Solid Mechanics-5

Free Body Diagram

5.1 Concept of free body diagram: In analysing composite systems, we are not only
required to find the unknown reactions at the supports, but also forces in the individual
components of the system. Knowledge of these forces allow us to obtain stresses in these
components. If the stress at some point exceeds permissible limit, failure can occur at that
point. Stress analysis, therefore, is the central task in design of mechanical systems.
Computing forces in the individual members of a composite system forms the first step of
this task. Free body diagrams help us in dissecting the system into individual components and
analysing each component individually.
Free body diagram is based on the premise that if a whole body is in static
equilibrium, then each of its part is in static equilibrium. Hence, it can be studied in isolation
from the rest of the system and analysed for its static equilibrium. In doing so we should treat
all forces and moments transmitted to it by the parts in its contact as external forces and
moments.
We illustrate this process using a simple example.
5.2 Example-1: The figure below shows a frame where the internal joints are pin joints and
external support at A is a pin and that at B is a roller. The system is in static equilibrium. We
are interested in unknown external forces and also in internal forces in each component.

We solve the problem in the following steps.

Step-1: Overall free body diagram: Here, we separate the frame from its supports. The
reactions exerted by the support on the frame are retained as external forces acting on the
frame. This is shown in the figure blow

The force balance in x-direction gives

+ = 0
The force balance in y-direction gives
480 () = 0 or = 480 ()
Balance of moments about point gives
48

0.16 480 0.1 = 0 or = 0.16 = 300

We can now get
= = 300
Thus all three unknown components of forces are known.
Step-2: Free body diagram of component BCD:

The free body diagram is as shown in the figure. The external forces are = 300 acting in
x-direction and 480 acting in negative y-direction. In addition, there are forces at pins C
and D. They are contact forces from the component ACED. For short links, the directions of
forces are along the links. Hence the force on pin D is , which is along the link DE. It
makes angle with the horizontal.
80

80

150

= 150 , = 170 and = 170

Force balances in x and y directions respectively give
2

 + 300 = 0
480 = 0
Balance of moments about point gives
300 0.06 480 0.1 0.25 = 0
Hence
=

18 + 48
= 561
80
0.25 (170)
150

= 300 = 300 561 (170) = 795

80

= 450 + = 480 561 (170) = 216

Step-3: Free body diagram of component ED:
The force acting on this component at point D is equal and opposite to that exerted by
the component ED on BCD. This force is shown in the figure below. Equal and opposite
force will act on ED at point E, which is also shown in the figure.

Step-4: Free body diagram of component ACE:

Force at E on ACE is equal and opposite to that acting at E on ED (needed for the
static equilibrium of the pin). Forces at C on ACE are equal and opposite to that at C on
BCD.

We now write the force balances.

Balance in x-direction gives
150

300 + = 795 300 561 (170) = 0 (No new information)

Balance in y-direction gives
80

+ 480 + = 216 + 480 561 (170) = 0 (No new information)

Balance of moments around A gives
0.3 + 0.1 0.22
150
80
= 0.3 561 (
) 0.1 561 (
) + 0.22 795 = 0
170
170
Thus step-4 acts as a crosscheck for our calculation.
Free body diagram has thus helped us to obtain the forces at all internal joints.

5.3 Use of free body diagrams to compute internal forces:

Free body diagram is not only useful for fining forces at the joints, but also forces
acting within the body of the components. As an example, consider a semi-circular rod as
shown in the figure below. We wish to find internal forces and moments at points J in the rod.

The free body diagram of the rod is as shown below

120
1

2
4

Force balance in x-direction gives

1 + 1 = 0
Force balance in y-direction gives
2 120 = 0

or 2 = 120

Balance of moments about point gives

0.361 = 0 and hence 1 = 0
Next we draw the free body diagram of the part of the rod AJ.

120

60

It is customary to consider forces parallel (shear) and normal (tensile/compressive) to the cut
surface. In addition, there will a couple(torque) acting at J, the moment of this torque is
and it is directed perpendicular to the plane of the paper.

Force balance in the direction normal to the surface of the cut gives
+ 120 (300 ) = 0 or = 120

3
2

= 603 N

Force balance in the direction parallel to the surface of the cut gives
1

120 (300 ) = 0 or = 120 = 60 N

2

The balance of moments about J gives

120 0.18 (300 ) + = 0 or = 120 0.18

3
2

= 18.7 .

Negative sign indicates that the moment is in clockwise direction.

Calculation of the internal forces at K is left as an exercise.