Eighth Edition

CHAPTER VECTOR MECHANICS FOR ENGINEERS:

STATICS
Chapter 5
Distributed Forces: Centroids
and Centers of Gravity

Ferdinand P. Beer
E. Russell Johnston, Jr.

Lecture Notes:
J. Walt Oler
Texas Tech University

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Introduction
• The earth exerts a gravitational force on each of the particles
forming a body. These forces can be replaced 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.

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Center of Gravity of a 2D Body

• Center of gravity of a plate • Center of gravity of a wire

∑M y : x W = ∑xΔW

= ∫x dW
∑M x : yW = ∑yΔW

= ∫y dW

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Centroids of Areas and Lines
• Centroid of an area of a flat plate • Centroid of a line of uniform
of uniform thickness cross section

x W = ∫x dW x W = ∫x dW

x (γAt ) = ∫x (γt )dA ( γ is weight per unit vol.) x (γ La ) = ∫x (γa )dL

x A = ∫x dA = Q y x L = ∫x dL

yL = ∫y dL
= first moment with respect to y

yA = ∫y dA = Qx w = cross-sectional area

= first moment with respect to x

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
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.
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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Centroids of Common Shapes of Areas

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Centroids of Common Shapes of Lines

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
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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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example 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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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example 5.1 contd.

• 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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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example 5.1 contd.
• 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

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
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 = ∫ y dA = ∫∫ 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 )dy ] =∫ cosθ ⎜ r 2 dθ ⎟
yA = ∫ yel dA 2 3 ⎝2 ⎠
yA = ∫ yel dA yA = ∫ yel dA
y
= ∫ ( ydx ) = ∫ y [(a − x )dy ]
2 2r ⎛1 ⎞
=∫ sin θ ⎜ r 2 dθ ⎟
3 ⎝2 ⎠
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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example 5.2

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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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example 5.2 contd.
SOLUTION:
• Determine the constant k.
y = k x2
b
b = k a2 ⇒ k = 2
a
b a
y = 2 x 2 or x = 1 2 y1 2
a b

• 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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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example 5.2 contd.
• 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 2⎞
Q x = ∫ yel dA = ∫ ydx = ∫ ⎜ 2 x ⎟ dx
2 02⎝a ⎠
a
⎡ b 2 x5 ⎤ ab 2
=⎢ 4 ⎥ =
⎢⎣ 2a 5 ⎥⎦ 0 10

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example 5.2 contd.
• 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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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example 5.2 contd.
• 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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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Theorems of Pappus-Guldinus

• Surface of revolution is generated by rotating a

plane curve about a fixed axis.

• Theorem 1: 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 = 2π yL

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Theorems of Pappus-Guldinus

• Body of revolution is generated by rotating a plane

area about a fixed axis.

• Theorem 2: Volume of a body of

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

V = 2π y A

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example 5.3
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 weight
The outside diameter of a pulley is 0.8 respectively.
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 ρ = 7.85 × 103 kg m 3
determine the mass and weight of the
rim.

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example 5.3 contd.
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 weight respectively.

(
m = ρV = 7.85 × 10 kg m 3 3
)( 6 ⎛ −9 3
3
)
3⎞
7.65 × 10 mm ⎜10 m mm ⎟
⎝ ⎠
m = 60.0 kg

(
W = mg = (60.0 kg ) 9.81 m s 2 ) W = 589 N
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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
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 replaced 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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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example 5.4
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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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example 5.4 contd.
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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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example 5.4 contd.
• 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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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
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 = ∑ (− ΔW j ) x W = ∫ xdW yW = ∫ ydW z W = ∫ zdW

r r
rG × (− W j ) = ∑ [r × (− ΔW j )]
r r • For homogeneous bodies,
r r W = γ V and dW = γ dV
rGW × (− j ) = (∑ r ΔW ) × (− j )
r r
x V = ∫ xdV yV = ∫ ydV z V = ∫ zdV
r r
W = ∫ dW rGW = ∫ r dW
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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Centroids of Common 3D Shapes

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
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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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example 5.5
SOLUTION:
• Form the machine element from a
rectangular parallelepiped (I) and a
quarter cylinder (II) and then
subtracting two 0.01 m diameter
cylinders (III and IV).

Locate the center of gravity of the

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

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example 5.5 contd.

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example 5.5 contd.

(
X = ∑ x V ∑ V = 3.08 cm 4 ) (5.286 cm3 )
X = 0.577 cm

(
Y = ∑ yV ∑ V = − 5.047 cm 4 ) (5.286 cm3 )
Y = −0.955 cm

Z = ∑z V ∑V = (8.555 cm 4 ) (5.286 cm3 )

Z = 1.618 cm
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