Shaft Definition and 389 Threads

A drive shaft, driveshaft, driving shaft, tailshaft (Australian English), propeller shaft (prop shaft), or Cardan shaft (after Girolamo Cardano) is a component for transmitting mechanical power and torque and rotation, usually used to connect other components of a drivetrain that cannot be connected directly because of distance or the need to allow for relative movement between them.
As torque carriers, drive shafts are subject to torsion and shear stress, equivalent to the difference between the input torque and the load. They must therefore be strong enough to bear the stress, while avoiding too much additional weight as that would in turn increase their inertia.
To allow for variations in the alignment and distance between the driving and driven components, drive shafts frequently incorporate one or more universal joints, jaw couplings, or rag joints, and sometimes a splined joint or prismatic joint.

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  1. M

    Difference between Vertical and Horizontal shaft rotordynamics

    Hello all, I am new to physics forums so please excuse my posting mistakes (if any). I wanted to know how different is the rotordynamics when one is analysing a vertical machine v/s a horizontal machine ? Is it substantial or we can analyse it as a horizontal machine and extend the results...
  2. S

    How does shaft deflection affect rotating machinery?

    Hey everyone, After a little help with some deflection caused by a rotating offset shaft. This is the scenario. We have a vertical shaft (165kg ~3.3m, supported at one end only) rotating at 14.67rad/s and getting some undesirable deflection and odd dynamic behaviour. I'm trying to...
  3. T

    Coupling multiple engine onto one drive shaft

    I’ve been searching high and low for an answer to this question. What actually HAPPENS if two engines were to power one drive shaft? I heard back in the days that cars were built this way to break speed records, and I heard present day it is used in tractors, but what increase. My question...
  4. J

    Why Is My Torque Calculation Incorrect for a 100mm Diameter Shaft?

    Hi, I'm stuck on this progress checker question. I've come up with the answer of 6,041875 Nmm or 6,042 NM but this is wrong but I've been told my calcualators are correct. find my progress below. thanks for any help Calculate the power that can be safely transferred by 100mm diameter shaft...
  5. S

    Load on a journal bearing in a vertical shaft

    i have to design a journal bearing for a vertical motor shaft. what loads act on these bearings? since the shaft is axial, are they any loads that act on the bearing. here i am talking about journal/plain bearing, not the thrust bearing which supports the vertical load. what type of failure we...
  6. H

    How is torque calculated on a shaft with a force applied at the end?

    Just a really basic question, say you have a shaft about 25meters long and at the end of the shaft there is a force of 3412KN, what is the torque of the shaft? T = F*d does that mean that T = 3412*25 = 85300KNm is that right?
  7. F

    How to Calculate Shear Stress in a Pinned Shaft?

    So I am trying to figure out this shear stress problem that I have no idea how to approach. I have a shaft which is transmisitting a torque. It can be locked to its housing by using a pin which passes through it radially. I need to know that the shaft won't snap when transmitting its torque...
  8. S

    How Is Maximum Shear Stress Calculated for a Solid Circular Shaft?

    Homework Statement A solid circular steel drive shaft is 4 m long and 60 mm diameter. The modulus of rigidity of the steel is 85 GPa and its maximum allowable shear strength is 150 MPa. The shaft is used to transmit a power of 30 kW while rotating at 500 rev/min. Calculate the following...
  9. A

    Shaft Angular velocity question

    Hi Doing some revising for my exams with past papers. I just need some help to begin this question. Q The shaft of diameter 0.25 is rotating at 3000 rev/min Determine a) The angular velocity b) The linear speed of a point on the circumference of the shaft c) The angular...
  10. Y

    Engineering Increasing shaft speed with DC motor

    Hi all, First timer here I would like to understand how to work out how torque is involved when increasing shaft speed using DC motors. Say if a shaft is rotating at X rpm with an applied torque of T [N.m] and a DC motor is connected through a 1:1 gearing to connect the rotating shaft and...
  11. S

    Hollow Shaft Torsion: Power Transmitted Calculation

    Homework Statement A turbine shaft is to transmit power at 240 rev/min. If the shaft is 1 m external diameter and 25 mm thick and the maximum shear stress is limited to 69 MPa, find the power transmitted. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution T=J*stress/r =...
  12. J

    Forces on a Pulley Shaft: Calculating Shear Forces and Power Requirements

    Hi i need help calculating the shear forces on a pulley shaft. The pulley of the shaft drives another pulley conected to an alternator. the driver pulley is 160mm in diameter, the driven pulley on the alternator is 140mm. The distance between the pulleys is 664mm and the belt length is 1800mm...
  13. M

    Heat Transfer from Solid Shaft to Bearing

    Preheating was carried out on a 4140, 2 inch dia. solid shaft material prior to welding of linkage plate and bearing was attached on the shaft. Temperature range is around 400 to 450 degree celsius. Welding was performed and followed by Post heating of temperature range 560 to 570 degree celsius...
  14. R

    How to Combine Stress Concentrations for Multiple Keyways on a Shaft?

    Hello I have done a Soderberg shaft design calculation, taking into account the stress concentration for a keyway. However, I've just noticed that I might need to adapt this for a feather type keyseat, or 2 (parallel, 180deg apart) keyways in the same cross section. I'm sure I read...
  15. V

    How is this related to Calculating Shaft Torque?

    PF, I need to design a cart that will move (horizontally/linearly) a load of ~40,000 lbs including its own weight (about 6500 lbs) at a total distance of 70 ft on a set of rails. Known data: 1. Cart will need to move at a distance of 1 ft/s 2. Diameter of the cart wheels (4) is 15 in...
  16. J

    Can I desgn a rotating disc without using a centre shaft

    Is it possbile to spin a disc that has a hole in the centre like normal DVDs but without using a rotating centre shaft that is passing through the hole? The spining disc has to be supported too by a structure. Is there any mechanism to recommend?
  17. H

    Force Analysis of a Power Transmission Shaft

    Homework Statement The 150 mm long shaft AB transmits a power of 58.5 kW @ 1400 rpm A helical gear is located at 100 mm from the left bearing of the shaft Tangential pressure and helix angles are φt=24 and ψ=23 degrees, respectively; and the pitch diameter is 20cm Draw bending moment...
  18. D

    Hollow circular tube versus hollow rectangular shaft

    Sportnut: If I am using exact same aluminum material, with exact same thickness of gauge and I construct a 4ft long hollow circular tube that is 1" diameter, and I also construct a 4ft long hollow rectangular shaft that is 1" square, which would be more resistant to bending?
  19. R

    Torque required to accelerate a steel shaft

    Background - I am a retired aeronautical and mechanical engineer (70 years old) and closed my consulting/manufacturing firm about 2 years ago. My technical books are still in storage and I can't get to them right now. A friend has asked me to assist with some machine design calculations and...
  20. S

    A shaft is required to transmit 60kW of power at 4000rev/Minute. Find

    A shaft is required to transmit 60kW of power at 4000rev/Minute. Find the external diameter required for a hollow shaft if its internal diameter is three quarters of the external diameter. And the maximum permissible shear stress is 48MPa. can someone help i am confused haven't got a clue...
  21. G

    Designing a Shaft for 500 W of Power

    Homework Statement I'm supposed to design and analyze a shaft including all features to retain the shaft in the bearings and attach the coupling and sheave and the shaft shouldn't fail in static loading or through fatigue.Homework Equations3 -The flexible coupling attaches your shaft to the...
  22. R

    Calculating Power Transfer of a Medium Carbon Steel Shaft at 150 rpm

    Homework Statement Calculate the power that can be safely transferred by a medium carbon steel shaft of 100 mm diameter at 150 rpm ? Homework Equations Assumed solid circular shaft. The Attempt at a Solution Material : Medium Carbon steel t=580 MPa y= 50 mm k=6 ( table 9...
  23. W

    Max. torque on a shaft with an unbalanced load

    I'm new to the forum and hope someone can help me out. I've attached a picture so hope it works. I have a ladle for pouring metal, the mass of the ladle itself is 60kg and the max. mass of material that can fit in the ladle is 90kg. Total mass 150kg. The ladle has a tapered profile, so the...
  24. C

    How do I calculate torque on a shaft with a 500 lb wheel?

    I have a rather simple question but not having had physics since college, I am unable to find the solution to a problem. Given a shaft with a 500 lb wheel mounted to it how would I calculate the torque on the shaft? The wheel is 2 feet in diameter and 2 feet wide. The shaft is 2 inches in...
  25. Y

    Bearing Length and Shaft Diameter Calculation

    Hello everyone, I m working on a project that I want to create linear motion to carry a load which is constructed eccentricly as you see in the picture. I am looking for the equations about calculating the lineer bearing length and shaft diameter. In this construction, I am using two...
  26. B

    Brake Shaft Bending: Causes & Gyroscopic Effects

    I read an article about Brake Shafts bending behavior due to braking. Assume that there is a Shaft and to its end a brake disc is fixed. The shaft is set to rotate at certain rpm. Now when brakes are applied it seems the shaft tend to bend. Could anyone explain me the reason for this...
  27. 2

    Calculating Torque on a Shaft: What Factors Need to be Considered?

    This is more of a general question i want apply to a problem i am working on. If i was standing on a cart with four wheels an i am holding a string that is wound around the axel of the back wheels. So as i pull the string it unravels around the back axel turning the axel and moving the cart. I...
  28. C

    Friction Force of Rotating Shaft

    I'm analysing the forces on a vacuum roller brush in an effort to determine the power and rpm's that will be required of an electric motor to rotate the shaft. At anyone time there will be three contact points with the bristles to the carpet. Assuming we want the roller brush around 5000 RPM...
  29. D

    Calculating Inside Diam. & Stress of Hollow Steel Shaft

    Homework Statement Given: hollow steel shaft Torque = 5400 Nm Torsional Shear = 150 MPa Required: Inside diameter Outside Diameter Stress on the inside of the shaft Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I solved both the diameters which are 64.49 mm and 48.37 mm...
  30. M

    Angle of the shaft and Mohr's Circle question

    Homework Statement Shaft diameter: 0.2m, Torque: 150 KNm, Axial Thrust(compressive): 520KN Trying to find the angle between maximum principal stress and shaft axis and then to draw the mohr's circle to confirm this results Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I...
  31. F

    Calculate Mass Of Shaft and Hollow Shaft

    Hi, i have a shaft with OD = 33.40mm Wall Thickness = 3.38 mm length = 2.4m Density of shaft = 2750 The weight per unit length that is given is 0.8555 kg/m My question is how did they get it as I am...
  32. Z

    Moment about shaft from hydrostatic forces

    Homework Statement A gate with the shape as shown is mounted on a horizontal shaft. Determine the net moment about the shaft from the hydrostatic forces acting on the gate. Answer: 750kNm Homework Equations h_c: height of centroid = y_c * sin(theta) y_r: location of force or centre of...
  33. J

    Calculating Minimum Shaft Diameter: Factor of Safety vs Maximum Shear Stress?

    im working on a question that requires me to calculate the minimum shaft diameter for a maximum shear stress. the value is 80mpa. The factor of safety is 1.5, now I am aware that i can't simply increase the shaft diameter by 1.5 to do this correctly. Should I calculate a suitable diameter for...
  34. X

    Help Me Calculate Wind Power in Turbine Shaft!

    I really need help in my undergraduate thesis which focus on wind energy. Goal I want to calculate the amount of Power in the wind turbine shaft, which later used to calculate the efficiency of my wind turbine. Material My wind turbine uses 3-blade household common fan as blade which have...
  35. L

    Centrifugal force versus gravity (ball on a joint placed on rotating shaft)

    Homework Statement Basically, this is the problem. [PLAIN]http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/3598/physicsproblem.png It's related to some design research I'm doing regarding a centrifugal control valve. This is a type of valve that controls the fluid flow based on the centrifugal...
  36. C

    Polar moment of inertia for a shaft with slot

    Homework Statement HI Can anyone help me in finding out the polar moment of inertia of a hollow shaft with 3 circular slots . Its used in design of DIVERTERS in oil and gas application. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution
  37. D

    Calculating Generator Shaft Torque

    Gentlemen, Here is my scenario. I am building a new project utilizing a PMG that produces 5KW at 840V at 189 RPM. The manufacturer is supplying me with a torque curve that does not appear to be correct. They say, at full power extraction it has 350Nm of shaft torque. Is this correct? If so...
  38. P

    Rotating & Linear Shaft Movement in a Single Axis

    how to rotate the shaft and to move it linearly in a single axis
  39. E

    Shaft Encoder with Pulleys/spring/spool

    Alright I am trying to measure the "instantaneous" velocity of a swimmer at around 400Hz. I plan on attaching the swimmer to some nylon rope or something similar and having the rope go into a "box" that will use pulleys, a wheel mounted to a shaft and shaft encoder that will rotate freely...
  40. D

    Equivalent torque of hollow shaft

    Homework Statement A solid circular shaft has a diameter of 200mm. What would be the dimension of a hollow shaft which could replace it (i.e. transmit the same torque for the same maximum shear stress), and what would be the percentage reduction in the material required? The internal and...
  41. C

    Are Axial Forces on a Drive Shaft Negligible in Bearing Design?

    Hey guys, I working on a bearing design project for a mech. design class. The bearings will be used to support an automotive drive shaft, and I was wondering: 1) if there were any axial (thrust) forces introduced to the shaft by the engine and whether they are negligible or not 2) if...
  42. M

    What Does Integrating Shaft Rotation Data Reveal?

    Hello all, I am currently working on a project where I am to analyze the rotation of a shaft in a particular piece of machinery and use this information to get a meaningful relationship between two other independent parameters of the machine. The rotation of the shaft is the only indicator that...
  43. M

    Engineering Pulleys connecting a motor and shaft - Determining loads in shafts

    Homework Statement A 5hp, 1755rpm, WEG Motor (part #00518OP3E184T) needs to turn another shaft that is 12" away at 1000rpm. Homework Equations Torque=HP*5252/RPM T=F*r -> F=T/r Drive Ratio = Driver Pitch Diameter/Driven Pitch Diameter Sum Forces Sum Moments The Attempt at a...
  44. F

    Creating a User-Friendly D-Hole for Mounting a DC Motor Shaft

    Hi, I have a DC motor that have these dimensions: http://www.micromotorssrl.com/motor_l149/L149.pdf and the problem that i have is to make the "D-hole" in a solid 6mm steel shaft. At the bottom of the hole i was planing to put a neodymium magnet so that you easily could remove and put back...
  45. W

    Help calculating power required to drive shaft

    Homework Statement Calculate the motor size required to drive shaft A. (shown in schematic 1 diagram) Drive shaft rotates at 75 Rpm. Weight of plunger + attachments = 30kg's Dimensions of plunger given in schematic 2. Homework Equations Work done = F x d (distance...
  46. F

    What types of forces will affect a submerged shaft in a wave-powered generator?

    I am designing a fan blade which is attached to a generator. The unit will be submerged in water. The blade will be attached to the generator by a shaft. The device is semi-enclosed in a cylinder with the top and bottom open. The force of the waves will cause the propellor to spin. My...
  47. T

    What is the calculation for determining motor shaft RPM using a tachometer?

    I am trying to figure out the speed that a motor shaft is running at but i have no reference materials to work with. I had to place a tachometer on the outside of the shaft as there was no centre drilled hole to work from. I got the following results: Diameter of tachometer: 31.5mm Diameter...
  48. 2

    Infinite of finite life for a shaft

    I am having trouble finding the method to figure out if a shaft has finite or infinite life if it is subjected to a fluctuating load. I know how to solve for n(factor of safety) in these types of problems. Is there a value that if n is above it has infinite life.
  49. W

    Where Can I Find Dual Shaft Right Angle Gearboxes?

    I'm looking for a right angled dual output shaft gearbox like the one attached I can't find one anywhere, just parallel dual shaft gearboxes. Anyone know a supplier or website for these? Do they even exist?
  50. H

    Revolutions of a driving shaft

    Homework Statement How many revolutions does a driving shaft of an eight cylinder four stroke engine perform until every cylinder has ignited once ? Homework Equations 4 - 8 - 6 - 2 The Attempt at a Solution Moreover, I would like to have information and understand the logical...
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