Chapter 5: Distributed Forces: Centroids

and Centers of Gravity

hjchoi@cau.ac.kr

School of Mechanical
Engineering
 Contents
Introduction
Center of Gravity of a 2D Body
Centroids and First Moments of Areas
and Lines
Centroids of Common Shapes of Areas
Centroids of Common Shapes of Lines
Composite Plates and Areas
Sample Problem 5.1
Determination of Centroids by
Integration
Sample Problem 5.4
Theorems of Pappus-Guldinus
Sample Problem 5.7
Distributed Loads on Beams
Sample Problem 5.9
Center of Gravity of a 3D Body:
Centroid of a Volume
Centroids of Common 3D Shapes
Composite 3D Bodies
Sample Problem 5.12
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 Introduction

The earth exerts a gravitational force on each of the particles

forming a body. These forces can be replace by a single equivalent
force equal to the weight of the body and applied at the center of
gravity for the body.
The centroid of an area is analogous to the center of gravity of a
body. The concept of the first moment of an area is used to locate
the centroid.

Determination of the area of a surface of revolution and the

volume of a body of revolution are accomplished with the
Theorems of Pappus-Guldinus.
Determination of the area of a surface of revolution simplifies
the analysis of beams subjected to distributed loads

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 Center of Gravity of a 2D Body
:
.
concentrated forces does not exist in the exact sense

R : Resultant of
R distributed forces
internal forces
C
C
Stress : internal distributed
forces in solids

C C (Center of gravity ) :

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 Center of Gravity of a 2D Body
Center of gravity of a plate Center of gravity of a wire

Fz W = DW1 + DW2 + L + DWn

: W
dW .

My x W = xi DWi = x1 DW1 +x2 DW2 + L + xn DWn

x W = x dW ( x , y ) :

Mx yW = yi DWi = y1 DW1 + y2 DW2 + L + yn DWn

yW = y dW
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Centroids and First Moment of Areas and Lines
Centroid of an area Centroid of a line

3 3
specific weight() g = r g (lb/ft or N/m ) ( r g ) = (kg/m 3 )(m/sec2 ) = N/m 3
x W = x dW x (gAt ) = x (g t )dA x W = x dW x (g La ) = x (g a )dL
x A = x dA = Qy x L = x dL
y A 1 yL = y dL
yA = y dA = Qx
1 1
x A 1 \x = xdL , y= ydL
L L
1 1
\x = xdA , y= ydA ( x , y ) : L C
A A
( x , y ) : A C School of Mechanical
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First Moments of Areas and Lines
An area is symmetric with respect to an axis BB
if for every point P there exists a point P such
that PP is perpendicular to BB and is divided
into two equal parts by BB.
The first moment of an area with respect to a
line of symmetry is zero.
If an area possesses a line of symmetry, its
centroid lies on that axis.
If an area possesses two lines of symmetry, its
centroid lies at their intersection.
An area is symmetric with respect to a center O
if for every element dA at (x,y) there exists an
area dA of equal area at (-x,-y).
The centroid of the area coincides with the
center of symmetry. School of Mechanical
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Centroids of Common Shapes of Areas

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Centroids of Common Shapes of Areas

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Centroids of Common Shapes of Lines

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Composite Plates and Areas

Composite plates
X W = x W
Y W = y W

Composite area
X A = xA
Y A = yA

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 Sample Problem 5.1
SOLUTION:
Divide the area into a triangle, rectangle,
and semicircle with a circular cutout.
Calculate the first moments of each area
with respect to the axes.
Find the total area and first moments of
the triangle, rectangle, and semicircle.
Subtract the area and first moment of the
For the plane area shown, determine circular cutout.
the first moments with respect to the Compute the coordinates of the area
x and y axes and the location of the centroid by dividing the first moments by
centroid. the total area.

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 Sample Problem 5.1

Find the total area and first moments of the Q x = +506.2 103 mm 3
triangle, rectangle, and semicircle. Subtract the
Q y = +757.7 103 mm 3
area and first moment of the circular cutout.
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 Sample Problem 5.1

Compute the coordinates of the area

centroid by dividing the first moments by
the total area.

x A + 757.7 103 mm 3
X = =
A 13.828 103 mm 2
X = 54.8 mm

y A + 506.2 103 mm 3
Y = =
A 13.828 103 mm 2
Y = 36.6 mm
: 5.3, 5.13, 5.20
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 Determination of Centroids by Integration
x A = xdA = x dxdy = xel dA Double integration to find the first moment
may be avoided by defining dA as a thin
yA = ydA = y dxdy = yel dA
rectangle or strip.

x A = xel dA x A = xel dA x A = xel dA

= x ( ydx ) a+x 2r 1
= [ (a - x )dx] = cosq r 2 dq
yA = yel dA 2 3 2
yA = yel dA yA = yel dA
y
= ( ydx ) = y [(a - x )dx ]
2 2r 1
= sin q r 2 dq
3 School of2Mechanical

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 Sample Problem 5.4

SOLUTION:
Determine the constant k.
Evaluate the total area.
Using either vertical or horizontal
strips, perform a single integration to
find the first moments.
Determine by direct integration the
location of the centroid of a parabolic Evaluate the centroid coordinates.
spandrel.

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Sample Problem 5.4
SOLUTION:
Determine the constant k.
y = k x2
b
b = k a2 k =
a2
b a
y= x2 or x= y1 2
a2 b1 2

Evaluate the total area.

A = dA
a
a
b 2 b x3
= y dx = 2 x dx = 2
0a a 3 0
ab
=
3
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Sample Problem 5.4

Using vertical strips, perform a single integration

to find the first moments.
a
b
Q y = xel dA = xydx = x 2 x 2 dx
0 a
a
b x4 a 2b
= 2 =
a 4 0 4
a 2
y 1 b
Q x = yel dA = ydx = 2 x 2 dx
2 02a
a
b2 x5 ab 2
= 4 =
2a 5 0 10

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Sample Problem 5.4

Or, using horizontal strips, perform a single

integration to find the first moments.
b 2
a+x a - x2
Q y = xel dA = (a - x )dy = dy
2 0 2

1 b 2 a 2 a 2
b
= a - y dy =
2 0 b
4
a
Q x = yel dA = y (a - x )dy = y a - 1 2 y1 2 dy
b
b
a 3 2 ab 2
= ay - 1 2 y dy =
0 b 10

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Sample Problem 5.4

Evaluate the centroid coordinates.

xA = Q y
ab a 2b 3
x = x= a
3 4 4

yA = Q x
ab ab 2 3
y = y= b
3 10 10

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 Theorems of Pappus-Guldinus

Surface of revolution is generated by rotating a

plane curve about a fixed axis.

Area of a surface of revolution is

equal to the length of the generating
curve times the distance traveled by
the centroid through the rotation.
A = 2p yL

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 Theorems of Pappus-Guldinus

Body of revolution is generated by rotating a plane

area about a fixed axis.

Volume of a body of revolution is

equal to the generating area times
the distance traveled by the centroid
through the rotation.

V = 2p y A

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 Sample Problem 5.7
SOLUTION:
Apply the theorem of Pappus-Guldinus
to evaluate the volumes or revolution
for the rectangular rim section and the
inner cutout section.

Multiply by density and acceleration

to get the mass and acceleration.
The outside diameter of a pulley is 0.8
m, and the cross section of its rim is as
shown. Knowing that the pulley is
made of steel and that the density of
steel is r = 7.85 103 kg m 3
determine the mass and weight of the
rim.

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 Sample Problem 5.7
SOLUTION:
Apply the theorem of Pappus-Guldinus
to evaluate the volumes or revolution for
the rectangular rim section and the inner
cutout section.
Multiply by density and acceleration to
get the mass and acceleration.

( )( ) 3
m = rV = 7.85 103 kg m 3 7.65 10 6 mm 3 10 -9 m 3 mm

m = 60.0 kg

(
W = mg = (60.0 kg ) 9.81 m s 2
) W = 589 N
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: 5.35, 5.42, 5.59 Engineering 5 - 24
 Distributed Loads on Beams

L A distributed load is represented by plotting the load

W = wdx = dA = A per unit length, w (N/m) . The total load is equal to
0
the area under the load curve.

(OP )W = xdW A distributed load can be replace by a concentrated

L load with a magnitude equal to the area under the
(OP ) A = xdA = x A load curve and a line of action passing through the
0 area centroid.

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 Sample Problem 5.9

SOLUTION:
The magnitude of the concentrated load
is equal to the total load or the area under
the curve.
The line of action of the concentrated
load passes through the centroid of the
area under the curve.
Determine the support reactions by
A beam supports a distributed load as summing moments about the beam
shown. Determine the equivalent ends.
concentrated load and the reactions at
the supports.

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Sample Problem 5.9
SOLUTION:
The magnitude of the concentrated load is equal to
the total load or the area under the curve.
F = 18.0 kN

The line of action of the concentrated load passes

through the centroid of the area under the curve.
63 kN m
X = X = 3.5 m
18 kN

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Sample Problem 5.9

Determine the support reactions by summing

moments about the beam ends.

M A = 0 : B y (6 m ) - (18 kN )(3.5 m ) = 0
B y = 10.5 kN

M B = 0 : - Ay (6 m ) + (18 kN )(6 m - 3.5 m ) = 0

Ay = 7.5 kN

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 Center of Gravity of a 3D Body: Centroid
of a Volume

Center of gravity G Results are independent of body orientation,

r r
- W j = (- DW j ) x W = xdW yW = ydW z W = zdW

r r r r For homogeneous bodies,

rG (- W j ) = [r (- DW j )]
r r r r W = g V and dW = g dV
rGW (- j ) = ( r DW ) (- j )
x V = xdV yV = ydV z V = zdV
r r
W = dW rGW = r dW
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 Centroids of Common 3D Shapes

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: 5.71, 5.77,5.113 Engineering 5 - 30
Composite 3D Bodies

Moment of the total weight concentrated at the

center of gravity G is equal to the sum of the
moments of the weights of the component parts.
X W = xW Y W = yW Z W = zW

For homogeneous bodies,

X V = xV Y V = yV Z V = zV

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 Sample Problem 5.12
SOLUTION:
Form the machine element from a
rectangular parallelepiped and a
quarter cylinder and then subtracting
two 0.03-m- diameter cylinders.

Locate the center of gravity of the

steel machine element. The diameter
of each hole is 1 cm.

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Sample Problem 5.12

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Sample Problem 5.12

X = xV V = (5.024 10 ) (63.347 10 )
-7 -3

Y = yV V = (- 13.52 10 ) (63.347 10 )
-7 -3

Z = zV V = 25(. 22 10 -7
) (63.347 10 ) -3

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