Introduction To Mechanical
Introduction To Mechanical
DESIGN
Structure
I. I Introduction
Object~ves
1.2 The Procedure of Design
I .3 The Machine and its Designer
1.4 Engineering Materials
1.5 Mechanical Properties
1.6 Tension Test
1.7 Stress Strain Diagram of Mild Steel
1.8 Compression Strength
1.9 Torsional Shear Strength
1.10 Elastic Constants
I . 1 1 Hardness
1 .I2 Fatigue
I . I3 Creep
1.14 Impact Strength
1.15 Engineering Materials
1.16 Steel
1.17 Alloy Steel
1.18 Heat Treatment
1.19 Stainless Steel
1.20 Cast Iron
1.2 1 Non-ferrous Materials
1.22 Bearing Materials
1.23 Plastic
1.24 Manufacturing Considerations
1.25 Summary
1.26 Key Words
1.27 Answers to SAQs
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Design is a process that ends in creation of something which will satisfy some need of a
person, group of persons or society. The homes and buildings in which we reside, the
dams which store water for irrigation or generation of electricity, an engine which is
used for pumping water or a hoist for lifting loads are the things that are designed before
they are made. The design does not pertain to a single device, structure or product or
even something which can be seen to exist. The process of design can achieve a system,
which can be identified by its physical entity or by service, which is rendered by the
system.
Fundamentals of The process of design will take into consideration all the fdctors that would likely to
Engineering Design affect the performance of the end system. The constraints in respect of materials to be
used, the processes for changing shapes and size, the personnel to employed, the cost of
components and personnel, transportation of final product or establishment of final
system, etc. will be brought under consideration in the design process. If the end result is
the product then its disposal after it has served its purpose is also to be considered during
design.
Mechanical design is one of several design processes, which ends in systems that
provide for doing certain mechanical work or creating certain desired motion and often
both. Such devices will need enough strength or capacity to bear forces, which result in
doing work and creating motion. The possibility of adopting most economic and
convenient process of shaping material to build the device or system will always be the
priority of design. Keeping the cost low at every step to make end product most
economic will also be the central consideration. Creating such designs will require
designer to have some specified knowledge and experience. In this text we will try to
generate requisite knowledge. Some experience may be gained through solving
problems.
Objectives
After studying this unit, you should be able to
explain what is design?
describe the machine and its designer,
illustrate the procedure of design,
know material used in mechanical design, and
understand the considerations for manufacturing.
There may be an endless list if we want to tabulate all those materials that are used in
engineering practice. They may be identified by their properties and compositions which
will again be too many for description for a text. The materials that are used for making
machines could form a shorter list and properties that are considered at the design stage
may be narrowed down to only essential. We will first describe and define properties of
materials and describe a few important materials to reduce burden on the reader.
The specimen is shown in Figure 1. I. The diameter of the specimen bears constant ratio
with the gauge length which is shown is Figure 1.I as distance between two gauge points
1
marked at the ends of uniform diameter length. In a standard specimen - = 5 . The
d
diameter, d, and gauge length, 1, are measured before the specimen is placed in the
machine. As the axial force increases upon the specimen, its length increases, almost
imperceptibly in the beginning. But if loading continues the length begins to increase
perceptibly and at certain poiht reduction in diameter becomes visible, followed by great
reduction in diameter in the lbcal region of the length. In this localised region the two
parts of the specimen appear to be separating as the machine continues to operate but the
load upon the specimen begins to reduce. Finally at some lesser load the specimen
breaks, with a sound, into two pieces. However, the increase in length and reduction of
load may not be seen in all the materials. Specimens of some materials show too much of
extension and some show too little. The reader must be conversant with the elastic
deformation, which is recoverable and plastic deformation, which is irrecoverable. Both
type of deformations occur during the test. The appearance of visible decrease in the
diameter in the short portion of length (called necking) occurs when the load on the
specimen is highest. The maqhines of this type have arrangement (devices) for the
measurement of axial force, P,and increase in length, 6. The values of force, P and
extensions, 6 can be plotted on a graph. Many machines have x-y recorder attached to it
P
and direct output of graph is obtained. The stress is denoted by o and calculated as -
A
where A is the original area of cross-section. Although the area of cross-section of
specimen begins to change as the deformations goes plastic, this reduction is seen at and
after the maximum load. The separation or fracture into two pieces can be seen to have
occurred on smaller diameter. Yet, the stress all through the test, from beginning to end,
D
is represented by o = f- . The strain is defined as the ratio of change in length at any
A
6
load P and original length 1 and represented by E, i.e. E = - at all loads. Since A and 1
1
are constants hence nature of graph between P and 6 (load-extension) or between o and E
(stress-strain) will be same. Figure 1.2 shows a stress-strain diagram, typically for a
material, which has extended much before fracture occurred.
At first we simply observe yhat this diagram shows. In this diagram o is the starting
point and oa is straight line.!~longline oa, stress (o) is directly proportional to strain (E).
Point b indicates the elastic limit, which means that if specimen is unloaded from any
point between o and b (both inclusive) the unloading curve will truly retrace the loading
curve. Behaviour of specimen material from point b to c is not elastic. In many materials Introduction to
Mechrnicnl Design
all three points of u, b and c may coincide. At c the specimen shows deformation without
any increase in load (or stress). In some materials (notably mild or low carbon steel) the
load (or stress) may reduce perceptibly at c, followed by considerable deformation at the
reduced constant stress. This will be shown in following section. However, in most
materials cd may be a small (or very small) region and then stress starts increasing as if
the material has gained strength. Of course the curve is more inclined toward E axis. This
increase in stress from d to e is due to strain hardening. Also note again that ob is elastic
deformation zone and beyond h the deformation is elastic and plastic - meaning that it is
part recoverable and part irrecoverable. As the deformation increases plastic deformation
increases while elastic deformation remains constant equal to that at b. If the specimen is
unloaded from any point in the plastic deformation region the unloading curve will be
parallel to elastic deformation curve as shown in Figure 1.3.
Percent Elongation
From any point g the unloading will be along gi where gi is parallel to oa. oi is the
strain which remains in the specimen or the specimen is permanently elongated by
I E~ The total strain at g when the specimen is loaded is oj = E, + E, where E,, is
recoverable part. At fracture, i.e. at point5 if one is able to control and unload the
specimen just before fracture, the unloaded will follow f k. The strain ok is an
important property because deformation is defined as percent elongation. Hence,
ok = % elongationI100. Percent elongation is important property and is often
measured by placing two broken pieces together and measuring the distance
between the gauge points. You can easily see that after the fracture has occurred,
the specimen is no more under load, hence elastic deformation (which is equal to
km) is completely recovered. However, in a so-called ductile material km << om.
lfthe distance between gauge points measured on two broken halves placed
together is I, then
I, - I
% Elongation = -x 100
I
Fundamentals of The gauge length has pronounced effect on % elongation. Since the major amourit
Engineering Design of deformation occurs locally, i.e. over very small length smaller gauge length will
1
result in higher % elongation. After - > 5 the % elongation becomes independent
d
of gauge length. % elongation is an indication of very important property of the
material called ductility. The ductility is defined as the property by virtue of
which a material can be drawn into wires which means length can be increased
and diameter can be reduced without fracture. However, a ductile material
deforms plastically before it fails. The property opposite to ductility is called
brittleness. A brittle material does not show enough plastic deformation. Brittle
materials are weak under tensile dress, though they are stronger than most ductile
materials in compression.
A typical diagram for a brittle material is shown in Figure 1.4. The definitions like
too much and too small % elongation fail to give numerical indication. Hence
engineers regard all those materials as brittle, which show a % elongation less
than 5% other are regarded as ductile. Most steels in carbon and medium carbon
range are ductile by this definition. Cast iron is a typical brittle material. Concrete
is another example of a brittle material. The failures in engineering structures and
machine elements always take place due to tensile stress and hence brittle
materials are not used for making such elements. Such components like beds of
machines and foundations can be made in cast iron. If tensile stress carrying
members have to be made in c.1 then they have to be made heavy for making
stress very low.
Ultimate Tensile Strength, Yield Strength and Proof Stress
The maximum stress reached in a tension test is defined as ultimate tensile
strength. As shown in Figure 1.3 the highest stress is at point e and ultimate
tensile stress (UTS) is represented by a,. Some authors represent it by ti,,.The
point C marks the beginning whiled marks the end of yielding. The C is called
upper yield point whiled is called the lower yield point. The stress corresponding
to lower yield point is defined as the yield strength. For the purposes of
machines. the part has practically fail if stress reaches yield strength, (a,), for this
marks the beginning of the plastic deformation. Plastic deformation in machine
parts is not permissible. Hence one may be inclined to treat o, as failure criterion.
We will further discuss this later in the unit.
It is unfortunate to note that many practical materials show a - E diagrams which
do not have such well defined yielding as in Figures 1.2 and 1.3. Instead they
show a continuous transition from elastic to plastic deformation. In such cases
yield strength (o,)becomes difficult to determine. For this reason an alternative,
called proof stress, is defined which is a stress corresponding to certain predefined
strain. The proof strevs is denoted by a,. A a - E diagram for a material, which
shows no distinct yield is shown in Figure 1.5. The proof stress is determined introduction to
Mechanical Design
corresponding to proof strain a,, which is after called offset by laying a,, on strain
axis to obtain a point q on a axis and drawing a line parallel to elastic line to cut
the o - a curve at p. Then o, is measured on stress axis. The values of proof strain
or offset have been standardized for different materials by American Society for
Testing and Materials (ASTM). For example, offset for aluminum alloys is 0.2%,
same in for steels while it is 0.05% for cast iron (Cl) and 0.35 for brass and
bronze.
W= I pdl= A1 I -.P dl
- = (vol.)
A 1
o da
Apparently the quantity ) o d a is the energy stored in the specimen per unit
volume and is nothing but the area under the o - a curve, up to any point
toughness is regard as ability of a material to absorb strain energy during elastic
and plastic deformation. The resilience is same capacity within elastic range. 'The
maximum toughness will apparently be at fracture, which is the area under entire
o - a diagram. This energy is called module of toughness. Likewise the
maximum energy absorbed the specimen within elastic limit is called modulus of
resilience. This is the energy absorbed the tension specimen when the
deformation has reached point a in Figure 1.2. But since in most materials the
proportional limit, elastic limit (points a and b in Figures 1.2 and 1.3) seem to
coincide with yield stress as shows in Figure 1.3, the modules of resilience is the
area of triangle as shown in Figure 1.6.
I n ~ e d i u r C Steel
n
It can be seen that modulus of resilience is greater for medium carbon steel than
for mild steel, whereas modules of toughness of two materials may be closely
same. Medium carbon steel apparently has higher UTS and YS but smaller percent
elongation with respect to mild steel. High modules of resilience is preferred for
such machine parts, which are required to store energy. Springs are good
example. Hence, springs are made in high yield strength materials.
Fundamentals of SAQ 1
Engitteering Design
(a) Discuss the procedure of Design.
(b) What characteristics a designer must possess?
(c) Sketch a stress-stain diagram. What properties you can define with the help
of this diagram?
i
(d)
k
Distinguish between a brittle nd ductile material. Why is a brittle material
not favoured for use as machi e element?
(e) Define modulus of resilience kind modules of toughness.
The proportional limit, elastic limit and upper yield point almost coincide. d is lower
yield point and deformation from c to d is at almost constant stress level. There is
perceptible drop in stress from c to c'. The deformation from c' to d is almost 10 times
the deformation, etc. It can be seen effectively if strain is plotted on larger scale, as
shown on right hand side in Figure 1.7, in which the E scale has been doubled.
The mechanism of yielding is well understood and it is attributed to line defects,
dislocations. The readers are already exposed to this defect in the subject of Material
Science. This defect in materials is also responsible for effect of strain rate on
mechanical properties like UTS, YS and percent elongation.
The UTS normally increases with increasing strain rate and decreases with increasing
temperature. Similar trend is shown by yield strength, particularly in low carbon steel.
I
I
where T,,,, is maximum torque, j is polar moment of inertia of the specimen section of
diameter d. From the T - 0 diagram the slope of linear region can be found as
proportional to modulus of rigidity, which is ratio of shearing stress to shearing strain.
Poisson's ratio which is the ratio of transverse to longitudinal strains (only magnitude) is
yet another elastic constant. If stress o acts in three directions at a point it is called
volumetric stress and produces volumetric strain. The ratio of volumetric stress to
volumetric strain according to Hooke's law is a constant, called bulk modulus and
denoted by K. It is important to remember that out of four elastic constants, for an
isotropic material only two are independent and other two are dependent. Thus K can
also be expressed as function of any two constants.
It may be understood that elastic constants E and G are not determined from tension or
torsion test because the machines for these tests undergo adjustment of clearance and
also some deformation, which is reflected in diagram ordinarily. The constants are
determined from such devices, which show large deformation for comparatively smaller
load. For example, E is determined by measuring deflection of a beam under a central
load and G is determined by measuring deflection of a close-coiled helical spring under
an axial load. Poisson's ratio is normally not measured directly but is calculated from
above equation. The elastic constants remain fairly constant for a class of material and
are independent of specimens.
1.11 HARDNESS
Hardness of a inaterial is its ability to resist indentation or scratching. This property is
the measure of resistance to wear and abrasion. Both scratch and indention methods are
used for determining this property. For engineering purposes indentation method is used.
The load that is used to cause inde~tationon a flat surface by an indenter is divided by
surface area of indentation to obtain a number that is called hardness number. A ball of
10 mm diameter made in hardened steel is used as an indenter under a load of 30000 N
and kept applied for 30 sec. There of indentation is
with D as diameter of the ball and d as the diameter of impression on flat surface.
Different loads are used for different materials. Brinell hardness number is the ratio of
load P and area of indented surface as given above. Instead of using the area of surface
of indentation of divide the load P to obtain harness number one can use the area of
circular impression on the surface or the projected area or the depth of indentation
directly can be used as an indicator of hardness. The former is used to determine Meyer
hardness number while latter is used with a different (conical) indentor for Rockwell
hardness number. Rockwell hardness uses different loads and indentors for having
different Rockwell scales. Rockwell C is commonly used for steels. Rockwell method is
generally preferred over Brinell because it does not require a finished surface, it can be
determined on a finished part without spoiling the surface and it gives the reading of
hardness directly. Rockwell method measures the depth of the indentation and hardness,
called Rockwell hardness number is inversely proportional to the depth of indentation.
It is no wonder that a relationship exists between hardness of a material and its strength
because both are related to bonding forces at atomic level. Because of nature of stress in
a hardness test being complex (triaxial) and effect of friction creeping in due to contact
between the indentor and the specimen such relationship is difficult to establish.
However, empirically the ultimate tensile strength and Rockwell c hardness are related
as
I t is also interesting to note that techniques, which increase the ultimate tensile strength Introducliun lo
hlechanical Design
of material also increase the hardness. Increase in strength and hardness is associated
with decrease in ductility (%age elongation), increase in yield or proof strength and
consequent increase in ~nodulusof resilience. For this reason hardness is often used in
lieu of elaborate tension test for characterizing a material or checking effectiveness of
any treatment. Hardness is also used for calculating UTS (o,,) in design.
It may also be mentioned here that while the treatments given to material may alter yield
strength ultimate tensile strength, hardness and %age elongation. the module of elasticity
will remain unchanged. That's why the constants of material are to be differentiated
from mechanical properties.
1.12 FATIGUE
Fatigue is not the property but the behaviour of material under stress which changes with
time. Most interesting thing about fatigue is that a stress level which is below yield or
elastic limit is safe if applied once, but if same level is applied repeatedly upon a
specimen then it will fail. Such a failure under repeated stressing is called fatigue failure
and has discernible characteristics.
The most important characteristic of fatigue failure is that it is without perceptible
plastic deformation in the region of fracture. Even if the specimen is loaded under axial
tensile stress which reverses and whose magnitude is below yield strength, the fatigue
failure will occur and there will be no necking or elongation in the specimen. The
fracture surface has a characteristic appearance with rings (under magnification) and
rough surface (Figure 1.9).
Smooth region
rlngs can be seen
under magnification
Rough zone
The number of cycles after which the specimen fails is failed the fatigue life at the
applied stress. If stress level is plotted against In of number of cycles at failure the
characteristic fatigue curve is obtained (Figure 1.10). The curve indicates that at lower
I stress level the specimen tends to have longer life or even may not fail. All fatigue tests
are stopped at lo7 cycles and a specimen surviving 10 million cycles is regarded survival
or non-failure. The stress level at which specimen survives 10 million cycles is called
fatigue strength or endurance l i n ~ i (former
t denoted by o,is preferably used). Fatigue
life at given stress level and fatigue strength are two fatigue properties and they are
influenced by several factors such as specimen size, surface finish, stress concentration,
temperature, frequency, etc. A smooth polished specimen at frequency less than
1000 cycleslmin. and room temperature will have
Fundanlentals of o, = 0.5 o,(steels)
E~rgineeringDesign
o, = 0.4 o,,(non-ferrous)
The fatigue strength is affected by several variables :
(a) Fine finished surfaces result in high fatigue strength.
(b) Stress concentration reduces fatigue strength but not as much as stress
concentration factor.
(c) All treatments that improve static strength also improves fatigue strength.
(d) Under-stressing is process of stress cycling below fatigue strength. It
improves fatigue strength. Gradually increasing cyclic stress up to fatigue
strength is coaxing.
(e) Small size specimen (6 to 12 mm dia) have higher fatigue strength than
larger size specimen (> 6, mm dia), but after 100 mm dia, this effect levels
off.
(f) Corrosive atmobphere, high temperature cause reduction in fatigue strength.
1.13 CREEP
Yet another important behaviour of material arises when the material is subjected to a
constant load over a long time. It is found that a body of material subjected to a load
which causes stress less than yield strength, over a long period of time. undergoes a
deformation which increases as time possess. The strain so created may ultimately cause
the failure. The behaviour of material is termed creep and the strain is known as creep
strain. The rate at which strain increases will decide after what time the material will
fail. At higher stress the strain rate will be higher and vice-versa. It may be noted from
the definition given here that the temperature is not a requirement for creep deformation
to occur. Creep occurs at all temperatures. However, the creep rate is accelerated with
increasing temperature and at temperature which is close to half of melting point
temperature on absolute scale, creep becomes an important consideration in design. Thus
theoretically though higher temperature is not an essential condition for creep yet at
higher temperature it is a real problem. The creep rate at constant temperature increases
with increase in stress and qt constant stress it increases with increase in temperature.
The characteristic creep curve is plotted between creep strain and time and is
characterised by three stages as shown in Figure 1 . I 1. A designer would prefer to load a
machine part in such a way that only secondary creep having a constant creep rate sets
in. Tertiary creep is characterized by increasing creep rate and fast ends in fracture.
Creep becomes an important consideration in gas turbine blading design because
temperature is high. The higher limit oftemperature in gas turbine is limited because of
creep of blading material.
Secondary
Steady State
Tert~ary
1
h
lrnpact Load
Nolch
ta
(a) Chary test
Impact load
(b)lzod test
Temperature
1.16 STEEL
By far the colnmonest engineering materials, after brick and concrete, is steel. Steel is
known for its several favourable properties. It has strength and ductility, good electrical
and thermal conductivity, it is amenable to machining and other manufacturing processes
and it is comparatively easily produced.
A Steel containing C in the range of 0.04 to 1.2% along with Mn (0.3 to 1.04%), Si (upto
0.3%), S (max 0.04%), P) lnax 0.05%) is classified as plain carbon steel. Another group
is called alloy steel. C steel is further divided into three groups. They are described here.
Low C Steel
Carbon less than 0.27%. It is marked by high ductility, low strength, good
machinability and formability. They are weldable but do not respond to heat
treatment.
Medium C Steel
Carbon varies between 0.27 and 0.57%. This steels is heat treatable and good
strength is achievable after treatment. This steel is stronger and tougher than low
carbon steel and machines well.
High C Steel
They contain more than 0.57% C. The high C steel responds readily to heat
treatment. In heat-treated state they develop very high strength and hardness and
thus become less machinable. They also lose ductility and in the high carbon range
may become very brittle. The higher C content makes these steel difficult to weld.
Funda~nentalsof Following table describes applications, the properties required for applications and the
Engineering Design steel which can provide such properties.
3. 1 Shafts and gears Heat treatable for good Med C (1030), 0.2710.35, 1
strength and ductility 0.2010.35, 0.510.80
I
Crank shaft, bolts, Heat treatable for good Med C (1040). 0.3610.45,
connecting rod. machine strength and ductility 0.2010.35,0.60/0.90
component
* Composition In %of C, Si, Mn (in this order) with Max P-0.04% and Max S-0.05.
(a) Higher hardness, strength and toughness, hardness on surface and over
bigger cross-section.
(b) By forming carbides which are harder and stronger. Carbides of Cr and V
are hardest and strongest against wear particularly after tempering. High
22 alloy tool steel use this effect.
Ni and Mn lower the austenite formation temperature while other alloying ll~truductiolll o
(c) h.lechunicrl Design
elements raise this temperature. Most elements shift eutectoid composition
to lower C % age.
(d) Most elements shift the isothermal transformation curve- (TTTj to lower
temperature, thus lowering the critical cooling rate. Mn, Ni, Cr and Mo are
promznently ejyective in this respect.
Effects of individual alloying elements on properties of steel :
Sulfur
S is not a desirable element in steel because it interferes with hot rolling and
forging resulting in hot-shortness or hot embitterment. S, however, is helpful in
developing free cutting nature. S u p to 0.33% is added in,free cutting steel. If steel
is not free cutting S is restricted to 0.05% in open hearth or converter steel and to
0.025% in electric furnace steel.
Phosphorous
P produces cold shortness, which reduces impact strength at low temperature. SO
its %age is generally restricted to level of S. It is helpful in free cutting steels and
is added up to 0.12%. It also improves resistance to corrosion.
r Silicon
S, is present in all steels but is added up to 5% in steels used as laminates in
transformers, motors and generators. For providing toughness it is an important
constituent in steel used for spring, chisels and punches. It has a good effect in
heel that it combines with free O2 forming S,02increasing strength and soundness
of steel castings (up to 0.5%).
Manganese
12 to 14% of Mn produces extremely tough, wear resistant and nonmagnetic steel
called Hatjield Steel. It is important ingredient of free cutting steel upto 1.6%. Mn
combines with S, forming MnS. For this purpose Mn must be 3 to 8 times the S.
M, is effective in increasing hardness and hardenability.
Nickel
Ni is good in increasing hardness, strength and toughness while maintaining
ductility. 0.5% of Ni is good for parts subjected to impact loads at room and very
low temperature. Higher amounts of Ni help improve the corrosion resistance in
presence of Cr as in stainless steel. Nickel in steel results in good mechanical
properties after annealing and normalising and hence large forgings, castings and
structural parts are made in Ni-steel.
Chromium
Cr is common alloying element in tool steels. stainless steels, corrosion resistant
steels (4% Cr). It forms carbide and generally improves harness, wear and
oxidation resistance at elevated temperature. It improves hardenability of thicker
sections.
Molybdenum
Mo is commonly present in high-speed tool steel, carburising steel and heat
resisting steel. It forms carbide having high wear resistance and retaining strength
at high temperatures. Mo generally increases hardenability and helps improve the
effects of other alloying elements like M,, Ni and Cr.
Tungsten
W is important ingredient of tool steel and heat resisting steel and generally has
same effects as Mo but 2 to 3% W has same effect as 1% of Mo.
Fundrmentrls of Vanadium
Engineering Design
Like Mo, V has inhibiting influence on grain growth at high temperature. V
carbide possesses highest hardness and wear resistance. It improves fatigue
resistance. It is important constituent of tool steel and may be added to
carburising steel. Hardenability is markedly increased due to V.
Titanium
Addition of Ti in stainless steel does not permit precipitation of Cr carbide since
Ti is stronger carbide former and fixes the C.
Cobalt
It imparts magnetic property to high C steel. In the presence of Cr, Co does not
permit scale formation at high temperature by increasing corrosion resistance.
.
Copper
Atmospheric corrosion resistance of steel is increased by addition of 0.1
to 0.6% Cu.
Boron
Lead
Less than 0.35% Pb improves machinability.
Aluminum
Al in %age of 1 to 3 in nitriding steels is added to improve harness by way of
forming A1 nitride. 0.01 to 0.06% A1 added during solidification produces
fine-grained steel castings.
We may also correlate certain desired properties with alloying elements. They are
mentioned below.
(c) The presence, of Cr, Mo and W helps steel to retain strength at high
temperatures.
(e) Wear resistance of steel increases when alloyed with Cr, Mo, W and V.
Ii Ii 11 1 8 : 4 : 1 steeland
6 : 5: 4: 2 steel
I
i
Ii
Creep resisting steel Application in pipeline upto
400-550°C
Ball bearing steel Rolling element. inner and outer C-0.9 to 1.1% Cr-0.6
races. High hardness 61-65 R, to 1.6%, Mn-0.2 to
high fatigue strength 0.4%
Hadfield Mn steel Resistance to abrasion ad shock. C-I to 1.4% Si-0.3 to
excavating and high toughness, strength ad 1.0% Mn- I0 to 14%
crushing machine, ductility with Fe
railroad crossing, oil
well, cement, mining
industries. Used as
casting and hot rolled
High strength low
alloy steel (HSLA)
High strengthlweight ratio.
Balanced properties such as
C-0.07 to 1.3%. TI, V.
A1 Co less than 0.5% 1
i for automotive parts toughness, fatigue strength.
weldability and formability
I
:
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Fundamentals o f
Engineering Design 1.18 HEAT TREATIMENT
Heat treatment is the process through controlled heating and cooling of metal to induce
desired properties. The process causes changes in the structural arrangements in the
structure of the metal. The structure of an alloy is made up of different phases, which
precipitate from molten mixture depending upon the rate of cooling. The reader may like
to improve familiarity with phakes by revising parts of Material Science and we will
ignore such details in this text. The medium carbon steel, high carbon steel and alloy
steel are especially sensitive to heat treatment. Several handbooks describe heat
treatments of several classes of steel. It will suffice here to give brief description.
Annealing
The steel is heated slightly above the critical temperature cooled slowly, often
keeping material in the furnace and shutting off heat. The annealing will result in
uniform grain structure, reduced strength and harness and increased ductility.
Internal stresses which might have resulted from previous treatment (mechanical
or thermal) are removed by annealing.
Normalising
The heating is same as in annealing but the metal is cooled faster by placing it out
of the furnace. This treatment removes effect of any previous heat treatment and
prepares the metal for further treatment.
Quenching
Quenching is rapid cooling at different rates. It is cheved by immersing the heated
metal from above critical temperature into cold water or any other cooling
medium. The quenching results in high hardness. Steels develop high hardness by
retaining iron carbide which forms at critical temperature and des not find time to
decompose as the cooling occurs very fast. Cooling media such as ice water. cool
water, oil, hot oil, molten salts and molten lead are used depending upon desired
cooling rate. The result of quenching is increased hardness and strength and
decreased ductility while improper quenching may result in surface cracks.
Tempering
Some of the lost ductility due to quenching is restored through tempering. In this
process the quenched metal is heated to some pre-decided temperature and metal
is soaked for some time. The range of temperature used for steel is generally from
200°C to 600°C and cooling is done in the furnace. The tempering treatment also
helps remove internal stresses, which are created due to hardening treatment. UTS,
Ys and hardness reduce while % elongation, impact strength increase due to
tempering at temperatures of 300°C and above. There is little effect on these
properties below 300°C.
Casehardening
Casehardening is a surface hardening process, often applied on low carbon steels
which do not responded to heat treatment. The process consists in packing the
steel piece in charcoal powder and covered from outside. The charcoal powder
cuts of air. When heated in a furnace the carbon from charcoal penetrates the
surface and on quenching the carburized surface retains hardness. 'The process is
also known as carburizing and steels containing 0.1 to 0.25% C are easily
carburized. The mechanism of hardening is two fold. Firstly the carbon of iron is
very hard and due to quenching it is retained in the surface. Secondly due to
increase in C in the surface layer, the residual compressive stress is produced.
Surface hardening is advantageous in case of gear teeth since the inner bulk
material still remains softer and tougher and thus combined advantage of harder
surface and tougher core mereases the life.
It may be pointed out here that surface is the weakest region of the material in any I~itrotIuctionto
M e c l ~ a n i c aDesign
l
form. Fatigue cracks initiate late in hard surface and the wear resistance in also
better.
Besides carburizing by packing there are other methods of surface hardening of
steels. In gas carburizing the metal is heated in gas atmosphere in controlled
manner to avoid oxidation and permit absorption of the gas in the surface. The
gasses used for the purpose are natural gas, coke oven gas, butane or propane. In
the process called cyaniding the steel part is heated covered with the mixture of
potassium ferrocyanide and potassium bichromate. In some cases the mixture is
replaced by powdered potassium cyanide. A very hard case is produced by
cyaniding. A thin hardened layer is produced by immersion of part in the heated
cyanide solution. Natriding is yet another method of case hardening. It consists in
heating the part in the presence of dissociated ammonia in the range of 570°C to
61 0°C.
The surface hardness of 60 Rockwell C associated with core hardness of 33 to
38 RC is produced by carburizing. Nitriding can produce surface hardness upto
70 RC and core hardness of 27 to 47 RC. Natrided parts can be tempered. All
steels can be nitrided but those containing aluminum develop very high hardness.
Nitralloy 135 and 135 modified is a highly preferred material for gears. It contains
C-0.3510.41, Mn-0.55, Si-0.3, Cr-1.2011.60, AI-1.00, Mo-0.2010.35. This material
develops surface hardness of 65-70 and core hardness of 30-36 RC. AISI 4340
(C-0.40, Mn-0.70, Si-0.30, Cr-0.80, Mo-0.25, Ni-1.00) and AISI 4140 (C-0.40,
Mn-0.90. Si-0.30, Cr-0.95, Mo-0.20) are two other steels. which are nitrided and
used to make gears.
The high frequency current when passed through body of a part results in surface
heating. Once heated this way, the part is quenched in water. This treatment
resulting into hardened surface is called induction hardening for which steels
containing 0.4 to 0.5% C is good.
SAQ 2
(a) Sketch o - E diagram for mild steel and compare with o - E diagram of
other ductile material.
(b) Define elastic constants for isotropic material and give their correlation.
(c) Define hardness and state how is the hardness of metal measured. How is
UTS relatedto hardness?
(d) What do you understand by fatigue strength and enumerate factors that
affect fatigue strength?
(e) Describe three stages of creep.
(f) What is the use of information obtained from impact test?
This is the most abundantly used stainless steel and has ferritic structure because
which it cannot be heat-treated. It has high resistance against corrosion and
oxidation. It is used in furnace as container of acids and trims of alitomobiles.
Carbon content of ferritic steel varies from 0.08 to 0.2%, Cr from 12 to 20.
Mn from 1 to IS%, and Si is 1.0%.
Martensitic Stainless Steel
This steel has martensitic structure and hence hardness. It can be hardened by
quenching. It is used for table wear, surgical instruments, springs, blades of
turbines and tools like cutting blades. The composition is C-0.01 to 1.2%, Cr-I2 to
18%, Mn-l t3 1.2%, Si-0.05 to 1 .O, Ni-1 .O to 2.0%. For surgical instruments
0.75% Mo is added. Free machining quality achieved big additional of 0.75% S.
Austenitic Stainless Steels
This steel has austenitic structure. C is less than 0.2 whereas Cr varies between
16 and 24% while Ni from 8 to 22%. Ni helps stabilizing austenite. Mn and Si,
respectively vary between 2 to 10% and 1 to 3%. Addition of 0.15% makes this
steel free cutting. The most wideIy used verity is 18.8 stainless steel which
contains 18% Cr and 8% Ni. This steel can be easily cold worked and does not
strain harden. It is used for chemical plants, mainly with joints. It is, however,
susceptible to intergranular corrosion.
Bronze and
SAE Number
/ omp position
Mechanical Properties
U TS
MPa
YS
MPa
olO
Elong.
Applications
Copper-lead alloys, containing a larger percentage of lead have found a considerable use
as bearing material lately. Straight copper-lead alloys of this type have only half the
strength of regular bearing bronzes. They are particularly advantageous over babbitt at
high temperature as they can retain their tensile strength at such temperatures. Most
babbitt have low melting point and lose practically at tensile strength at about 200°C.
Typical copper-lead alloys contain about 75% copper and 25% lead and melt at 980°C.
The room temperature tensile strength of copper-lead alloy is about 73 Mpa and reduces
to about 33 Mpa at about 200°C.
Other Bearing Materials
An extensively hard wood of great density, known as lignum vitae, has been used
for bearing applications. With water as lubricant and cooling medium its
antifriction properties and wear are comparable with those of bearing metals.
Lignum vitae has been used with satisfactory results particularly in cases of step
brings of vertical water turbine, paper mill machinery, marine service and even
roll neck bearing of rolling mills.
More recently, in such cases where use of water as lubricant is necessary,
especially if sand and grit are present soft vulcanized rubber bearings have been
used. A soft, tough, resilient rubber acts as a yielding support, permitting grit to
pass through the bearing without scoring the shaft or the rubber.
Graphite. which is a form of carbon, has been used as lubricant in bronze bearing Introduction to
Mechanical Ilesign
but bearing made entirely of carbon are being used. At low speeds carbon bearings
can carry pressure as high as 6.8 MPa.
Synthetic and natural composite materials, plastic and reinforced plastic are being
used as bearing material. However. their characteristics are not well established as
yet. Powder metallurgy bushing permits oil to penetrate into the material because
of its porosity.
1.23 PLASTIC
Plastic have gained immense popularity as engineering materials. These organic
materials. also know as polymers lack strength of metals and can not stand temperature
higher than 150°C yet they offer the advantages of convenient manufacturing into several
shapes and sizes right from molten state. They can be machined but cannot be formed
from solid state as metals can be done. The plastics have good surface finish; they are
not corroded and are not biodegradable. Due to the last property the plastics are difficult
to dispose off. These materials do not conduct electricity hence are used for making
electrical fittings. They are also bad conductors of heat. hence are used as insulators in
and housing for instruments and equipment, which produce heat inside. The low density
, is a strong property of plastic. Heaviest plastic has specific gravity of 2.3 against 7.8 of
steel and 2.7 of aluminum. The plastic content of automobile has gradually increased
from 12 kgf in 1960 to 100 kgf in 1980 and to 150 kgf in nineties. The plastic replaces
several times its weight in metals and automobiles thus become lighter. The plastics
offer advantages like low cost, elimination of finishing processes, simplified assembly,
reduction of noise and vibration.
P6lymers are classified into three broad divisions, viz. plastics, fibres and elastomers.
Thermoplastic resins are usually revised to as plastics and have the property of
increasing plasticity, i.e. ability to deform plastically with increasing temperature. They
have long chain structure. Thermosetting resins on the other hand have three-
dimensional network of primary bonds. They do not soften on heating, they become
harder due to completion of any left over polymerization reaction on heating.
Thermoplastics in colnmon use are low density and high density polyethylene, rigid
chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyproylene. ABS, Acrylic and
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Most of them have maximum use temperature of about
100°C. Only PTFE can be used at higher temperature upto 250°C. This material is used
for bearing. Polyethylene is used in automobile interiors. ABS is acronym for a family of
ther~noplasticsmade of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene. ABS is used for making
body of business machine, telephone housing and pipe and fitting in drain waste.
Thermosetting plastics in large number are made and used in industry. They can resist
little higher temperature than thermoplastics have higher insulation against heat and
electricity and have better dimensional stability. Malamine is very popular in consumer
items -particularly dinner sets. Most of these plastics like phenolic, epoxy and
rl;'
malainin: are used as bonding agents in plywood and particle boards. Epoxy is also
favoured coating surfaces for prevention of corrosion, improving surfaces and as primer
on automobile body.
Elastomers are the materials, which deform from double the length to ten times original
length. Rubber is an elastomer, which is obtained in liquid form trees but converted into
solid by process of vulcanisation. The use of rubber as shock absorber or vibration
dampner is well known styrenebutadiene is an artificial rubber.
1.25 SUMMARY -
Design is a decision making process in which a designer formulates the problem in clear
terms, finals several alternatives. selects the best solution, analyzes the best solution,
selccts material and determines dimensions. The process allows for modification to
achieve improvement at each step. The results are presented in form of a report which
will necessarily contain drawings. instructions for heat treatment, special processes, etc.
The designer of machine is required to have comprehensive knowledge of mechanical
engineering so that he understands clearly the various forces that act upon several parts
of machines and circumstances in which the machine and its parts have to perform. The
designer must be conversant with methods of analyzing stress through theoretical,
experimental and numerical methods. He may depend upon one or two of them so that he
can analyze a part con~pletely.The designer should be sensitive to human needs,
capabilities and sensibilities so that his design fulfills the objective, can be operated and
maintained by common person and pleases him to possess.
The engineering materials are used to make machine parts and there exist several of
them. They are all used to serve specific purpose based upon properties. The properties
that designer of machine will use will be related to strength and material behaviour under
load. The properties normally needed by machine part are yield strength. ultimate tensile
strength, percent elongation, toughness and residence. They are determined from tension
test on universal testing machine. 'The hardness and impact strength, though not used
indirect calculation are used for selecting materials for specific purposes. Fatigue and
creep are behaviours and conditions of varying load and constant load acting over a long
period respectively. While latter is a condition to be considered only in case of higher
temperatures, fatigue is the type of loading to which all machines, machine parts and
structure are subjected. Fatigue strength, which is defined as the stress at which material
will never fail, no matter how many times that stress varies, then appears to be the only
important property on the basis of which machine parts must be designed. However,
while on one hand its determination is difficult, on the other hand it has a definite
relationship with ultimate tensile strength (UTS). Hence UTS can be used as design
basis after fully understanding several factors that intluence fatigue strength.
b undarnentals of Out of several metallic lnaterials steel is the most common choice because such reasons
Engineering Design as easy availability, good strength, workability, ductility and heat treatability. Cast iron
is another good ferrous material preferred to.produce casting for its availability.
hardness, compressive strength and damping properties. Plain carbon steel, containing
Mn, Si, S and P in addition to carbon with large proportion iron is divided into three
types. viz. low carbon (0.08 to 0.27% C), medium carbon (0.28-0.57% C) and high
carbon (0.58 to 1.2% C) steels. Additionally Cr, Mo, Ni, V, Co, Al. Cu. etc. may be
added to obtain series of alloy steels which have better mechanical properties with
increased cost. Three types of stainless steels (ferritic. austenitic mortensitic) are in
common use for their corrosion and oxidation resistances. Each alloying element imparts
particular characteristic to steel. Steel of all types are heat treatable except low carbon
steel. They, however, can be case hardened like medium carbon and some alloy steels.
Plastic are being used for making parts of machines because they are light in weight.
However, they cannot compete with metals in strength. Non-ferrous metals which are
mainly alloys of aluminum, copper, zinc, magnesium, nickel, etc. are used for specific
reasons of weight and properties. They are invariably used in sliding bearings.
The design has to consider the available manufacturing processes and effects of such
processes on final product.