T O P I C 5

TOPIC CONTENTS:
• INTRODUCTION
• CENTROID OF COMMON GEOMETRIC FIGURES
• CENTROID OF COMPOSITE FIGURES

P R E P A R E D B Y : E N G R . B R A N D O N C A L V I N Q . G O
E N G I N E E R I N G
M E C H A N I C S

1. Centroid of an area occupies the same position of the center of

gravity of a homogeneous flat plate whose thickness approaches. It
refers to the center of gravity of the surface of an area wherein
weight is negligible.
2. Center of Gravity is point in the body through which the weight
(gravitational force) is concentrated.
3. Centroids of areas and centers of gravity of bodies are located in a
G O
Q .

manner similar to the method used in locating the resultant of

B R A N D O N C A L V I N

parallel and general force systems that is using Varignon’s Theorem.

P R E P A R E D B Y :

Centroids of areas and lines maybe determined by Integration.

This method of integration is based on the Varignon’s Theorem, “ The
moment of the total area or length is equal to the sum of the moments of the
differential areas or length about the same axis of rotation.”
 Example:
E N G I N E E R I N G
M E C H A N I C S

Determine the centroid of a triangular section by integration.

Solution:
To locate the centroid of the
triangle with respect to the base, x h
consider a horizontal differential strip dy
y
with length x and height dy located a
G O

distance y from the base. b

Q .
B R A N D O N C A L V I N

Express x in terms of y by ratio and

P R E P A R E D B Y :

𝐴𝑦ത = න 𝑦𝑑𝐴
proportion:
1 𝑥 𝑏
𝑏ℎ𝑦ത = න 𝑦(𝑥𝑑𝑦) =
2 ℎ−𝑦 ℎ
𝑏(ℎ − 𝑦)
𝑥=
ℎ
 Substitute:
E N G I N E E R I N G
M E C H A N I C S

1 𝑏 ℎ
𝑏ℎ𝑦ത = න 𝑦(ℎ − 𝑦)𝑑𝑦
2 ℎ 0
1 𝑏 ℎ 𝑏 ℎ 2
𝑏ℎ𝑦ത = න ℎ𝑦𝑑𝑦 − න 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
2 ℎ 0 ℎ 0 x h
1 𝑦2 ℎ 𝑏 𝑦3 ℎ dy
y
𝑏ℎ𝑦ത = 𝑏 −
2 2 0 ℎ 3 0
G O

b
Q .

2 3
1 𝑏ℎ 𝑏ℎ
B R A N D O N C A L V I N

𝑏ℎ𝑦ത = −
P R E P A R E D B Y :

2 2 3ℎ
𝒉
ഥ=
𝒚
𝟑
 P R E P A R E D B Y : E N G I N E E R I N G
B R A N D O N C A L V I N Q . G O M E C H A N I C S

𝑨=
Triangle:

𝟐
𝒃𝒅

Rectangle:

𝑨 = 𝒃𝒅
Circle:

𝑨=
𝟒
𝑨 = 𝝅𝒓𝟐

𝝅𝒅𝟐

𝒚
𝑨=

ഥ=
𝟖
𝟒𝒓
𝟑𝝅
𝝅𝒅𝟐
Semi-circle:
P R E P A R E D B Y : E N G I N E E R I N G
B R A N D O N C A L V I N Q . G O M E C H A N I C S

𝒙
𝑨=

ഥ=𝒚
ഥ=
𝟏𝟔
𝝅𝒅𝟐

𝟒𝒓
𝟑𝝅
Quarter Circle:

Ellipse:

𝑨 = 𝝅𝒂𝒃
𝑨=
𝟑
𝒃𝒉
Parabolic Spandrel:

𝒚
𝒙

ഥ=
𝟒
𝟏

𝟑
𝟏𝟎
ഥ= 𝒃

𝒉
E N G I N E E R I N G

Semi-ellipse: Quarter Ellipse:

M E C H A N I C S

𝝅𝒂𝒃
𝑨=
𝟐

𝟒𝒃
ഥ=
𝒚
𝟑𝝅
G O

Circular Sector:
Q .

𝟒𝒂
B R A N D O N C A L V I N

ഥ=
𝒙
P R E P A R E D B Y :

𝝅𝒂𝒃 𝟑𝝅
𝑨 = 𝒓𝟐 𝜽 𝑨=
𝟒
𝟐𝒓 sin 𝜽 𝟒𝒃
ഥ=
𝒙 ഥ=
𝒚
𝟑𝜽 𝟑𝝅
E N G I N E E R I N G
M E C H A N I C S

Centroids of composite figures are determined using Varignon’s

Theorem:
𝑨ഥ
𝒚 = 𝑨𝟏 𝒚𝟏 + 𝑨𝟐 𝒚𝟐 + 𝑨𝟑 𝒚𝟑 + ⋯ + 𝑨𝒏 𝒚𝒏

𝑨ഥ
𝒙 = 𝑨𝟏 𝒙𝟏 + 𝑨𝟐 𝒙𝟐 + 𝑨𝟑 𝒙𝟑 + ⋯ + 𝑨𝒏 𝒙𝒏

where:
G O

y = distance parallel to y-axis from the c.g. of the area to the reference axis
Q .
B R A N D O N C A L V I N

x = distance parallel to x-axis from the c.g. of the area to the reference axis
P R E P A R E D B Y :

A = total area of the composite figure

An = area of individual geometric figure
ഥ and 𝒙
𝒚 ഥ = co-ordinates of the centroid of the composite figure
 Steps in locating centroids of composite figures:
E N G I N E E R I N G
M E C H A N I C S

1. Divide the figure into common geometric figures.

2. Choose a reference axis.
3. Determine the area of each common geometric figures.
4. Determine the centroid of each common geometric figure.
5. Determine the distance from the centroid of the individual areas to
the reference axis.
G O

6. Substitute to the formula (Varignon’s Theorem)

Q .
B R A N D O N C A L V I N

Notes:
P R E P A R E D B Y :

1. If the x coordinate is to the left of the reference axis and y below

the reference axis, their values should be taken as negative.
2. Hollow portions should be taken as negative areas.
 Sample Problem 1:
E N G I N E E R I N G
M E C H A N I C S

Determine the x and y coordinates of the centroid of the following

section measured from point A.
G O
Q .
B R A N D O N C A L V I N
P R E P A R E D B Y :
 Sample Problem 2:
E N G I N E E R I N G
M E C H A N I C S

Determine the x and y coordinates of the centroid of the following

section measured from point A.
G O
Q .
B R A N D O N C A L V I N
P R E P A R E D B Y :