 60 kN/m and the lower one k₂ = 60 kN/m. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 20 kgk1 = 60 kN/mk2 = 60 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: P = 7.069 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 = 9.425 m/s

Power

P = (1500 − 750)·9.425 = 7069 W = 7.069 kW

Answer

P = 7.069 kW
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nout = 384 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 = 960·20/45 = 426.7 rpm = nC

Second stage

nout = 426.7·45/50 = 384 rpm

Answer

nout = 384 rpm

total ratio = 2.5 : 1

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φC = 9.675 °

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 moments

J1 = π·60⁴/32 = 1.272 × 10⁶ mm⁴
J2 = π·40⁴/32 = 251327 mm⁴

Twist of each segment

T = 2000 N·m = 2 × 10⁶ N·mm
G = 80 GPa = 80000 MPa
φAB = 2 × 10⁶·1000/(80000·1.272 × 10⁶) = 0.01965 rad
φBC = 2 × 10⁶·1500/(80000·251327) = 0.1492 rad

Total twist

φC = 0.01965 + 0.1492 = 0.1689 rad = 9.675°

Answer

φC = 9.675°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 8.83 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·300/60 = 31.42 rad/s
T = P/ω = 20000/31.42 = 636.6 N·m

Polar second moment of area

J = π(75⁴ − 45⁴)/32 = 2.704 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Maximum shear stress

τmax = T·(do/2)/J = 636620·37.5/2.704 × 10⁶ = 8.83 MPa

Answer

τmax = 8.83 MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τmax = 61.85 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 = √(((0 − −30)/2)² + −60²) = 61.85 MPa

Answer

τmax = 61.85 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τθ = −6.651 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 = −−25·−0.866 + 30·0.5 = −6.651 MPa

Answer

τθ = −6.651 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 15.87 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 = 70·1000/113.1 = 618.9 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for copper = 117 GPa = 117000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 618.9/117000 = 0.00529 = 5290 µε

Elongation

δ = ε·L = 0.00529·3000 mm = 15.87 mm

Answer

δ = 15.87 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 530.5 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·12²/4 = 113.1 mm²
σ1 = 47.75 MPa
σ2 = 530.5 MPa

Largest stress

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

σmax = 530.5 MPa

Answer

σmax = 530.5 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 4.395 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 = 0.5·5000 = 2500 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·39761/2500² = 4395 N = 4.395 kN

Answer

Pcr = 4.395 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 34.36 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 = 3·20000 = 60000 N
KL = 1·1500 = 1500 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·60000·1500²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 34.36 mm

Answer

d = 34.36 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 174.6, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.4243

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·√(1000·5) = 141.4 N·s/m

Damping ratio

ζ = c/cc = 60/141.4 = 0.4243

Answer

ζ = 0.4243

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

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

1/keq = 1/60 + 1/60 → keq = 60·60/(60 + 60) = 30 kN/m

Answer

keq = 30 kN/m

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