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​ = 25, m = 4 mm

A 1.1 kW motor running at 1450 rpm drives a pinion with 25 teeth and a module of 4 mm. Find the tangential force Ft on the pinion teeth.

P = 1.1 kWn = 1450 rpmN1 = 25m = 4 mm
Ft = N
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 12B = 50C = 20D = ?

In a compound gear train, gear A (12 teeth) on the input shaft turns at 3000 rpm and drives gear B (50 teeth). Gear C (20 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D on the output shaft. The output must turn at 288 rpm. How many teeth ND must gear D have?

nin = 3000 rpmA = 12B = 50C = 20nout = 288 rpm
ND =
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
do​ = ?T = 2000 N·m

A hollow shaft must carry a torque of 2000 N·m. Its inner diameter is to be 0.6 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 80 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

T = 2000 N·mdi/do = 0.6τallow = 80 MPa
do = mm
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 30 kW at 3000 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 60 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 30 kWN = 3000 rpmτallow = 60 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 100σy​ = 30MPaτxy​ = ?

A point has σₓ = 100 MPa and σᵧ = 30 MPa. How large can the shear stress τxy (magnitude) become before the largest principal stress reaches 155 MPa?

σx = 100 MPaσy = 30 MPaσ1 = 155 MPa
τxy = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 130σy​ = 60τxy​ = −60MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 130 MPa, σᵧ = 60 MPa and τₓᵧ = −60 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 60° counter-clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = 130 MPaσy = 60 MPaτxy = −60 MPaθ = 60°
σθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
50 kNØ30100 GPaØ100/50800 mmδ = ?

A steel rod (diameter 30 mm, E = 200 GPa) sits inside a tube made of brass (outer diameter 100 mm, inner diameter 50 mm, E = 100 GPa). Both are 800 mm long and are compressed together between rigid plates by 50 kN. Find the shortening δ.

P = 50 kNrod: Ø30 mm, E = 200 GPatube: Ø100/Ø50 mm, E = 100 GPaL = 800 mm
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
50 kN12300 mm300 mmØ25Ø50σ2​ = ?

A steel segment (diameter 25 mm, length 300 mm, E = 200 GPa) and a segment made of bronze (diameter 50 mm, length 300 mm, E = 110 GPa) are joined end to end and fixed between two rigid walls. An axial load of 50 kN acts at the joint, towards segment 2. Find the magnitude of the stress σ2 in segment 2.

segment 1: steel, Ø25 mm, 300 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: bronze, Ø50 mm, 300 mm, E = 110 GPaP = 50 kN
σ2 = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 5 md = 80 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 = 5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 80 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 1.5 md = 60 mmcross-section

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

L = 1.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 60 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx50 mm1 cycle44.1 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 50 mm is followed one cycle later by a peak of 44.1 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 50 mmx1 = 44.1 mmn = 1
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 25k2​ = 60m = 50 kg

A 50 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 25 kN/m and k₂ = 60 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 = 50 kgk1 = 25 kN/mk2 = 60 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: Ft = 144.9 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 = 1100/151.8 = 7.244 N·m

Pitch diameter

d = m·N = 4·25 = 100 mm

Tangential force

Ft = 2T/d = 2·7.244/0.1 = 144.9 N

Answer

Ft = 144.9 N
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: ND = 50

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.

Intermediate shaft speed

nB = nC = 3000·12/50 = 720 rpm

Teeth on gear D

ND = C·nC/nout = 20·720/288 = 50

Answer

ND = 50
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 52.69 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.

Outer diameter from the allowable stress

T = 2000 N·m = 2 × 10⁶ N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.6⁴ = 0.8704
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·2 × 10⁶/(π·80·0.8704)) = 52.69 mm
di = 0.6·52.69 = 31.61 mm

Answer

do = 52.69 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 50.31 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 20.09 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·3000/60 = 314.2 rad/s
T = P/ω = 30000/314.2 = 95.49 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·95493/(π·60)) = 20.09 mm

Answer

d = 20.09 mm

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

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τxy = 82.92 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.

Required radius

C = (100 + 30)/2 = 65 MPa
R = σ1 − C = 155 − 65 = 90 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Shear stress

τxy = √(R² − ((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)²) = √(90² − 35²) = 82.92 MPa

Answer

τxy = 82.92 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = 25.54 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 = 95 + 35·−0.5 + −60·0.866 = 25.54 MPa

Answer

σθ = 25.54 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 0.05476 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·30²/4 = 706.9 mm²
At = π(100² − 50²)/4 = 5890 mm²

Combined axial stiffness

ΣEA = 200·10³·706.9 + 100·10³·5890 = 7.304 × 10⁸ N

Shortening

δ = 50000·800/7.304 × 10⁸ = 0.05476 mm

Answer

δ = 0.05476 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σ2 = 17.51 MPa

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.

Stiffnesses

k₁ = 200000·490.9/300 = 327249 N/mm
k₂ = 110000·1963/300 = 719948 N/mm

Share of segment 2

F2 = 50000·719948/1.047 × 10⁶ = 34375 N

Stress

σ2 = 34375/1963 = 17.51 MPa (compression)

Answer

σ2 = 17.51 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 113.4 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·80⁴/64 = 2.011 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.7·5000 = 3500 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·2.011 × 10⁶/3500² = 113394 N = 113.4 kN

Answer

Pcr = 113.4 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 197.4 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 = 1·1500 = 1500 mm
KL/r = 1500/15 = 100

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/100² = 197.4 MPa

Answer

σcr = 197.4 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.01998

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 = (1/1)·ln(50/44.1) = 0.1256

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.1256/√(39.48 + 0.01577) = 0.01998

Answer

ζ = 0.01998
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 6.562 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 = 25 + 60 = 85 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(85000/50) = 41.23 rad/s
fn = 41.23/(2π) = 6.562 Hz

Answer

fn = 6.562 Hz

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