STRUCTURAL MECHANICS

CENTROIDS, SECOND MOMENTS OF AREA

University of Bristol

Department of Civil Engineering

© 1996 Dr. N.A.Alexander

Dr. N.A.Alexander 1 11/11/2004

Quick Guide to Centroids, Moments of Area

1.0 Standard shape, Centroids, Second Moments of Area

b d r
b/2
d b/3 r
d/2 d/3
b
Area = bd Area = bd/2 Area = πr 2
centroid (b/2, d/2) centroid (b/3, d/3) centroid (r, r)
bd 3 db3 bd 3 db3 I x = I y = 14 πr 4
Ix = Iy = Ix = Iy =
12 12 36 36
RECTANGLE RIGHT TRIANGLE CIRCLE

1.1 Centroids of Composite Shapes

Given a shape made up of a combination of rectangles, right triangles, circles

elements, the position of the centroid of the composite shape is given by the
following.
⎛
⎜ ∑ x i Ai ∑ y i Ai ⎞⎟
⎜x = i
, y= i ⎟ (1.1-1)
⎜
⎝
∑ Ai ∑ i ⎟⎠
A
i i
where ∑ Ai is the sum of "the areas of all the individual elements": i.e. the
i
total area of the composite shape. ∑ x i Ai is the sum of "the first moment of
i
the areas of all the individual elements". The first moment of area of an
element is "the distance from the element centroid to the global origin" times
"the area of the individual element".

Dr. N.A.Alexander 2 11/11/2004

1.2 EXAMPLE: Using Tabular Method

y
element 1
10
element 2
15
10 x
6
y
x
O
Composite Centriod

The x and y column contains all the distances from the centriod of elements
to the origin. A.y is the first moment of area in the x direction, i.e. Area times
x. A.y is the first moment of area in the y direction, i.e. Area times y

Element Area x y A.x A.y

1 100 5 5 500 500
2 90 17.5 3 1575 270
Σ 190 10.92 4.05 2075 770

⎛ 2075 770 ⎞
Hence centroid is ⎜ x = = 10.92 , y = = 4.05⎟ from origin
⎝ 190 190 ⎠

1.3 EXAMPLE

10mm

3
All Elements
6mm 1 mm wide
2
1 x
O 5mm

Element Area x y A.x A.y

1 5 2.5 0.5 12.5 2.5
2 4 0.5 3 2 12
3 10 5 5.5 50 55
Σ 19 3.39 3.66 64.5 69.5

⎛ 64.5 69.5 ⎞
Hence centroid is ⎜x = = 339
. mm , y = = 366
. mm⎟ from origin
⎝ 19 19 ⎠

Dr. N.A.Alexander 3 11/11/2004

1.4 EXAMPLE (Symmetric Shape, Centroid lies on Line of Symmetry)

10m x
O
1 2 3

4m

4m

Element Area x y A.x A.y

1 6 2 -1.33 12 -8
2 16 5 -2 80 -32
3 6 8 -1.33 48 -8
Σ 28 5 -1.71 140 -48

⎛ 140 − 48 ⎞
Hence centroid is ⎜x = =5 , y = = −171
. ⎟ from origin
⎝ 28 28 ⎠

1.5 EXAMPLE (Simple Bridge Deck)

10m x
O
1 2 3
4
4m
1m
1m
4m
2m square Void

A void can be considered as a negative Area, thus

Element Area x y A.x A.y

1 6 2 -1.33 12 -8
2 16 5 -2 80 -32
3 6 8 -1.33 48 -8
4 (void) -4 5 -2 -20 8
Σ 24 5 -1.67 120 -40

Dr. N.A.Alexander 4 11/11/2004

1.6 EXAMPLE (More Complex Symmetric Bridge Deck)

y
5m 5m

1 8
2 4 3
6 5
2.5m 7 3.5m

1.5m square void Two 0.25 diameter

0.5m from centre line ducts. Centres 1m and
0.5 from base 2.5m from base

Element Area y A.y

1 20 3.0 60
2 6.25 1.67 10.44
3 6.25 1.67 10.44
4 25 1.25 31.25
5 (void) -2.25 1.25 -2.81
6 (void) -2.25 1.25 -2.81
7 (duct) -0.05 1 -0.05
8 (duct) -0.05 2.5 -0.125
Σ 52.9 2.01 106.33

1.7 Parallel Axis Theorem for Second Moments of Area (Ix & Iy)

Consider the following shape A with a centroidal axis and an I x centroidal axis .
What is the I x parallel axis ?

Centriodal Axes
rx

ry
Parallel Axes

Ix parallel axis
= I x Centriodal axis + Ary 2
(1.7-1)
Iy = Iy + Arx 2
parallel axis Centriodal axis

Dr. N.A.Alexander 5 11/11/2004

This is the Parallel Axis Theorem. It is very important when calculating the
Second moment of area of a composite shape about the composite shape
centriodal axis which in general will not be the individual element centroidal
axis.

1.8 EXAMPLE : (Using Parallel Axis Theorem)

Consider the figure in example 1.2 again. What is the Second moment of area
about the x and y composite shape centroidal axes?

yc
Shape Centroid Axes
10

15
10 xc
10.92 6
4.05

All lengths in mm

Element A Ix ry Ixtotal Iy rx Iytotal

1 100 833.3 (4.05-5) 923.6 833.3 (10.92- 4337.9
5)
2 90 270 (4.05-3) 369.2 1687.5 (10.92- 5584.2
17.5)
Σ 1292.8 9922,1
mm4 mm4

1.9 EXAMPLE : Find Second Moments of Area of the following shape .

40mm 40mm

4mm

Origin for 72mm

finding 3.5mm
centroid
4mm

40mm

Elements A y A.y
1 160 2 320
2 252 40 10080
3 320 78 24960
Σ 732 48.3 35360

Dr. N.A.Alexander 6 11/11/2004

Element A Ix ry Ixtotal Iy rx Iytotal
1 160 213.3 (48.3-2) 0.343E6 0.021E6 0 0.021E6
2 252 108864 (48.3- 0.126E6 3087 0 3087
40)
3 320 426.7 (48.3- 0.283E6 0.171E6 0 0.171E6
78)
Σ 0.752E6 0.195E6
mm4 mm4

1.10 Use of Voids in Second Moment of Area Calculations

Compare the two solutions to finding the centroid and second moments of
area of the following shape.

1 mm 1 mm 6 mm

1
1 Void
(6x9)
10 mm 10 mm

2
1 mm 2 1 mm

Rectangle
6 mm (10x7)

(a) Two Rectangles (b) One Rectangle,One Void

Solution (a)

Element A x A.x y A.y

1 10 0.5 5 5 50
2 6 4 24 0.5 3
Σ 16 1.81 29 3.31 53

Element A Ix ry Ixtotal
1 10 83.33 -1.69 111.89
2 6 0.5 2.81 47.88
Σ 159.77
mm4

Now consider the second solution using a void or negative area and negative
second moment of area, the results are identical.

Dr. N.A.Alexander 7 11/11/2004

Solution (b)

Element A x A.x y A.y

1 -54 4 -216 5.5 -297
2 70 3.5 245 5 350
Σ 16 1.81 29 3.31 53

Element A Ix ry Ixtotal
1 -54 -364.5 -2.19 -623.49
2 70 583.33 -1.69 783.26
Σ 159.77
mm4

1.11 EXAMPLE Find Ixtotal of the Bridge Deck in Example 1.6

y
5m 5m

1 8
2 4 3
6 5
2.5m 7 3.5m

1.5m square void Two 0.25 diameter

0.5m from centre line ducts. Centres 1m and
0.5 from base 2.5m from base

Element A Ix ry Ixtotal Iy rx Iytotal

1 20 1.667 (2.01- 32.419 666.67 0 666.67
3.25)
2 6.25 2.17 (2.01- 2.907 8.89 (0- 286.69
1.667) 6.667)
3 6.25 2.17 (2.01- 2.907 8.89 (0+ 286.69
1.667) 6.667)
4 25 13.02 (2.01- 27.46 208.3 0 208.3
1.25)
5 (Void) -2.25 -0.422 (2.01- -1.72 -0.422 (0-1.25) -3.94
1.25)
6 (Void) -2.25 -0.422 (2.01- -1.72 -0.422 (0+ -3.94
1.25) 1.25)
7 (Duct) -0.05 -0.0002 (2.01-1) -0.051 -0.0002 0 -0.0002
8 (Duct) -0.05 -0.0002 (2.01- -0.012 -0.0002 0 -0.0002
2.5)
Σ 62.19 1446.5
m4 m4

Dr. N.A.Alexander 8 11/11/2004