(ENGINEERING MECHANICS-I)

STATIC

Lecture #3
Introduction to Force System

Instructor

Dr. Mohammed Alamri

 Contents

n Objective(s) of the present lecture (#2)

n Force systems
n Principle of transmissibility
n Classification of forces
n A real life example
n Parallelogram and triangle laws
n Rectangular and non-rectangular components of a
force
n Problems
n Further reading
 Objectives of the Present lecture

n To define what a force is and its types

n To explain principle of transmissibility
n To illustrate parallelogram and triangle laws for
finding out resultant of two forces
n To demonstrate through examples how to find
rectangular and non-rectangular components of a
given force
Force Systems

n Force: Action of one body on another.

n Specification include:

• Magnitude
• Direction
• Point of application (or line of action)
n Effects of a force
External: Reactions
Internal: Stresses and strains

In dealing with the mechanics of rigid bodies concern is

only to the net external effects of forces.
Principle of Transmissibility

Principle of transmissibility states that a force may be

applied at any point on its given line of action without
altering the resultant effects of the force external to the rigid
body on which it acts P

P
 Classification of Forces

Contact forces Body forces

n Generated through direct n Applied by remote action, e.g.
physical contact between two Gravitational forces; Magnetic
bodies. forces.
 Another Classification

n Concentrated forces
n Distributed forces

30 kN
10 kN/m

B
A C
2m 2m 2m
Force Classification

Forces can be further classified as either

concentrated or distributed

Concentrated Distributed force

force
Unit kN kN/m or kN/m2
Symbol

Example
Two-Dimensional Force Systems
(Addition of two Forces)

Parallelogram law Triangle law

!
F2 ! !
R R !
! A ! F2
A F1
F1
Addition of Two Parallel Forces

! !
F -F
! ! !
F1 R1 ! F2
R2
! !
R2 R1
!
R
Two-Dimensional Force Systems
(Force Components)

Rectangular Components Non-rectangular Components

y
!
j !
! F
Fy F2 F
q
q
The
picture
can't
be
display
ed.

!
x A
! F1
Fx i

Fx = F cosq ; Fy = F sin q q ¹ 90 0
æ Fy ö
\F = F + F x
2
y
2
and q = tan çç ÷÷
-1
F = F1 + F2
! ! ! è Fx ø
" F = Fx + Fy
! ! !
\ F = Fx i + Fy j
Problem-1

The force F has a magnitude of 600 N. Express F as a vector in terms of the

! " "
unit vectors i and j. Identify the x and y scalar components of F.

y
F = 600 N

30 0

x
 Problem-1
Algebraic Solution

y
! !
Fx = 600 sin 30 (-i )
0

F = 600 N ! !
Fy = 600 cos 300 Fy = 600 cos 30 j
0

30 0 ! ! !
F = Fx + Fy
! ! !
x F = -300i + 520 j N
Fx = 600 sin 30 0
Problem-1
Geometric Solution

−F 600 600 Χ sin(30) y

= x
⇒Fx= = −300
Sin(30) sin(90) sin(90)
F y
=
600
⇒Fx=
600 Χ sin(60)
= 520 F = 600 N Fy
Sin(60) sin(90) sin(90)

30 0
Alternative Solution to find Fy
x
2 2 2
Fx
F Fx = +F
y
− 2 F x F y cos(Θ)
2
2 2
600 = 300 + F y − 2 F x F y cos(90)
2 2
Fy= 600 − 300 ≈ 520 N
Problem-2
Determine the magnitude of the resultant R of the two
forces (shown below), and the angle θ which R makes
with the positive x-axis.

T1 = 7 kN

T2 = 5 kN
O
15 0 450 x
 Problem-2
Solution
This problem can be viewed how two non-rectangular force
components can be replaced by a single resultant force R.
T2 = 5 kN
15 0
Use cosine law : c 2 = a 2 + b 2 - 2ab cos C
R 45 0
T1 = 7 kN
\ R = T12 + T22 - 2T1 ´ T2 ´ cos(450 + 150 ) a
5 kN 45 0
q
= 7 2 + 52 - 2 ´ 5 ´ 7 cos( 450 + 150 ) 15 0 x
= 6.24 kN
T1 = 7 kN

T2 = 5 kN
sin a sin( 45 + 15 )
0 0
sin( 45 + 15 )
0 0
= Þ sin a = ´ T2 O
T2 R R 15 0 450 x
0
sin( 60 )
Þ sin a = ´ 5 = 0.6939 Þ a = sin -1 (0.6939) = 43.90
6.24
\q = a + 450 = 43.90 + 450 = 88.90
Alternative Solution

Note: This method will be discussed in Force Resultants topic.

Rx = å Fx = T1 cos 450 - T2 cos150 = 7 cos 450 - 5 cos150 = 0.12 kN

Ry = å Fy = T1 sin 450 + T2 sin150 = 7 sin 450 + 5 sin150 = 6.24 kN

R = Rx2 + Ry2 = 0.12 2 + 6.24 2 = 6.24 kN

æ Ry ö æ 6.24 ö T1 = 7 kN
q = tan çç ÷÷ = tan -1 ç
-1
÷ = 88.9
0

è Rx ø è 0.12 ø
T2 = 5 kN
O
15 0 450 x
Problem-3

Determine the magnitude of the resultant R of the two forces and the angle
θ which R makes with the positive x-axis
Solution: (Geometric Solution)
The resultant force can be found by adding
the two forces as shown in the figure below
β
From the cosine law, R can be calculated as:

4
b = tan -1 = 53.1ο
y 3
c = a + b - 2ab cos C
2 2

N
2k x
R = 2 + 3 - 2(2)(3) cos(180 - 30 - 53.1 )
2 2 ο ο ο
R

3
kN
R = 2 2 + 32 - 2(2)(3) cos(180ο - 30ο - 53.1ο ) = 3.8 kN β 30
Problem-3

From the sine law, θ can be calculated as: y

N
2k
2 3.8 x
= β ᶿ
sin j sin(180° - 53.1° - 30° ) ᵠ R

3
kN
β 30

j = 31.5°
\q = b -j
q = 53.1° - 31.5°
q = 21.6°
Problem-3

Alternative Solution: (Algebraic Solution)

Rx = ∑ Fx = 3cos β + 2cos30° = 3(3 / 5) + 2cos30°

Rx = 3.53kN
β
Ry = å Fy = -3 sin b + 2 sin 30 = -3(4 / 5) + 2 sin 30
° °

Ry = -1.4kN y
4
b = tan = 53.1ο
-1
R = Rx2 + Ry2 = (3.53) 2 + (-1.4) 2 3
3
R = 3.8 kN Rx
x cos b =
Ry ᶿ 5
R
Ry - 1.4
q = tan -1
= tan -1
4
Rx 3.53 sin b =
5
q = -21.6°
Problem-4

The 500-N force F is applied to the vertical pole as shown in the figure.
(1) Write F in terms of the unit vectors i and j and identify both its vector and scalar components.
(2) Determine the scalar components of the force vector F along the x′- and y′-axes.
(3) Determine the scalar components of F along the x-and y′-axes.
Solution: y
(1) ! ! !
F = Fx i + Fy j
! Fx
! ! x
F = 500 sin 30ο i - 500 cos 30ο j
! ! ! Fy 30
⁰

F = (250 i - 433 j ) N F =500 N

The scalar components of F are
Fx = 250 N and Fy = - 433 N
The vector components of F are
! ! ! !
Fx = 250 i N and Fy = - 433 j N
 Problem-4

(2) F can be written as

! ! !
F = Fx¢ i¢ + Fy¢ j ¢
! !
F = 500 i¢ N
The scalar components of F are F = 500 N and F = 0
x¢ y¢

(3) Since the components of F in the x-and y′-directions are non-rectangular, a

parallelogram needs to be constructed as given below.

The magnitudes of Fx and Fy′ can be calculated using the law of sines. y′
Fx x
Fy′ 90 ⁰
F
500 Fx 30 ⁰ 60 ⁰
= Þ Fx = 1000 N
sin 30° sin 90°
500 Fy¢
= Þ Fy¢ = 866 N
sin 30° sin 60°
The scalar components of F are Fx = 1000 N and Fy¢ = -866 N
Problem 2/4

The line of action of the 34-kN force runs through the points A and B
as shown in the figure. Determine the x and y scalar components of F.

34 kN
m
Problem 2/13
The guy cables AB and AC are attached to the top of the
transmission tower. The tension in cable AB is 8 kN. Determine the
required tension T in cable AC such that the net effect of the two
cable tensions is a downward force at point A. Determine the
magnitude R of this downward force.

T2 = 5.83 kN
R = 9.25 kN
Problem 2/27
At what angle θ must the 400 N force be applied in order that the
resultant R of the two forces have a magnitude of 1000 N? For this
condition what will be the angle β between R and the horizontal?

400 N

700 N
Further Reading

Read more about the today lecture from:

Engineering Mechanics, Volume 1, Statics, 6th Edition, SI units Version

by J. L. Meriam and L. G. Kraige