BT 154 STATICS OF RIGID BODIES

BY
DR GABRIEL NANI
 COURSE OUTLINE
1. Concurrent coplanar force systems
a. Types and components of a force
b. Dertemination of components of a force
c. Resultant of coplanar concurent force system
d. Equilibrium of concurrent forces
2. Non - concurrent coplanar force system
a. Moment of forces
b. Moment of component of forces
c. Resultant of non-concurrent non-parallel forces
d. Laws of static equilibrium
e. Resultant of non-concurrent non-parallel forces (Graphic method)
f. Parrallel forces
g. couples
 Course outline ( contd)
3. non concurrent coplanar force systems
a. Types of loading systems
b. Types of support systems and their reactions
c. Determination of reactions by analytical method
d. Determination of reactions by graphical method

4. Analysis of pin jointed frame structures or

trusses
c. Method of joints
d. Method of sections
e. Graphical solutions
 Recommended text books
1. Structural Mechanics by Frank Durka; W. Morgan
and D.T. Williams
2. Strength of materials by Timoshenko
3. Mechanics of materials by Ferdinand P. Beer; Russel
Johnson, Jr
4. Strength of materials ( Mechanics of solids) by R.S.
Khurmi
5. Structural Analysis by S. S. Bhavikatti
 What is a force??
A force represents the action of one body on another.

it is generally characterized by its point of application, its

magnitude, and its direction/ sense/ line of action

Action or influence that changes the state of rest or motion of

a body

Forces only exist as a result of an interaction

interaction does not only mean physical contact but it

includes any form of communication between the objects.
 SI Unit for measuring Forces
The SI Unit of a Force is Newton ( N)
One Newton is the amount of force required
to causes an object with a mass of 1 kg to
accelerate/ decelerate at the rate 1 m/s2.
Thus, 1 N = 1kgm/s2
Notes: 1kN = 1,000 N;
 Properties of a force
Magnitude: This is represented by a line with an arrow. The
length of the line is proportional to the magnitude of the
force
Direction or Orientation: The direction of a force is defined by
the line of action and the sense of the force.
The line of action is an infinite straight line along which the
force acts;
The line of action is characterized by the angle it forms with
some fixed axis
The sense is indicated by an arrow head.
Illustration of a force
 NEWTONS LAWS OF FORCES
First law ( law of inertia): A body continues in its state of rest
or uniform motion unless an external form acts on it.
Second law: It states that when the net force acting on an
object is not zero, the object will accelerate at the direction of
the exerted force. The acceleration is directly proportional to
the net force and inversely proportional to the mass
F = ma
Third Law: Action and reaction are equal and opposite
 Static and dynamic forces
Static force
It is a force that does not move. E.g. when you sit
on a chair as in class, you exert static force on the
chair and hence the building.

Dynamic force:
It is a force that is in motion. They act a bodies
that are in motion. E.g. a moving vehicle on a
bridge exerts a dynamic force on the bridge
others include hurricane, tsunami etc
 Space Diagram
Also referred to as situation diagram
It is a simplified picture of a body, showing how it is
supported and loaded
When the body and its supports are drawn, the
forces that the supports exert on the body are
unknown.
To determine the forces acting on the body, second
picture is referred to as free body diagram is
required
Pictorial view of space diagram and
free body diagram (1)
 Force diagram
A free body diagram OR force diagram
IT is a sketch which shows the relative magnitude
and direction of the various forces acting upon an
object in a given situation.
Forces which the free body applies to other objects
are not included.
For example if a ball rests on a table, the ball applies
a force to the table, and the table applies an equal
but opposite force on the ball.
Pictorial view of space diagram and
free body diagram (2)
Force systems
 Collinear force system
When two or more forces have the same line of
action, they are said to be collinear.

The forces may act in the same direction or opposite

direction and may produce tension or compression
effects.
 Concurrent force system

Concurrent Force system Describes two or more

forces acting on a body such that the lines of actions
of the various forces converge (meet) or diverge
from a common point.

The forces are said to be concurrent.

Pictorial illustration of force systems

Concurrent force Non-Concurrent

Coplanar and non-coplanar
system force system
force system
 Coplanar Force System
A group of forces are said to be coplanar
when they act in the same plane

However, when a group of forces act in

different planes they are said to be non
coplanar.
 Parallel forces
If the lines of action of two or more forces are parallel then
they are called parallel forces.
Otherwise they are non-parallel forces
If the forces point the same direction they are called like
parallel forces and
if they point in opposite directions, they are called unlike
parallel forces.
All forces including coplanar and non-coplanar forces can
be classified as parallel forces and non-parallel forces.
Note that Concurrent forces are non-parallel forces. But
non-parallel forces may be concurrent or non-concurrent.
Pictorial illustration of parallel and
non-parallel forces

Parallel forces Non- Parallel forces

 Components of a force

=F .. (1)
An example 1: Resolution of forces
Resolution of forces
 Example 2: Resolution of forces
The horizontal and vertical components of a
certain force are 80kN () and 66kN ()
respectively. Determine the magnitude and
orientation of the force with respect to the
xaxis.
Example 3
A bar AB, leans against a wall at point A and B. This bar
is subjected to a pull of 80kN at C. Resolve the force
parallel and perpendicular to the bar.
 Resultant of a system of forces

When two or more forces act on a body, their

effect can be replaced with just a single force
which will have the same effect on the body
as the original force system.

This single force is referred to as the resultant

force.
 Equilibrant force
Equilibrant is a single force which when added
to a system of forces brings the status of
equilibrium.
Equilibrant of forces
 Statical equilibrium
As stated previously, when the resultant of all the
forces on a body is equal to zero, the body is said to
have achieved a state of equilibrium.

The sum of all vertical forces should be equal to zero

(shortly written as Fx = 0)

The sum of all horizontal forces should be equal to zero

(shortly written as Fy = 0)

The sum of moments of all the forces about a fixed point

should be equal to zero (shortly written as Mo = 0)
Example 1: Application of laws of equilibrium

Determine the force in each of the cables if the system is in

equilibrium in diagram below.
 example
Solution:
Procedure
Draw the free body diagram. Always assume the direction
of the forces to be pointing away from the joint.

Resolve each inclined force (F) into its x-component and y-

component

Apply the appropriate equilibrium equation. Horizontal

forces pointing to the right are considered positive and left
negative. Upwards forces shall be considered positive and
downwards forces negative.
Free body diagram
 Example 2
One of the fluorescent fittings in your
classroom is suspended by two cables, A and
B. The distance of each cable from the
centroid of the fitting (i.e. point C) is shown in
the diagram below.

Determine the force in each cable if the

system is in equilibrium. The fitting weighs
30N.
diagram
Free Body Diagram
Example of concurrent coplanar force

Analytically determine the magnitude, orientation and

location of the resultant of the concurrent coplanar
force system shown
 Graphical Methods
There are three major methods we shall use
here to determine the magnitude direction
and sense of a force

The methods include:

Triangle of forces,
Parallelogram of forces
Force polygon
 Triangle of Forces
It is applicable in analysis of two concurrent
forces

The law of triangle of forces states that

When two concurrent forces are represented in
magnitude and direction by two sides of a
triangle, the third side represents the resultant in
magnitude and direction.
 Triangle of Forces
in other words:
If three forces meeting at a point are in
equilibrium, they may be represented in
magnitude and direction by the three sides of a
triangle drawn to scale

NOTE:
Where the forces are more than two this method
must be applied repeatedly taking two forces at a
time.
 Triangle of Forces

25kN 60kN

300 450
 Triangle of Forces
1. Choose an appropriate scale, say 1mm = 1kN.

2. Select a point, O and draw a line parallel to the

60kN force (i.e. a line inclined to the positive x axis)
and mark off a length of 60mm to represent the
60kN force.

3. Add an arrowhead to the tip of the line at A to

indicate the sense of the force. Note, any of the
forces can be plotted first
 Triangle of Forces
4. At point A draw another line parallel to the 25kN
force (i.e. a line inclined at to the negative x axis)
such that the length is equal to 25mm. Introduce
another arrow head at B.
5. Draw a line to connect point B and the origin (i.e.
point O).
6. The line is the resultant of the two forces. The
direction of the resultant is from B to O. Scale the
length and angle the line makes with either the x or
y axis
 Triangle of Forces
7. Finally draw a line to connect point B and the origin (i.e.
point O). The line is the resultant of the two forces. The
direction of the resultant is from B to O. Scale the length
and angle the line makes with either the x or y axis

8. This give R = 59kN and = with respect to the x axis. At

point O, it can be seen that the resultant lies in the first
quadrant

9. Remember again that the accuracy of the graphical

method depends on how carefully your work is done as
well as the scale.
 Parallelogram of forces
If two forces meeting at a point are
represented in magnitude and direction by
the two sides of a parallelogram, their
resultant is represented in magnitude and
direction by the diagonal of the parallelogram
which passes through the point where the two
forces meet
 Parallelogram of forces

25kN 60kN

300 450
 Parallelogram of forces
1. Select a point, O and using an appropriate
scale say 1mm = 1kN
2. draw a line OA parallel to the 60kN force and
mark off a length of 60mm to represent the
60kN force
3. Add an arrowhead to the tip of the line at A
to indicate the sense of the force
4. OA is one side of the parallelogram
 Parallelogram of forces
5. Draw another line OB parallel to the 25kN
force and mark of 25mm to represent the
force
6. OB is the second side of the parallelogram
7. At point B, draw a line BC parallel and equal
to OA.
8. At point A also construct a line AC parallel to
OB.
9. This completes the parallelogram.
 Parallelogram of forces
10.OB is the second side of the parallelogram
11.At point B, draw a line BC parallel and equal to
OA.
12.At point A also construct a line AC parallel to
OB.
13.This completes the parallelogram.
14.Link point C to B to get the diagonal of the
parallelogram.
 Parallelogram of forces
15.This represents the resultant of the two forces.

15.Measure its length and orientation

15.This give R = 59kN and = with respect to the x

axis.

15.At point O, it can be seen that the resultant lies

in the first quadrant.
 Polygon of Forces

Number of forces acting at a point are in

equilibrium, they can be represented in
magnitude and direction by the sides of a
closed polygon taken in that order
 Polygon of Forces

60kN
25kN y axis

40kN x axis

70kN
 Polygon of Forces
1. Select the origin (i.e. point O)
2. Choose an appropriate scale (say 1mm = 1kN)
3. Draw a line OA parallel to the 40kN force and
mark off a length of 40mm to represent the
40kN force
4. Add an arrowhead to the tip of the line at A
to indicate the sense of the force.
 Polygon of Forces
5. The concept is to plot the entire forces one
after the other;
6. Which one to plot first or second is a matter
of choice. (They will all yield the same
results)
7. At point A draw a line AB parallel and equal
to the 70kN force( this line will be 70mm long
according to the scale)
 Polygon of Forces
8. At point B draw a line AB parallel to the 60kN
force (i.e. a line inclined at to the positive x
axis) and mark off a length of 60mm to
represent the force

9. At point C draw a line CD parallel to the 25kN

force (i.e. a line inclined at to the negative x
axis in the second quadrant) and mark off a
length of 25mm.
 Polygon of Forces
10.Finally, close the polygon by connecting point
D to the origin. Line DO represents the
resultant.

11.Measure its length and orientation. This gives

R = 25kN and = with respect to the x axis.

8. At point O, it can be seen that the resultant

lies in the 3rd quadrant
 Other Methods: the sine rule
The sine rule is applicable to a
triangle of any shape. It relates the
B
two sides of a triangle to the two
angles opposite these sides. Using the a
triangle in Fig 1.32, the expression for
the sine rule is written as: c
= = A
C
When two sides and one angle or two
angles and one side are known the b
sine rule can be applied to find the
other unknown.
 Other Methods: the cosine rule
The cosine rule is also applicable to a triangle
of any shape. It relates the three sides of a
triangle to one of the angles of the triangle.
the expression for the three sides are written
as follows:
The cosine rule
B
a
c
A C
b
2 = 2 + 2 2bccos .. (1)

2 = 2 + 2 2accos .. (2)

2 = 2 + 2 2abcos .. (3)
 Lamis theorem
The theorem states that if three coplanar forces are in
equilibrium, then each force is proportional to the sine
of the angle between the other two forces

The expression is
written as

= =
 NON CONCURRENT COPLANAR FORCE
SYSTEM
In this section we shall analyze
nonconcurrent coplanar force systems

We shall look at the concept of moments,

couples, principles of moments and their
applications in
 Moment of Forces
The rotational effect of a force is known as
moment of the force, or more simply moment

Moment of a force about a point is the product of

the force and the perpendicular distance between
the line of action of the force and the point

This is mathematically represented as

M=Fxd
Moment of Forces
 Moment of forces
Determine the moment of all forces about the point A
and also the point B

18kN 40kN
5kN
A C B

1.3m 2.2m 2.5m 1m

 Moment Forces: Answer
Moment about A = Force x perpendicular
distance

MA = (18 x 1.3) + 40 (2.2) + 5 (5.7) = 93kNm

(clockwise)

The 18kN force acts anticlockwise (ve) about

A while the others turn clockwise (+ve)
 Moment Forces: Answer
Moment about B = Force x perpendicular
distance

MB = (18 x 7.0) - 40 (3.5) - 5 (0)

MB = 126 - 140 - 0 = -266kNm (anti-clockwise)

 Moment of a couple
F
d
B
A Is the B M = Fd
same as

F (a)
(b)

The two equal, opposite parallel forces forms a couple.

The product F x d is the moment of the couple.
The effect of a couple is to produce a pure twist
(torsion) or rotation of the body
 Properties of couples
The algebraic sum of the forces constituting a
couple is equal to zero.

The moment of a couple about any point in the

plane containing the forces is constant

The moment is measured by the product of any

one of the forces and the perpendicular distance
between the lines of action of the forces, M = F x d
 Properties of couples
The couple can be balanced only by another
couple of the same moment but of the
opposite sense.

The net effect of a number of coplanar couple

is equivalent to the algebraic sum of the
effect, of each of the couples.
 Principle of moments
The Principle of Moments, is also known
as the Varignons Theorem,

It states that
the moment of any force is equal to
the algebraic sum of the moments of
the components of that force.
 Principle of moments
The Principle of Moments is a very
important principle that is often used in
conjunction with the Principle of
Transmissibility in order to solve systems
of forces that are acting upon and/or
within a structure
 Resultant of non-concurrent coplanar
force system

The resultant of such a force system can be

determined either analytically or graphically

We shall look at the analytical method first

 Resultant: Analytical method
Procedure:
Resolve the inclined forces to their components

Calculate and

Calculate the magnitude of the resultant,

R=
 Resultant: Analytical method
Determine the orientation of R with the x axis.
This is given by
=

Finally, determine the location of the

resultant.

This can be achieved with the help of the

principles of moments.
Resultant: Analytical method

12kN 9kN
A C

3m 10kN
D E

4m
B
8kN
5m 4m F
6kN
 10.392kN 9kN

6kN A C
5kN
3m
D 8.66kN
E
4m
B
4.243kN 5m 4m 8kN
F

4.243kN
Resultant of Non-Concurrent Coplanar Force System
Using Graphical Method

The procedure for this method is summarized

below:
1. Draw the space diagram. This is where the
structure is drawn to scale and the lines of
action of all the forces acting on it are indicated.
2. Label the spaces between the forces.
3. Using another suitable scale draw a force
polygon or vector diagram for the forces.
Resultant of Non-Concurrent Coplanar Force System
Using Graphical Method (contd)
4. The resultant is drawn to close the force polygon
5. To determine the location of the resultant, first
select a polar point and connect the ends of the
polygon to it. The lines are known as rays.
6. Transfer the rays from the force polygon to cut
the lines of action of the forces on the space
diagram. This gives us the string.
7. Finally, transfer the resultant from the force
polygon onto the space diagram.
Graphical Method: Example
Consider the
system of
forces acting
on a body as
shown in the
diagram.

Determine the
resultant force
Graphical method: Step 1 & 2
Step 1
A suitable scale e.g. 1cm = 1m
Draw the Space Diagram to scale
Show lines of action of forces

Step 2
Label spaces
between the
forces with
capital letter
Graphical method: Step 3

Step 3
Draw the
Force Diagram

Note:
Each force is
described by the
two letters it find s
itself in-between
Graphical method: Step 3
Step 3
Close the Force
Polygon to obtain
the Resultant
Measure the resultant (af) =
9.82kN
Measure the angle the
resultant makes with the
horizontal = 12.650

measure
Graphical method: Step 4
Step 4
Locate the position of
the resultant

Select a point ( polar point

or pole) at any end of the
polygon

Connect the ends of the

polygon to the Pole with
rays ( ie the broken lines)
 Step 5
Graphical method: Step 5 Transfer the rays
from the Force
Polygon to the
Space Diagram
Graphical method: Step 6
Step 6
Transfer the resultant from the Force Polygon to the Space Diagram
passing through the meeting point of lines ||oa and ||of
Determine the point of action of the resultant
Graphical method: Step 6
Step 6
Transfer the resultant from the Force Polygon to the Space Diagram
passing through the meeting point of lines ||oa and ||of
Determine the point of action of the resultant
 Non-Concurrent Coplanar Force System
Graphical Method for Analysis of Beams
the graphical approach is an alternative
method of analyzing beams or calculating the
reactions at beam support
As with every graphical method, the accuracy
of analysis depends on:
how carefully the drawing is done and

the choice of scale

 Graphical Method: Beams ( contd)
Despite the inaccuracies associated with the
graphical method, it is still used for the
following reasons:
It serves as a check on the analytical calculations
They are fast and sufficiently accurate
Long, complex and cumbersome nature of some
analytical approaches
 Graphical Method: Beams ( contd)
The procedure below is adopted for the
graphical method:
1. Draw the space diagram. This is where the beam is
drawn to scale and the lines of action of all the
forces acting on it are indicated.
2. Label the spaces between the forces.
3. Using another suitable scale draw a force polygon
or vector diagram for the forces.
 Graphical Method: Beams ( contd)
4. Select a polar point and connect the ends of the
polygon to the polar point
5. Transfer the rays from the force polygon to cut the
lines of action of the forces on the space diagram.
6. Draw the closing string and
7. Transfer the closing string onto the force polygon
8. Measure the magnitude and direction of the
reactions using the scale.
Graphical Method- Beams Example

Using graphical method, determine the reactions

at the supports of then beam shown above
Graphical Method- Beams: Example

STEP 1 and 2
Draw space diagram and
Label the spaces between forces
Graphical Method- Beams: Example
STEP 3
Draw space
Force Polygon
Graphical Method- Beams: Example
STEP 4
Select a Polar Point
and connect ends of
polygon to it
Graphical Method- Beams: Example

STEP 5
Transfer rays from the force
polygon to the space diagram
Graphical Method- Beams Example

STEP 6
Draw the closing string
Graphical Method- Beams Example
STEP 7
Transfer the
closing string onto
the force polygon
Graphical Method- Beams Example
STEP 7
Measure ae and ed and covert it using your scale in
order to obtain the reactions RA and RB respectively

NOTE
For distributed loads;
convert to point load before
drawing the space diagram
 TRUSSES AND FRAMED STRUCTURES
Graphical Method of Analysis
the graphical approach is an alternative
method of analyzing truss
As with every graphical method, the accuracy
of analysis depends on:
how carefully the drawing is done and

the choice of scale

 Graphical Method: Trusses ( contd)
Despite the inaccuracies associated with the
graphical method, it is still used for the
following reasons:
It serves as a check on the analytical calculations
They are fast and sufficiently accurate
Long, complex and cumbersome nature of some
analytical approaches
 Graphical Method: trusses ( contd)
The procedure below is adopted for the
graphical method:
1. Draw the space diagram. This is where the truss is
drawn to scale and the lines of action of all the
forces acting on it are indicated.
2. Label the spaces between the forces.
1. The spaces between the external forces are labeled with
alphabets .
2. The spaces between the web members are also labeled
with numbers
 Graphical Method: trusses ( contd)
The procedure below is adopted for the
graphical method:
1. Using another suitable scale draw a force polygon
or vector diagram for the forces.
2. Finally, a table is drawn on which the results or the
magnitude and nature of the forces acting on the
members are presented.