4.7-4.

9 Force Couple Systems Let us look at the following

F

We want for one reason or another, to ha e F act at point 0. !ow "o we "o this# We can mo e F along itsline of action, $ut we cannot %ust mo e it to 0 $ecause if we "o so we will mo"ify the action of F on the $o"y. Let "o the following
F F

d A

We ha en&t change" anything

MO

F
M O = r F 'oment of a couple.

M = Fd

'agnitu"e

(hus any force F acting on a rigi" $o"y may $e mo e" to an ar$itrary point 0, pro i"e" that a couple of moment e)ual to the moment of F a$out 0 is a""e". Since M is a free ector it may $e applie" anywhere. For con enience the couple ector is usually attache" at 0. (his is known as a force-couple system. (he opposite can also $e "one. *ny force-couple system may $e replace" $y a single e)ui alent force. !ow is this "one# (his is "one $y mo ing the force F in the plane perpen"icular to M until its moment a$out 0 $ecomes e)ual to the moment of the couple to $e eliminate".

+,. -i en.
B 300 mm 200 1 400 1 O 200 1 /0
o

/0 mm

Fin". replace the couple an" force $y an e)ui alent, single force applie" to the le er. 4etermine the "istance from 0 to the point of application of this force.
B 300 mm 400 1 O 24 1m 400 1 400 1 /0
o

B C

=
24 1m O

/0 1m

=
54 1m O

=
O

/0 d

400 1

M = Fd M = 400( 0.3 cos /0) M = /0 1m

M = 24 + /0 M = 54 1m

M = Fd 54 = 400(OC cos /0) OC = 0.42 m OC = 420 mm