Engr. Estanislao M. Pialago Jr.

PME
 Key- a machine member employed at the
interface of a pair of a mating male and
female circular cross-sectional members to
prevent relative angular motion between
these mating members.
 Keyway- a groove in the shaft and mating
member to which the key fits.
 Splines- permanent keys made integral with
the shaft and fitting into keyways broached
into the mating hub.
Sample of key:
 Square key
 Round key
 Flat key
SPLINE
 Stresses in keys where:
𝑇 𝑇 𝑤 = width of key
𝐹= =
𝑟 𝐷ൗ ℎ = thickness of key
2
𝐿 = length of key
 Compressive stress 𝐹 = transmitted load
𝐹 𝑇 = Torque
𝑆𝐶 =
ℎൗ (𝐿)
2 𝑟 = radius
𝐷 = diameter
 Shearing stress
𝐹
𝑆𝑆 =
𝑤𝐿
 Force to remove the key
𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒 = 2𝑓𝐹
where:
𝑓 = coefficient of friction

note:
when key and shaft are of same material
𝐷
𝑤 = and 𝐿 = 1.2𝐷
4
Sample Problem: (mt)
A rectangular key was used in a
pulley connected to a line shaft with a
power of 125𝑘𝑊 at a speed of 900𝑟𝑝𝑚.
If the shearing stress of the shaft is
40𝑁Τ and the key to be 22𝑁Τ
𝑚𝑚 2 𝑚𝑚2 .
Determine the length of the rectangular
key if the width is one fourth that of the
shaft diameter.
Given:
1000𝑊
 𝑃 = 125𝑘𝑊 ∙ = 125000𝑊
1𝑘𝑊
1𝑚𝑖𝑛
 𝑁 = 900𝑟𝑝𝑚 ∙ = 15𝑟𝑝𝑠
60𝑠𝑒𝑐
 𝑆𝑆 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑓𝑡 = 40 𝑁Τ𝑚𝑚2
 𝑆𝑆 𝑘𝑒𝑦 = 22 𝑁Τ𝑚𝑚2

Required: Length of rectangular key

Solution:
𝑃 = 2𝜋𝑇𝑁
125000 = 2𝜋𝑇(15)
1000𝑚𝑚
𝑇 = 1326.291192𝑁𝑚 ∙
1𝑚
𝑇 = 1,326,291.192𝑁𝑚𝑚
Shear stress of the shaft:
16𝑇
𝑆𝑆 = 3
𝜋𝐷
16(1,326,291.192)
40 =
𝜋𝐷3
𝐷 = 55.27𝑚𝑚

𝑇 1,326,291.192
𝐹= 𝐷Τ = 55.27Τ
2 2
𝐹 = 47,993.17𝑁
1 1
𝑤= 𝐷 = (55.27)
4 4
𝑤 = 13.82𝑚𝑚
Shear stress of key:
𝐹
𝑆𝑠 =
𝑤𝐿
47,993.17
22 =
13.82𝐿
𝐿 = 157.85𝑚𝑚
ASSIGNMENT PROBLEM
 An electric motor purchased by your
employer surprisingly arrived without any
keyway on its drive shaft. The motor has a
power rating of 10 hp and 1750 rpm speed. It
will be used to drive a centrifugal pump using
cast iron sheave. Design the width, thickness
and length of key (inches) to be used on the
motor. The design shearing stress of
commercial steel shaft is 6000 psi