Tutorial # 2 (Design of Couplings)

Problem-1
Set up the equations or relations necessary to determine:
a) the hub diameter DH.
b) the web thickness t.
c) the flange thickness h.

Solution:
a) The hub diameter (DH) is established on the basis of proportions.
DH (1.75Ds to 2.0Ds)

b) The minimum thickness of the web (t) is based on:

1)-Shear of the web:
Ft = circumferential tangential force acting at the hub
surface of coupling which its diameter is DH.
Ft

Torsional load at the hub is,

Shear stress at hub is,

T=

s = Ft /A =

So, the torsional load at the hub can be written as

T=
Ds

or the web thickness is

DH

t =

**Usually, t determined from the above equation

is very small and the difficulty of casting
necessitates using a thickness much larger than
calculated.

DBS

2)- Bearing of the bolts and web:

T = [B x (d x t)] x (DBC /2) x n

or

t=

Where: B = allowable bearing stress for the bolt or web (whichever is weaker), Pa of the
projected area.
n = number of bolt
c) The thickness of flange is based upon proportions and casting requirements.
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Problem-2:

A rigid coupling has a bore diameter of 50 mm. Four machined bolts on a bolt circle of 125 mm diameter and
fitted in reamed holes. If the bolts are made from the same material as the shaft, with an ultimate tensile
strength of 550 MPa and a yield point in tension of 340 MPa, determine the necessary size of bolts to have
the same capacity as the shaft in torsion.

Given:

Shaft diameter = bore diameter of coupling :

Number of bolt:

Nb = 4

Bolt circle:

DBC = 125 mm

Ultimate tensile strength:

Yield strength:

ds = 50 mm

Su = 550 MPa

Sy = 340 MPa

Solution:
1) Shaft Analysis
*) s = 0.75x18%xSu =

Allowable shear stress for keyed shaft:

*) s = 0.75x30%xSy =
We consider the smaller one, so s = 74.25 MPa

Shear stress maximum (alllowable stress) at shaft due to Torsional Load:

s=

T rs
k
J t

T = torsional load
rs = shaft radius = 0,5ds
J = polar moment of inertia =

4
d
32 s
kt = stress concentration factor = 1.5

Thus, the torsional load becomes:

T=

s d 3s
16 k t

(1)

2) Bolt Analysis
Bolt diameter:
Bolt circle:

Ft
Ft

db
DBC = 125 mm

Torsional load:

T =Ft ( 0,5 D BC ) n

Tangential force Ft is also

Ft
Ft

(2)

2
d
2 b )
Ft = s

Shear stress in the shank of the bolts equal to 3/4 times or

0.75 times the average shear stress. Thus,

2
d
2 b
)
Ft =(0,75) s

(3)

Substituting Eq.(3) into Eq.(2) we have the torsional load in

the bolt becomes

T =( 0,75 ) s ( d 2b ) ( 0,5 DBC ) n

2

(4)

Torsional load at shaft = torsional load at bolt

Equation (1) = Equation (4)

s d 3s
16 k t
=

From the above equation, we can find the bolt diameter, db

2
= ( 0,75 ) s ( 2 d b ) ( 0,5 DBC ) n

( 0,75 ) s ( d 2b ) ( 0,5 DBC ) n

2

Exercise 3:
Assume that a flange coupling has the
following specifications:
Number of bolts: 6.
Size of bolts: 12 mm diameter
Preloading of bolts: 22 KN in each bolt.
Inner diameter of contact: 175 mm.
Outer diameter of contact: 200 mm.
Speed of rotation of coupling: 300 rpm.
Coefficient of friction: 0.15
Shaft diameter: 50 mm.
Shaft material, annealed steel with an ultimate tensile strength of 586 MPa and a yield point in tension of 310
MPa.
The bolts are set in large clearance holes in the coupling.
1) Determine the maximum power capacity based upon friction such that slip occurs between faces of
contact.
2) Compare the shaft power capacity with the friction power capacity. Assume steady load conditions
and that the shaft is in torsion only.
Solution:
a) The torque capacity based on friction is:

T= F x f x Rf
Where:
F = axial force caused by bolts loading, N
f = coefficient of friction
Rf = friction radius

This
uniformly distributed.
.'. Friction power :

b) Shaft torque capacity:

T=

Where, s is the smallest of

assumes that the pressure is

Shaft power capacity :

The coupling has greater power capacity based on friction than the shaft capacity.

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