This guide gives information on how to design a shaft when fluctuating loads are to be considered. It gives details on how to: Determine External Loads; Choose Preliminary Dimensions; Identify Critical Shaft Sections; Determine Stresses; Combine Stresses; Choose Failure Criterion; Choose Material and Material Properties; Determine Fatigue and Safety Factors; Compare Stresses and Strength; Specify Shaft. This guide should be used in conjunction with the guide, How to design a Shaft for Strength and Rigidity. There is also a list of suggested further reading.

[Description and screenshot taken from the SEED Curriculum for Engineering Design page for this guide. (c) The Design Society used under the terms of their (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) license.]

This guide gives information on how to design a shaft for strength and rigidity. It gives details on how to: determine the loads on the shaft; choose provisional dimensions for the shaft; identify critical sections; calculate internal forces and moments; introduce safety factor; choose material; calculate deflection; compare factored stresses with strength of material; specify shaft.

References are also provided.

[Description and screenshot taken from the SEED Curriculum for Engineering Design page for this guide. (c) The Design Society used under the terms of their (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) license.]

The purpose of this procedural guide is to enable the user to determine the attributes of an appropriate shaft coupling for a mechanical power transmission system and hence to select one from a manufacturer’s catalogue. It has been compiled as part of a series which covers typical elements of a system. It deals with the coupling of two shafts which are co-linear, or very nearly so. It does not cover shaft-hub connections, clutches, universal joints or torque limiters. The guide gives details of the selection procedure, types of shaft coupling and misalignment and factors affecting coupling selection.

[Description and screenshot taken from the SEED Curriculum for Engineering Design page for this guide. (c) The Design Society used under the terms of their (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) license.]

Connections can either be obtained as standard components from a manufacturer’s catalogue or alternatively specially designed and manufactured. Smaller sized connections tend to be more readily available from catalogues and larger, less used types tend to be produced as specials. This guide is only concerned with the selection and subsequent use of standard components. It enables the user to specify the attributes of a connection to meet specific needs and then to select a connection from those offered by manufacturers. The types of connections most commonly used are illustrated and discussed. The guide takes a practical approach that ensures the technical suitability of connections for specific applications. Technical considerations usually indicate a number of viable possibilities so cost may well be the decisive factor influencing the final selection.

The guide looks at whether your connection is really necessary, common connections, how to determine the operating conditions, how to specify the factors that influence the choice of connection, the performance required, and the type of connection. There is also a worked example, a list of major manufacturers, a bibliography and suggested further reading, and notes on the design of Shaft-Hub Connections.

[Description and screenshot taken from the SEED Curriculum for Engineering Design page for this guide. (c) The Design Society used under the terms of their (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) license.]

This is an advanced course on modelling, design, integration and best practices for use of machine elements such as bearings, springs, gears, cams and mechanisms. Modelling and analysis of these elements is based upon extensive application of physics, mathematics and core mechanical engineering principles (solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, manufacturing, estimation, computer simulation, etc.). These principles are reinforced via (1) hands-on laboratory experiences wherein students conduct experiments and disassemble machines and (2) a substantial design project wherein students model, design, fabricate and characterize a mechanical system that is relevant to a real world application. Students master the materials via problems sets that are directly related to, and coordinated with, the deliverables of their project. Student assessment is based upon mastery of the course materials and the student’s ability to synthesize, model and fabricate a mechanical device subject to engineering constraints (e.g. cost and time/schedule).

[Description and screenshot taken from MIT OCW page for this course. (c) MIT used under the terms of their CC-NC-SA license.]