ENGINEERING MECHANICS CLASS SHEET

FORCE SYSTEMS AND STATICS

Classification

1. Coplanar and Non-Coplanar Force system

Coplanar Force System

When the lines of action of a set of forces lie in a single plane is called coplanar force system.

Non-Coplanar Force System

When the line of action of all the forces do not lie in one plane, is called Non-coplanar force system

Collinear Force System

When the lines of action of all the forces of a system act along the same line, this force system is called collinear force
system.
Parallel Forces

Concurrent Force System

The forces when extended pass through a single point and the point is called point of concurrency. The lines of actions
of all forces meet at the point of concurrency. Concurrent forces may or may not be coplanar.

Non-concurrent Force System

When the forces of a system do not meet at a common point of concurrency, this type of force system is called non-
concurrent force system. Parallel forces are the example of this type of force system. Non-concurrent forces may be
coplanar or non-coplanar.

Coplanar and concurrent force system

A force system in which all the forces lie in a single plane and meet at one point, For example, forces acting at a joint
of a roof truss

Coplanar and non-concurrent force system

These forces do not meet at a common point; however, they lie in a single plane, for example, forces acting on a beam

Non-coplanar and concurrent force system

In this system, the forces lie in a different planes but pass through a single point. Example is forces acting at the top
end of an electrical pole

Non-coplanar and non-concurrent force system

The forces which do not lie in a single plane and do not pass through a single point are known as non-coplanar and
non-concurrent forces. Example is the loads transferred through columns to the rectangular mat foundation as shown
in figure.
2. Body force and Surface Forces
CLASS NOTES
Moment of a Force
Moment is the measure of the capacity or ability of the force to produce twisting or turning effect about an
axis. This axis is perpendicular to the plane containing the line of action of the force. The magnitude of
moment is equal to the product of the force and the perpendicular distance from the axis to the line of action
of the force. The intersection of the plane and the axis is commonly called the moment center, and the
perpendicular distance from the moment center to the line of action of the force is called moment arm.

The moment M of force F about the reference point O is equal to the product of F and d.

Vectoral Representation of Moment

The moment of a force is a vector which is the product of distance and force. Hence in case of moment* of
a force the cross-product of distance and force would be taken. Consider the figure

Let F = Force vector (Fxi + Fyj + Fzk)

r = Distance (or position) vector with respect to O = = xi + yj +zk

M = Moment of force about point 0

* A quantity which is the product of two vectors and the quantity is also a vector, then cross product of the
two vectors will be taken. But if the quantity is scalar, then dot product is taken.
Mz = Moment of F about z-axis.
Also Mx, My, and Mz are known as scalar components of moment.

Illustration
A force F=2i + 4j – 3k is applied at a point P(1,1, – 2). Find the moment of the force F about the point (2,-1, 2).

Solution
Given:
Force F = 2i + 4j – 3k
The position vector r of the point P w.r.t. O = Position vector of point P – Position vector of point O.
= (i + j – 2k) – (2i – j + 2k)
r = (1- 2)i + [1 + (1)]j + [- 2 – 2]k = -i + 2j – 4k
The moment M is given by

= [(2)(- 3) – (- 4)(4)] i + [(- 4)(2) – (- 1) (- 3)]j + [(- 1)(4) – (2)(2)]k

=(- 6 + 16) i + (- 8 – 3)j + (- 4 – 4) k = 10i -11j – 8k.
Couple

Couple is a system of forces whose magnitude of the resultant is zero and yet has a moment sum.
Geometrically, couple is composed of two equal forces that are parallel to each other and acting in opposite
direction. The magnitude of the couple is given by

C=Fxd
Where F are the two forces and d is the moment arm, or the perpendicular distance between the forces.

Couple is independent of the moment center, thus, the effect is unchanged in the following conditions.
• The couple is rotated through any angle in its plane.
• The couple is shifted to any other position in its plane.
• The couple is shifted to a parallel plane.
In a case where a system is composed entirely of couples in the same plane or parallel planes, the resultant
is a couple whose magnitude is the algebraic sum of the original couples.
Equilibrium of Force systems

The body is said to be in equilibrium if the resultant of all forces acting on it is zero. There are two major types of
static equilibrium, namely, translational equilibrium and rotational equilibrium.

Concurrent force system

ΣFx=0
ΣFy=0

Parallel Force System

ΣF=0
ΣMO=0

Non-Concurrent Non-Parallel Force System

ΣFx=0
ΣFy=0
ΣMO=0
Reaction supports

Free Body Diagram

CLASS NOTES
CLASSROOM EXCERCISE
Now let us draw the free body diagram for the following cases given below