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​ = 60

A 2.2 kW motor running at 1440 rpm drives a pinion with 45 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 60 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 97%. Find the output torque T2 on the gear shaft.

P = 2.2 kWn1 = 1440 rpmN1 = 45N2 = 60η = 97%
T2 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 120 mmd2​ = 315 mm2880 rpmC = 800 mmT1​ = 2000 NT2​P = ?

An open belt connects a 120 mm driving pulley at 2880 rpm to a 315 mm pulley; the centres are 800 mm apart. The coefficient of friction is 0.35 and the tight-side tension may not exceed 2000 N. Find the largest power P the belt can transmit without slipping, in kW (ignore centrifugal effects).

d1 = 120 mmn1 = 2880 rpmd2 = 315 mmC = 800 mmμ = 0.35T1 = 2000 N
P = kW
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 400 N·md = 30 mmL = 1.2 mφ = ?

A solid aluminium 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 = 400 N·md = 30 mmL = 1.2 mG = 26 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 30 kW at 500 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 60 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 30 kWN = 500 rpmτallow = 60 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = −80σy​ = 40τxy​ = 50MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = −80 MPa, σᵧ = 40 MPa and τₓᵧ = 50 MPa, with σz = 0. Find the absolute maximum shear stress τabs at the point (considering all planes in three dimensions).

σx = −80 MPaσy = 40 MPaτxy = 50 MPaσz = 0
τabs = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = −30σy​ = 30τxy​ = 10MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = −30 MPa, σᵧ = 30 MPa and τₓᵧ = 10 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 25° counter-clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = −30 MPaσy = 30 MPaτxy = 10 MPaθ = 25°
σθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
200 kNØ30110 GPaØ120/60500 mmδ = ?

A steel rod (diameter 30 mm, E = 200 GPa) sits inside a tube made of bronze (outer diameter 120 mm, inner diameter 60 mm, E = 110 GPa). Both are 500 mm long and are compressed together between rigid plates by 200 kN. Find the shortening δ.

P = 200 kNrod: Ø30 mm, E = 200 GPatube: Ø120/Ø60 mm, E = 110 GPaL = 500 mm
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 40 mmCopper0.5 mØ 12 mmCopper1.5 mP = 15 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 = 15 kNsegment 1: Ø40 mm, 0.5 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)segment 2: Ø12 mm, 1.5 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
σmax = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 1.5 md = 25 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 = 1.5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 25 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 50 kNL = 4 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of steel is fixed at the base and pinned at the top. It must carry 50 kN with a factor of safety of 2 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 50 kNn = 2L = 4 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx30 mm3 cycles1.7 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 30 mm is followed 3 cycles later by a peak of 1.7 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 30 mmx3 = 1.7 mmn = 3
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 15k2​ = 40m = 25 kg

A 25 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 15 kN/m and k₂ = 40 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 = 25 kgk1 = 15 kN/mk2 = 40 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T2 = 18.87 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·1440/60 = 150.8 rad/s
T1 = P/ω₁ = 2200/150.8 = 14.59 N·m

Output torque

T2 = 14.59·60/45·0.97 = 18.87 N·m

Answer

T2 = 18.87 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: P = 23.06 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.

Angle of wrap

θ = 2.897 rad

Slack-side tension

eμθ = e1.014 = 2.757, T₂ = 2000/2.757 = 725.5 N

Power

P = (2000 − 725.5)·18.1 = 23.06 kW

Answer

P = 23.06 kW
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 13.3 °

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) = 400·1000·1200/(26000·79522) = 0.2322 rad
φ = 0.2322·180/π = 13.3°

Answer

φ = 13.3°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 36.5 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·500/60 = 52.36 rad/s
T = P/ω = 30000/52.36 = 573 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·572958/(π·60)) = 36.5 mm

Answer

d = 36.5 mm

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

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τabs = 78.1 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.

στxyCσ1​σ2​

In-plane principal stresses

C = −20 MPa, R = √((−60)² + 50²) = 78.1 MPa
σ1 = 58.1 MPa, σ2 = −98.1 MPa, σz = 0

Largest of the three circles

τ = max(|σ1 − σ2|, |σ1|, |σ2|)/2 = max(156.2, 58.1, 98.1)/2 = 78.1 MPa

Answer

τabs = 78.1 MPa

Here σ₁ and σ₂ have opposite signs, so the in-plane maximum R is also the absolute maximum.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = −11.62 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.

Transformation equation

σθ = 0 + −30·0.6428 + 10·0.766 = −11.62 MPa

Answer

σθ = −11.62 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 0.09307 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(120² − 60²)/4 = 8482 mm²

Combined axial stiffness

ΣEA = 200·10³·706.9 + 110·10³·8482 = 1.074 × 10⁹ N

Shortening

δ = 200000·500/1.074 × 10⁹ = 0.09307 mm

Answer

δ = 0.09307 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 132.6 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 = 11.94 MPa
σ2 = 132.6 MPa

Largest stress

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

σmax = 132.6 MPa

Answer

σmax = 132.6 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 23.55 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 = 0.5·1500 = 750 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·19175/750² = 23551 N = 23.55 kN

Answer

Pcr = 23.55 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 53.33 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 = 2·50000 = 100000 N
KL = 0.7·4000 = 2800 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·100000·2800²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 53.33 mm

Answer

d = 53.33 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 210, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.1506

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 = (1/3)·ln(30/1.7) = 0.9569

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.9569/√(39.48 + 0.9156) = 0.1506

Answer

ζ = 0.1506
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 7.465 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 = 15 + 40 = 55 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(55000/25) = 46.9 rad/s
fn = 46.9/(2π) = 7.465 Hz

Answer

fn = 7.465 Hz

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