Center of Gravity, Centroid

Module-3
Contents
Introduction
Center of Gravity of a 2D Body
Centroids and First Moments of
Areas and Lines
Sample Problem 5.4
Centroids of Common Shapes of
Areas
Centroids of Common Shapes of
Lines
Composite Plates and Areas
Sample Problem 5.1
Determination of Centroids by
5-2
Integration
Theorems of Pappus-Guldinus
Sample Problem 5.7
Distributed Loads on Beams
Sample Problem 5.9
Three-Dimensional Centers of
Gravity and Centroids
Centroids of Common 3D
Shapes
Composite Bodies
Sample Problem 5.12
Application

There are many examples in engineering analysis of distributed

loads. It is convenient in some cases to represent such loads as a
concentrated force located at the centroid of the distributed load.
5-3
Introduction
• The earth exerts a gravitational force on each of the particles
forming a body – consider how your weight is distributed
throughout your 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; it is the “center of area.” 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.

5-4
Center of Gravity of a 2D Body
• Center of gravity of a plate • Center of gravity of a wire

 M y x W =  xW
=  x dW
 M y yW =  yW
=  y dW

5-5
Centroids and First Moments of Areas and Lines
• Centroid of an area • Centroid of a line

x W =  x dW x W =  x dW
x (At ) =  x (t )dA x ( La ) =  x ( a )dL
x A =  x dA = Q y x L =  x dL
= first moment with respect to y yL =  y dL
yA =  y dA = Q x
= first moment with respect to x

5-6
Determination of Centroids by Integration
x A =  xdA =  x dxdy =  xel dA
yA =  ydA =  y dxdy =  yel dA
• Double integration to find the first moment
may be avoided by defining dA as a thin
rectangle or strip.

x A =  xel dA x A =  xel dA x A =  xel dA

=  x ( ydx) a+x 1 
=  (a − x )dx =
2r
cos  r 2 d 
yA =  yel dA 2 3 2 
yA =  yel dA yA =  yel dA
y
=  ( ydx) =  y (a − x )dx
2 2r 1 
= sin   r 2 d 
5-7
3 2 
Sample Problem 5.4
Determine by direct integration the
location of the centroid of a parabolic
spandrel.
STRATEGY:
• Determine the constant k.
• Evaluate the total area.
• Using either vertical or horizontal
strips, perform a single integration to
find the first moments.
• Evaluate the centroid coordinates.

First, estimate the location of the

centroid by inspection. Discuss with
a neighbor where it is located,
roughly, and justify your answer.

5-8
Sample Problem 5.4
MODELING:
• 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

ANALYSIS: Evaluate the total area.

A =  dA
a
a
b 2  b x3 
=  y dx =  2 x dx =  2 
0a  a 3  0
ab
=
3
5-9
Sample Problem 5.4
• Using vertical strips, perform a single integration
to find the first moments.
a b 2
Qy =  xel dA =  xydx =  x 2 x dx
0 a 
a
 b x 4  a 2b
= 2  =
 a 4 0 4
2
a 1 b
y 2
Qx =  yel dA =  ydx =   2 x  dx
2 0 2 a 
a
 b 2 x 5  ab2
= 4  =
 2a 5 0 10

5 - 10

Sample Problem 5.4
• Or, using horizontal strips, perform a single
integration to find the first moments. Try
calculating Qy or Qx by this method, and confirm
that you get the same value as before.

a+x b a2 − x2
Qy =  xel dA = 
2
(a − x )dy = 
2
dy
0

1 b  2 a2  a 2b
=  a − y dy =
2 0 b  4
 a 12
Qx =  yel dA =  y (a − x )dy =  y a − 1 2 y dy
 b 
b a 3 2 ab2
=   ay − 1 2 y dy =
0 b  10

5 - 11

Sample Problem 5.4
• Evaluate the centroid coordinates.
xA = Q y
ab a 2b 3
x = x= a
3 4 4

Is this “center of area” close to where yA = Q x

you estimated it would be? ab ab 2 3
y = y= b
3 10 10

REFLECT and THINK:

You obtain the same results whether you choose a vertical or a horizontal
element of area, as you should. You can use both methods as a check
against making a mistake in your calculations.
5 - 12
Determination of Centroids by Integration
Usually, the choice between using a vertical or horizontal strip is equally good,
but in some cases, one choice is much better than the other. For example, for
the area shown below, is a vertical or horizontal strip a better choice, and why?
Think about this and discuss your choice with a neighbor.

5 - 13
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.
5 - 14
Centroids of Common Shapes of Areas

5 - 15
Centroids of Common Shapes of Lines

5 - 16