Course :CE-251: Structures for Architects - I

Week # 5 : Centroid & Moment of Intertia

Course Instructor: Fawwad Masood

August 2015

The centroid (geometric center) of a given shape is the point where the center of gravity/mass of the
same lies. The center of gravity of an object is the point where whole of the mass of a given object is acting.
Composite shape is a shape that is a combination of more than one simple shapes i.e. Rectangles (or
squares), Circles & Triangles.

The centroids of simple shapes are as

follows.

STEPS:
1. Assume an origin, preferably, the lower left or upper right
corner.
2. Divide the given composite shape into basic shapes and name
them.
3. Find the location of centroids of each basic shape w.r.t. the origin and fill in the table.
Shape
1
2
3

A=
x=

= _______ = ___________

A
=

= _______ = ___________
A

Once the centroid of the shape is calculated, the moment of inertia

can also be calculated.
Moment of Inertia is the resistance of a given cross section to deformation.
This leads to the fact that higher the moment of inertia, lesser would be the
deformation.

I1 = bh3/12+ A1d12 = (

)(

)3 /12 + (

)(

)2

I2 = bh3/12+ A2d22 = (

)(

)3 /12 + (

)(

)2

I3 = bh3/12+ A3d32 = (

)(

)3 /12 + (

)(

)2

ITotal = I1 + I2 + I3 = ___________________

Course :CE-251: Structures for Architects - I

Week # 5 : Centroid & Moment of Intertia

Course Instructor: Fawwad Masood

August 2015

The centroid (geometric center) of a given shape is the point where the center of gravity/mass of the
same lies. The center of gravity of an object is the point where whole of the mass of a given object is acting.
Composite shape is a shape that is a combination of more than one simple shapes i.e. Rectangles (or
squares), Circles & Triangles.

The centroids of simple shapes are as

follows.

STEPS:
4. Assume an origin, preferably, the lower left or upper right
corner.
5. Divide the given composite shape into basic shapes and name
them.
6. Find the location of centroids of each basic shape w.r.t. the origin and fill in the table.
Shape
1
2
3

A=
x=

= _______ = ___________

A
=

= _______ = ___________
A

Once the centroid of the shape is calculated, the moment of inertia

can also be calculated.
Moment of Inertia is the resistance of a given cross section to deformation.
This leads to the fact that higher the moment of inertia, lesser would be the
deformation.

I1 = bh3/12+ A1d12 = (

)(

)3 /12 + (

)(

)2

I2 = bh3/12+ A2d22 = (

)(

)3 /12 + (

)(

)2

I3 = bh3/12+ A3d32 = (

)(

)3 /12 + (

)(

)2

ITotal = I1 + I2 + I3 = ___________________