20 Rotating Rings, Discs and Cylinders
1.3 Exercises
Exercise 1.1. A thin disc of inner and outer radii 180 mm and 360 mm
respectively rotates at 160 rad/s. Determine the maximum radial and hoop
stresses. Assume υ = 0.33 and ρ = 7700 kg/m3 .
Answer. (a) σr = 2.66 M P a; σt = 21.80 M P a
Exercise 1.2. A solid steel disc has a diameter of 450 mm and is of a
small constant thickness. A steel ring of outside diameter 600 mm and of the
same thickness is shrunk onto it. It is observed that the interface pressure is
reduced to zero when the rotational speed reaches 2700 rev/min. Determine
the difference in diameters of the mating surfaces of the disc and ring before
assembly and the interface pressure on assembly. Assume υ = 0.33, ρ =
7700 kg/m3 and E = 200 GPa.
Answer. (a) 0.104 mm; 10.09 M P a.
Exercise 1.3. A thin uniform disc with a central hole is pressed onto a
shaft in such a manner that when the assembly is rotated at N revs/min,
the pressure at the interface is pc . Derive an expression for the hoop stress
at the periphery of the disc if the inside radius is R1 , outside radius is R2 ,
Poisson’s ratio is υ and the density is ρ.
Answer.
2
2pc R12
πN 2 2 2 2
σt = 2 + ρ 3R1 + R2 + υ(R1 − R2 )
R2 − R12 60
Exercise 1.4. Starting from the characteristic equations for stresses on the
walls of a thin disc rotating at an angular velocity ω, i.e. equations (1.2) and
(1.3),
(a) find the values of A and B for an annular disc of inner radius R1 and
outer radius R2 , and
(b) calculate the critical speed of an annular disc of inner radius R1 =
25 mm and outer radius R2 = 150 mm at which yield of the material
will start.
Assume Tresca’s criterion for yielding, Poisson’s ratio of the material of
the disc υ = 31 , tensile yield stress of the material = 207 MPa and density
ρ = 7600 kg/m3 .
Answer. ω = 1204 rad/s.
1.3 Exercises 21
Exercise 1.5. (a) Starting from the general equations for stresses in a
rotating disc of uniform thickness, derive an expression for the maxi-
mum circumferential stress in a solid disc of radius R.
(b) In the disc of problem (a) above, what is the effect of drilling a very
small hole at the center on the maximum circumferential stress?
(c) The stress in a thin disc of uniform thickness is limited to 120 MPa.
The disc has a 1 mm hole drilled at the center while the external diam-
eter is 600 mm. Determine the maximum allowable speed of rotation
of the disc in rpm. Determine also the maximum radial stress in the
disc when rotating at this speed. No proof of formula for maximum
radial stress is required. Take ρ = 7850 kg/m3 and υ = 0.29. As-
sume the characteristic equations for stresses on the walls of a thin
disc rotating at an angular velocity ω, i.e. equations (1.2) and (1.3).
Answer. (a) σt,max = (3+υ) 8
ρω 2 R2 (b) σt,max = (3+υ)
4
ρω 2 R2 , i.e. circumfer-
ential stress is doubled (c) 4339.5 rpm, 60 MPa.
Exercise 1.6. Two concentric annular discs made from the same material
are shrunk-fit to form a single disc. It is required that the circumferential
stresses at r = a (internal radius) and r = c (external radius) be equal when
the assembly rotates at an angular velocity, ω. The interface radius is r = b.
Show that the initial contact pressure, pc between the discs is given by:
ρω 2 (1 + υ) 2
pc = (b − a2 )(c2 − b2 )
4b2
Assume the characteristic equations for stresses on the walls of a thin disc
rotating at an angular velocity ω, i.e. equations (1.2) and (1.3). The cir-
cumferential stresses in thick walled cylinders under internal pressure (pi )
and external pressure (po ) are given by:
h 2 i 2
pi 1 + rb a
σti = and
b 2 − a2
h 2 i 2
−po 1 + ar b
σto =
b 2 − a2
Exercise 1.7. A very long cylinder of internal radius 50 mm and external
radius 500 mm is rotating at an angular velocity ω rad/s. The stresses on
the walls of the cylinder can be calculated as per the correct theory using the
existence of longitudinal stress OR as an approximation using the thin disc
22 Rotating Rings, Discs and Cylinders
theory.
Derive expressions for the tangential stress σt at the bore of the cylinder
using the correct theory and the thin disc theory. Express σtc = kσta , where
σtc is the tangential stress at the bore using the correct theory,
σta is the tangential stress at the bore using the approximate theory, and
k is a numerical factor. Find the value of k.
Assume Poisson’s ratio for the material of the cylinder υ = 13 . Also assume
the characteristic equations for stresses on the walls of a thin disc rotating
at an angular velocity ω, i.e. equations (1.2) and (1.3). The corresponding
formulae for a rotating cylinder are;
D 1 + 2υ ρω 2 r2
σt = C + −
r2 1−υ 8
D 3 − 2υ ρω 2 r2
σr = C − −
r2 1−υ 8
C and D being the new constants.
Answer. k=1.04
Exercise 1.8. (a) A thin solid disc of uniform thickness t, radius R,
made of material of density ρ, Young’s modulus E and Poisson’s ratio
υ = 13 is rotating at constant angular velocity ω. Show that the absolute
value |∆t| of the change in thickness at any radius r from the center
is given by:
r 2
|∆t| = t K1 − K2
R
where K1 and K2 are constants in terms of ρ, E, R and ω. Determine
K1 and K2 .
(b) Draw a qualitative sketch showing the variation of thickness t along
any diameter of the disc while rotating at the constant angular velocity
ω; for comparison, show also the standstill thickness distribution.
Assume the characteristic equations for stresses on the walls of a thin
disc rotating at an angular velocity ω, i.e. equations (1.2) and (1.3).
5 ρω 2 R2 4 ρω 2 R2
Answer. K1 = 18 E
and K2 = 18 E
1.3 Exercises 23
Exercise 1.9. A steel ring of outside diameter 400 mm and inside diameter
200 mm is shrunk onto a solid steel shaft. The interference is arranged
such that the radial pressure between the mating surfaces will not fall below
30 MPa whilst the assembly rotates. The maximum circumferential stress on
the inside surface of the ring is limited to 240 MPa. Determine the maximum
speed at which the assembly can be rotated. Assume for steel, υ = 0.3, ρ =
7470 kg/m3, E = 208 GPa.
Answer. 8168 rev/min.
Exercise 1.10. A thin solid circular disc of uniform thickness has an out-
side diameter of 250 mm. Using the von Mises yield criteria, calculate
the rotational speed of the disc to just initiate yielding. Assume υ = 0.3,
ρ = 7800 kg/m3 and σyp = 240 M P a. Assume the characteristic equations
for stresses on the walls of a thin disc rotating at an angular velocity ω, i.e.
equations (1.2) and (1.3). Any other equations used must be derived.
Answer. 20864 rev/min.
Exercise 1.11. Calculate the maximum circumferential and radial stresses
in a thin disc of uniform thickness rotating at 3600 rpm. The disc has an
external diameter of 1.2 m and a very small central hole. Assume ρ =
7850 kg/m3 and υ = 0.3. You may assume the characteristic equations for
stresses on the walls of a thin disc rotating at an angular velocity ω, i.e.
equations (1.2) and (1.3). Any other equations used must be derived.
Answer. σr,max = 165.7 M P a; σt,max = 331.4 M P a.
Further Reading
1. Rajput, R. K. Strength of Materials [Mechanics of Solids], Multicolour
illustrative revised Edition, S Chand & Company Ltd., New Delhi,
2004.
2. Hearn, E. J. Mechanics of Materials 2, 3rd ed., Butterworth-Heinemann,
Oxford, UK, 1997.
3. Benham, P. P. et al. Mechanics of Engineering Materials, 2nd ed.,
Longman Group Ltd., Harlow, England, 1996.
