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​ = 48

A 5.5 kW motor running at 1500 rpm drives a pinion with 45 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 48 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 95%. Find the output torque T2 on the gear shaft.

P = 5.5 kWn1 = 1500 rpmN1 = 45N2 = 48η = 95%
T2 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 24B = 60C = 16D = ?

In a compound gear train, gear A (24 teeth) on the input shaft turns at 1450 rpm and drives gear B (60 teeth). Gear C (16 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D on the output shaft. The output must turn at 116 rpm. How many teeth ND must gear D have?

nin = 1450 rpmA = 24B = 60C = 16nout = 116 rpm
ND =
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 1000 N·md = 40 mmL = 2 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 = 1000 N·md = 40 mmL = 2 mG = 80 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
do​ = ?75 kW, 300 rpm

A hollow shaft must transmit 75 kW at 300 rpm. Its inner diameter is to be 0.75 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 75 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

P = 75 kWN = 300 rpmdi/do = 0.75τallow = 75 MPa
do = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 150σy​ = −70τxy​ = 20MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 150 MPa, σᵧ = −70 MPa and τₓᵧ = 20 MPa, with σz = 0. Find the absolute maximum shear stress τabs at the point (considering all planes in three dimensions).

σx = 150 MPaσy = −70 MPaτxy = 20 MPaσz = 0
τabs = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​τxy​surface of the shaft

A solid shaft of diameter 40 mm carries an axial tensile force of 160 kN together with a torque of 1000 N·m. At the surface of the shaft, find the maximum in-plane shear stress τmax.

d = 40 mmF = 160 kNT = 1000 N·m
τmax = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 10 mmSteel1.5 mP = 40 kN

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

P = 40 kNd = 10 mmL = 1.5 mE = 200 GPa
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
P = ?Ø2570 GPaØ100/70500 mm

A steel rod (diameter 25 mm, E = 200 GPa, allowable stress 160 MPa) sits inside a tube made of aluminium (outer diameter 100 mm, inner diameter 70 mm, E = 70 GPa, allowable stress 70 MPa). They are compressed together between rigid plates. Find the largest load Pmax.

rod: Ø25 mm, E = 200 GPa, σallow = 160 MPatube: Ø100/Ø70 mm, E = 70 GPa, σallow = 70 MPa
Pmax = kN
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 5 md = 80 mmcross-section

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

L = 5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 80 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 5 kNL = 3 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 5 kN with a factor of safety of 2 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 5 kNn = 2L = 3 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx50 mm4 cycles4 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 50 mm is followed 4 cycles later by a peak of 4 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 50 mmx4 = 4 mmn = 4
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 50k2​ = 12m = 20 kg

A 20 kg mass hangs from two springs connected end to end (in series): the upper spring has k₁ = 50 kN/m and the lower one k₂ = 12 kN/m. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 20 kgk1 = 50 kN/mk2 = 12 kN/m
keq = kN/m

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T2 = 35.48 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·1500/60 = 157.1 rad/s
T1 = P/ω₁ = 5500/157.1 = 35.01 N·m

Output torque

T2 = 35.01·48/45·0.95 = 35.48 N·m

Answer

T2 = 35.48 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: ND = 80

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 = 1450·24/60 = 580 rpm

Teeth on gear D

ND = C·nC/nout = 16·580/116 = 80

Answer

ND = 80
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 5.699 °

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/(80000·251327) = 0.09947 rad
φ = 0.09947·180/π = 5.699°

Answer

φ = 5.699°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 61.9 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·300/60 = 31.42 rad/s
T = P/ω = 75000/31.42 = 2387 N·m

Outer diameter from the allowable stress

T = 2387 N·m = 2.387 × 10⁶ N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.75⁴ = 0.6836
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·2.387 × 10⁶/(π·75·0.6836)) = 61.9 mm
di = 0.75·61.9 = 46.42 mm

Answer

do = 61.9 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 54.53 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τabs = 111.8 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 = 40 MPa, R = √(110² + 20²) = 111.8 MPa
σ1 = 151.8 MPa, σ2 = −71.8 MPa, σz = 0

Largest of the three circles

τ = max(|σ1 − σ2|, |σ1|, |σ2|)/2 = max(223.6, 151.8, 71.8)/2 = 111.8 MPa

Answer

τabs = 111.8 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: τmax = 101.9 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 = F/A = 160000/(π·40²/4) = 160000/1257 = 127.3 MPa
τ = 16T/(πd³) = 16·1000000/(π·40³) = 79.58 MPa
στxyCτmax​

Mohr’s circle

C = σ/2 = 63.66 MPa
R = √(63.66² + 79.58²) = 101.9 MPa

Answer

τmax = 101.9 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 3.82 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·10²/4 = 78.54 mm²
σ = P/A = 40·1000/78.54 = 509.3 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for steel = 200 GPa = 200000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 509.3/200000 = 0.002546 = 2546 µε

Elongation

δ = ε·L = 0.002546·1500 mm = 3.82 mm

Answer

δ = 3.82 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: Pmax = 302.8 kN

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·25²/4 = 490.9 mm²
At = π(100² − 70²)/4 = 4006 mm²

Combined axial stiffness

ΣEA = 200·10³·490.9 + 70·10³·4006 = 3.786 × 10⁸ N

Governing strain

ε = min(0.0008, 0.001) = 0.0008 (steel)

Largest load

Pmax = 0.0008·3.786 × 10⁸ = 302850 N = 302.8 kN

Answer

Pmax = 302.8 kN
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 158.8 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·80⁴/64 = 2.011 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 1·5000 = 5000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·2.011 × 10⁶/5000² = 158752 N = 158.8 kN

Answer

Pcr = 158.8 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 25.97 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 = 2·5000 = 10000 N
KL = 0.7·3000 = 2100 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·10000·2100²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 25.97 mm

Answer

d = 25.97 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 323.4, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.09999

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 = (1/4)·ln(50/4) = 0.6314

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.6314/√(39.48 + 0.3987) = 0.09999

Answer

ζ = 0.09999
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: keq = 9.677 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 = 1/50 + 1/12 → keq = 50·12/(50 + 12) = 9.677 kN/m

Answer

keq = 9.677 kN/m

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