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​ = 45N2​ = 50

A 0.75 kW motor running at 1450 rpm drives a pinion with 45 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 50 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 95%. Find the torque T1 on the motor shaft.

P = 0.75 kWn1 = 1450 rpmN1 = 45N2 = 50η = 95%
T1 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 24B = 40C = 18D = 40

In a compound gear train, gear A (24 teeth) on the input shaft turning at 1500 rpm drives gear B (40 teeth). Gear C (18 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D (40 teeth) on the output shaft. Find the output speed nout.

nin = 1500 rpmA = 24B = 40C = 18D = 40
nout = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 750 N·md = 30 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 = 750 N·md = 30 mmL = 3 mG = 80 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Tdo​ = 50 mm, di​ = 40 mm

A hollow shaft transmits 50 kW at 3000 rpm. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

P = 50 kWN = 3000 rpmdo = 50 mmdi = 40 mm
τmax = MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 160σy​ = 80τxy​ = 10MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 160 MPa, σᵧ = 80 MPa and τₓᵧ = 10 MPa, with σz = 0. Find the absolute maximum shear stress τabs at the point (considering all planes in three dimensions).

σx = 160 MPaσy = 80 MPaτxy = 10 MPaσz = 0
τabs = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 30σy​ = −50τxy​ = 30MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 30 MPa, σᵧ = −50 MPa and τₓᵧ = 30 MPa (tension positive). Find the shear stress τθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 25° counter-clockwise from the x-axis (positive in the same sense as τₓᵧ).

σx = 30 MPaσy = −50 MPaτxy = 30 MPaθ = 25°
τθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 12 mmAluminium3 mP = 95 kN

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

P = 95 kNd = 12 mmL = 3 mE = 70 GPa
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
50 kN12600 mm500 mmØ20Ø60σ2​ = ?

A steel segment (diameter 20 mm, length 600 mm, E = 200 GPa) and a segment made of aluminium (diameter 60 mm, length 500 mm, E = 70 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, Ø20 mm, 600 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: aluminium, Ø60 mm, 500 mm, E = 70 GPaP = 50 kN
σ2 = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 5 md = 25 mmcross-section

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

L = 5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 25 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 65 kNL = 6 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of steel is fixed at both ends. It must carry 65 kN with a factor of safety of 3 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 65 kNn = 3L = 6 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx40 mm2 cycles11.3 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 40 mm is followed 2 cycles later by a peak of 11.3 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 40 mmx2 = 11.3 mmn = 2
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 40k2​ = 50m = 10 kg

A 10 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 40 kN/m and k₂ = 50 kN/m. The mass stays level. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 10 kgk1 = 40 kN/mk2 = 50 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T1 = 4.939 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.

Motor torque

ω₁ = 2π·1450/60 = 151.8 rad/s
T1 = P/ω₁ = 750/151.8 = 4.939 N·m

Answer

T1 = 4.939 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nout = 405 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 = 1500·24/40 = 900 rpm = nC

Second stage

nout = 900·18/40 = 405 rpm

Answer

nout = 405 rpm

total ratio = 3.704 : 1

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 20.26 °

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·30⁴/32 = 79522 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 750·1000·3000/(80000·79522) = 0.3537 rad
φ = 0.3537·180/π = 20.26°

Answer

φ = 20.26°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 10.98 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·3000/60 = 314.2 rad/s
T = P/ω = 50000/314.2 = 159.2 N·m

Polar second moment of area

J = π(50⁴ − 40⁴)/32 = 362265 mm⁴

Maximum shear stress

τmax = T·(do/2)/J = 159155·25/362265 = 10.98 MPa

Answer

τmax = 10.98 MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τabs = 80.62 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. In three dimensions the absolute maximum shear stress is (σmax − σmin)/2 over all three principal stresses; in plane stress the third one is zero.

σxyCσ1​σ2​

In-plane principal stresses

C = 120 MPa, R = √(40² + 10²) = 41.23 MPa
σ1 = 161.2 MPa, σ2 = 78.77 MPa, σz = 0

Largest of the three circles

τ = max(|σ1 − σ2|, |σ1|, |σ2|)/2 = max(82.46, 161.2, 78.77)/2 = 80.62 MPa

Answer

τabs = 80.62 MPa

Here the out-of-plane circle governs: the absolute maximum is larger than the in-plane maximum R.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τθ = −11.36 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

τθ = −40·0.766 + 30·0.6428 = −11.36 MPa

Answer

τθ = −11.36 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 36 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 = 95·1000/113.1 = 840 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for aluminium = 70 GPa = 70000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 840/70000 = 0.012 = 12000 µε

Elongation

δ = ε·L = 0.012·3000 mm = 36 mm

Answer

δ = 36 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σ2 = 13.98 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 = 200000·314.2/600 = 104720 N/mm
k₂ = 70000·2827/500 = 395841 N/mm

Share of segment 2

F2 = 50000·395841/500560 = 39540 N

Stress

σ2 = 39540/2827 = 13.98 MPa (compression)

Answer

σ2 = 13.98 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 6.056 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·25⁴/64 = 19175 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.5·5000 = 2500 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·19175/2500² = 6056 N = 6.056 kN

Answer

Pcr = 6.056 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 65.24 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 = 3·65000 = 195000 N
KL = 0.5·6000 = 3000 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·195000·3000²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 65.24 mm

Answer

d = 65.24 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 183.9, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.1001

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(40/11.3) = 0.632

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.632/√(39.48 + 0.3995) = 0.1001

Answer

ζ = 0.1001
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 90 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 = 40 + 50 = 90 kN/m

Answer

keq = 90 kN/m

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