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
d1​ = 150 mmd2​ = 300 mm1500 rpmT1​ = 800 NT2​ = 320 NP = ?

A belt runs on a 150 mm driving pulley at 1500 rpm. The tension is 800 N on the tight side and 320 N on the slack side. Find the power P transmitted, in kW.

d1 = 150 mmn1 = 1500 rpmT1 = 800 NT2 = 320 N
P = kW
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 48B = 72C = 16D = 20

A 7.5 kW motor at 2900 rpm drives gear A (48 teeth), which meshes with gear B (72 teeth). Gear C (16 teeth) on the same shaft as B drives gear D (20 teeth) on the output shaft. Each gear mesh has an efficiency of 98%. Find the output torque Tout.

P = 7.5 kWnin = 2900 rpmA = 48B = 72C = 16D = 20ηmesh = 98%
Tout = N·m
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d = 15 mmT = 30 N·m300 mmφ = 2.66°

In a torsion test, a solid specimen of diameter 15 mm is twisted by a torque of 30 N·m. The two ends of a gauge length of 300 mm rotate 2.66° relative to each other (the material is still elastic). Find the shear modulus G of the material.

T = 30 N·md = 15 mmL = 300 mmφ = 2.66°
G = GPa
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Tdo​ = 80 mm, di​ = 40 mm

A hollow shaft transmits 30 kW at 300 rpm. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

P = 30 kWN = 300 rpmdo = 80 mmdi = 40 mm
τmax = MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 70MPaτxy​ = ?

A point has σₓ = 70 MPa and σᵧ = 0 MPa. How large can the shear stress τxy (magnitude) become before the largest principal stress reaches 105 MPa?

σx = 70 MPaσy = 0 MPaσ1 = 105 MPa
τxy = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 110σy​ = −10τxy​ = 60MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 110 MPa, σᵧ = −10 MPa and τₓᵧ = 60 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 25° counter-clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = 110 MPaσy = −10 MPaτxy = 60 MPaθ = 25°
σθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 30 mmCopper1 mP = 85 kN

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

P = 85 kNd = 30 mmL = 1 mE = 117 GPa
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
P = ?Ø30120 GPaØ80/60500 mm

A steel rod (diameter 30 mm, E = 200 GPa, allowable stress 150 MPa) sits inside a tube made of copper (outer diameter 80 mm, inner diameter 60 mm, E = 120 GPa, allowable stress 50 MPa). They are compressed together between rigid plates. Find the largest load Pmax.

rod: Ø30 mm, E = 200 GPa, σallow = 150 MPatube: Ø80/Ø60 mm, E = 120 GPa, σallow = 50 MPa
Pmax = kN
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 2 m50 × 80 mmcross-section

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

L = 2 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)b × h = 50 × 80 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 4 md = 50 mmcross-section

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

L = 4 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 50 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 15 kN/mc = 150 N·s/mm = 150 kg

A 150 kg mass is supported by a spring with a stiffness of 15 kN/m and a viscous damper with a damping coefficient of 150 N·s/m. Find the damping ratio ζ.

m = 150 kgk = 15 kN/mc = 150 N·s/m
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 100k2​ = 100m = 100 kg

A 100 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 100 kN/m and k₂ = 100 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 = 100 kgk1 = 100 kN/mk2 = 100 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: P = 5.655 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.

Belt speed

v = 11.78 m/s

Power

P = (800 − 320)·11.78 = 5655 W = 5.655 kW

Answer

P = 5.655 kW
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: Tout = 44.47 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.

Output speed

nout = 2900·(48/72)·(16/20) = 1547 rpm
ωout = 2π·1547/60 = 162 rad/s

Output power and torque

Pout = 7500·0.98² = 7203 W
Tout = Pout/ωout = 7203/162 = 44.47 N·m

Answer

Tout = 44.47 N·m
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: G = 39 GPa

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 moment and angle

J = π·15⁴/32 = 4970 mm⁴
φ = 2.66·π/180 = 0.04643 rad

Shear modulus

T = 30 N·m = 30000 N·mm
G = TL/(Jφ) = 30000·300/(4970·0.04643) = 39005 MPa
G = 39 GPa

Answer

G = 39 GPa

Compare: steel ≈ 80 GPa, brass ≈ 39 GPa, aluminium ≈ 26 GPa.

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 10.13 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·300/60 = 31.42 rad/s
T = P/ω = 30000/31.42 = 954.9 N·m

Polar second moment of area

J = π(80⁴ − 40⁴)/32 = 3.77 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Maximum shear stress

τmax = T·(do/2)/J = 954930·40/3.77 × 10⁶ = 10.13 MPa

Answer

τmax = 10.13 MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τxy = 60.62 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.

Required radius

C = (70 + 0)/2 = 35 MPa
R = σ1 − C = 105 − 35 = 70 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Shear stress

τxy = √(R² − ((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)²) = √(70² − 35²) = 60.62 MPa

Answer

τxy = 60.62 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = 134.5 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 = 50 + 60·0.6428 + 60·0.766 = 134.5 MPa

Answer

σθ = 134.5 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 1.028 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·30²/4 = 706.9 mm²
σ = P/A = 85·1000/706.9 = 120.3 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for copper = 117 GPa = 117000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 120.3/117000 = 0.001028 = 1028 µε

Elongation

δ = ε·L = 0.001028·1000 mm = 1.028 mm

Answer

δ = 1.028 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: Pmax = 168.9 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·30²/4 = 706.9 mm²
At = π(80² − 60²)/4 = 2199 mm²

Combined axial stiffness

ΣEA = 200·10³·706.9 + 120·10³·2199 = 4.053 × 10⁸ N

Governing strain

ε = min(0.00075, 0.0004167) = 0.0004167 (copper)

Largest load

Pmax = 0.0004167·4.053 × 10⁸ = 168861 N = 168.9 kN

Answer

Pmax = 168.9 kN
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 35.98 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 = 80·50³/12 = 833333 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 2·2000 = 4000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·833333/4000² = 35983 N = 35.98 kN

Answer

Pcr = 35.98 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 4.819 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 = 2·4000 = 8000 mm
KL/r = 8000/12.5 = 640

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/640² = 4.819 MPa

Answer

σcr = 4.819 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.05

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.

Critical damping

cc = 2·√(k·m) = 2·√(15000·150) = 3000 N·s/m

Damping ratio

ζ = c/cc = 150/3000 = 0.05

Answer

ζ = 0.05

ζ < 1, so the system is underdamped and oscillates as it decays.

12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 7.118 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 = 100 + 100 = 200 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(200000/100) = 44.72 rad/s
fn = 44.72/(2π) = 7.118 Hz

Answer

fn = 7.118 Hz

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