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
Nw​ = 48z = 4, 1450 rpm

A worm with 4 start(s) turns at 1450 rpm and drives a worm wheel with 48 teeth. Find the speed nw of the wheel.

z = 4Nw = 48n = 1450 rpm
nw = rpm
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 100 mmd2​ = 200 mm1440 rpmC = 600 mmθ = ?

An open belt connects a 100 mm pulley and a 200 mm pulley whose centres are 600 mm apart. Find the angle of wrap θ on the smaller pulley, in degrees.

d1 = 100 mmd2 = 200 mmC = 600 mm
θ = °
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 750 N·md = 30 mmL = 0.8 mφ = ?

A solid brass 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 = 750 N·md = 30 mmL = 0.8 mG = 39 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 50 kW at 1000 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 60 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 50 kWN = 1000 rpmτallow = 60 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 130σy​ = −70τxy​ = 50MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 130 MPa, σᵧ = −70 MPa and τₓᵧ = 50 MPa (tension positive). Find the angle θp from the x-axis to the direction of the largest principal stress, between −90° and 90°.

σx = 130 MPaσy = −70 MPaτxy = 50 MPa
θp = °
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 90σy​ = 120τxy​ = −10MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 90 MPa, σᵧ = 120 MPa and τₓᵧ = −10 MPa (σz = 0). The material has a yield strength of 300 MPa. Find the factor of safety n against yielding by the von Mises (distortion energy) criterion.

σx = 90 MPaσy = 120 MPaτxy = −10 MPaσY = 300 MPa
n =
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
P = ?12600 mm300 mmØ20Ø40δ = 0.2 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 20 mm, length 600 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of copper (diameter 40 mm, length 300 mm, E = 120 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, Ø20 mm, 600 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: copper, Ø40 mm, 300 mm, E = 120 GPaδ = 0.2 mm
P = kN
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 25 mmCopper0.5 mØ 16 mmBrass1 mP = 40 kN

The stepped bar is fixed at the wall and loaded at its free end. Find the largest normal stress σmax in the bar.

P = 40 kNsegment 1: Ø25 mm, 0.5 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)segment 2: Ø16 mm, 1 m, brass (E = 100 GPa)
σmax = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 3 m20 × 50 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)b × h = 20 × 50 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 145 kNL = 4 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 145 kN with a factor of safety of 2.5 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 145 kNn = 2.5L = 4 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx20 mm3 cycles11.4 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 20 mm is followed 3 cycles later by a peak of 11.4 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 20 mmx3 = 11.4 mmn = 3
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 100k2​ = 40m = 40 kg

A 40 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 100 kN/m and k₂ = 40 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 = 40 kgk1 = 100 kN/mk2 = 40 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nw = 120.8 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.

Wheel speed

nw = n·z/Nw = 1450·4/48 = 120.8 rpm

Answer

nw = 120.8 rpm
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: θ = 170.4 °

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(0.08333) = 4.78°

Angle of wrap

θ = 180 − 2·4.78 = 170.4°

Answer

θ = 170.4°
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 11.08 °

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·30⁴/32 = 79522 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 750·1000·800/(39000·79522) = 0.1935 rad
φ = 0.1935·180/π = 11.08°

Answer

φ = 11.08°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 34.35 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·1000/60 = 104.7 rad/s
T = P/ω = 50000/104.7 = 477.5 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·477465/(π·60)) = 34.35 mm

Answer

d = 34.35 mm

In practice you would round up to the next standard size.

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: θp = 13.28 °

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.

στxyCσ1​σ2​

Angle on the circle

Point x sits at an angle 2θp from the σ-axis on Mohr’s circle; the quadrant follows from the signs of σₓ − σᵧ and τₓᵧ.

2θp = atan2(2·50, 130 − −70) = 26.57°

Angle on the element

θp = 13.28°

Answer

θp = 13.28°

Positive angles are counter-clockwise.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: n = 2.739

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.

σxyCσ1​σ2​

Principal stresses

C = 105 MPa, R = 18.03 MPa
σ1 = 123 MPa, σ2 = 86.97 MPa, σ3 = 0

Von Mises

σvM = √(123² − 123·86.97 + 86.97²) = 109.5 MPa
n = 300/109.5 = 2.739

Answer

n = 2.739

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

7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 17.33 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 = 314.2 mm², A₂ = 1257 mm²

Flexibilities

L₁/(E₁A₁) = 600/(200000·314.2) = 9.549 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 300/(120000·1257) = 1.989 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

Load

P = 0.2/1.154 × 10⁻⁵ = 17333 N = 17.33 kN

Answer

P = 17.33 kN
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 198.9 MPa

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·25²/4 = 490.9 mm², A2 = π·16²/4 = 201.1 mm²
σ1 = 81.49 MPa
σ2 = 198.9 MPa

Largest stress

The thinner segment has the smaller area, so it carries the larger stress.

σmax = 198.9 MPa

Answer

σmax = 198.9 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 10.24 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 = 50·20³/12 = 33333 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.5·3000 = 1500 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·33333/1500² = 10235 N = 10.24 kN

Answer

Pcr = 10.24 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 73.59 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 = 2.5·145000 = 362500 N
KL = 0.7·4000 = 2800 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·362500·2800²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 73.59 mm

Answer

d = 73.59 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 152.2, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.02981

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 = (1/3)·ln(20/11.4) = 0.1874

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.1874/√(39.48 + 0.03511) = 0.02981

Answer

ζ = 0.02981
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 9.416 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 + 40 = 140 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(140000/40) = 59.16 rad/s
fn = 59.16/(2π) = 9.416 Hz

Answer

fn = 9.416 Hz

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