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
Nw​ = 50z = 2, 1450 rpm

A worm with 2 start(s) turns at 1450 rpm and drives a worm wheel with 50 teeth. Find the speed nw of the wheel.

z = 2Nw = 50n = 1450 rpm
nw = rpm
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 40B = 72C = 12D = 40

In a compound gear train, gear A (40 teeth) on the input shaft turning at 1500 rpm drives gear B (72 teeth). Gear C (12 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 = 40B = 72C = 12D = 40
nout = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d = 20 mmT = 30 N·m250 mmφ = 1.05°

In a torsion test, a solid specimen of diameter 20 mm is twisted by a torque of 30 N·m. The two ends of a gauge length of 250 mm rotate 1.05° relative to each other (the material is still elastic). Find the shear modulus G of the material.

T = 30 N·md = 20 mmL = 250 mmφ = 1.05°
G = GPa
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
do​ = ?20 kW, 750 rpm

A hollow shaft must transmit 20 kW at 750 rpm. Its inner diameter is to be 0.7 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 50 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

P = 20 kWN = 750 rpmdi/do = 0.7τallow = 50 MPa
do = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 60σy​ = −70τxy​ = 50MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 60 MPa, σᵧ = −70 MPa and τₓᵧ = 50 MPa (tension positive). Find the angle θp from the x-axis to the direction of the largest principal stress, between −90° and 90°.

σx = 60 MPaσy = −70 MPaτxy = 50 MPa
θp = °
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​τxy​top surface of the shaft

A solid shaft of diameter 60 mm carries a bending moment of 500 N·m together with a torque of 500 N·m. At the top surface, where the bending stress is tensile and largest, find the largest principal stress σ1.

d = 60 mmM = 500 N·mT = 500 N·m
σ1 = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 20 mmAluminium2.5 mP = 55 kN

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

P = 55 kNd = 20 mmL = 2.5 mE = 70 GPa
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
30 kN12400 mm400 mmØ25Ø30σ2​ = ?

A steel segment (diameter 25 mm, length 400 mm, E = 200 GPa) and a segment made of aluminium (diameter 30 mm, length 400 mm, E = 70 GPa) are joined end to end and fixed between two rigid walls. An axial load of 30 kN acts at the joint, towards segment 2. Find the magnitude of the stress σ2 in segment 2.

segment 1: steel, Ø25 mm, 400 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: aluminium, Ø30 mm, 400 mm, E = 70 GPaP = 30 kN
σ2 = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 3 md = 50 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of aluminium is fixed at the base and free at the top. Using Euler’s formula, find its critical buckling load Pcr.

L = 3 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 50 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 2 md = 40 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 = 2 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 40 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 150 kN/mc = 1550 N·s/mm = 25 kg

A 25 kg mass is supported by a spring with a stiffness of 150 kN/m and a viscous damper with a damping coefficient of 1550 N·s/m. Find the damping ratio ζ.

m = 25 kgk = 150 kN/mc = 1550 N·s/m
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 10k2​ = 10m = 5 kg

A 5 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 10 kN/m and k₂ = 10 kN/m. The mass stays level. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 5 kgk1 = 10 kN/mk2 = 10 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nw = 58 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.

Wheel speed

nw = n·z/Nw = 1450·2/50 = 58 rpm

Answer

nw = 58 rpm
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nout = 250 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 = 1500·40/72 = 833.3 rpm = nC

Second stage

nout = 833.3·12/40 = 250 rpm

Answer

nout = 250 rpm

total ratio = 6 : 1

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: G = 26.05 GPa

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 moment and angle

J = π·20⁴/32 = 15708 mm⁴
φ = 1.05·π/180 = 0.01833 rad

Shear modulus

T = 30 N·m = 30000 N·mm
G = TL/(Jφ) = 30000·250/(15708·0.01833) = 26054 MPa
G = 26.05 GPa

Answer

G = 26.05 GPa

Compare: steel ≈ 80 GPa, brass ≈ 39 GPa, aluminium ≈ 26 GPa.

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 32.44 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·750/60 = 78.54 rad/s
T = P/ω = 20000/78.54 = 254.6 N·m

Outer diameter from the allowable stress

T = 254.6 N·m = 254648 N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.7⁴ = 0.7599
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·254648/(π·50·0.7599)) = 32.44 mm
di = 0.7·32.44 = 22.71 mm

Answer

do = 32.44 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 29.6 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: θp = 18.78 °

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.

στxyCσ1​σ2​

Angle on the circle

Point x sits at an angle 2θp from the σ-axis on Mohr’s circle; the quadrant follows from the signs of σₓ − σᵧ and τₓᵧ.

2θp = atan2(2·50, 60 − −70) = 37.57°

Angle on the element

θp = 18.78°

Answer

θp = 18.78°

Positive angles are counter-clockwise.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σ1 = 28.46 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.

Stresses at the surface

σ = 32M/(πd³) = 32·500000/(π·60³) = 23.58 MPa
τ = 16T/(πd³) = 16·500000/(π·60³) = 11.79 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Mohr’s circle

C = σ/2 = 11.79 MPa
R = √(11.79² + 11.79²) = 16.67 MPa
σ1 = C + R = 28.46 MPa
σ2 = C − R = −4.883 MPa

Answer

σ1 = 28.46 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 6.253 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·20²/4 = 314.2 mm²
σ = P/A = 55·1000/314.2 = 175.1 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for aluminium = 70 GPa = 70000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 175.1/70000 = 0.002501 = 2501 µε

Elongation

δ = ε·L = 0.002501·2500 mm = 6.253 mm

Answer

δ = 6.253 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σ2 = 14.22 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 = 200000·490.9/400 = 245437 N/mm
k₂ = 70000·706.9/400 = 123700 N/mm

Share of segment 2

F2 = 30000·123700/369137 = 10053 N

Stress

σ2 = 10053/706.9 = 14.22 MPa (compression)

Answer

σ2 = 14.22 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 5.888 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·50⁴/64 = 306796 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 2·3000 = 6000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·306796/6000² = 5888 N = 5.888 kN

Answer

Pcr = 5.888 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 49.35 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·40⁴/64 = 125664 mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 1257 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(125664/1257) = 10 mm
KL = 1·2000 = 2000 mm
KL/r = 2000/10 = 200

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/200² = 49.35 MPa

Answer

σcr = 49.35 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.4002

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·√(150000·25) = 3873 N·s/m

Damping ratio

ζ = c/cc = 1550/3873 = 0.4002

Answer

ζ = 0.4002

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

12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 20 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 = 10 + 10 = 20 kN/m

Answer

keq = 20 kN/m

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