Mechanical Principles 2

By Kwasi George
1. The compound gear system for a gearbox is shown below and has the following
properties:
N2 = 15 Teeth
N3 = 25 Teeth
N4 = 12 Teeth
N5 = 30 Teeth
Gear 2 is the input and revolves at 1200 rev/min clockwise.
The input Torque is 30 Nm.
The efficiency is 75%

A. Calculate the gear ratio (𝜔𝑜𝑢𝑡/𝜔𝑖𝑛)

Gear ratio = teeth on driven gear/ teeth on driving gear
In compound gears multiply individual ratios
𝑁3 𝑁
𝑁2
× 𝑁5
4

25 30
× = 4.167
15 12

B. Determine the velocity ratio of this gear train.

 1 1
𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 = = = 0.24
𝑔𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 4.167

C. Calculate the holding torque of this gearbox. (Note: determine the output
Power before calculating holding torque.)
2𝜋
𝑃𝑖𝑛 = 𝑇𝑖𝑛 𝜔𝑖𝑛 = 30 × 1200 × = 3769.91𝑊
60
𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 3769.91 × 0.75 = 2827.43𝑊

2.

A. As the lead design engineer for a lifting company, you are required to design a
lead screw for an
industrial application. It must have square threads with a pitch of 3mm and a mean
diameter of 12mm. the
coefficient of friction for the material is 0.2. Calculate the torque requirement of the
driving motor when the
load is 5 kN.

𝑝𝑖𝑡𝑐ℎ 0.003
𝑡𝑎𝑛(𝛼 ) = = = 0.0796
𝜋 × 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝜋 × 0.012
𝛼 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 (0.0796) = 4.55°
𝛽 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 0.2 = 11.31°
𝐹 = 𝑊 𝑡𝑎𝑛(𝛽 + 𝛼 ) = 5000 𝑡𝑎𝑛(15.86) = 1420.51𝑁
𝑇 = 𝐹 × 𝑟 = 1420.51 × 0.006 = 8.523𝑁𝑚
B. The main agitator mechanism for an industrial dough mixer makes use of a screw
jack used to raise and
lower a load by applying an effort through a lever. The system has the following
characteristics:
- Load to be raised 5000 N
- Thread pitch 10 mm
- Thread diameter 50 mm
- Coefficient of friction 0.15
- Radius of lever 400 mm

Calculate the efficiency to raise the load.

𝑝
𝛼 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( ) = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 (10/50𝜋) = 3.64°
𝜋𝐷
𝛽 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 𝜇 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 0.15 = 8.53°
𝑝 10
𝜂= = = 0.29 = 29%
𝜋D tan(𝛽 + 𝛼 ) 𝜋 × 50𝑡𝑎𝑛(12.17)

3. Explain the term velocity ratio and explain the conditions required for constant
velocity between two joined shafts.

The velocity ratio is the ratio of the distance a gears’ driven part moves to the
distance the driving gear moves in the same amount of time. I can be found by
dividing 1 by the gear ratio. To have constant velocity between 2 shafts you connect
them with gears.

4. Examine the following devices which function to store mechanical energy in their
operation:
 A. Pumped Hydroelectric Storage
This form of energy storage has two water reservoirs at different heights.
Power is generated when water from the higher reservoir flows downhill
through a turbine into the lower reservoir. This is the most cost-effective way
to store large amounts of electricity. It has a 70% – 85% efficiency. Energy
loses occur due to turbine inefficiencies. A large volume of water is necessary
thus this method has a very low energy density.

B. Compressed Air Energy Storage

Air placed under high pressures and released when energy is needed.
Different machines use this concept differently based on their purpose. A
power plant may bury a massive tank underground and compress it with air.
Then to release the air it is heated and passed through a turbine generating
power. The ait can be stored adiabatically or diabatically, the former is almost
100% efficiency whilst the latter is between 38% - 68%. In adiabatic storage
the heat from compression of the air is stored in a medium (liquid or solid) and
incorporated during release. In diabatic storage all heat is lose in cooling and
during release gas is burned to reheat the air. This technology is being
developed to power cars that have zero emissions.

C. Flywheels
Flywheels are spinning cylinders that can store rotational energy in the form of
rotational momentum and stabilise rotating equipment. For example in an
engine crank shaft, if a flywheel is attached, even when torque is removed the
flywheel can provide intermediate torque.

5. Examine the cause of the documented case of power transmission failure

(Attached PDF: FAILURE
ANALYSIS OF YOKE JOINT ASSEMBLY) and the steps taken to correct the
problem and rectify any design faults.

6. Explain the natural frequency of vibration in the mass spring system shown below:
Natural frequency is the cycles per second performed by the spring-mass system
due to its mass and the spring constant when a force is applied. When a force is
applied, the spring can move from position k to position y=0. The distance between
those points is the max displacement, d. The time it takes from k to y=0 then back to
k is the period of oscillation, T. Frequency of this movement is 1/T. Notice even if
displacement was d – 1 the frequency would still be the same. That’s why its called
the natural frequency of the mass spring system. The natural frequency can only
change if mass or the spring constant is changed.

7. Determine the amplitude and phase angle of the transient response within the following
mass-spring damper system:

The mass has a harmonic disturbing force applied to it given by the equation
F = 420 sin(30t)
k = 10000 N/m
M = 5.1 kg
c = 155 Ns/m
 𝑘 10000
𝜔=√ =√ = 44.28 𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠
𝑀 5.1

𝑐𝑐 = √4𝑀𝑘 = √4 × 5.1 × 10000 = 451.66

𝑐 155
𝛿= = = 0.343
𝑐𝑐 451.66
Fo = 400N and omega = 30rad/s
𝐹o 2 1
𝐴2 = ( ) ( 2 )
𝑀 (𝜔𝑛 − 𝜔 2 )2 + (2𝛿𝜔𝜔𝑛 )2

400 2 1
𝐴2 = ( ) ( 2 )
5 (44.282 − 302 ) + (20.343 × 30 × 44.28)2
A=

8. Identify the conditions needed for mechanical resonance of an industrial air conditioning
unit mounted on a roof top. Also, identify the measures that are taken to prevent this
resonance from occurring with the industrial air conditioning unit. (Use sketches to assist)
 STUDENT ASSESSMENT SUBMISSION AND
DECLARATION
When submitting evidence for assessment, each student must sign a declaration confirming that the
work is their own.

Student name: Assessor name:

Kwasi George Akina Gordon

Issue date: Submission date: Submitted on:

Oct, 8th 2024 Nov, 14th 2024 Nov, 14th 2024

Programme:
Mechanical Engineering

Unit: 08 Mechanical Principles

Assignment number and title:

Assignment 2 Mechanical Principles

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