CROSS-

SECTIONAL
PROPERTIES
Lecture Outline
◼ Centroids of Areas
◼ Centroids of Composite Areas
◼ Second Moment of Area
◼ Parallel Axis Theorem
◼ Transformation of Axes
◼ Principal Axes
◼ Principal Second Moment of Area
◼ Mohr’s Circle
CENTROID
Centroids
◼ Suppose that we want to determine the average position of a
group of students sitting in a room:
➢ Introduce a coordinate system to specify the position of each
student
➢ e.g. align the axes with the walls of the room
Centroids
➢ Number the students from 1 to N & denote the position of
student 1 by (x1, y1), the position of student 2 by (x2, y2) &
so on

➢ The average x coordinate, which is denoted by x , is the

sum of their x coordinates divided by N:
 xi
x1 + x2 +    + xN
x= = i
N N
where  means “sum over the range of i”
i
Centroids
 yi
➢ The average y coordinate is:
y= i
N
➢ We indicate the average position by the symbol shown:
Centroids of Areas
◼ Consider an arbitrary area A in the x-y plane:
➢ Divide the area into parts A1, A2,…, AN & denote the
positions of the parts by (x1, y1), (x2, y2),…, (xN, yN)
Centroids of Areas
➢ The centroid or average position of the area:

 xi Ai  yi Ai
x= i , y= i
 Ai  Ai
i i
➢ To reduce the uncertainty in the positions of
areas A1, A2,…, AN, divide A into smaller parts:
➢ But we would still obtain only approximate
values of
x & y.
Centroids of Areas
➢ To determine the exact location of the centroid, we
must take the limit as the sizes of the parts approach
zero:
◼ We obtain this limit by using the integrals:

 A xdA
x=
 A dA
 A ydA
y=
 A dA
Centroids of Areas
Where x & y are the coordinates of the
differential element of area dA
The subscript A on the integral sign means
the integration is carried out over the
entire area

The centroid of the area is:

Centroid of an Area
by Integration
Determine the centroid of
the triangular area shown
in the figure.

Strategy
Determine the coordinates of the centroid by
using an element of area dA in the form of a
“strip” of width dx.
Centroid of an Area by
Integration
Solution
Let dA be the vertical strip. The height of the strip
is (h/b)x, so dA = (h/b)x dx. To integrate over the
entire area, we must integrate with respect to x
from x = 0 to x = b. The x coordinate of the
centroid is:
Centroid of an Area by
Integration
Solution
To determine y , we let y
be the y coordinate of the
midpoint of the strip:
Centroid of an Area by
Integration
Solution
The centroid is shown:
Centroids of Composite
Areas
Composite area:
an area consisting of a combination of simple areas
The centroid of a composite area can be determined without
integration if the centroids of its parts are known

The area in the figure consists of a

triangle, a rectangle & a semicircle,
which we call parts 1, 2 & 3
Centroids of Composite
Areas
The x coordinate of the centroid of the composite
area is:

 x dA A x dA + A x dA + A x dA
x= A = 1 2 3

AdA A1dA + A2dA + A3dA

From the equation for the x coordinate of the
centroid of part 1:  x dA
x1 =
A1

A1dA
We obtain: A1x dA = x1 A1
Centroids of Composite
Areas
Using this equation & equivalent equations for parts 2 & 3,
we can write:

x1 A1 + x2 A2 + x3 A3
x=
A1 + A2 + A3
The coordinates of the centroid of a composite area with
an arbitrary number of parts are:

 xi Ai  yi Ai
x= i , y= i
 Ai  Ai
i i
Centroid – composite
sections
For composite cross-sections made of elements:

y Composite cross section

made of elements
2
1 3
y2
y1 y3
x i – is the ith
Centroid of composite shape:
element
yi , xi - is the distance of the

y=
 yA i i
x=
 xA
i i
centroid of the ith element to

A i A i
the ‘reference’ axis (x).
EXAMPLE
Find the centroid:

y
5 1
2
70+5/2

65
5/2

5 3
20 0 10 40 x
EXAMPLE
i Ai xi Ai xi yi Ai yi

 A : 1050
i  A x :8750  A y : 35875
i i i i
Class Problem
(i) Find centroid with respect to base:

500
100

C
x x
400

100 base
MOMENT OF INERTIA
or
SECOND MOMENT OF
AREA
 Moment of Inertia (Second
Moment of Area)
Consider an area A in the x-y plane:
 Moment of Inertia (Second
Moment of Area)
Moments of inertia of A are defined:

1. Moment of inertia about the x axis:

I x =  A y dA 2

where y is the y coordinate of the differential element of

area dA
Moment of Inertia (Second
Moment of Area)
2. Moment of inertia about the y axis:

I y =  A x dA
2

where x is the x coordinate of the element dA

3. Product of inertia:

I xy =  A xy dA
Example - Moments of Inertia of a
Triangular Area

Determine Ix, Iy & Ixy for the triangular area in the

figure.
 Example - Moments of Inertia of a
Triangular Area

Strategy
The moment of inertia about the y axis is very similar to the
equation for the x coordinate of the centroid of an area & it can
be evaluated for this triangular area in exactly in the same way:
by using a differential element of area dA in the form of a
vertical strip of width dx. Then show that Ix & Ixy can be evaluated
by using the same element of area.
Example - Moments of Inertia of a
Triangular Area

Solution

Let dA be the vertical strip.

The equation describing
the triangular area’s
upper boundary is
f(x) = (h/b)x,
so dA = f(x) dx = (h/b)x dx.

To integrate over the entire area, we must

integrate with respect to x from x = 0 to x = b.
Example - Moments of Inertia of a Triangular Area
Solution
Moment of Inertia About the y Axis:
 Example - Moments of Inertia of a Triangular Area
Solution
In terms of the element area dAs = dx dy:
 Example - Moments of Inertia of a Triangular Area
Integrating this expression with respect to x from x = 0 to x
= b, we obtain the value of Ix for the entire area:
Product of Inertia:
1st evaluate the product of inertia of the strip dA, holding x
& dx fixed:
Solution
Integrate this expression with respect to x from
x = 0 to x = b to obtain the value of Ixy for the entire area:
Rectangular section
dA = bdy
b

 y dA = I
2
dy xx
A

 by dy = by / 3
d /2
x x 2 3 d /2
d C −d / 2
−d / 2

3
bd
I xx =
12
Rectangular section
b – width 3
y bd
d - depth I xx =
12
d x
y

x
d
b
b
PARALLEL
AXES
THEOREM
Parallel-Axis Theorems
◼ The values of the moments of inertia of an area depend on the
position of the coordinate system relative to the area

◼ In some situations the moments of inertia of an area are known

in terms of a particular coordinate system but we need their
values in terms of a different coordinate system

◼ When the coordinate systems are parallel, the desired moments

of inertia can be obtained using the parallel-axis theorems:

➢ Possible to determine the moments of inertia of a composite

area when the moments of inertia of its parts are known
Parallel-Axis Theorems
Suppose that we know the moments of inertia of an area A in
terms of a coordinate system x’y’ with its origin at the centroid
of the area & we wish to determine the moments of inertia in
terms of a parallel coordinate system xy:
Parallel-Axis Theorems
Denote the coordinates of the centroid of
A in the xy coordinate system by
(dx, dy) & d = d x2 + d y2 is the distance from
the origin of the xy coordinate system to the
centroid

In terms of the x’y’ coordinate system,

the coordinates of the centroid of A are:

 A xdA  A ydA
x = , y =
 A dA  A dA
Parallel-Axis Theorems
But the origin of x’y’ coordinate system is located at the
centroid of A, so x  = 0 & y = 0.
Therefore,
 A xdA  A ydA
x = , y =
 A dA  A dA
◼ Moment of Inertia About the x Axis:
➢ In terms of the xy coordinate system, the moment of inertia of A about the
x axis is:

I x =  A y dA 2

where y is the y coordinate of the element dA relative to the xy coordinate system

Parallel-Axis Theorems
From the figure, y = y’ + dy, where y’ is the
coordinate of dA relative to the x’y’
coordinate system

Substituting this expression into Eq.

I x =  A y 2 dA
we obtain:
I x =  ( y + d y )2 dA =  ( y)2 dA + 2d y  y dA + d y2  dA
A A A A
➢ The 1st integral on the right is the moment of inertia of A
about the x’ axis
➢ From Eq.  A xdA  A ydA
x = , y =
 A dA  A dA
the 2nd integral on the right equals zero
Parallel-Axis Theorems
Therefore, we obtain: Ix = I x + d y A
2

This is a parallel-axis theorem:

It relates the moment of inertia of A about
the x’ axis through the centroid to the
moment of inertia about the parallel axis x
Parallel-Axis Theorems
◼ Moment of Inertia About the y Axis:

➢ In terms of the xy coordinate system, the moment of inertia

of A about the y axis is:

I y =  x dA =  ( x + d x ) dA
2 2
A A

= ( x ) dA + 2d x  x dA + d x  dA
 2
 2
A A A

➢ The 2nd integral on the right equals zero

Parallel-Axis Theorems
Therefore, the parallel-axis theorem that relates
the moment of inertia of A about the y’ axis through
the centroid to the moment of inertia about the
parallel axis y is:

I y = I y + d x A
2
Parallel-Axis Theorems
◼ Product of Inertia:
In terms of the xy coordinate system, the product of
inertia is:
I xy =  xy dA =  ( x + d x )( y + d y ) dA
A A

=  xy dA + d y  x dA + d x  y dA + d x d y  dA
A A A A

The 2nd & 3rd integrals equal zero

The parallel-axis theorem for the product of inertia
is:
I xy = I xy + d x d y A
Parallel-Axis Theorems
Determining a moment of inertia of a composite area in terms of a
given coordinate system involves 3 steps:

1. Choose the parts — try to divide the composite area into parts whose moments
of inertia you know or can easily determine.

2. Determine the moments of inertia of the parts — determine the moment of

inertia of each part in terms of a parallel coordinate system with its origin at the
centroid of the part & then use the parallel-axis theorem to determine the
moment of inertia in terms of the given coordinate system.

3. Sum the results — sum the moments of inertia of the parts (or subtract in the
case of a cutout) to obtain the moment of inertia of the composite area.
Example - Demonstration of the
Parallel-Axis Theorems
The moments of inertia of the rectangular area
In the figure in terms of the x’y’ coordinate
system are
I x = 12 bh , I y = 12 hb , I xy = 0 .
1 3 1 3

Determine its moment

of inertia in terms of the
xy coordinate system.
Example - Demonstration of the
Parallel-Axis Theorems

Strategy

The x’y’ coordinate system has its origin at the

centroid of the area & is parallel to the xy
coordinate system. Use the parallel-axis
theorems to determine the moments of inertia
of A in terms of the xy coordinate system.
Example - Demonstration of the
Parallel-Axis Theorems
Solution
The coordinates of the centroid in terms of the xy
coordinate system are dx = b/2, dy = h/2.

The moment of inertia about the x axis is:

The moment of inertia about the y axis is:

The product of inertia is:

Example - Moments of Inertia of a
Composite Area
Determine Ix& Ixy for the composite area in
the figure shown.

Strategy
This area can be divided into 2
rectangles. Use the parallel-axis
theorems to determine Ix & Ixy for each
rectangle in terms of the xy coordinate
system & sum the results for the rectangles
to determine Ix & Ixy for the composite area.
Example - Moments of Inertia of a
Composite Area

Solution

Choose the Parts:

Determine the moments of
inertia by dividing the area
in 2 rectangular parts 1
& 2:
Example - Moments of Inertia of a
Composite Area
Solution
Determine the Moments of Inertia of the Parts:

For each part, introduce a coordinate system x’y’ with its

origin at the centroid of the part:
Example - Moments of Inertia of a
Composite Area

Solution
Use the parallel-axis theorem to determine the moment of
inertia of each part about the x axis:

Table - Determining the moments of inertia of the parts about the x axis

dy (m) A (m2) Ix’ (m4) I x = I x  + d y2 A (m4 )

Part 1 2 (1)(4) 1
12
(1)(4)3 21.33
Part 2 0.5 (2)(1) 1
12
(2)(1)3 0.67
Example - Moments of Inertia of a
Composite Area

Solution

Sum the Results:

The moment of inertia of the composite area
about the x axis is:

I x = (I x )1 + (I x )2 = 21.33 m + 0.67 m = 22.00 m

4 4 4
Example - Moments of Inertia of a
Composite Area
Solution
Repeating this procedure, determine Ixy for each
part in Table:

Table - Determining the products of inertia

of the parts of the xy coordinate system
Ix’y’ I xy = I x y + d x d y A (m4 )
dx (m) dy (m) A (m2)
(m4)
Part 1 0.5 2 (1)(4) 0 4
Part 2 2 0.5 (2)(1) 0 2

The product of inertia of the composite area is:

I xy = (I xy )1 + (I xy )2 = 4 m4 + 2 m4 = 6 m4
Example - Moments of Inertia of
a Composite Area

Note:

The moments of inertia you obtain do not

depend on how you divide a composite area
into parts & you will often have a choice of
convenient ways to divide a given area.