Moment of Inertia

Moment of inertia, also called the second moment of area, is the product of area and the
square of its moment arm about a reference axis.

Moment of inertia about the x-axis:

Ix=∫y2dAIx=∫y2dA

Moment of inertia about the y-axis:

Iy=∫x2dAIy=∫x2dA

Polar Moment of Inertia:

Polar moment of inertia is the moment of inertia about about the z-axis.

J=Ix+IyJ=Ix+Iy
J=∫r2dAJ=∫r2dA

Radius of Gyration

k=IA−−√k=IA
kx=IxA−−−√kx=IxA
ky=IyA−−−√ky=IyA
kz=JA−−√kz=JA

Transfer Formula for Moment of Inertia

 I=I¯+Ad2I=I¯+Ad2

Where
x′x′ = centroidal axis
xx = any axis parallel to the centroidal axis
II = moment of inertia about the x-axis
I¯I¯ = centroidal moment of inertia
AA = area of the section
dd = distance between x and x’

In the same manner, the transfer formula for polar moment of inertia and the radii
of gyration are respectively

J=J¯+Ad2J=J¯+Ad2
k2=k¯2+d2k2=k¯2+d2

Product of Inertia

Ixy=∫xydAIxy=∫xydA

Moment of Inertia of Common Shapes

Shape Moment of Inertia Radius of Gyration

Rectangle

I¯x=bh312I¯x=bh312 k¯x=h12−−√k¯x=h12
Ix=bh33Ix=bh33 kx=h3–√kx=h3
Triangle

I¯x=bh336I¯x=bh336 k¯x=h18−−√k¯x=h18
Ix=bh312Ix=bh312 kx=h6–√kx=h6

Circle

I¯x=πr44I¯x=πr44 k¯x=r2k¯x=r2
J¯=πr42J¯=πr42 k¯z=r2–√k¯z=r2

Semicircle

Ix=I¯y=πr48Ix=I¯y=πr48 kx=k¯y=r2kx=k¯y=r2
I¯x=0.11r4I¯x=0.11r4 k¯x=0.264rk¯x=0.264r

Quarter circle

Ix=Iy=πr416Ix=Iy=πr416 kx=ky=r2kx=ky=r2
I¯x=I¯y=0.055r4I¯x=I¯y=0.055r4 k¯x=k¯y=0.264rk¯x=k¯y=0.26

I¯x=πab34I¯x=πab34 k¯x=b2k¯x=b2
Ellipse
I¯y=πa3b4I¯y=πa3b4 k¯y=a2
Problem 816
A rectangle is 3 in. by 6 in. Determine the polar moment of inertia and the radius of
gyration with respect to a polar axis through one corner.

Solution 816
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Moment of inertia about the x-axis
Ix=bh33=6(33)3Ix=bh33=6(33)3
Ix=54 in.4Ix=54 in.4

Moment of inertia about the y-axis

Iy=hb33=3(63)3Iy=hb33=3(63)3
Iy=216 in.4Iy=216 in.4

Polar moment of inertia

J=Ix+Iy=54+216J=Ix+Iy=54+216
J=270 in.4J=270 in.4 answer

Radius of gyration about the corner

kz=JA−−√=2703(6)−−−−√kz=JA=2703(6)
kz=3.873 in.kz=3.873 in. answer

Problem 817
Determine the moment of inertia and radius of gyration with respect to a polar
centroidal axis of the cross section of a hollow tube whose outside diameter is 6 in. and
inside diameter is 4 in.

Solution 817
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Polar moment of inertia
J¯=12π(R4−r4)J¯=12π(R4−r4)
J¯=12π(34−24)J¯=12π(34−24)
J¯=32.5π in.4=102.10 in.4J¯=32.5π in.4=102.10 in.4
answer

Area
A=π(R2−r2)A=π(R2−r2)
A=π(32−22)A=π(32−22)
A=5π in.2A=5π in.2

Radius of gyration
k¯z=J¯A−−√k¯z=J¯A
k¯z=32.5π5π−−−−−√k¯z=32.5π5π
k¯z=0.7071 in.k¯z=0.7071 in. answer

Problem 818
A hollow square cross section consists of an 8 in. by 8 in. square from which is
subtracted a concentrically placed square 4 in. by 4 in. Find the polar moment of inertia
and the polar radius of gyration with respect to a z axis passing through one of the
outside corners.

Solution 818
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Centroidal moment of inertia
I¯=112(BH3−bh3)I¯=112(BH3−bh3)
I¯=112[8(83)−4(43)]I¯=112[8(83)−4(43)]
I¯=320 in.4I¯=320 in.4

I¯x=I¯y=I¯I¯x=I¯y=I¯
I¯x=I¯y=320 in.4I¯x=I¯y=320 in.4

Area
A=82−42A=82−42
A=48 in.2A=48 in.2

By transfer formula for moment of inertia

I=I¯+Ad2I=I¯+Ad2
I=320+48(42)I=320+48(42)
I=1088 in.4I=1088 in.4
Ix=Iy=IIx=Iy=I
Ix=Iy=1088 in.4Ix=Iy=1088 in.4

Polar moment of inertia

J=Iz=Ix+IyJ=Iz=Ix+Iy
J=1088+1088J=1088+1088
J=2176 in.4J=2176 in.4 answer

Radius of gyration
kz=JA−−√=217648−−−−−√kz=JA=217648
kz=6.733 in.kz=6.733 in. answer

Problem 819
Determine the moment of inertia of the T-section shown in Fig. P-819 with respect to its
centroidal Xo axis.

Solution 819
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A1=8(2)=16 in.2A1=8(2)=16 in.2
I¯1=8(23)12=163 in.4I¯1=8(23)12=163 in.4
y1=1 in.y1=1 in.

A2=8(2)=16 in.2A2=8(2)=16 in.2

I¯2=2(83)12=2563 in.4I¯2=2(83)12=2563 in.4
y2=2+4=6 in.y2=2+4=6 in.

A=A1+A2=16+16A=A1+A2=16+16
A=32 in.2A=32 in.2

Ay¯=A1y1+A2y2Ay¯=A1y1+A2y2
32y¯=16(1)+16(6)32y¯=16(1)+16(6)
y¯=3.5 in.y¯=3.5 in.

I¯=[I¯1+A1(y¯−y1)2]+[I¯2+A2(y2−y¯)2]I¯=[I¯1+A1(y¯−y1)2]+[I¯2+A2(y2−y¯)2]
I¯=[163+16(3.5−1)2]+[2563+16(6−3.5)2]I¯=[163+16(3.5−1)2]+[2563+16(6−3.5)2]
I¯=290.67 in.4I¯=290.67 in.4 answer

Problem 820
Determine the moment of inertia of the area shown in Fig. P-819 with respect to its
centroidal axes.

Solution 820
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A1=12(1)=12 in.2A1=12(1)=12 in.2
y1=0.5 in.y1=0.5 in.
I¯1=112(12)(13)=1 in.4I¯1=112(12)(13)=1 in.4

A2=1(12)=12 in.2A2=1(12)=12 in.2

y2=7 in.y2=7 in.
I¯2=112(1)(123)=144 in.4I¯2=112(1)(123)=144 in.4

A3=6(1)=6 in.2A3=6(1)=6 in.2

y3=13.5 in.y3=13.5 in.
I¯3=112(6)(13)=0.5 in.4I¯3=112(6)(13)=0.5 in.4

Ay¯=A1y1+A2y2+A3y3Ay¯=A1y1+A2y2+A3y3
30y¯=12(0.5)+12(7)+6(13.5)30y¯=12(0.5)+12(7)+6(13.5)
y¯=5.7 in.y¯=5.7 in.

I¯x=[I¯1+A1(y¯−0.5)2]+[I¯2+A2(7−y¯)2]+[I¯3+A3(13.5−y¯)2]I¯x=[I¯1+A1(y¯−0.5)2]+[I
¯2+A2(7−y¯)2]+[I¯3+A3(13.5−y¯)2]
I¯x=[1+12(5.7−0.5)2]+[144+12(7−5.7)2]+[0.5+6(13.5−5.7)2]I¯x=[1+12(5.7−0.5)2]+[144
+12(7−5.7)2]+[0.5+6(13.5−5.7)2]
I¯x=855.3 in.4I¯x=855.3 in.4 answer

I¯y=112(1)(123)+112(12)(13)+112(1)(63)I¯y=112(1)(123)+112(12)(13)+112(1)(63)
I¯y=163 in.4I¯y=163 in.4 answer

Problem 819
Determine the moment of inertia of the T-section shown in Fig. P-819 with respect to its
centroidal Xo axis.
Solution 819
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A1=8(2)=16 in.2A1=8(2)=16 in.2
I¯1=8(23)12=163 in.4I¯1=8(23)12=163 in.4
y1=1 in.y1=1 in.

A2=8(2)=16 in.2A2=8(2)=16 in.2

I¯2=2(83)12=2563 in.4I¯2=2(83)12=2563 in.4
y2=2+4=6 in.y2=2+4=6 in.

A=A1+A2=16+16A=A1+A2=16+16
A=32 in.2A=32 in.2

Ay¯=A1y1+A2y2Ay¯=A1y1+A2y2
32y¯=16(1)+16(6)32y¯=16(1)+16(6)
y¯=3.5 in.y¯=3.5 in.

I¯=[I¯1+A1(y¯−y1)2]+[I¯2+A2(y2−y¯)2]I¯=[I¯1+A1(y¯−y1)2]+[I¯2+A2(y2−y¯)2]
I¯=[163+16(3.5−1)2]+[2563+16(6−3.5)2]I¯=[163+16(3.5−1)2]+[2563+16(6−3.5)2]
I¯=290.67 in.4I¯=290.67 in.4 answer

Another Solution
Problem 821
Find the moment of inertia about the indicated x-axis for the shaded area shown in Fig.
P-821.

Solution 821
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Solution by Composite Areas

Ix−rectangle=bh33=8(103)3Ix−rectangle=bh33=8(103)3
Ix−rectangle=2666.67 in4Ix−rectangle=2666.67 in4

By transfer formula for moment of inertia

I=I¯+Ad2I=I¯+Ad2
Ix−semicircle=0.11r4+Ad2Ix−semicircle=0.11r4+Ad2
Ix−semicircle=0.11(44)+12π(42)[10−4(4)3π]2Ix−semicircle=0.11(44)+12π(42)[10−4(4)3π]2
Ix−semicircle=1760.53 in4Ix−semicircle=1760.53 in4

Required moment of inertia

Ix=Ix−rectangle−Ix−semicircleIx=Ix−rectangle−Ix−semicircle
Ix=2666.67−1760.53Ix=2666.67−1760.53
Ix=906.14 in4Ix=906.14 in4 answer

Solution by Integration
Ix=bh33Ix=bh33
Ix=∫x2x1(dx)(y3)3Ix=∫x1x2(dx)(y3)3
Ix=13∫80y3dxIx=13∫08y3dx

Equation of the semi-circe with center at (h, k) = (4, 10)

and radius, r = 4
(x−h)2+(y−k)2=r2(x−h)2+(y−k)2=r2
(x−4)2+(y−10)2=42(x−4)2+(y−10)2=42
(y−10)2=16−(x−4)2(y−10)2=16−(x−4)2
y−10=±16−(x2−8x+16)−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−√y−1
0=±16−(x2−8x+16)
y=±8x−x2−−−−−−√+10y=±8x−x2+10

Use negative sign in the radical for the portion of the

circle below y = 10
y=10−8x−x2−−−−−−√y=10−8x−x2

Thus,
Ix=13∫80(10−8x−x2−−−−−−√)3dxIx=13∫08(10−8x−x2)3dx
Ix=13(2718.58)Ix=13(2718.58)
Ix=906.19 in4Ix=906.19 in4 okay