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​ = 16N2​ = 36

A 2.2 kW motor running at 1500 rpm drives a pinion with 16 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 36 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 97%. Find the torque T1 on the motor shaft.

P = 2.2 kWn1 = 1500 rpmN1 = 16N2 = 36η = 97%
T1 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 100 mmd2​ = 500 mm1440 rpmC = 600 mmT1​ = 1500 NT2​P = ?

An open belt connects a 100 mm driving pulley at 1440 rpm to a 500 mm pulley; the centres are 600 mm apart. The coefficient of friction is 0.35 and the tight-side tension may not exceed 1500 N. Find the largest power P the belt can transmit without slipping, in kW (ignore centrifugal effects).

d1 = 100 mmn1 = 1440 rpmd2 = 500 mmC = 600 mmμ = 0.35T1 = 1500 N
P = kW
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
do​ = ?T = 200 N·m

A hollow shaft must carry a torque of 200 N·m. Its inner diameter is to be 0.75 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 50 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

T = 200 N·mdi/do = 0.75τallow = 50 MPa
do = mm
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Tdo​ = 40 mm, di​ = 30 mm

A hollow shaft transmits 100 kW at 3000 rpm. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

P = 100 kWN = 3000 rpmdo = 40 mmdi = 30 mm
τmax = MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = −40σy​ = 10MPaτxy​ = ?

A point has σₓ = −40 MPa and σᵧ = 10 MPa. How large can the shear stress τxy (magnitude) become before the largest principal stress reaches 60 MPa?

σx = −40 MPaσy = 10 MPaσ1 = 60 MPa
τxy = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = −30σy​ = 120τxy​ = −30MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = −30 MPa, σᵧ = 120 MPa and τₓᵧ = −30 MPa (σz = 0). The material has a yield strength of 275 MPa. Find the factor of safety n against yielding by the Tresca (maximum shear stress) criterion.

σx = −30 MPaσy = 120 MPaτxy = −30 MPaσY = 275 MPa
n =
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
P = ?12300 mm400 mmØ30Ø30δ = 0.2 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 30 mm, length 300 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of aluminium (diameter 30 mm, length 400 mm, E = 70 GPa). It is fixed at one end and pulled at the other. Find the axial load P that stretches it by 0.2 mm in total.

segment 1: steel, Ø30 mm, 300 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: aluminium, Ø30 mm, 400 mm, E = 70 GPaδ = 0.2 mm
P = kN
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 35 mmCopper1.5 mØ 20 mmCopper0.5 mP = 95 kN

The stepped bar is fixed at the wall and loaded at its free end. Find the total elongation δ.

P = 95 kNsegment 1: Ø35 mm, 1.5 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)segment 2: Ø20 mm, 0.5 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
δ = mm
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 2.5 md = 50 mmcross-section

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

L = 2.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 50 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 1 md = 50 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of aluminium is fixed at the base and free at the top. Find its slenderness and the critical buckling stress σcr from Euler’s formula.

L = 1 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 50 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx10 mm5 cycles3.9 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 10 mm is followed 5 cycles later by a peak of 3.9 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 10 mmx5 = 3.9 mmn = 5
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 12k2​ = 50k3​ = 100m = 20 kg

A 20 kg mass hangs from spring k₃ = 100 kN/m. The top of k₃ is attached to a rigid bar that hangs from two springs side by side, k₁ = 12 kN/m and k₂ = 50 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 = 12 kN/mk2 = 50 kN/mk3 = 100 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T1 = 14.01 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 = 2200/157.1 = 14.01 N·m

Answer

T1 = 14.01 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: P = 6.532 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 = 2.462 rad

Slack-side tension

eμθ = e0.8617 = 2.367, T₂ = 1500/2.367 = 633.7 N

Power

P = (1500 − 633.7)·7.54 = 6.532 kW

Answer

P = 6.532 kW
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 31 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.

Outer diameter from the allowable stress

T = 200 N·m = 200000 N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.75⁴ = 0.6836
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·200000/(π·50·0.6836)) = 31 mm
di = 0.75·31 = 23.25 mm

Answer

do = 31 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 27.31 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 37.05 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.

Torque

ω = 2πN/60 = 2π·3000/60 = 314.2 rad/s
T = P/ω = 100000/314.2 = 318.3 N·m

Polar second moment of area

J = π(40⁴ − 30⁴)/32 = 171806 mm⁴

Maximum shear stress

τmax = T·(do/2)/J = 318310·20/171806 = 37.05 MPa

Answer

τmax = 37.05 MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τxy = 70.71 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 = (−40 + 10)/2 = −15 MPa
R = σ1 − C = 60 − (−15) = 75 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Shear stress

τxy = √(R² − ((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)²) = √(75² − 25²) = 70.71 MPa

Answer

τxy = 70.71 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: n = 1.702

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. Yield criteria: von Mises predicts yield when σvM = √(σ₁² − σ₁σ₂ + σ₂²) reaches σY; Tresca when the absolute maximum shear stress reaches σY/2.

στxyCσ1​σ2​

Principal stresses

C = 45 MPa, R = 80.78 MPa
σ1 = 125.8 MPa, σ2 = −35.78 MPa, σ3 = 0

Tresca

σmax − σmin = 161.6 MPa
n = 275/161.6 = 1.702

Answer

n = 1.702

n > 1 means the point does not yield; Tresca is slightly more conservative than von Mises.

7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 19.6 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

A₁ = 706.9 mm², A₂ = 706.9 mm²

Flexibilities

L₁/(E₁A₁) = 300/(200000·706.9) = 2.122 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 400/(70000·706.9) = 8.084 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

Load

P = 0.2/1.021 × 10⁻⁵ = 19596 N = 19.6 kN

Answer

P = 19.6 kN
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 2.558 mm

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·35²/4 = 962.1 mm², A2 = π·20²/4 = 314.2 mm²
σ1 = 98.74 MPa
σ2 = 302.4 MPa

Add the segment elongations

δ1 = σ1L1/E1 = 98.74·1500/117000 = 1.266 mm
δ2 = σ2L2/E2 = 302.4·500/117000 = 1.292 mm
δ = δ1 + δ2 = 2.558 mm

Answer

δ = 2.558 mm
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 24.22 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 = 2·2500 = 5000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·306796/5000² = 24224 N = 24.22 kN

Answer

Pcr = 24.22 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 26.99 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·50⁴/64 = 306796 mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 1963 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(306796/1963) = 12.5 mm
KL = 2·1000 = 2000 mm
KL/r = 2000/12.5 = 160

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·70000/160² = 26.99 MPa

Answer

σcr = 26.99 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.02996

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 = (1/5)·ln(10/3.9) = 0.1883

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.1883/√(39.48 + 0.03547) = 0.02996

Answer

ζ = 0.02996
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 6.962 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 = 12 + 50 = 62 kN/m
keq = 62·100/(62 + 100) = 38.27 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(38272/20) = 43.74 rad/s
fn = 43.74/(2π) = 6.962 Hz

Answer

fn = 6.962 Hz

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