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​ = 36N2​ = 40

A 7.5 kW motor running at 1440 rpm drives a pinion with 36 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 40 teeth. Ignore losses. Find the torque T1 on the motor shaft.

P = 7.5 kWn1 = 1440 rpmN1 = 36N2 = 40η = 100%
T1 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 20B = 72C = 30D = 80

In a compound gear train, gear A (20 teeth) on the input shaft turning at 1450 rpm drives gear B (72 teeth). Gear C (30 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D (80 teeth) on the output shaft. Find the output speed nout.

nin = 1450 rpmA = 20B = 72C = 30D = 80
nout = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 100 N·md = 20 mmL = 1.5 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 = 100 N·md = 20 mmL = 1.5 mG = 39 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 10 kW at 3000 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 60 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 10 kWN = 3000 rpmτallow = 60 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 140σy​ = 0τxy​ = −40MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 140 MPa, σᵧ = 0 MPa and τₓᵧ = −40 MPa (tension positive). Find the angle θp from the x-axis to the direction of the largest principal stress, between −90° and 90°.

σx = 140 MPaσy = 0 MPaτxy = −40 MPa
θp = °
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
25°D = 500 mm, t = 8 mm, p = 1.2 MPap

A thin-walled cylindrical tank of inner diameter 500 mm and wall thickness 8 mm holds gas at a gauge pressure of 1.2 MPa. It is made from plate welded along a helical seam at 25° to the axis of the cylinder. Find the magnitude of the shear stress |τn| acting along the weld seam.

D = 500 mmt = 8 mmp = 1.2 MPaα = 25°
|τn| = MPa
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
50 kNØ2070 GPaØ100/60400 mmδ = ?

A steel rod (diameter 20 mm, E = 200 GPa) sits inside a tube made of aluminium (outer diameter 100 mm, inner diameter 60 mm, E = 70 GPa). Both are 400 mm long and are compressed together between rigid plates by 50 kN. Find the shortening δ.

P = 50 kNrod: Ø20 mm, E = 200 GPatube: Ø100/Ø60 mm, E = 70 GPaL = 400 mm
δ = mm
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 30 mmCopper2 mØ 16 mmSteel1 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: Ø30 mm, 2 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)segment 2: Ø16 mm, 1 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)
δ = mm
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 2 md = 30 mmcross-section

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

L = 2 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 30 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 110 kNL = 4 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of steel is fixed at the base and free at the top. It must carry 110 kN with a factor of safety of 3 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 110 kNn = 3L = 4 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx40 mm3 cycles8.8 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 40 mm is followed 3 cycles later by a peak of 8.8 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 40 mmx3 = 8.8 mmn = 3
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 60k2​ = 25k3​ = 10m = 100 kg

A 100 kg mass hangs from spring k₃ = 10 kN/m. The top of k₃ is attached to a rigid bar that hangs from two springs side by side, k₁ = 60 kN/m and k₂ = 25 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 = 100 kgk1 = 60 kN/mk2 = 25 kN/mk3 = 10 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T1 = 49.74 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·1440/60 = 150.8 rad/s
T1 = P/ω₁ = 7500/150.8 = 49.74 N·m

Answer

T1 = 49.74 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nout = 151 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 = 1450·20/72 = 402.8 rpm = nC

Second stage

nout = 402.8·30/80 = 151 rpm

Answer

nout = 151 rpm

total ratio = 9.6 : 1

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 14.03 °

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·20⁴/32 = 15708 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 100·1000·1500/(39000·15708) = 0.2449 rad
φ = 0.2449·180/π = 14.03°

Answer

φ = 14.03°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 13.93 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·3000/60 = 314.2 rad/s
T = P/ω = 10000/314.2 = 31.83 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·31831/(π·60)) = 13.93 mm

Answer

d = 13.93 mm

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

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: θp = −14.87 °

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·−40, 140 − 0) = −29.74°

Angle on the element

θp = −14.87°

Answer

θp = −14.87°

Positive angles are counter-clockwise.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: |τn| = 7.182 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 = 500/2 = 250 mm
σh = pr/t = 1.2·250/8 = 37.5 MPa
σa = pr/(2t) = 18.75 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.

|τn| = (37.5 − 18.75)·sin 25°·cos 25° = 7.182 MPa

Answer

|τn| = 7.182 MPa
7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 0.04823 mm

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·20²/4 = 314.2 mm²
At = π(100² − 60²)/4 = 5027 mm²

Combined axial stiffness

ΣEA = 200·10³·314.2 + 70·10³·5027 = 4.147 × 10⁸ N

Shortening

δ = 50000·400/4.147 × 10⁸ = 0.04823 mm

Answer

δ = 0.04823 mm
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 4.66 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·30²/4 = 706.9 mm², A2 = π·16²/4 = 201.1 mm²
σ1 = 134.4 MPa
σ2 = 472.5 MPa

Add the segment elongations

δ1 = σ1L1/E1 = 134.4·2000/117000 = 2.297 mm
δ2 = σ2L2/E2 = 472.5·1000/200000 = 2.362 mm
δ = δ1 + δ2 = 4.66 mm

Answer

δ = 4.66 mm
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 14.02 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·30⁴/64 = 39761 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.7·2000 = 1400 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·39761/1400² = 14015 N = 14.02 kN

Answer

Pcr = 14.02 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 121.5 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 = 3·110000 = 330000 N
KL = 2·4000 = 8000 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·330000·8000²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 121.5 mm

Answer

d = 121.5 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 263.4, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.08007

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(40/8.8) = 0.5047

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.5047/√(39.48 + 0.2547) = 0.08007

Answer

ζ = 0.08007
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 1.505 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 = 60 + 25 = 85 kN/m
keq = 85·10/(85 + 10) = 8.947 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(8947/100) = 9.459 rad/s
fn = 9.459/(2π) = 1.505 Hz

Answer

fn = 1.505 Hz

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