UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE HONOURS IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

PART II - END OF SEMESTER I EXAMINATION

COURSE : APPLIED MECHANICS
CODE : ME201
DATE : NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017
DURATION : 3 HOURS
EXAMINER : ENG. L. MADIYE

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
a. Answer any four questions.
b. Each question carries 25 marks

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL
a. Answer book
b. Non-programmable Calculator
c. Graph paper

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Question 1
a) A multi-plate clutch is to transmit 12KW at 1500rev/min. The inner and the outer
radii for the plates are to be 50mm and 100mm respectively. The maximum axial
spring force is restricted to 1kN. Calculate
i) Necessary number of pairs of surfaces if µ = 0.35 assuming constant wear [7]
ii) What will be necessary axial force [3]
b) The mean diameter of the contact surfaces of a conical friction clutch is 250 mm
and the width of the conical surface is 50 mm. The clutch is lined with material
giving a coefficient of friction of 0.3, and the angle between the generator of the
conical surface and its axis is 20˚. If the intensity of the normal pressure is limited
to 200 kN/m, find:
(i) The greatest power that can be transmitted at a speed of 1500 r.p.m without
slipping of the clutch. [11]
(ii) The least axial force necessary to hold the clutch in engagement. [4]

Question 2
a) Power is transmitted between two shafts, 4.5 m apart, by an open wire rope
passing round two pulleys of 2 m and 3 m diameter respectively, the grove angle
being 40˚. If the rope has a mass of 4 kg/m, and the maximum working tension is
20 kN, determine;
(i) The maximum power that the rope can transmit, and [12]
(ii) The corresponding speed of the smaller pulley. [3]
Take μ = 0.2

b) A small generator is being driven by means V- belt which has a total angle of 60°
between the faces of the V. The angle of lap on the pulley is 120° and the mean
radius of the belt as it passes around the pulley is 50mm. If µ = 0.2 and the mass
is 0.45kg/m. It is also given that the belt transmits 750W at a pulley speed of
1800rev/min. Find the tensions in each side of the belt. [10]

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Question 3
a) Describe briefly the following two processes used for machining gear teeth;
(i) Milling
(ii) Hobbing [6]
b) The gearing of a machine tool is shown below. The motor shaft is connected to
gear A and rotates at 975 r.p.m. The gear wheels B, C, D and E are fixed to
parallel shafts rotating together. The final gear F is fixed on the output shaft. What
is the speed of gear F? The numbers of teeth on each gear are as given below:
Gear A B C D E F

No. of 20 50 25 75 26 65
teeth

[7]

c) A gear set of 16 tooth pinion driving 40 tooth gear. The module is 12mm and the
addenda are 1.0m and 1.25m respectively. The gears are cut using a pressure
angle of 20°.
Determine:
i) The circular pitch [2]
ii) The center distance [2]
iii) The radii of the base circles [2]
d) In mounting the gears in Q3 (c) the center distance was oversized by 6.0mm.
Compute new values of
i) Pressure angle [4]
ii) Pitch circle diameter [2]

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Question 4
a) A small three- throw crankshaft has crank radii 125mm, set at 120° to each other,
and equally spaced with a pitch of 250mm. The revolving masses at the crank
radii are the same for each line and of amount 15kg. The shaft is supported in two
bearings symmetrically arranged with respect to the cranks and 850mm apart.
Determine
i) the dynamical loads on the bearings for a speed of 500 revs/min [5]
ii) the magnitude of these masses in a(i) and their angular positions relative to No. 1
crank if the shaft is to be balanced by means of mass at a radius of 187.5mm
in the plane No.1 crank, and a mass at radius 250mm attached to the flywheel
suited 225mm beyond the bearing adjacent to No.3 crank. [7]

b) Two similar discs, A and B are mounted on a shaft with their center planes
200mm apart. Masses C,D and E are attached to the disc A in the positions shown
in table Q4(b)
Table Q4 (b)

Mass(kg) Radius(mm) Angular position

(°)
C 2 100 0
D 1.5 125 60
E 3 87.5 135

Determine:

i) The unbalanced force on the shaft when its speed is 300r.p.m [6]
ii) The magnitude and angular position of the mass attached to disc B at radius of
150mm, that will make the resultant radial force zero and [4]
iii) The rocking couple in case (ii) when the speed is 120r.p.m [2]

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Question 5
a) The following particulars of a single reduction spur gear are given;
Approximate distance between centers : 770mm
Gear ratio = 10 to 1
Pinion transmits 1000kW at 2000r.p.m
Involute teeth of standard proportions (addendum = m)
Pressure angle : 22.5°
Permissible normal pressure between teeth : 200 N per mm of width
Determine:
i) The nearest standard module if no interference is to occur, [4]
ii) The number of teeth on each wheel, and corrected values of R and r [5]
iii) The necessary width of the pinion [5]
iv) The loads on the bearings of the wheels due to the power transmitted [1]
b) A gear wheel has a mass of 1000kg and has radius of gyration 0.6m. It has 300
teeth of 5 module. If, owing to incorrect tooth from the speed fluctuates ±0.05
percent during the time of contact, and assuming constant acceleration and
deceleration, find
(i) Variation in the torque and [7]
(ii) Variation in tooth pressure, when the wheel rotates at 500r.p.m [3]

Question 6
A petrol engine of cylinder diameter 100 mm and stroke 120 mm has a piston of mass 1.1
kg and a connecting rod of length 250 mm. When rotating at 2000 rev/min, and on the
explosion stroke with the crank at 20˚ from the top dead center position, the gas pressure
is 700 kN/m2.
(i) Draw the force diagram indicating all the important forces, [4]
Hence, determine:
(ii) the piston acceleration, [4]
(iii) the net piston force [3]

Page 5 of 6
(iv) the resultant load on the gudgeon pin, [5]
(v) the thrust on the cylinder wall, and [3]
(vi) the speed above which, the other conditions remaining constant, the gudgeon pin
load would be reversed in direction. [6]

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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