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​ = 30, m = 3 mm

A 15 kW motor running at 960 rpm drives a pinion with 30 teeth and a module of 3 mm. Find the tangential force Ft on the pinion teeth.

P = 15 kWn = 960 rpmN1 = 30m = 3 mm
Ft = N
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 40B = 50C = 15D = ?

In a compound gear train, gear A (40 teeth) on the input shaft turns at 2880 rpm and drives gear B (50 teeth). Gear C (15 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D on the output shaft. The output must turn at 720 rpm. How many teeth ND must gear D have?

nin = 2880 rpmA = 40B = 50C = 15nout = 720 rpm
ND =
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 100 N·md = 25 mmL = 0.5 mφ = ?

A solid brass 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 = 100 N·md = 25 mmL = 0.5 mG = 39 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Tdo​ = 50 mm, di​ = 30 mm

A hollow shaft transmits 30 kW at 1800 rpm. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

P = 30 kWN = 1800 rpmdo = 50 mmdi = 30 mm
τmax = MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 110σy​ = 30τxy​ = −30MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 110 MPa, σᵧ = 30 MPa and τₓᵧ = −30 MPa (tension positive). Find the maximum in-plane shear stress τmax.

σx = 110 MPaσy = 30 MPaτxy = −30 MPa
τmax = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 0σy​ = 40τxy​ = 60MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 0 MPa, σᵧ = 40 MPa and τₓᵧ = 60 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 30° clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = 0 MPaσy = 40 MPaτxy = 60 MPaθ = -30°
σθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 25 mmAluminium1.5 mP = 30 kN

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

P = 30 kNd = 25 mmL = 1.5 mE = 70 GPa
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
40 kN12400 mm400 mmØ20Ø40σ2​ = ?

A steel segment (diameter 20 mm, length 400 mm, E = 200 GPa) and a segment made of copper (diameter 40 mm, length 400 mm, E = 120 GPa) are joined end to end and fixed between two rigid walls. An axial load of 40 kN acts at the joint, towards segment 2. Find the magnitude of the stress σ2 in segment 2.

segment 1: steel, Ø20 mm, 400 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: copper, Ø40 mm, 400 mm, E = 120 GPaP = 40 kN
σ2 = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 5 m50 × 60 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 = 5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)b × h = 50 × 60 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 1 md = 25 mmcross-section

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

L = 1 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 25 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 25 kN/mc = 110 N·s/mm = 2 kg

A 2 kg mass is supported by a spring with a stiffness of 25 kN/m and a viscous damper with a damping coefficient of 110 N·s/m. Find the damping ratio ζ.

m = 2 kgk = 25 kN/mc = 110 N·s/m
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 30k2​ = 100m = 25 kg

A 25 kg mass hangs from two springs connected end to end (in series): the upper spring has k₁ = 30 kN/m and the lower one k₂ = 100 kN/m. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 25 kgk1 = 30 kN/mk2 = 100 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: Ft = 3316 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·960/60 = 100.5 rad/s
T = P/ω = 15000/100.5 = 149.2 N·m

Pitch diameter

d = m·N = 3·30 = 90 mm

Tangential force

Ft = 2T/d = 2·149.2/0.09 = 3316 N

Answer

Ft = 3316 N
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: ND = 48

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 = 2880·40/50 = 2304 rpm

Teeth on gear D

ND = C·nC/nout = 15·2304/720 = 48

Answer

ND = 48
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 1.915 °

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·25⁴/32 = 38350 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 100·1000·500/(39000·38350) = 0.03343 rad
φ = 0.03343·180/π = 1.915°

Answer

φ = 1.915°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 7.45 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·1800/60 = 188.5 rad/s
T = P/ω = 30000/188.5 = 159.2 N·m

Polar second moment of area

J = π(50⁴ − 30⁴)/32 = 534071 mm⁴

Maximum shear stress

τmax = T·(do/2)/J = 159155·25/534071 = 7.45 MPa

Answer

τmax = 7.45 MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τmax = 50 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 = √(((110 − 30)/2)² + −30²) = 50 MPa

Answer

τmax = 50 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = −41.96 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 = 20 + −20·0.5 + 60·−0.866 = −41.96 MPa

Answer

σθ = −41.96 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 1.31 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·25²/4 = 490.9 mm²
σ = P/A = 30·1000/490.9 = 61.12 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for aluminium = 70 GPa = 70000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 61.12/70000 = 0.0008731 = 873.1 µε

Elongation

δ = ε·L = 0.0008731·1500 mm = 1.31 mm

Answer

δ = 1.31 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σ2 = 22.47 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 = 200000·314.2/400 = 157080 N/mm
k₂ = 120000·1257/400 = 376991 N/mm

Share of segment 2

F2 = 40000·376991/534071 = 28235 N

Stress

σ2 = 28235/1257 = 22.47 MPa (compression)

Answer

σ2 = 22.47 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 100.7 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 rectangle buckles about its weak axis, using the smaller dimension cubed.

Imin = h·b³/12 = 60·50³/12 = 625000 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.7·5000 = 3500 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·625000/3500² = 100710 N = 100.7 kN

Answer

Pcr = 100.7 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 26.99 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·25⁴/64 = 19175 mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 490.9 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(19175/490.9) = 6.25 mm
KL = 1·1000 = 1000 mm
KL/r = 1000/6.25 = 160

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·70000/160² = 26.99 MPa

Answer

σcr = 26.99 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.246

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·√(25000·2) = 447.2 N·s/m

Damping ratio

ζ = c/cc = 110/447.2 = 0.246

Answer

ζ = 0.246

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

12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 23.08 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 = 1/30 + 1/100 → keq = 30·100/(30 + 100) = 23.08 kN/m

Answer

keq = 23.08 kN/m

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