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 mm720 rpmT1​ = 600 NT2​ = 150 NP = ?

A belt runs on a 100 mm driving pulley at 720 rpm. The tension is 600 N on the tight side and 150 N on the slack side. Find the power P transmitted, in kW.

d1 = 100 mmn1 = 720 rpmT1 = 600 NT2 = 150 N
P = kW
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 16B = 40C = 12D = 40

In a compound gear train, gear A (16 teeth) on the input shaft turning at 1440 rpm drives gear B (40 teeth). Gear C (12 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D (40 teeth) on the output shaft. Find the output speed nout.

nin = 1440 rpmA = 16B = 40C = 12D = 40
nout = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d = ?T = 200 N·mL = 1 m

A solid aluminium shaft 1 m long carries a torque of 200 N·m. The angle of twist between its ends must not exceed 2°. Find the smallest diameter d that meets this limit.

T = 200 N·mL = 1 mG = 26 GPaφallow = 2°
d = mm
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
do​ = ?100 kW, 500 rpm

A hollow shaft must transmit 100 kW at 500 rpm. Its inner diameter is to be 0.5 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 75 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

P = 100 kWN = 500 rpmdi/do = 0.5τallow = 75 MPa
do = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 130σy​ = −60τxy​ = −10MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 130 MPa, σᵧ = −60 MPa and τₓᵧ = −10 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 = −60 MPaτxy = −10 MPa
θp = °
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 60σy​ = 20τxy​ = 20MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 60 MPa, σᵧ = 20 MPa and τₓᵧ = 20 MPa (σz = 0). The material has a yield strength of 300 MPa. Find the factor of safety n against yielding by the Tresca (maximum shear stress) criterion.

σx = 60 MPaσy = 20 MPaτxy = 20 MPaσY = 300 MPa
n =
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
P = ?12500 mm200 mmØ20Ø40δ = 0.2 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 20 mm, length 500 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of brass (diameter 40 mm, length 200 mm, E = 100 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, 500 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: brass, Ø40 mm, 200 mm, E = 100 GPaδ = 0.2 mm
P = kN
8.Axial stress & strainHard
80 kN12500 mm300 mmØ25Ø40σ2​ = ?

A steel segment (diameter 25 mm, length 500 mm, E = 200 GPa) and a segment made of aluminium (diameter 40 mm, length 300 mm, E = 70 GPa) are joined end to end and fixed between two rigid walls. An axial load of 80 kN acts at the joint, towards segment 2. Find the magnitude of the stress σ2 in segment 2.

segment 1: steel, Ø25 mm, 500 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: aluminium, Ø40 mm, 300 mm, E = 70 GPaP = 80 kN
σ2 = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 2.5 m20 × 100 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)b × h = 20 × 100 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 5 md = 25 mmcross-section

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

L = 5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 25 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
k = 8 kN/mc = 40 N·s/mm = 20 kg

A 20 kg mass is supported by a spring with a stiffness of 8 kN/m and a viscous damper with a damping coefficient of 40 N·s/m. Find the damping ratio ζ.

m = 20 kgk = 8 kN/mc = 40 N·s/m
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 5k2​ = 50m = 100 kg

A 100 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 5 kN/m and k₂ = 50 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 = 5 kN/mk2 = 50 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: P = 1.696 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 = 3.77 m/s

Power

P = (600 − 150)·3.77 = 1696 W = 1.696 kW

Answer

P = 1.696 kW
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nout = 172.8 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.

First stage

nB = 1440·16/40 = 576 rpm = nC

Second stage

nout = 576·12/40 = 172.8 rpm

Answer

nout = 172.8 rpm

total ratio = 8.333 : 1

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 38.71 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.

Required polar moment

T = 200 N·m = 200000 N·mm
L = 1 m = 1000 mm
G = 26 GPa = 26000 MPa
φ = 2·π/180 = 0.03491 rad
J = TL/(Gφ) = 200000·1000/(26000·0.03491) = 220368 mm⁴

Diameter

d = (32J/π)1/4 = 38.71 mm

Answer

d = 38.71 mm

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

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 51.72 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·500/60 = 52.36 rad/s
T = P/ω = 100000/52.36 = 1910 N·m

Outer diameter from the allowable stress

T = 1910 N·m = 1.91 × 10⁶ N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.5⁴ = 0.9375
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·1.91 × 10⁶/(π·75·0.9375)) = 51.72 mm
di = 0.5·51.72 = 25.86 mm

Answer

do = 51.72 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 50.62 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: θp = −3.005 °

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·−10, 130 − −60) = −6.009°

Angle on the element

θp = −3.005°

Answer

θp = −3.005°

Positive angles are counter-clockwise.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: n = 4.393

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 = 40 MPa, R = 28.28 MPa
σ1 = 68.28 MPa, σ2 = 11.72 MPa, σ3 = 0

Tresca

σmax − σmin = 68.28 MPa
n = 300/68.28 = 4.393

Answer

n = 4.393

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

7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 20.94 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) = 500/(200000·314.2) = 7.958 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 200/(100000·1257) = 1.592 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

Load

P = 0.2/9.549 × 10⁻⁶ = 20944 N = 20.94 kN

Answer

P = 20.94 kN
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σ2 = 38.13 MPa

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.

Stiffnesses

k₁ = 200000·490.9/500 = 196350 N/mm
k₂ = 70000·1257/300 = 293215 N/mm

Share of segment 2

F2 = 80000·293215/489565 = 47914 N

Stress

σ2 = 47914/1257 = 38.13 MPa (compression)

Answer

σ2 = 38.13 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 5.264 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 = 100·20³/12 = 66667 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 2·2500 = 5000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·66667/5000² = 5264 N = 5.264 kN

Answer

Pcr = 5.264 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 4.318 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·25⁴/64 = 19175 mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 490.9 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(19175/490.9) = 6.25 mm
KL = 0.5·5000 = 2500 mm
KL/r = 2500/6.25 = 400

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·70000/400² = 4.318 MPa

Answer

σcr = 4.318 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·√(8000·20) = 800 N·s/m

Damping ratio

ζ = c/cc = 40/800 = 0.05

Answer

ζ = 0.05

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

12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 3.733 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 = 5 + 50 = 55 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(55000/100) = 23.45 rad/s
fn = 23.45/(2π) = 3.733 Hz

Answer

fn = 3.733 Hz

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