5.

MOMENTS, COUPLES, FORCES SYSTEMS

& FORCE RESOLUTION

Concept of a Moment
body

CG
of the
body

(a) Translation
When the Force is
applied at the CG

(b) Translation & Rotation

When the Force is not
applied at he CG

Objective: To explain the concept of a Moment

(c) Rotation
When the Force is not
applied at the CG, & the
body is hinged at the CG

If a Force P is applied at the midpoint of the

free, rigid, uniform object, it will slide the
object such that every point moves an equal
distance. The object is said to translate.
If the same force is applied at some other
point as in second figure, then the object will
both translate and rotate.
If the point on the object is fixed against
translation, (third figure) then the applied
force causes the object to rotate only.
Objective: Explanation of the Concept of Moment - continued

Moment of a Force
This tendency of a
force to produce
rotation about some
point is called the
Moment of a force
Objective: Definition of Moment in Statics

Moment of a Force
F

d
The tendency of a force to produce
rotation of a body about some reference
axis or point is called the MOMENT OF A
FORCE

M=Fxd
Objective: An example to illustrate the definition of Moment in Statics

Common Examples in the Application of the Concept of Moment

Example One: Closing the Door

Moment = Force x Perpendicular Distance = Fxd

F

Lever arm

F= 25#
90 deg

Example Two:
Tightening the
NUT

M= - F x d
= -25 x 15

15

= - 375 #-in

Objective: To explain the concept of Moment in Statics with everyday examples

Sign Convention for Moments

Clockwise negative

Anti-clockwise positive

Objective: To illustrate the sign conventions for Moment in Statics

What is the moment at A for the Noodle Beam fixed at A and

loaded by Force F at B?
A

d
F

M=-Fd

Objective: To illustrate that Moment is always Force x Distance, irrespective of the shape
of the structure

Varignons Theorem
F

F
x

Fy

Fx

=
d
A

M=-F.d

M= -Fy.x + Fx.y

According to Varignons Theorem, a Force can be resolved into its

components and multiplied by the perpendicular distances for easy
calculation of the Moment
Objective: To explain Varignons Theorem

d cos

Proof of Varignons Theorem

A

d sin

Fy

F
Fx

F (d ) = Fy (d cos ) + Fx (d sin )

M about A= F x d

Substitute for Fx and Fy

F (d ) = F cos (d cos ) + F sin (d sin )

F (d ) = Fd cos 2 + Fd sin 2

Fd = Fd (cos 2 + sin 2 )
Fxd=

Fd

Proof Of Varignons Theorem

F Fy

Fx

M about A= -F x d

d sin

d cos

M = Fy d cos Fx d sin
= F cos .d cos F sin .d sin
= Fd (cos 2 + sin 2 )
= Fd

On the Left hand side the Moment is got directly by multiplying F times d.
On the Right hand side it is proved the Moment is F.d using Varignons
theorem.
Objective: To prove Varignons Theorem

Concept of a Couple
Plane of the
couple

d, arm of the couple

F
When you grasp the opposite side of
the steering wheel and turn it, you are
applying a couple to the wheel.

A couple is defined as two forces (coplanar) having the same magnitude, parallel
lines of action, but opposite sense. Couples have pure rotational effects on the
body with no capacity to translate the body in the vertical or horizontal
direction. (Because the sum of their horizontal and vertical components are zero)
Objective: To explain the concept of a Couple in Statics

Effect of Couple applied at different points at the base 10lb

of a Cantilever
10lb

2
10lb

10lb

B
10lb

2
A

2
10lb 5

M A = 10 2 + 10 2
= 40 ft.lb

15

10

M A = 10 2 + 10 2

= 40 ft.lb

M A = 10 2 + 10 2
= 40 ft.lb

M A = 10 2 + 10 2
= 40 ft.lb

Thus it is clear that the effect of a couple at the base of the Cantilever is
independent of its (couples) point of application.
Objective: To explain that the effect of a Couple is independent of its point of application

F
F

REPLACING A FORCE
WITH A FORCE & A
COUPLE

1. Introduce two equal

and opposite forces at
B (which does not alter
the equilibrium of the
structure)

2. Replace
the above
two Forces
with a
Couple= F.d

Hence a Force can be replaced with an Equivalent

Fore and a Couple at another point.

Objective: To explain how a Force can be replaced by a Force and couple at another
point

F
F
d

F
F
d

FORCE SYSTEMS

Objective: To explain various types of Force systems which occur in Construction

x
Collinear Force System

y
Coplanar Force System

y
Coplanar parallel

Coplanar Concurrent

Noncoplanar parallel

y
Noncoplanar concurrent

Noncoplanar nonconcurrent

FORCE SYSTEMS
Resolution of Forces into Rectangular Components
y

Fy

Fx

Fx = F cos
Fy = F sin

Sign convention for Forces

Forces towards right Positive

Forces upward Positive

Resolution of a Force How to Apply cos and sin

y

F sin

F cos

F cos
x

F sin

F sin

F cos

F sin

F cos

F sin

F cos

F cos
F

F sin

Vector Addition By Component Method

y

R
Ry

Cy

Rx

Ay
Ax

Ax = A cos
Ay = A sin
C x = C cos
C y = C sin

Bx = B cos
B y = B sin

Cx

Bx

By

Rx = C x Ax Bx
R y = Ay + C y By x
R = (( Rx ) 2 + ( Ry ) 2 )
tan =

Ry
Rx

= tan (
_1

Ry
Rx

Vector Addition by the component method

y

F2

F2 y

F1

F1x

F1 y

F2 x

F1x = F1 cos
F1 y = F1 sin
F2 x = F 2cos
F2 y = F 2sin
Rx = F2 x F1x

Ry
x

Rx

R = ( Rx2 + R y2 )

= tan

R y = F2 y F1 y
Objective: To add two vectors by the component method

Ry
Rx