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 = 2 mm

A 1.1 kW motor running at 1450 rpm drives a pinion with 25 teeth and a module of 2 mm. Find the tangential force Ft on the pinion teeth.

P = 1.1 kWn = 1450 rpmN1 = 25m = 2 mm
Ft = N
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 125 mmd2​ = 200 mm1500 rpmC = 800 mmθ = ?

An open belt connects a 125 mm pulley and a 200 mm pulley whose centres are 800 mm apart. Find the angle of wrap θ on the smaller pulley, in degrees.

d1 = 125 mmd2 = 200 mmC = 800 mm
θ = °
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 1000 N·md = 40 mmL = 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 = 1000 N·md = 40 mmL = 2 mG = 26 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
d = 50 mmTB​ = 500 N·mTC​ = 750 N·mABC0.5 m1.5 m

A solid aluminium shaft of diameter 50 mm is fixed at A. A torque of 500 N·m acts at B, 0.5 m from A, and a torque of 750 N·m in the opposite direction acts at the free end C, a further 1.5 m along. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

d = 50 mmTB = 500 N·mTC = 750 N·mAB = 0.5 mBC = 1.5 m
τmax = MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 10σy​ = 50MPaτxy​ = ?

A point has σₓ = 10 MPa and σᵧ = 50 MPa. How large can the shear stress τxy (magnitude) become before the largest principal stress reaches 70 MPa?

σx = 10 MPaσy = 50 MPaσ1 = 70 MPa
τxy = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 30σy​ = −80τxy​ = 60MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 30 MPa, σᵧ = −80 MPa and τₓᵧ = 60 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 45° clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = 30 MPaσy = −80 MPaτxy = 60 MPaθ = -45°
σθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 12 mmSteel0.5 mP = 65 kN

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

P = 65 kNd = 12 mmL = 0.5 mE = 200 GPa
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
80 kN12400 mm500 mmØ30Ø50σ2​ = ?

A steel segment (diameter 30 mm, length 400 mm, E = 200 GPa) and a segment made of copper (diameter 50 mm, length 500 mm, E = 120 GPa) are joined end to end and fixed between two rigid walls. An axial load of 80 kN acts at the joint, towards segment 2. Find the magnitude of the stress σ2 in segment 2.

segment 1: steel, Ø30 mm, 400 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: copper, Ø50 mm, 500 mm, E = 120 GPaP = 80 kN
σ2 = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 5 m40 × 80 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 = 40 × 80 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 100 kNL = 5 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of aluminium is pinned at both ends. It must carry 100 kN with a factor of safety of 2 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 100 kNn = 2L = 5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx10 mm1 cycle8.3 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 10 mm is followed one cycle later by a peak of 8.3 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 10 mmx1 = 8.3 mmn = 1
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 20k2​ = 100k3​ = 80m = 20 kg

A 20 kg mass hangs from spring k₃ = 80 kN/m. The top of k₃ is attached to a rigid bar that hangs from two springs side by side, k₁ = 20 kN/m and k₂ = 100 kN/m; the bar stays level. Ignore damping and the masses of the springs and bar. Find the natural frequency fn of vertical vibration in Hz.

m = 20 kgk1 = 20 kN/mk2 = 100 kN/mk3 = 80 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: Ft = 289.8 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 = 2·25 = 50 mm

Tangential force

Ft = 2T/d = 2·7.244/0.05 = 289.8 N

Answer

Ft = 289.8 N
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: θ = 174.6 °

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.

Belt angle

asin(0.04688) = 2.687°

Angle of wrap

θ = 180 − 2·2.687 = 174.6°

Answer

θ = 174.6°
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 17.54 °

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·40⁴/32 = 251327 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 1000·1000·2000/(26000·251327) = 0.3061 rad
φ = 0.3061·180/π = 17.54°

Answer

φ = 17.54°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 30.56 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.

Internal torques

Sense of TC taken as positive.

TBC = TC = 750 N·m
TAB = TC − TB = 750 − 500 = 250 N·m

Maximum shear stress

The segment with the largest internal torque has the largest stress (same diameter).

|T|max = 750 N·m
τmax = 16·750000/(π·50³) = 30.56 MPa

Answer

τmax = 30.56 MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τxy = 34.64 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 = (10 + 50)/2 = 30 MPa
R = σ1 − C = 70 − 30 = 40 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Shear stress

τxy = √(R² − ((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)²) = √(40² − 20²) = 34.64 MPa

Answer

τxy = 34.64 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = −85 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 = −25 + 55·0 + 60·−1 = −85 MPa

Answer

σθ = −85 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 1.437 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 = 65·1000/113.1 = 574.7 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for steel = 200 GPa = 200000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 574.7/200000 = 0.002874 = 2874 µε

Elongation

δ = ε·L = 0.002874·500 mm = 1.437 mm

Answer

δ = 1.437 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σ2 = 23.28 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 = 200000·706.9/400 = 353429 N/mm
k₂ = 120000·1963/500 = 471239 N/mm

Share of segment 2

F2 = 80000·471239/824668 = 45714 N

Stress

σ2 = 45714/1963 = 23.28 MPa (compression)

Answer

σ2 = 23.28 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 68.75 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 = 80·40³/12 = 426667 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.7·5000 = 3500 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·426667/3500² = 68752 N = 68.75 kN

Answer

Pcr = 68.75 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 110.2 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 = 2·100000 = 200000 N
KL = 1·5000 = 5000 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·200000·5000²/(π³·70000))^(1/4) = 110.2 mm

Answer

d = 110.2 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 181.5, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.02964

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(10/8.3) = 0.1863

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.1863/√(39.48 + 0.03472) = 0.02964

Answer

ζ = 0.02964
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 7.797 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

Only k1 and k2 are in parallel. That pair is in series with k3, so combine them as reciprocals.

k12 = 20 + 100 = 120 kN/m
keq = 120·80/(120 + 80) = 48 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(48000/20) = 48.99 rad/s
fn = 48.99/(2π) = 7.797 Hz

Answer

fn = 7.797 Hz

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