Key(s) for shaft-hub connection

The feather key are used to transfer the torque between the shaft and the hub. The feather
key are inserted into shaft and hub grooves. The torque is transmitted only by the flanks of
the feather key. Therefore, the grooves of the grooves and the feather key must be parallel.
The feather key are standardized most commonly used, which are listed in DIN 6885A.
The material is usually C45+C steel. For alternating or impact torque loads, the feather key is
not suitable because changing the load direction and the impact of the wall, which can lead
to loosening of the connection.

Fig. 1 Key(s) for shaft-hub connection

Torsion stress in the shaft:

16𝑀'
𝜏" = 5 ≤ 𝜏788
𝜋 )*(𝐷 − 2𝑡)1 + 𝑏 1 4

τs torsion stress in the shaft [MPa]

MT torque [Nm]
D diameter of the shaft [mm]
t depth in the shaft [mm]
b key width [mm]
τall allowable shear stress [MPa]

Allowable shear stress:

0,4𝑅=>,1'
𝜏788 = ∗ 𝐶C
𝑆@

τall allowable shear stress [MPa]

Rp0,2T the minimum yield strength or 0,2% proof strength at calculation temperature [MPa]
SF safety factor []
Cc coefficient of use of joints according to load []

1
Coefficient of use of joints according to load:
load []
Unidirectional load, non-impact load 0,8
Unidirectional load, with a small impact load 0,7
Unidirectional load, with a big impact load 0,6
Alternating load, with a small impact load 0,45
Alternating load, with a big impact load 0,25

key under shear stress:

2𝑀'
𝜏= = ≤ 𝜏788
𝜋𝑏 1
𝐷 ∗ 𝑖 ∗ E(𝑙 − 𝑏 − 𝑙G ) ∗ 𝑏 + 4 H

τp key under shear stress [MPa]

MT torque [Nm]
D diameter of the shaft [mm]
i number of key []
l key length [mm]
b key width [mm]
lt tolerance of key length [mm]
τall allowable shear stress [MPa]

Key/shaft under bearing stress:

2𝑀'
𝑝" = ≤ 𝜎788
𝐷 ∗ 𝑖 ∗ J(𝑙 − 𝑏 − 𝑙G ) ∗ (ℎ" − 𝑡LG − (𝑡 + 𝑡L − ℎ) − 𝑟L )N

ps key/shaft under bearing stress [MPa]

MT torque [Nm]
D diameter of the shaft [mm]
i number of key []
l key length [mm]
b key width [mm]
lt tolerance of key length [mm]
hs the height of the key in the shaft [mm]
t1t tolerance of the groove height in the hub [mm]
t depth in the shaft [mm]
t1 depth in the hub [mm]
h key height [mm]
r1 max. rounding the key [mm]
σall allowable bearing stress [MPa]

The height of the key in the shaft:

𝐷 𝐷 𝑏
ℎ" = 𝑡 − + cos SsinVL W
2 2 𝐷

hs the height of the key in the shaft [mm]

2
t depth in the shaft [mm]
D diameter of the shaft [mm]
b key width [mm]

Allowable bearing stress:

0,9𝑅=>,1'
𝜎788 = ∗ 𝐶C
𝑆@

σall allowable bearing stress [MPa]

Rp0,2T the minimum yield strength or 0,2% proof strength at calculation temperature [MPa]
SF safety factor []
Cc coefficient of use of joints according to load []

Key/hub under bearing stress:

2𝑀'
𝑝Y = ≤ 𝜎788
𝐷 ∗ 𝑖 ∗ J(𝑙 − 𝑏 − 𝑙G ) ∗ (ℎY − 𝑡G − (𝑡 + 𝑡L − ℎ) − 𝑟L )N

Ph key/hub under bearing stress [MPa]

MT torque [Nm]
D diameter of the shaft [mm]
i number of key []
l key length [mm]
b key width [mm]
lt tolerance of key length [mm]
hh the height of the key in the hub [mm]
tt tolerance of the groove height in the shaft [mm]
t depth in the shaft [mm]
t1 depth in the hub [mm]
h key height [mm]
r1 max. rounding the key [mm]
σall allowable bearing stress [MPa]

The height of the key in the hub:

ℎY = 𝑡 + 𝑡L − ℎ"

hh the height of the key in the hub [mm]

t depth in the shaft [mm]
t1 depth in the hub [mm]
hs the height of the key in the shaft [mm]

Torsion stress in the hub:

16𝑀'
𝜏Y = 𝐾G ≤ 𝜏788
[
[
𝜋 ES𝐷Y − )*(𝐷 + 2𝑡L ) + 𝑏 4 W /𝐷Y H
1 1

τh torsion stress in the hub [MPa]

3
Kt concentration factor []
MT torque [Nm]
D diameter of the shaft [mm]
t1 depth in the hub [mm]
b key width [mm]
Dh diameter of the hub [mm]
b key width [mm]
τall allowable shear stress [MPa]

Concentration factor:
0,1 0,1 1
𝐾G = 1,953 + 0,1434 S W − 0,0021 S W
𝑟1 /𝐷 𝑟1 /𝐷

Kt concentration factor []
D diameter of the shaft [mm]
r2 groove rounding [mm]

If the shaft is loaded with the bending moment in the joint, the bending stress must be
checked. If the shaft is loaded with a shear force in the joint, the shear stress must be
checked. The shaft may be load in the joint by axial force. The shaft must be checked for
axial stresses. When calculating the different load types, it is necessary to calculate the
combined stress.

Bending stress in the shaft:

32𝑀_
𝜎_ = 5 ≤ 𝜎_788
𝜋 )*(𝐷 − 2𝑡)1 + 𝑏 1 4

σB bending stress in the shaft [MPa]

MB bending moment [Nm]
D diameter of the shaft [mm]
t depth in the shaft [mm]
b key width [mm]
σBall allowable bending stress [MPa]

Allowable bending stress:

0,6𝑅=>,1'
𝜎_788 = ∗ 𝐶C
𝑆@

σBall allowable bending stress [MPa]

Rp0,2T the minimum yield strength or 0,2% proof strength at calculation temperature [MPa]
SF safety factor []
Cc coefficient of use of joints according to load []

4
Shear stress in the shaft:
4𝐹a
𝜏"(") = 1 ≤ 𝜏788
𝜋 )*(𝐷 − 2𝑡)1 + 𝑏 1 4

τs(s) shear stress in the shaft [MPa]

FR shear forces [N]
D diameter of the shaft [mm]
t depth in the shaft [mm]
b key width [mm]
τall allowable shear stress [MPa]

Axial stress in the shaft:

4𝐹b
𝜎b = 1 ≤ 𝜎b788
𝜋 )*(𝐷 − 2𝑡)1 + 𝑏 1 4

σA axial stress in the shaft [MPa]

FA axial forces [N]
D diameter of the shaft [mm]
t depth in the shaft [mm]
b key width [mm]
σAall allowable axial stress [MPa]

Allowable axial stress:

0,45𝑅=>,1'
𝜎b788 = ∗ 𝐶C
𝑆@

σAall allowable axial stress [MPa]

Rp0,2T the minimum yield strength or 0,2% proof strength at calculation temperature [MPa]
SF safety factor []
Cc coefficient of use of joints according to load []

Combined stress in the shaft:

𝜎Gcd"C7 = e𝜎_1 + 𝜎b1 + 4J(𝐾G ∗ 𝜏" )1 + 𝜏"(")
1
N ≤ 𝜎f788

σtresca combined stress in the shaft [MPa]

σB bending stress in the shaft [MPa]
σA axial stress in the shaft [MPa]
Kt concentration factor []
τs torsion stress in the shaft [MPa]
τs(s) shear stress in the shaft [MPa]
σCall allowable combined stress [MPa]

5
Allowable combined stress:
𝑅=>,1'
𝜎f788 = ∗ 𝐶C
𝑆@

σCall allowable combined stress [MPa]

Rp0,2T the minimum yield strength or 0,2% proof strength at calculation temperature [MPa]
SF safety factor []
Cc coefficient of use of joints according to load []

Literature:
AISC: Specification for structural steel buildings: Allowable Stress design and plastic design
1989
Walter D. Pilkey, Deborah F. Pilkey: Peterson’s stress concentration factors. 2008
Joseph E. Shigley, Charles R. Mischke, Richard G. Budynas: Konstruování strojních součástí
2010.
MET-Calc: Allowable stress.
https://met-calc.com/soubory/clanky/Allowable%20stress%20[EN].pdf
A. Bolek, J. Kochman a kol.: Části a mechanismy strojů I. 1989.
K. Kříž a kol.: Strojní součásti 1. 1984.