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​ = 100 mmd2​ = 400 mm1500 rpmn2​ = ?

A 100 mm pulley at 1500 rpm drives a 400 mm pulley by a belt with 1.5 % slip. Find the speed n2 of the driven pulley.

n1 = 1500 rpmd1 = 100 mmd2 = 400 mms = 1.5 %
n2 = rpm
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
Ns​ = 30nr​ = ?Np​ = 15carrier fixed

In a planetary gear set the sun gear has 30 teeth and each planet gear has 15 teeth. The planet carrier is held fixed and the sun is driven at 600 rpm. Find the speed nr of the ring gear (magnitude).

Ns = 30Np = 15ns = 600 rpm
nr = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d = 20 mmT = 40 N·m300 mmφ = 1.68°

In a torsion test, a solid specimen of diameter 20 mm is twisted by a torque of 40 N·m. The two ends of a gauge length of 300 mm rotate 1.68° relative to each other (the material is still elastic). Find the shear modulus G of the material.

T = 40 N·md = 20 mmL = 300 mmφ = 1.68°
G = GPa
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Tdo​ = 40 mm, di​ = 30 mm

A hollow shaft transmits 50 kW at 750 rpm. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

P = 50 kWN = 750 rpmdo = 40 mmdi = 30 mm
τmax = MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 120σy​ = −50τxy​ = 50MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 120 MPa, σᵧ = −50 MPa and τₓᵧ = 50 MPa (tension positive). Find the maximum in-plane shear stress τmax.

σx = 120 MPaσy = −50 MPaτxy = 50 MPa
τmax = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = −40σy​ = 120τxy​ = −20MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = −40 MPa, σᵧ = 120 MPa and τₓᵧ = −20 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 30° counter-clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = −40 MPaσy = 120 MPaτxy = −20 MPaθ = 30°
σθ = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 25 mmAluminium2.5 mP = 80 kN

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

P = 80 kNd = 25 mmL = 2.5 mE = 70 GPa
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 40 mmBrass1 mØ 16 mmCopper1.5 mP = 70 kN

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

P = 70 kNsegment 1: Ø40 mm, 1 m, brass (E = 100 GPa)segment 2: Ø16 mm, 1.5 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
δ = mm
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 1.5 md = 60 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 = 1.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 60 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 = 100 kN/mζ = 0.7m = 15 kg

A 15 kg mass on a spring with a stiffness of 100 kN/m has a viscous damper giving a damping ratio of 0.7. Find the damped natural frequency fd of its free vibration in Hz.

m = 15 kgk = 100 kN/mζ = 0.7
fd = Hz
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 100k2​ = 40m = 20 kg

A 20 kg mass hangs from two springs connected end to end (in series): the upper spring has k₁ = 100 kN/m and the lower one k₂ = 40 kN/m. Ignore damping and the masses of the springs. Find the natural frequency fn of vertical vibration in Hz.

m = 20 kgk1 = 100 kN/mk2 = 40 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: n2 = 369.4 rpm

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.

Speed without slip

1500·100/400 = 375 rpm

With slip

n2 = 375·0.985 = 369.4 rpm

Answer

n2 = 369.4 rpm
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nr = 300 rpm

Planetary gear sets: the speeds of sun, ring and carrier are linked by the Willis equation (ns − nc)/(nr − nc) = −Nr/Ns: seen from the carrier, the set is an ordinary train with the planets as idlers. Holding one member fixed turns the set into a single-ratio reducer.

Ring gear teeth

Nr = Ns + 2·Np = 30 + 2·15 = 60

Willis equation with the carrier fixed

With nc = 0 the sun drives the ring through the planets, which act as idlers.

nr = −ns·Ns/Nr = −600·30/60 = −300 rpm
|nr| = 300 rpm

Answer

nr = 300 rpm

The ring turns opposite to the sun.

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: G = 26.05 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·20⁴/32 = 15708 mm⁴
φ = 1.68·π/180 = 0.02932 rad

Shear modulus

T = 40 N·m = 40000 N·mm
G = TL/(Jφ) = 40000·300/(15708·0.02932) = 26054 MPa
G = 26.05 GPa

Answer

G = 26.05 GPa

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

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 74.11 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·750/60 = 78.54 rad/s
T = P/ω = 50000/78.54 = 636.6 N·m

Polar second moment of area

J = π(40⁴ − 30⁴)/32 = 171806 mm⁴

Maximum shear stress

τmax = T·(do/2)/J = 636620·20/171806 = 74.11 MPa

Answer

τmax = 74.11 MPa
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τmax = 98.62 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.

στxyCτmax​

Radius of Mohr’s circle

τmax = R = √(((120 − −50)/2)² + 50²) = 98.62 MPa

Answer

τmax = 98.62 MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = −17.32 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 = 40 + −80·0.5 + −20·0.866 = −17.32 MPa

Answer

σθ = −17.32 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 5.821 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·25²/4 = 490.9 mm²
σ = P/A = 80·1000/490.9 = 163 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for aluminium = 70 GPa = 70000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 163/70000 = 0.002328 = 2328 µε

Elongation

δ = ε·L = 0.002328·2500 mm = 5.821 mm

Answer

δ = 5.821 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 5.021 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·40²/4 = 1257 mm², A2 = π·16²/4 = 201.1 mm²
σ1 = 55.7 MPa
σ2 = 348.2 MPa

Add the segment elongations

δ1 = σ1L1/E1 = 55.7·1000/100000 = 0.557 mm
δ2 = σ2L2/E2 = 348.2·1500/117000 = 4.463 mm
δ = δ1 + δ2 = 5.021 mm

Answer

δ = 5.021 mm
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 558.1 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·60⁴/64 = 636173 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 1·1500 = 1500 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·636173/1500² = 558113 N = 558.1 kN

Answer

Pcr = 558.1 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: fd = 9.28 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 = √(100000/15) = 81.65 rad/s
fn = 81.65/(2π) = 12.99 Hz

Damped natural frequency

fd = fn·√(1 − ζ²) = 12.99·√(1 − 0.7²) = 9.28 Hz

Answer

fd = 9.28 Hz
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 6.015 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 in series share the same force and add their deflections, so they combine as reciprocals: 1/k = 1/k1 + 1/k2.

1/keq = 1/100 + 1/40 → keq = 100·40/(100 + 40) = 28.57 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(28571/20) = 37.8 rad/s
fn = 37.8/(2π) = 6.015 Hz

Answer

fn = 6.015 Hz

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