Page 19 - Analysis and Design of Machine Elements

Preface xvii

This book Analysis and Design of Machine Elements has been written for courses
on mechanical design, a compulsory course for students majoring in mechanical
engineering. Since safety has become an increasing concern nowadays, the book
presents the subject in an up-to-date manner with a strong emphasis on failure analysis
and prevention-based machine element design. It aims to provide students with basic
concepts, principles and philosophy in analysing, selecting and designing safe, efficient
and workable machine elements, and to expose them to the detailed design methods,
skills and tools necessary to convert concepts into practical devices.
The aim is achieved by introducing design methodology and fundamentals including
strength analysis, failure theory, as well as material selection and heat treatments in
Part I, followed by 12 self-contained chapters on the application of fundamentals to the
design of specific machine elements in Part II, covering threaded fasteners and joints,
keys, splines, belts, chains, gears, worm gearings, shafts, contact rolling bearings and
sliding bearings, couplings and clutches, springs and so on. For clarity and pedagogy,
each of the self-contained chapters is organized in an almost consistent style, that is:
The Introduction provides a brief description of applications, characteristics and
structures of the specific machine elements.
Working Condition Analysis includes kinematic, dynamic, force, stress and failure
analyses of machine elements considered in each chapter, stressing physical inter-
pretation of mathematical derivations and promoting understanding of the working
mechanism of the discussed elements.
Load Carrying Capacities discusses capacity analyses within the limitation of design
criteria determined by failure modes for the element under consideration.
Design Methods introduces step-by-step design procedures for practical design of
machine elements, including guidelines on materials and heat treatment selection,
design variable selection and determination and so on. Design variables are determined
by analytical calculation according to the design criteria, combined with compatibility
considerations with surrounding elements by structural design. When standard com-
ponents are commercially available, steps necessary for their specification and selection
are provided. The design methods and procedures are demonstrated by design cases in
each chapter.
The Problems section provides students with different kinds of exercises, including
review questions, objective questions, calculation questions, structural design prob-
lems, practice design problems and computer-aided design problems. These problems
are designed to help students reinforce what they have learnt from different aspects, and