Course Title: Engineering Mechanics

Course code: ZZ1001D

1
 COURSE PLAN

Module 1:

Basic Concepts
Introduction: idealizations of mechanics, vector and scalar quantities,
equality and equivalence of vectors, laws of mechanics, elements of
vector algebra.

Important vector quantities: position vector, moment of a force about a

point, moment of a force about an axis, the couple and couple moment,
couple moment as a free vector, moment of a couple about a line.

Equivalent force systems: translation of a force to a parallel position,

resultant of a force system, simplest resultant of special force systems,
distributed force systems, reduction of general force system to a wrench.

2
 COURSE PLAN
Module 2:

Statics
Equations of equilibrium: free-body diagram, free bodies involving
interior sections, general equations of equilibrium, problems of
equilibrium, static indeterminacy.
Applications of equations of equilibrium: Trusses: solution of simple
trusses using method of joints and method of sections; Friction forces:
laws of Coulomb friction, simple contact friction problems; Cables and
chains.
Properties of surfaces: first moment and centroid of plane area, second
moments and product of area for a plane area, transfer theorems,
rotation of axes, polar moment of area, principal axes.
Method of virtual work: principles of virtual work for rigid bodies and its
applications.

3
 COURSE PLAN
Module 3:

Dynamics
Kinematics of a particle: introduction, general notions, differentiation of
a vector with respect to time, velocity and acceleration calculations in
rectangular coordinates, velocity and acceleration in terms of path
variables and cylindrical coordinates, simple kinematical relations and
applications.
Dynamics of a particle: introduction, Newton’s law for rectangular
coordinates, rectilinear translation, Newton’s law for cylindrical
coordinates, Newton’s law for path variables, energy and momentum
methods: introduction, conservative force field, conservation of
mechanical energy, alternative form of work-energy equation, impulse
and momentum relations, moment-of-momentum equation.

4
 Test pattern
Lecture-Tutorial -Practical: 3-0-0

Weightages for various components of the Evaluation Plan:

1. Interim Test : 30 Marks

2. Continuous Evaluation : 20 Marks [ Assignments +
Surprise Test +Tutorials etc]
3.End-Semester Exam : 50 Marks
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL : 100 Marks

5
 Reference Books

 I. H. Shames, Engineering Mechanics—Statics and Dynamics, 4th Edition,

Prentice Hall of India, 1996.
 F.P. Beer and E.R. Johnston, Vector Mechanics for Engineers – Statics,
McGraw Hill Book Company, 2000.
 J.L. Meriam and L.G. Kraige, Engineering Mechanics – Statics, John Wiley
& Sons, 2002.
 R.C Hibbler, Engineering Mechanics—Statics and Dynamics, 11th Edition,
Pearson, India, 2009

6
 COURSE PLAN
Credits 3 Lecture-Tutorial -Practical: 3-0-0

Course Outcomes - Students will be able to:

CO1: Determine the resultants of a force system

CO2: Solve rigid body statics problems using equations of equilibrium
and principle of virtual work
CO3: Perform kinematic analysis of a particle
CO4: Solve particle dynamics problems using Newton's laws, energy
methods and momentum methods

7
 What is Mechanics

• Mechanics is the physical science which deals

with the effects of forces on objects.
• Engineering mechanics subject involves the
application of the principles of mechanics to solve
real-time engineering

8
 Engineering Mechanics

 Basic engineering mechanics involves the study of two principal

areas – statics and dynamics.

 Statics is the study of forces on objects or bodies which are at rest

or moving at a constant velocity, and the forces are in balance, or in
static equilibrium.

 A ball at rest may have several forces acting on it, such as

gravitational force (weight) and a force opposing that gravity
(reaction). The ball is at rest or static, has forces in balance or
EQUILIBRIUM

 Dynamics is the study of forces on moving bodies, and the forces

are in dynamic equilibrium.

9
 Basic Unit System & Units
The SI system consists of six primary units, from which all quantities may
be described but in engineering mechanics we are only interested in the
top four units from this table.

Derived Units
There are many derived units all obtained from combination of the above
primary units.

10
Derived
Units

11
 Basic mathematics skills that are important in
arriving the solution
 Quadratic equations (ax2 + bx + c = 0)
 Simultaneous equations ax + by + c = 0
px + qy + r = 0 β
h
 Trigonometry functions of a right-angle triangle
 sine  = opposite side = o = cosine  o
hypotenuse h

cosine  = adjacent side = a = sine 

hypotenuse h

tangent  = opposite side = o
adjacent side a a
tangent  = sin 
cos
 Sine and cosine rules Sine Rule a__ = b_ = c__
Cosine Rule a = b + c – 2bc cos 
2 2 2
sin  sin  sin 
b2 = a2 + c2 – 2ac cos 
c2 = a2 + b2 – 2ab cos 
Lami’s Theorem
Lami's theorem states that if three forces acting at a point are in equilibrium, each force
is proportional to the sine of the angle between the other two forces.  12
 Law of Dimensional homogeneity
This law states that, because natural phenomena proceed
with no regard for man-made units, basic equations
representing physical phenomena must be valid for all
systems of units

13
 Basic concepts
 Space – is the geometric region occupied by bodies whose
positions are described by linear and angular measurements
relative to a coordinate system.

 Time - measure of succession of event or definition of an event

requires specification of the time and position at which it occurred.

 Mass - is a measure of the inertia of a body, which is its resistance

to a change of velocity. Mass can also be thought of as the quantity
of matter in a body.

 Force - represents the action of one body on another. A force is

characterized by its point of application, magnitude, and direction,
i.e., a force is a vector quantity.

14
 Basic concepts
 Displacement – defined as the distance moved by a body or a particle
in a specific direction.

 Velocity - defined as the rate of change of displacement with respect

to time.
 Acceleration – defined as rate of change of velocity with respect to time. There
are only two ways for you to accelerate: change your speed or change your
direction—or change both.

 Momentum – defined as the product of mass and velocity. Hence, momentum

will increase with the increase in the velocity or mass or both.

15
 Idealization of Mechanics
Replace the actual physical action and the participating bodies with
hypothetical, highly simplified substitutes.
• Continuum: Measure the average response of elementary particles in
a body. Pressure, density, and temperature are actually the gross
effects of the actions of the many molecules and atoms, and they can
be conveniently assumed to arise from a hypothetically continuous
distribution of matter, which we shall call the continuum, instead of
from a conglomeration of discrete, tiny bodies.
• Rigid Body: every body must deform to a certain degree under the
actions of forces, but in many cases the deformation is too small to
affect the desired analysis. It is then preferable to consider the body as
rigid, and proceed with simplified computations.

Rigid body Non-rigid

with negligible body which
deformations can deform
16
 Idealization of Mechanics
• Particle: The particle is defined as an object that has no
size but that has a mass. Eg: we can consider planets as
particles for computations.
• Point Force: Imagine a finite force to be transmitted
through an infinitesimal area or point. This simplification
of a force distribution is called a point force.

17
Fundamental structure of Engineering Mechanics

18
Vector and Scalar quantities

19
 Scalars
• A scalar quantity is a quantity that has
magnitude only and has no direction in space

Examples of Scalar Quantities:

 Length
 Area
 Volume
 Time
 Mass

20
 Vectors
• A vector quantity is a quantity that has both
magnitude and a direction in space
Examples of Vector Quantities:
 Displacement
 Velocity
 Acceleration
 Force

21
 Vector Diagrams
• Vector diagrams are
shown using an arrow
• The length of the
arrow represents its
magnitude
• The direction of the
arrow shows its
direction Vectors are typically illustrated by drawing
an ARROW above the symbol. The arrow is
used to convey direction and magnitude.

To describe a vector we need more information than to describe a

scalar! Therefore vectors are more complex!
22
Describing Vectors Algebraically
Vectors: Described by the number, units and direction!

Vectors: Can be described by their magnitude and direction. For

example: Your displacement is 1.5 m at an angle of 250.
Can be described by components? For example: your displacement
is 1.36 m in the positive x direction and 0.634 m in the positive y
direction.

23
 Parallelogram law

• All quantities that have magnitude

and direction and that add according
to the parallelogram law are called displacement vector from A to B
vector quantities. Other quantities
that have only magnitude, such as
temperature and work, are called
scalar quantities.

Line of action of a vector 24

Equality and Equivalence of vectors
• Two vectors are equal if they have the same
dimensions, magnitude and direction.

25
• Two vectors are equivalent in a certain
capacity if each produces the very ,same effect
in this capacity
• Effect of F1 and F2 can be replaced with a
moment at A

26
 Classification of vectors
• Free vector is the vector which may be positioned
anywhere in space without loss or change of meaning
provided that magnitude and directions are kept intact.
• Sliding/ Transmissible vector has a unique line of action
in space but not a unique point of application

• Fixed vector/ Bound vector is one for which a unique

point of application is specified.
Eg: if we are interested to measure the deformations in a
body.
27
Fundamental Laws of Mechanics

1. Newton’s First Law of motion

2. Newton’s Second Law of

motion

3. Newton’s Third Law of motion

4. Law of Transmissibility of
forces

5. Parallelogram Law of forces

6. Newton’s Law of gravitation 28

 NEWTON’S LAWS OF MOTION (1st Law)

The study of rigid body mechanics is formulated on the basis of Newton’s laws
of motion.
First Law:
 An object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to
stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction, unless
acted upon by an unbalanced force. (or)
 Every body continues in it state of rest or of uniform motion in a straight
line unless it is compelled by an external agency acting on it.
This leads to the definition of forces as the external agency which
changes or tends to change the state of rest or uniform linear motion of
the body.

 
F  0
29
 NEWTON’S LAWS OF MOTION (2nd Law)

Second Law:
 The acceleration of a particle is proportional to the vector sum of forces
acting on it, and is in the direction of this vector sum. (or)
 The rate of change of momentum of the body is directly proportional to
the impressed force and it takes place in the direction of force acting on
it.

Force  rate of change of momentum [F=mv]

As mass do not change
Force  m X rate of change of velocity
Force  mX a

30
 NEWTON’S LAWS OF MOTION (3rd Law)
Third Law:
 The mutual forces of action and reaction between two
particles are equal in magnitude, opposite in direction and
collinear. (or)
 In the other words, for every action there is an equal and
opposite reaction.

   
F F F F
Isolate the
body

Concept of FBD (Free Body Diagram)

Forces always occur in pairs – equal and opposite action-reaction force pairs.
31
 Fundamental Laws of Mechanics :
Law of Transmissibility of forces :
According to this law the state of rest or motion of the rigid body
is unaltered if a force acting on the body is replaced by another
force of same magnitude and direction but acting anywhere on the
body along the line of action of the applied force.

(or the replaced force doesn’t alter the translational and rotational effects
of the applied force)

Law of Transmissibility of force can be proved by principle of

superposition 32
Fundamental Laws of Mechanics :
Newton’s Law of gravitation:
The force of attraction between any two bodies is directly
proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the
square of the distance between them.

According to this law, the force of attraction between the bodies of

mass m1 and m2 at a distance d is
m1m2
F G 2
d

33
Fundamental Laws of Mechanics :
Parallelogram law of forces:
If two forces acting simultaneously on a body at a point
are represented in magnitude and direction by the
adjacent sides of a parallelogram, their resultant is
represented in magnitude and direction by the diagonal
of the parallelogram, which passes through the point of
intersection of the two sides representing the forces

34
 Types of Forces
 Concurrent coplanar

 Non-Concurrent coplanar

 Concurrent non-coplanar

 Non-Concurrent non-coplanar

 External forces

 Internal forces
35
Force System Characteristic
Collinear forces Line of action of all the forces act
along the same line.
Coplanar parallel forces All forces are parallel to each other
and lie in a single plane
Non-coplanar parallel All the forces are parallel to each
forces other, but not in the same plane.

Coplanar concurrent Line of action of all forces pass

forces through a single point and forces lie
in the same plane.
Non-coplanar All forces do not lie in the same
concurrent forces plane, but their lines of action pass
through a single point
Coplanar non- All forces do not meet at a point,
concurrent forces forces but lie in a single plane
Non-coplanar non- All the forces do not lie in the same
concurrent forces plane and their lines of action do not
pass through a single point.

36
 Elements of vector algebra
Multiplication and Division of a Vector by a
Scalar.

37
 Vector Addition

vector addition is commutative 38

39
40
• Add the forces acting on a particle situated at
the origin of a two-dimensional reference
frame. One force has a magnitude of 10 Ib
acting in the positive x direction, whereas the
other has a magnitude of 5 Ib acting at an
angle of 135˚ with a sense directed away from
the origin.

41
 Basic mathematics skills that are important in
arriving the solution
 Quadratic equations (ax2 + bx + c = 0)
 Simultaneous equations ax + by + c = 0
px + qy + r = 0 β
 Trigonometry functions of a right-angle triangle h
 sine  = opposite side = o = cosine  o
hypotenuse h

cosine  = adjacent side = a = sine 

hypotenuse h

tangent  = opposite side = o

adjacent side a 
tangent  = sin 
cos
 Sine and cosine rules a
Cosine Rule a2 = b2 + c2 – 2bc cos  Sine Rule a = b = c
b2 = a2 + c2 – 2ac cos 
sin  sin  sin 
c2 = a2 + b2 – 2ab cos 
Lami’s Theorem
Lami's theorem states that if three forces acting at a point are in equilibrium, each force
is proportional to the sine of the angle between the other two forces.  42
The screw eye in Fig. is subjected to two forces, F1 and F2. Determine the
magnitude and direction of the resultant force.

Ans: Direction of resultant force w.r.to horizontal= 54.8 degree

43
Vector Subtraction

44
 Resolution of vectors
• Opposite action of vector
addition

Co-planar components

45
A sailboat cannot go directly into the wind, but must tack from
side to side as shown in Fig wherein a sailboat is going from
marker A to marker B 5,000 meters apart. What is the
additional distance(ΔL) beyond 5,OOO m that the sailboat must
travel to get from A to B?

46
Three dimensional resolution or Cartesian
Vectors

47
Rectangular Components of a Vector

48
• Determine the magnitude of the component
force F in Fig. and the magnitude of the
resultant force FR if FR is directed along the
positive y axis.

49
Cartesian Unit Vectors

50
Useful way of representing vectors
• Imagine you
are walking
from A to B
but restricting
your
movements
to be along
co-ordinate
direction
51
Cartesian Vector Representation

Separating the magnitude and direction of

each component vector will simplify the
operations of vector algebra, particularly in
three dimensions.

52
Magnitude of a Cartesian Vector

53
 Direction of a Cartesian Vector or direction
cosines
• We will define the
direction of A by the
coordinate direction
angles α (alpha), β (beta),
and γ (gamma),
measured between the
tail of A and the positive
x, y, z axes provided they
are located at the tail of
A,

54
55
• An easy way of obtaining these direction
cosines is to form a unit vector uA in the
direction of A

56
57
A crane (not shown) is supporting a 2,000-N Crain(see Fig.) through
three cables: AB, CB, and DB. Note that D is at the center of the outer edge
of the crate; C is 1.6 m from the comer of this edge; and B is directly
above the center of the crate. What are the forces Fl, F2, and F3 transmitted
by the cables?

58
• The man shown in Fig. pulls on the cord with
a force of 70 lb. Represent this force acting on
the support A as a Cartesian vector and
determine its direction.

59
 Scalar or dot product of two vectors

• Commutative law:
• Multiplication by a scalar:
• Distributive law:
 WORK DONE= FORCE ∙ DISPLACEMENT=

60
Cartesian Vector Formulation

61
Cables GA and GB (see Fig) are part of a guy-wire system supporting
two radio transmission towers. What are the lengths of GA and GB and
the angle a between them?

62
Cross product of two vectors

63
 The commutative law is not valid

Magnitude of resultant vector 64

• The vector cross product also obeys the
distributive law of addition

It is important to note that proper order of the

cross products must be maintained, since they
are not commutative.

65
66
• A pyramid is shown in Fig. If the height of the
pyramid is 300 ft. find the angle between the
outward normal to planes ADB and BDC
Z

300’

E
C Y

100’
A B
100’
67
X
 Position Vectors
• A position vector r is defined as a fixed vector
which locates a point in space relative to
another point.

Displacement Vector Position vector

68
Displacement vector1-2= position vector 2-position vector1
Co-ordinates of head-coordinates of tail
69
Find r?

or

r= r’-R
= (x,y,z) of head-(x,y,z) of tail
Ans

70
The roof is supported
by cables as shown in
the photo. If the
cables exert forces
and on the wall hook
at A as shown in Fig,
determine the
resultant force acting
at A. Express the
result as a Cartesian
vector.

71
Scalar and vector triple Product

     
     
A B  C   A C  B   C  B  B
 Ax Ay Az 
 
 
 
A  B  C   Bx By Bz 
 Cx Cy C z 


        
A  ( B  C )  B( A  C )  C ( A  B)

72
Moment of a force

73
 Moment of a force about a POINT
The magnitude of the
moment is directly
proportional to the magnitude
of F and the perpendicular
distance or moment arm d.

74
 Magnitude and direction
TWO
DIMENSIONAL
CASE
• Where Mo is the moment about a point
O, d-moment arm or perpendicular
distance from the axis at point O to the
line of action of the force.
• Direction of the moment will be
perpendicular to the plane that
contains the force F and its moment
arm d.
• As a convention, we will generally
consider positive moments as
counterclockwise since they are
directed along the positive z axis (out of
the page). Clockwise moments will be 75
negative.
76
Find moments- two dimensional cases

77
 Three dimensional case- Vector formulation

The moment of a force F

about point is

r=head-tail

r represents a position vector

directed from O to any point on
the line of action of F. 78
• The magnitude of the
cross product is defined
from
as where the angle is
measured between the
tails of r and F.

79
80
 Principle of Transmissibility
• Since F can be applied
at any point along its
line of action and still
create this same
moment about point O,
then F can be
considered a sliding
vector. This property is
called the principle of
transmissibility of a
force.
81
 Resultant Moment of a System of Forces

• If a body is acted upon by

a system of forces, the
resultant moment of the
forces about point O can
be determined by vector
addition of the moment
of each force. This
resultant can be written
symbolically as
82
Principle of Moments or Varignon’s theorem

• It states that the moment of a force about a

point is equal to the sum of the moments of
the components of the force about the point.

83
Determine the moment of 100 N force F, as shown in
the figure, about points A and B respectively.

84
• Determine the moment produced by the force
F in Fig. about point O. Express the result as a
Cartesian vector.
• Procedure:

Or

Ans:

85
Two forces act on the rod shown in Fig.. Determine the resultant
moment they create about the flange at O. Express the result as a
Cartesian vector

ANS

Ans:

86
Determine the moment of the force in Fig.
about point O.

87
 Moment of a Force about a
Specified Axis
the moment of the force about any
point O on the y axis

Y component of Mo=My

88
We can generalize it if we
can get a unit vector (ua)
along the axis where you
need to find the
component of the
resultant vector.
Ie we need to find scaler
triple product

89
90
Compute the moment of a force F=10i+6j which goes through a position r a=2i+6j about a
line going through points 1 and 2 having respective position vectors
r1=6i+10j-3k
r2=-3i-12j+6k

91
Determine the moment produced by the force F
in Fig., which tends to rotate the rod about the
AB axis.

92
93
• Determine the magnitude of the moment of
force F about segment OA of the pipe
assembly in Fig.
Ans: 100 N.m

94
 Moment of a couple
A couple is defined as two parallel
forces that have the same magnitude,
but opposite directions, and are
separated by a perpendicular distance
d.
Effect of couple is unchanged if it is
rotated through any angle or shifted
to any other position.
Only another couple of same
magnitude and opposite direction
can balance a couple
The moment produced by a couple is
called a couple moment
95
 Common representation of
couples

couple moment is a free

vector
it can act at any point since M depends only upon the
position vector r directed between the forces and not
the position vectors rA and rB directed from the 96
 Addition and subtraction of couples

• Since each couple moment

is a free vector, we can join
their tails at any arbitrary
point and find the resultant
couple moment

98
Moment of a couple about a line

99
From the below figure, Find
A) the sum of the forces
B) Sum of moments/torques
C) The torque of the entire system about axis C-C having direction cosines l=0.46 and m=0.63 and going through point A.

100
 Equivalent force and couple systems

• A system is equivalent if the external effects

(translational or rotational movements or
reactions) it produces on a body are the same
as those caused by the original force and
couple moment system.
• It uses the principle of transmissibility.

103
 (1) Movement of force to point O which is in
the line of action of Force “F”

Steps
1. Apply equal and opposite
force at O (ie F and –F)
2. -F at O and +F at A cancel
each other.
3. Force “ F “ at point O remains.
If force F is simply transmitted
from point A to O

104
(2) Point O is not in line of
action of force “F”
Steps:
1. Apply equal but opposite forces F
and –F at point O
2. Force F at A and –F at O makes a
couple (M= r× F) which will be
perpendicular to the plane
containing F and R
3. In addition to couple, force F now
acts at point O
4. Since couple is a free vector, it can
be moved from point P to O

105
• A force F=6i+3j+6k lb goes through a point
whose position vector is r1= 2i+j+10k ft.
Replace this force by an equivalent force
system, for purposes of rigid body mechanics,
going through position P whose position
vector is r2=6i+10j+12k ft

106
107
Reducing a force and a couple in the same
plane to single equivalent force
Transferred force A to
distance d2 (line of action
is different)
Transferred
couple

 A d2k
where
A d 2  B d1
108
Conditions to reduce a force and a couple to
a single equivalent force
• The lines of action of FR and (MR)o should be
perpendicular to each other.
• Because of this condition, only concurrent,
coplanar, and parallel force systems can be
further simplified.

109
• Find point of action of single force equivalent
to the given system of force and couple acting
on a cantilever beam, as shown in the figure
below.

110
 Resultant of a force system

Any force system can

be replaced at any
point by equivalents
no more complex
than a single force
and a single couple
moment
111
 or

     
FR     Fp   i     Fp   j     Fp   k
x y z
 p   p   p 
CR   (r1  F1 )  (r2  F2 )  (r3  F3 )  .....   C1  C2  C3  ....
CR   (rp  Fp )   Cq
p q 112
113
• The structural
member is
subjected to a
couple moment M
and forces F1 and
F2 in Fig. Replace
this system by an
equivalent resultant
force and couple
moment acting at
its base, point O.

114
• Replace the force and couple system acting on
the member in Fig. by an equivalent resultant
force and couple moment acting at point O.

Hint: Can be considered as a two dimensional case. So scalar approach is also okay
Ans: Fr= 461 N MR=37.5
115
Simplest resultants of special force systems

• (A) Concurrent Force System

• The system of forces makes no moment at point
O. So we can write

116
 Coplanar Force System

• lines of action of all

the forces lie in the
same plane
• the moment of each
of the forces about
any point O is
directed
perpendicular to this
plane.

117
Parallel force system
 Y

Remember: For finding simplest resultant, no

need to find the support reactions

119
Find the simplest resultant

120
Consider a coplanar force system shown in Fig.
Find the simplest resultant and obtain the ‘x’
and ‘y’ intercepts of its line of action

(8,2)
(8,2)
(5,3)
F1=6i+3j
F1=6i+3j
Replace the force and couple moment system acting on the beam
in Fig. by an equivalent resultant force, and find where its line of
action intersects the beam, measured from point O.

Remember: For finding simplest resultant, no

need to find the support reactions
The jib crane shown in Fig subjected to three coplanar forces.
Replace this loading by an equivalent resultant force and specify
where the resultant’s line of action intersects the column AB and
boom BC.

Remember: For finding simplest resultant, no

need to find the support reactions
• A 4.80-m-long beam is subjected to the forces shown in
Fig. Reduce the given system of forces to ( a ) an
equivalent force-couple system at A, (b) an equivalent
force-couple system at B, (c) a single force or resultant.

Remember: For finding simplest resultant, no

need to find the support reactions
Replace the force system in Fig. by an equivalent resultant force
and specify its point of application on the pedestal.
 By vector approach

Moments will be summed about

point O. The resultant force FR is
assumed to act through point P
( x , y , 0)
 -700y = -1400 ; y = 2 in
700x = -800 ; x = -1.14 in
The negative sign indicates that the x coordinate of point P
is negative.
It is also possible s up the moments
about x and y axes, using right
hand thumb rule.

-700y = -1400 ; y = 2 in
700x = -800 ; x = -1.14 in
The negative sign indicates that the x coordinate of point P
is negative.
Wrench Resultant
• When the resultant couple vector M is parallel to
the resultant force R, the resultant is called a
wrench.
• A common example of a positive wrench is
found with the application of a screwdriver, to
drive a right-handed screw.

The wrench is the simplest form in which the resultant of a general force system may be
expressed.
Distributed force system
" concentrated“ forces do not
exist in the exact sense , since
every external force applied
mechanically to a body is
distributed over a finite contact
area , however small.
Distributed force system
• When forces are applied over a region whose dimensions
are not negligible compared with other dimensions, then
we must account for the actual manner in which the force
is distributed.
• There are three categories of such problems.
(1) Line Distribution: When a force is distributed along a line,
(continuous vertical load supported by a suspended cable) the
intensity ‘w’ of the loading is expressed as force per unit length of
line. (N/m)
(2). Area distribution: When a force is distributed
over an area, (the hydraulic pressure of water
against the inner face of a section of dam) the
intensity is expressed as force per unit area. This
intensity is called pressure for the action of fluid
forces and stress for the internal distribution of
forces in solids. (N/m2)
(3) Volume Distribution: A force which is distributed over the
volume of a body is called a body force. The most common
body force is the force of gravitational attraction, which acts
on all elements of mass in a body.
• The intensity of gravitational force is the specific weight ρg,
where (‘ρ’ is the density (mass per unit volume) and ‘g’ is
the acceleration due to gravity.(N/m3)
 Centre of gravity

Lines of action of the resultant

force will be concurrent at a
single point G, which is called
the center of gravity of the body
Location of CG: Parallel system
of gravitational forces
• The moment of the resultant
gravitational force ‘W” about
any axis equals the sum of the
moments about the same axis
of the gravitational forces ‘dw’
acting on all particles treated
as infinitesimal elements of
the body.
• Resultant force: weight of the
body “W”
( 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦 𝑗 ) × 𝐹 𝑅 =𝐶 𝑅
Wx  x1dw1  x2 dw2  x3dw3  x4 dw4  .................
x1dw1  x2 dw2  x3dw3  x4 dw4  ....
x
 dw1  dw2  dw3  dw4  ....
 CENTRE OF
GRAVITY

CENTRE
OF MASS

center of mass , coincides with the center of gravity as long as

the gravity field is treated as uniform and parallel. If the
density is uniform throughout the body, the positions of
the centroid and center of mass are identical, whereas if
the density varies, these two points will, in general, not
coincide.
Find the center of gravity for the body of revolution shown in Fig..
The radial distance of the surface from the y axis is given as

The body has a constant density ρ, is 10ft long and has a cylindrical
hole at right end of length 2ft and diameter 1 ft
• A plate is shown in Fig. lying flat on the ground.
The plate is 60 mm thick and has a uniform
density. The curved edge is that of a parabola
with zero slope at the origin. Find the coordinates
of the center of gravity. The equation of a
parabola oriented like that of the curved edge of
the plate is

t
Find the CG of the composite
structure
CG of composite bodies
• A composite body consists of a series of
connected “simpler” shaped bodies, which may
be rectangular, triangular, semicircular, etc
 Density weight, w
Segment Volume,m3 kN/m3 MN Y,m wy

1 (15*15*7)-(3.14*5^2*7)=1025.22 40 41 3.5+7+12+6=28.8 1168.5

2 (3.14*5^2*14)=1099.55 70 77 7+12+6=25 1925

3 (3.14*4^2*12)=603.18 70 42.2 6+6=12 506.4

4 (6*6*6*)=216 75 16.2 3 48.6

176.4 3648.5

 ´𝑦 =20.68 𝑚 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛

Locate the center of mass of the assembly shown
in Fig.. The conical frustum has a density of
8mg/m3 and the hemisphere has a density of
4mg/m3. There is a 25-mm-radius cylindrical hole
in the center of the frustum.
• (1+2)-(3+4)
• Because of symmetry, note that

unit
Centre of fluid pressure
•  According to Pascal’s law, a fluid at rest creates a
pressure p at a point that is the same in all
directions.

•
•
 General
cases
Note: Total load
=area under the
curve
•  Determine the magnitude and location of the
resultant hydrostatic force acting on the
submerged rectangular plate AB shown in Fig.
The plate has a width of 1.5 m;
• Determine the magnitude of the resultant
hydrostatic force acting on the surface of a
seawall shaped in the form of a parabola as
shown in Fig..The wall is 5 m long;
Find the magnitude and application center of pressure on the plate
ABCD, due to the imposed distributed and point force system. The
pressure distribution is given as p = -4y2 + 100.

 
36. Determine the resultant and x-coordinate of the centroid of the
load acting on the cantilever beam, w.r.t A

From the magnitudes of loads

on the end, we can find

W0 = 1000N\m and
k=2
36. Continued…
Now the resultant force
eqivalent to the distributed
force will given by the area of
load diagram.