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​ = 24N2​ = 25

A 7.5 kW motor running at 960 rpm drives a pinion with 24 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 25 teeth. Ignore losses. Find the torque T1 on the motor shaft.

P = 7.5 kWn1 = 960 rpmN1 = 24N2 = 25η = 100%
T1 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 12B = 48C = 24D = 40

In a compound gear train, gear A (12 teeth) on the input shaft turning at 1450 rpm drives gear B (48 teeth). Gear C (24 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 = 1450 rpmA = 12B = 48C = 24D = 40
nout = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
do​ = 40, di​ = 28 mmT = 500 N·mL = 2.5 m

A hollow aluminium shaft (outer diameter 40 mm, inner diameter 28 mm, length 2.5 m) is fixed at one end and twisted by a torque of 500 N·m at the other. Find the angle of twist φ in degrees.

T = 500 N·mdo = 40 mmdi = 28 mmL = 2.5 mG = 26 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
d = ?10 kW, 1500 rpm

A solid steel shaft transmits 10 kW at 1500 rpm. The shear stress must not exceed 50 MPa and the twist must not exceed 0.5° per m of length. Find the smallest diameter d that satisfies both limits.

P = 10 kWN = 1500 rpmτallow = 50 MPaθallow = 0.5°/mG = 80 GPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = −70σy​ = 110τxy​ = 30MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = −70 MPa, σᵧ = 110 MPa and τₓᵧ = 30 MPa, with σz = 0. Find the absolute maximum shear stress τabs at the point (considering all planes in three dimensions).

σx = −70 MPaσy = 110 MPaτxy = 30 MPaσz = 0
τabs = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
40°D = 1500 mm, t = 12 mm, p = 2 MPap

A thin-walled cylindrical tank of inner diameter 1500 mm and wall thickness 12 mm holds gas at a gauge pressure of 2 MPa. It is made from plate welded along a helical seam at 40° to the axis of the cylinder. Find the normal stress σn acting across the weld seam.

D = 1500 mmt = 12 mmp = 2 MPaα = 40°
σn = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 12 mmCopper2.5 mP = 30 kN

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

P = 30 kNd = 12 mmL = 2.5 mE = 117 GPa
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
100 kN12400 mm200 mmØ40Ø40σ2​ = ?

A steel segment (diameter 40 mm, length 400 mm, E = 200 GPa) and a segment made of aluminium (diameter 40 mm, length 200 mm, E = 70 GPa) are joined end to end and fixed between two rigid walls. An axial load of 100 kN acts at the joint, towards segment 2. Find the magnitude of the stress σ2 in segment 2.

segment 1: steel, Ø40 mm, 400 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: aluminium, Ø40 mm, 200 mm, E = 70 GPaP = 100 kN
σ2 = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 3 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 = 3 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 25 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 20 kNL = 3 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of aluminium is pinned at both ends. It must carry 20 kN with a factor of safety of 3 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 20 kNn = 3L = 3 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 80 kN/mζ = 0.6m = 200 kg

A 200 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 80 kN/m has a viscous damper giving a damping ratio of 0.6. Find the damped natural frequency fd of its free vibration in Hz.

m = 200 kgk = 80 kN/mζ = 0.6
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 25k2​ = 60k3​ = 25m = 10 kg

A 10 kg mass hangs from spring k₃ = 25 kN/m. The top of k₃ is attached to a rigid bar that hangs from two springs side by side, k₁ = 25 kN/m and k₂ = 60 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 = 10 kgk1 = 25 kN/mk2 = 60 kN/mk3 = 25 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T1 = 74.6 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·960/60 = 100.5 rad/s
T1 = P/ω₁ = 7500/100.5 = 74.6 N·m

Answer

T1 = 74.6 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nout = 217.5 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 = 1450·12/48 = 362.5 rpm = nC

Second stage

nout = 362.5·24/40 = 217.5 rpm

Answer

nout = 217.5 rpm

total ratio = 6.667 : 1

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 14.42 °

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 − 28⁴)/32 = 190984 mm⁴

Angle of twist

T = 500 N·m = 500000 N·mm
L = 2.5 m = 2500 mm
G = 26 GPa = 26000 MPa
φ = TL/(GJ) = 500000·2500/(26000·190984) = 0.2517 rad
φ = 0.2517·180/π = 14.42°

Answer

φ = 14.42°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 31.04 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·1500/60 = 157.1 rad/s
T = P/ω = 10000/157.1 = 63.66 N·m

Diameter for strength

T = 63.66 N·m = 63662 N·mm
dτ = ∛(16·63662/(π·50)) = 18.65 mm

Diameter for stiffness

θ = 0.5·π/180/1000 = 8.727 × 10⁻⁶ rad/mm
G = 80 GPa = 80000 MPa
dφ = (32·63662/(π·80000·8.727 × 10⁻⁶))1/4 = 31.04 mm

Governing diameter

Both limits must hold, so the larger diameter governs.

d = max(18.65, 31.04) = 31.04 mm

Answer

d = 31.04 mm

Here stiffness governs.

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τabs = 94.87 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 = √((−90)² + 30²) = 94.87 MPa
σ1 = 114.9 MPa, σ2 = −74.87 MPa, σz = 0

Largest of the three circles

τ = max(|σ1 − σ2|, |σ1|, |σ2|)/2 = max(189.7, 114.9, 74.87)/2 = 94.87 MPa

Answer

τabs = 94.87 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: σn = 99.18 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. Thin-walled cylinder: hoop stress σh = pr/t and axial stress σa = pr/(2t); these are the principal stresses in the wall.

Wall stresses

r = 1500/2 = 750 mm
σh = pr/t = 2·750/12 = 125 MPa
σa = pr/(2t) = 62.5 MPa

Transform to the seam

Take x along the axis (σa) and y around the hoop (σh). The seam’s normal makes 90° − α with the axis.

σn = 62.5·sin²40° + 125·cos²40° = 99.18 MPa

Answer

σn = 99.18 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 5.668 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 = 30·1000/113.1 = 265.3 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for copper = 117 GPa = 117000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 265.3/117000 = 0.002267 = 2267 µε

Elongation

δ = ε·L = 0.002267·2500 mm = 5.668 mm

Answer

δ = 5.668 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σ2 = 32.77 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 = 200000·1257/400 = 628319 N/mm
k₂ = 70000·1257/200 = 439823 N/mm

Share of segment 2

F2 = 100000·439823/1.068 × 10⁶ = 41176 N

Stress

σ2 = 41176/1257 = 32.77 MPa (compression)

Answer

σ2 = 32.77 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·25⁴/64 = 19175 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.5·3000 = 1500 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·19175/1500² = 5888 N = 5.888 kN

Answer

Pcr = 5.888 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 63.17 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 = 3·20000 = 60000 N
KL = 1·3000 = 3000 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·60000·3000²/(π³·70000))^(1/4) = 63.17 mm

Answer

d = 63.17 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 190, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fd = 2.546 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.

Undamped natural frequency

ωn = √(80000/200) = 20 rad/s
fn = 20/(2π) = 3.183 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 3.183·√(1 − 0.6²) = 2.546 Hz

Answer

fd = 2.546 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 6.995 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 = 25 + 60 = 85 kN/m
keq = 85·25/(85 + 25) = 19.32 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(19318/10) = 43.95 rad/s
fn = 43.95/(2π) = 6.995 Hz

Answer

fn = 6.995 Hz

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