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​ = 12N2​ = 24

A 7.5 kW motor running at 2900 rpm drives a pinion with 12 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 24 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 96%. Find the torque T1 on the motor shaft.

P = 7.5 kWn1 = 2900 rpmN1 = 12N2 = 24η = 96%
T1 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
A = 16B = 60C = 12D = 32

In a compound gear train, gear A (16 teeth) on the input shaft turning at 1440 rpm drives gear B (60 teeth). Gear C (12 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D (32 teeth) on the output shaft. Find the output speed nout.

nin = 1440 rpmA = 16B = 60C = 12D = 32
nout = rpm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 100 N·md = 20 mmL = 1.5 mφ = ?

A solid steel 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 = 80 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
Td = ?

A solid shaft must transmit 5 kW at 500 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 80 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 5 kWN = 500 rpmτallow = 80 MPa
d = mm
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = −10τxy​ = 50MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = −10 MPa, σᵧ = 0 MPa and τₓᵧ = 50 MPa, with σz = 0. Find the absolute maximum shear stress τabs at the point (considering all planes in three dimensions).

σx = −10 MPaσy = 0 MPaτxy = 50 MPaσz = 0
τabs = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = −70σy​ = 80τxy​ = −50MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = −70 MPa, σᵧ = 80 MPa and τₓᵧ = −50 MPa (σz = 0). The material has a yield strength of 355 MPa. Find the factor of safety n against yielding by the von Mises (distortion energy) criterion.

σx = −70 MPaσy = 80 MPaτxy = −50 MPaσY = 355 MPa
n =
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 16 mmSteel1 mP = 120 kN

Find the axial strain ε in the steel bar, in microstrain (µε = 10⁻⁶).

P = 120 kNd = 16 mmL = 1 mE = 200 GPa
ε = µε
8.Axial stress & strainHard
30 kN12600 mm500 mmØ40Ø30σ2​ = ?

A steel segment (diameter 40 mm, length 600 mm, E = 200 GPa) and a segment made of bronze (diameter 30 mm, length 500 mm, E = 110 GPa) are joined end to end and fixed between two rigid walls. An axial load of 30 kN acts at the joint, towards segment 2. Find the magnitude of the stress σ2 in segment 2.

segment 1: steel, Ø40 mm, 600 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: bronze, Ø30 mm, 500 mm, E = 110 GPaP = 30 kN
σ2 = MPa
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 5 md = 80 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 = 5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 80 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
P = 40 kNL = 5 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 40 kN with a factor of safety of 2 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 40 kNn = 2L = 5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx40 mm1 cycle15.4 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 40 mm is followed one cycle later by a peak of 15.4 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 40 mmx1 = 15.4 mmn = 1
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 40k2​ = 30m = 40 kg

A 40 kg mass hangs from two springs side by side (in parallel), with stiffnesses k₁ = 40 kN/m and k₂ = 30 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 = 40 kN/mk2 = 30 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T1 = 24.7 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·2900/60 = 303.7 rad/s
T1 = P/ω₁ = 7500/303.7 = 24.7 N·m

Answer

T1 = 24.7 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: nout = 144 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 = 1440·16/60 = 384 rpm = nC

Second stage

nout = 384·12/32 = 144 rpm

Answer

nout = 144 rpm

total ratio = 10 : 1

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 6.839 °

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/(80000·15708) = 0.1194 rad
φ = 0.1194·180/π = 6.839°

Answer

φ = 6.839°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 18.25 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 = 5000/52.36 = 95.49 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τallow)) = ∛(16·95493/(π·80)) = 18.25 mm

Answer

d = 18.25 mm

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

5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τabs = 50.25 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. In three dimensions the absolute maximum shear stress is (σmax − σmin)/2 over all three principal stresses; in plane stress the third one is zero.

στxyCσ1​σ2​

In-plane principal stresses

C = −5 MPa, R = √((−5)² + 50²) = 50.25 MPa
σ1 = 45.25 MPa, σ2 = −55.25 MPa, σz = 0

Largest of the three circles

τ = max(|σ1 − σ2|, |σ1|, |σ2|)/2 = max(100.5, 45.25, 55.25)/2 = 50.25 MPa

Answer

τabs = 50.25 MPa

Here σ₁ and σ₂ have opposite signs, so the in-plane maximum R is also the absolute maximum.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: n = 2.273

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 = 5 MPa, R = 90.14 MPa
σ1 = 95.14 MPa, σ2 = −85.14 MPa, σ3 = 0

Von Mises

σvM = √(95.14² − 95.14·(−85.14) + (−85.14)²) = 156.2 MPa
n = 355/156.2 = 2.273

Answer

n = 2.273

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

7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: ε = 2984 µε

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·16²/4 = 201.1 mm²
σ = P/A = 120·1000/201.1 = 596.8 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for steel = 200 GPa = 200000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 596.8/200000 = 0.002984 = 2984 µε

Answer

ε = 2984 µε
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σ2 = 11.49 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 = 200000·1257/600 = 418879 N/mm
k₂ = 110000·706.9/500 = 155509 N/mm

Share of segment 2

F2 = 30000·155509/574388 = 8122 N

Stress

σ2 = 8122/706.9 = 11.49 MPa (compression)

Answer

σ2 = 11.49 MPa
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 222.3 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·80⁴/64 = 2.011 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.5·5000 = 2500 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·2.011 × 10⁶/2500² = 222253 N = 222.3 kN

Answer

Pcr = 222.3 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: d = 56.39 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 = 2·40000 = 80000 N
KL = 0.7·5000 = 3500 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·80000·3500²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 56.39 mm

Answer

d = 56.39 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 248.3, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.1502

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 = (1/1)·ln(40/15.4) = 0.9545

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.9545/√(39.48 + 0.9111) = 0.1502

Answer

ζ = 0.1502
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 6.658 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 = 40 + 30 = 70 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(70000/40) = 41.83 rad/s
fn = 41.83/(2π) = 6.658 Hz

Answer

fn = 6.658 Hz

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