UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE
2018 MAY / JUNE EXAMINATIONS

Faculty: ENGINEERING
Department: MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Paper Code and Title: ME201 – APPLIED MECHANICS
Duration: 3 hrs
Examiner: Eng. L. Madiye

Authorized Materials: Non-Programmable Calculator

Graph Paper

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. This paper contains Six Questions
2. Answer ANY 4 QUESTIONS.
3. Start each question on a new page
4. All questions carry EQUAL marks

N/B: DO NOT TURN OVER THE QUESTION PAPER OR

COMMENCE WRITING UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO.

Page 1 of 5
Question 1
A multi-disc friction clutch has to be designed to transmit 75 kW from the engine running
at 2000 rev/min. Assuming that the pressure distribution is uniform at 150 kN/m2 and
that the inner and outer diameter of the lining are respectively 100 mm and 150 mm, find;
(i) The necessary end thrust, and [4]
(ii) Necessary number of plates. [8]

(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. [10]
(ii) The least axial force necessary to hold the clutch in engagement. [3]

Question 2
a) An open belt drive connects two pulleys 1.2m and 0.5m diameter on parallel
shaft 4.0m apart. The belt has a mass of 0.8kg/m length and maximum tension is
not to exceed 2kN. The 1.2m pulley, which is the driver runs at 100 revs/min. Due
to belt slip on one of the pulleys, the velocity of the driven shaft is only
225rev/min. Take µ = 0.3

Calculate
i) Torque on each of two shafts [8]
ii) Power transmitted [2]
iii) Power lost in friction [3]
iv) Efficiency of the drive [2]
b) A small generator is being driven by means of a 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

Page 2 of 5
 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
(i) T1 [5]
(ii) T2 [5]

Question 3
(a)Describe briefly two commercial processes used for machining gear teeth. [6]

(b)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]
(c)In mounting the gears in Q3 (b) the center distance was oversized by 6.0mm. Compute
new values of
i) Pressure angle [4]
ii) Pitch circle diameter [2]

(d) 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

[6]

Page 3 of 5
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 mass at radius 250mm attached to the flywheel suited
225mm beyond the bearing adjacent to No.3 crank. [7]

(b) A rotating shaft carries four masses A, B, C and D, rigidly attached to it. The mass
centers are at 30mm, 36mm, 39mm and 33mm respectively from the axis of rotation. A,
C and D are 7.5kg, 5kg and 4kg. The axial distance between A and B is 400mm and that
between B and C is 500m. The eccentricities of A and C are at 90 degrees to one another.
Find for complete balance
(i) The angles between A, B and D
(ii) The axial distance between the planes of revolution of C and D; and
(iii) The mass B [13]

Question 5
(a)The following particulars of a single reduction spur gear are given;
Approximate distance between centers : 990mm
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]

Page 4 of 5
 (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)A spring of stiffness 4 kN/m is suspended vertically and two equal masses of 12 kg
each are attached to the lower end. One of these masses is suddenly removed and the
system oscillates. Determine:
(i) The amplitude and frequency of the vibration, [3]
(ii)The velocity and acceleration of the mass when passing through the half amplitude
position and [4]
(iii)The energy of the vibration in joules. [3]

(b) 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, [3]
Hence, determine:
(ii) the piston acceleration, [5]
(iii) The net piston force [3]
(iv) The resultant load on the gudgeon pin, [4]

END OF QUESTION PAPER

Page 5 of 5