DEFINITIONS AND USEFUL INFORMATION

Shaft - is a rotating or stationary member, usually

of circular cross section much smaller in diameter
than its length, used to transmit motion or power;
having mounted on it such power-transmitting
elements as gears, pulleys, belts, chains, cam,
flywheels, cranks, sprockets, and rolling-element
bearings.
Axle - is a non-rotating member that carries no
torque and is used to support rotating wheels,
pulleys, and the like.
Spindle - is a short shaft.
DEFINITIONS AND USEFUL INFORMATION

Line shaft, or main shaft, - is one driven by a prime

mover, power is taken from it by belts or chain, usually at
several points along the shaft.
Counter shaft, or Jackshaft, or Head shaft - is a shaft
intermediate between a line shaft and a driven machine.
Transmission shaft – is a shaft that is used to transmit
power between the source and the machine absorbing
the power.
DEFINITIONS AND USEFUL INFORMATION

The MAXIMUM-SHEAR-STRESS HYPOTHESIS states that yielding begins

whenever the maximum shear stress in any element becomes equal to the maximum
shear stress in a tension-test specimen of the same material when that specimen
begins to yield (Shigley & Mischke, 2001).
The MAXIMUM-SHEAR-STRAIN-ENERGY hypothesis predicts that failure by
yielding occurs when the total strain energy in a volume reaches or exceeds the
strain energy in the same volume corresponding to the yield strength in tension or
compression (Shigley & Mischke, 2001).
DEFINITIONS AND USEFUL INFORMATION

The DISTORTION-ENERGY THEORY predicts that yielding will occur whenever the
distortion energy in a unit volume equals the distortion energy in the same volume
when uniaxially stressed to the yield strength.
DISTORTION-ENERGY THEORY (DET), also known as the von Mises criterion,
postulates that failure is caused by the elastic energy associated with shear
deformation. This theory is valid for ductile materials and predicts yielding when
combined loading with greater accuracy than any other recognized theory (Hamrock,
Jacobson, & Schmid, 1999).
DEFINITIONS AND USEFUL INFORMATION

Maximum-Normal-Stress Theory (MNST) states that a part subjected to any combination of loads will fail
whenever the greatest positive principal stress exceeds the tensile yield strength or whenever the greatest
negative principal stress exceeds the compressive yield strength. This theory works best for fibrous brittle
materials and some glasses, but works reasonably well for brittle materials in general and is therefore popular
(Hamrock, Jacobson, & Schmid, 1999).
Coulomb-Mohr Theory is a theory of failure prediction identical to internal friction theory.
Internal Friction Theory is a failure prediction theory accounting for difference between compressive and
tensile strengths of brittle materials.
Maximum-Shear-Stress Theory (MSST) is a failure prediction theory stating that yielding occurs when
largest shear stress exceeds critical value
DESIGN EQUATIONS
1. Shaft Under Pure Torsion Load Only
a) For Solid Shaft,

a) For Hollow Shaft,

DESIGN EQUATIONS
DESIGN EQUATIONS

2. Shaft Under Pure Bending Load Only

a) For Solid Shaft,

b) For Hollow Shaft,

DESIGN EQUATIONS

3. Shaft Under Combined Torsion and Bending Loads Only

a) Based on the Maximum Shear Stress Theory (MSST)

For Solid Shaft,

For Hollow Shaft,

DESIGN EQUATIONS

3. Shaft Under Combined Torsion and Bending Loads Only

b) Based on the Maximum Normal Stress Theory (MNST)

For Solid Shaft,

For Hollow Shaft,

DESIGN EQUATIONS
4. Shaft Under Combined Bending and Axial Loads

a. Maximum Normal Stress (Solid Shaft):

b. Maximum Normal Stress (Hollow Shaft):

DESIGN EQUATIONS
5. Shaft Under Combined Torsion, Bending, and Axial Loads [Based on the MSST]

a) Maximum Shear Stress Equation for Solid Shaft:

b) Maximum Shear Stress for Hollow Shaft:

DESIGN EQUATIONS

6. Shaft Under Torsion and Axial Loads (Based on MSST)

a) Maximum Shear Stress for Solid Shaft:

b) Maximum Shear Stress for Hollow Shaft:

DESIGN EQUATIONS
7. 1993 PSME Code Equations (p18) for Shaft with Assumed Allowable Stresses
a) Main Transmitting Shaft with Assumed Stress of 4000 psi

b) Line shaft Carrying Pulleys with Assumed Stress of 6000 psi

c) Small shaft, Short Shaft, and Counter Shaft with Assumed Stress of 8500 psi
DESIGN EQUATIONS BASED ON DEFLECTION AND RIGIDITY

Another ways of determining the sizes of shafts are the torsional and lateral
rigidity or deflections.
Torsional rigidity or deflection of transmission shafts, as a rule of thumb, should be
limited to 1° in 20 diameters.
The lateral deflection caused by bending should not exceed 0.01 inch per foot
length.
θ
Permissible angle of twist: For drive shaft of machine tools, = 0.08° per feet; for
L
θ
line shafts, = 0.075° to 1.0° per ft.
L
DESIGN EQUATIONS BASED ON DEFLECTION AND RIGIDITY

1. Torsional Deflection or Angle of Twist

- The total torsional deflection or angle of twist, in radians, for both solid and hollow circular shaft could
be determined by the use of the following equations.
a) For Solid Shaft,

b) For Hollow shaft

DESIGN EQUATIONS BASED ON DEFLECTION AND RIGIDITY

2. Empirical Equations for Machinery’s Handbook, 26th Edition, page 279

(for steel transmitting shaft)

a) For allowable twist not exceeding 0.08 degree per foot length,

b) For Allowable twist not exceeding 1 degree per 20D length.

SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
Determine the torque received by the motor shaft
running at 4250 rpm, transmitting 11 HP, through a
10in diameter, 20deg involute gear. The shaft is
supported by ball bearings at both ends and the
gear is fixed at the middle of 8in shaft length.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
Compute the maximum unit shear in a
3in diameter steel shafting that
transmits 24,000 in-lb torque at 99
rpm.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3
Compute the lineshaft diameter to
transmit 12HP at 180 rpm with torsional
deflection of 0.08 degree per foot length
SAMPLE PROBLEM 4
Compute the nominal shear stress at the
surface in MPa for a 40mm diameter shaft that
transmits 750 KW at 1500 rpm. Axial and
bending loads are assumed negligible.
Torsional shearing stress is 28 N/mm2.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 5
A hollow shaft has an inner diameter of
0.035 m and an outer diameter of 0.06 m.
Compute for the torque if the shear stress
is not to exceed 120 Gpa, in kN-m.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 6
A short shaft transmits 120 HP.
Compute the linear speed of a pulley
55 cm mounted on the shaft.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 7
Compute the speed of the gear
mounted on a 52.5mm diameter shaft
receiving power from a driving motor
with 250 HP.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 8
It is desired to check the design of a 2in
medium steel shaft subjected to a turning
moment of 40,000 in-lb. Ultimate stress is
50,000. Determine the factor of safety applied.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 9A
A marine turbine developing 15,000 HP and it turns the
shaft at 300 rpm. The propeller which attaches the shaft
develops a thrust of 150,000 lbs. A hollow steel shaft with
an outside diameter of 15 in will be used.
A) Compute the torque
SAMPLE PROBLEM 9B
A marine turbine developing 15,000 HP and it turns the
shaft at 300 rpm. The propeller which attaches the shaft
develops a thrust of 150,000 lbs. A hollow steel shaft with
an outside diameter of 15 in will be used.
B) Determine the inside diameter of the shaft if the
maximum shearing stress based on torsion alone is not to
exceed 7500 psi
SAMPLE PROBLEM 9C
A marine turbine developing 15,000 HP and it turns the
shaft at 300 rpm. The propeller which attaches the shaft
develops a thrust of 150,000 lbs. A hollow steel shaft with
an outside diameter of 15 in will be used.
C) What would be the propeller’s thrust that is developed
in kg?
SAMPLE PROBLEM 9D
A marine turbine developing 15,000 HP and it turns the
shaft at 300 rpm. The propeller which attaches the shaft
develops a thrust of 150,000 lbs. A hollow steel shaft with
an outside diameter of 15 in will be used.
D) What is the diameter of the solid shaft?
SAMPLE PROBLEM 9E
A marine turbine developing 15,000 HP and it turns the
shaft at 300 rpm. The propeller which attaches the shaft
develops a thrust of 150,000 lbs. A hollow steel shaft with
an outside diameter of 15 in will be used.
e) What is the percent saving in weight over the solid
shaft?
SAMPLE PROBLEM 10
SAMPLE PROBLEM 11
A round steel shaft rotates 200 rpm and is
subjected to Torque of 2000 in-lb. The
allowable shearing stress is 6000 psi. It is also
subjected to a bending moment of 3000 in-lb.
The allowable tensile stress is 8000 psi. Find
the diameter.