5.

MOMENTS, COUPLES, FORCES SYSTEMS

& FORCE RESOLUTION
 Concept of a Moment

body

CG
of the
body

(a) Translation (b) Translation & Rotation (c) Rotation

When the Force is When the Force is not When the Force is not
applied at the CG applied at he CG applied at the CG, & the
body is hinged at the CG
Objective: To explain the concept of a Moment
 If a Force P is applied at the midpoint of the
free, rigid, uniform object, it will slide the
object such that every point moves an equal
distance. The object is said to translate.
If the same force is applied at some other
point as in second figure, then the object will
both translate and rotate.
If the point on the object is fixed against
translation, (third figure) then the applied
force causes the object to rotate only.

Objective: Explanation of the Concept of Moment - continued

 Moment of a Force
This tendency of a
force to produce
rotation about some
point is called the
Moment of a force
Objective: Definition of Moment in Statics
 Moment of a Force

The tendency of a force to produce

rotation of a body about some reference
axis or point is called the MOMENT OF A
FORCE

M=Fxd

Objective: An example to illustrate the definition of Moment in Statics

 Common Examples in the Application of the Concept of Moment

Example One: Closing the Door

d
Moment = Force x Perpendicular Distance = Fxd

Lever arm
F= 25#
90 deg
Example Two: M= - F x d
Tightening the = -25 x 15
NUT
= - 375 #-in
15”

Objective: To explain the concept of Moment in Statics with everyday examples

 Sign Convention for Moments

- +

Clockwise negative Anti-clockwise positive

Objective: To illustrate the sign conventions for Moment in Statics

 What is the moment at A for the Noodle Beam fixed at A and
loaded by Force F at B?

B
M=-Fd
Objective: To illustrate that Moment is always Force x Distance, irrespective of the shape
of the structure
 Varignon’s Theorem
F F
Fy
x
Fx

y
=
d

A A
M=-F.d M= -Fy.x + Fx.y
According to Varignon’s Theorem, a Force can be resolved into its
components and multiplied by the perpendicular distances for easy
calculation of the Moment

Objective: To explain Varignon’s Theorem

Proof of Varignon’s Theorem d cosθ

A A
θ θ
Fy F
d sin θ θ
d

d
Fx
F

M about A= F x d F (d ) = Fy (d cos θ ) + Fx (d sin θ )

Substitute for Fx and Fy

F (d ) = F cos θ (d cos θ ) + F sin θ (d sin θ )

F (d ) = Fd cos 2 θ + Fd sin 2 θ

Fd = Fd (cos 2 θ + sin 2 θ )

Fxd= Fd
 F Proof Of Varignon’s Theorem
F θ Fy
Fx
d
d
d sinθ
θ

d cosθ
M about A= -F x d
M = − Fy d cos θ − Fx d sin θ
= − F cos θ .d cos θ − F sin θ .d sin θ
= − Fd (cos 2 θ + sin 2 θ )
= − Fd
On the Left hand side the Moment is got directly by multiplying F times d.
On the Right hand side it is proved the Moment is –F.d using Varignon’s
theorem.
Objective: To prove Varignon’s Theorem
 Concept of a Couple
Plane of the
couple

F d, arm of the couple

F
d
F
F

When you grasp the opposite side of

the steering wheel and turn it, you are
applying a couple to the wheel.

A couple is defined as two forces (coplanar) having the same magnitude, parallel
lines of action, but opposite sense. Couples have pure rotational effects on the
body with no capacity to translate the body in the vertical or horizontal
direction. (Because the sum of their horizontal and vertical components are zero)

Objective: To explain the concept of a Couple in Statics

 D
Effect of Couple applied at different points at the base 10lb
of a Cantilever

10lb C 2’ 2’

10lb

10lb 2’ 2’
B
10lb
10’ 15’
2’ 2’ M A = 10 × 2 + 10 × 2
= 40 ft.lb
A 10lb 5’ A A

M A = 10 × 2 + 10 × 2 M A = 10 × 2 + 10 × 2 M A = 10 × 2 + 10 × 2
= 40 ft.lb = 40 ft.lb = 40 ft.lb
Thus it is clear that the effect of a couple at the base of the Cantilever is
independent of it’s (couple’s) point of application.

Objective: To explain that the effect of a Couple is independent of it’s point of application
 F
REPLACING A FORCE F
WITH A FORCE & A d
COUPLE

1. Introduce two equal

and opposite forces at F
B (which does not alter
the equilibrium of the
structure)

2. Replace
the above
two Forces
with a
Couple= F.d Hence a Force can be replaced with an Equivalent
Fore and a Couple at another point.

Objective: To explain how a Force can be replaced by a Force and couple at another
point
F
F
F F
d d

=
 FORCE SYSTEMS

Objective: To explain various types of Force systems which occur in Construction

y

x
Collinear Force System
 z

Coplanar Force System

 z

Coplanar parallel
 y

Coplanar Concurrent
 z

Noncoplanar parallel
 z

y
Noncoplanar concurrent
 z

x
Noncoplanar nonconcurrent
 FORCE SYSTEMS

Resolution of Forces into Rectangular Components

y

Fy F
θ x

Fx
Fx = F cos θ

Fy = F sin θ
Sign convention for Forces

Forces towards right Positive

Forces upward Positive

Resolution of a Force – How to Apply cos and sin

y
F F
F sin θ F cos θ θ
θ x
F cos θ F sin θ

F
F
θ F cos θ
F sin θ
θ
F cos θ F sin θ

F sin θ F cos θ

F cos θ θ
θ F sin θ
F F
 Vector Addition By Component Method

y
y C R

Ry
A Cy θ
Rx x

Ay

Ax
α β Cx
Bx

δ By x Rx = C x − Ax − Bx
Ax = A cos α R y = Ay + C y − By x
B
Ay = A sin α
R = (( Rx ) 2 + ( Ry ) 2 )
C x = C cos β Ry
tan θ =
C y = C sin β Rx
Bx = B cos δ Ry
θ = tan ( _1
)
B y = B sin δ Rx
 Vector Addition by the component method

y
F2 y

F1 F2 y
R
F1 y Ry
α β γ
x
F1x F2 x Rx x

F1x = F1 cos α R
R = ( Rx2 + R y2 )
F1 y = F1 sin α
F2 x = F 2cos β Ry
γ = tan −1

F2 y = F 2sin β Rx
Rx = F2 x − F1x
R y = F2 y − F1 y
Objective: To add two vectors by the component method