APPLIED PHYSICS 1

Exercises of
Geometry of masses

Moments of inertia
Prof. Juan Carlos Moreno Marín
Prof. José Joaquín Rodes Roca

Dept. Physics, System Engineering and Sign Theory

University of Alicante Polytechnic School
Exercise 1

Geometry of Masses
Moments of inertia

Dept. Physics, System Engineering and Sign Theory

University of Alicante Polytechnic School
Exercise on the book

5.3
Determine the moment of inertia and radius of gyration about OX
axis for the parallelogram shown in figure below.
(Data: sides a and b, angle 

Y
b


X
O
 The parallelogram may be subdivided into three sub-areas: a
rectangular and two triangular areas. The right the triangular area is a
hole with negative area.
Y
b


X
O
Using the tabulated moment of inertia we obtain the expression of the
moment of inertia for the regular areas with respect to its base:
1 3 1 1 3 1
 bh  b  a sen   bh   a cos    a sen 
3 3
I X ( rectáng .) I X (triáng .)
3 3 12 3
A table may facilitate the calculations. The total moment of inertia
about the X axis of the composite area is, consequently:

1
 b  a sen 
3
I X  I X ( rectáng .)  I X (triáng .)  I X (triáng .)  I X ( rectáng .)
3

The radius of gyration KX can be calculated from the expression:

1 3
ba sen 
3
IX 3 1
KX    a sen
S ba sen 3
Exercise 2

Geometry of Masses
Moments of inertia

Dept. Physics, System Engineering and Sign Theory

University of Alicante Polytechnic School
Exercise on the book

5.5
Determine the moments of inertia of the Z-section about its
centroidal OX0 and OY0 axes.

12.5 cm
2.5 cm

YO

17.5 cm XO

2.5 cm
12.5 cm
Z-section may be subdivided into three rectangles and the origin of the
coordinate at CG of the area, OX0, OY0 (centroidal).
12.5 cm
2.5 cm YO

17.5 cm XO

2.5 cm
12.5 cm

We will use the tabulated moments of inertia of a rectangle about its

centroidal axis: 1 3 1 3
I XG  bh ; IYG  b h; PXGYG  0;
12 12
 We calculate the moments of inertia of each rectangle about the
OX0 axis, transferring from its own CG to the X0 axis by using the
Steiner's theorem:
12.5 cm
2.5 cm YO

17.5 cm XO

1 3 1 3 2.5 cm
I XO 2  bh  20 2.5 1666.67; 12.5 cm
12 12
1 3 1
I XO1  I XO 3  bh  d S  10 2.53 8.752 25 1927.08;
2

12 12
I XO  I XO1  I XO 2  I XO 3  1927.08  1666.67  1927.08  5520.8 cm 4
We calculate the moments of inertia of each rectangle about the
OX0 axis, transferring from its own CG to the X0 axis by using the
Steiner's theorem:
12.5 cm
2.5 cm YO

17.5 cm XO

1 3 1 2.5 cm
IYO 2  b h  20 2.53 26.04; 12.5 cm
12 12
1 3 1 3
IYO1  IYO 3  b h  d S  10 2.5 6.252 25 1184.9;
2

12 12
IYO  IYO1  IYO 2  IYO 3  1184.9  26.04  1184.9  2395.8 cm 4
 We calculate the moments of inertia of each rectangle about the
OX0 axis, transferring from its own CG to the X0 axis by using the
Steiner's theorem:
12.5 cm
2.5 cm YO

17.5 cm XO

2.5 cm
12.5 cm

PXYO 2  0;
PXYO1  PXYO 3  0  d x d y S  6.25 8.75 25  1367.2;

PXYO  PXYO1  PXYO 2  PXYO 3  1367.2  0  1367.2  2734.4 cm 4
The matrix of inertia of the Z-section about the centroidal axes is:

 I XO  PXYO  5520.8 2734.4

I 
   cm 4
.
  PXYO IYO   2734.4 2395.8

12.5 cm
2.5 cm YO

17.5 cm XO

2.5 cm
12.5 cm
Exercise 3

Geometry of Masses
Moments of inertia

Dept. Physics, System Engineering and Sign Theory

University of Alicante Polytechnic School
Exercise on the book

6.1
Determine the moment of inertia of the area about the centroidal axis
which is parallel to the inclined side.

1 cm

3 cm

1 cm

3 cm 4 cm 3 cm
By symmetry, the CG is equal to the geometric centre of the section.
According to the coordinate system shown, the CG is G (5, 2.5) cm.

First of all, we need to calculate the matrix of inertia about centroidal

axes parallels to OXY at G. Then we calculate the moment of inertia
about the inclined axis U, which form an angle of 45º with OX axis.

The are may be divided into three elements, two equal horizontal
rectangles (1) and (2), and a rhomboid (3).
Y U

=45º X
O
The centroidal moments of inertia (so about its CG) of both rectangles
are: 1 1
IX1  IX 2  bh3  cm 4 ;
12 4
1 3 27 4
IY 1  IY 2  b h  cm ;
12 12
PXY 1  PXY 2  0

Transferring to parallel axes passing through G (distances a and b):

1 49 4
I XG1  I XG 2  I X 1  a S   2 3  cm ;
2 2

4 4
27
IYG1  IYG1  IY 1  b S 
2
 3.52 3 39 cm 4 ;
12
PXYG1  PXYG 2  PXY 1  abS  0  2 3.5  3 21 cm 4 ;
Now we sum the moments of both elements and rotate them 45º
before to add the moment of inertia of rhomboid.
49 4
I XG12  2 I XG1  cm ;
2
IYG12  2 IYG1 78 cm 4 ;
PXYG12  2 PXYG 2 42 cm 4 ;
To calculate the moment of inertia about the U axis we need to rotate
= 45º about the OX axis:
IU 12  I XG12 cos 2   PXYG12 sen 2  IYG12 sen 2 

2 2
49  2  2
  
  42 sen 90º 78 
 
2  2   2

49 78
  42   9.25 cm 4
4 2
The third section is the rhomboid. We need to calculate the moment
of inertia with respect to a parallel axis passing through its CG.
Its dimensions are shown in figure below, and the moment of inertia
was calculated in problem 5.3:
3
1 3 1  2 ) 4
IU 3  bh  32  
 0.16 cm
12 12  2 

U √2 cm
G 2
√ 32 cm
Thus, for the entire area we have:

)
IU  IU 12  IU 3  9.25  0.16  9.42 cm 4

Y U

=45º X
O
Exercise 4

Geometry of Masses
Moments of inertia

Dept. Physics, System Engineering and Sign Theory

University of Alicante Polytechnic School
Obtain the principal centroidal moments of inertia of the
transversal cross section of the beam shown in figure, symmetric
with respect to the line y = x.

a/4
X
 The cross section of the beam is subdivided into two rectangles 1
and 2, for which we use the tabulated moments of inertia.

y1
yG
x1
G1
xG
G
1 y2

x2
G2 2 X
Rectangle 1:
 a 5  3 2
Centre of gravity G1   , a Area S1  a
 8 8  16

Moments of inertia with respect to G1X1Y1:

1 a 3 
3 Y
I X1   a   0.008789 a 4

12 4  4 
, y1
3
1 3  a yG
I Y1  a   0.0009766
. a 4
G1
x1
12 4  4 xG
G

PX1Y1  0
1 y2

x2
G2 2 X
Rectangle 2:
 a a a2
Centre of gravity G2   ,  Area S2 
 2 8 4

Moments of inertia with respect to G1X1Y1:

1  a
3 Y
I X2  a    0.001302 a 4
12  4
y1
1 a 3 yG .
I Y2  a  0.02083 a 4 x1
12 4 G1
xG
G

PX 2 Y2  0 1 y2

x2
G2 2 X
The coordinates of the CG of the cross-sectional area, formed by
two rectangles, are:
x1 S1  x 2 S 2 19 y1 S1  y 2 S 2 19
xG   a yG   a
S1  S 2 56 S1  S 2 56

As we can derive by symmetry, Y

the point G (CG) lies on the
symmetry axis (red line) of the y1
cross-sectional area. yG
x1
G1
 19 19  G
xG
G a, a 
 56 56  1 y2

x2
G2 2 X
Now we use the Steiner's theorem to transfer the moments of inertia
of both rectangles to the centroidal parallel axes of the cross-
sectional area GX G YG :

yG

xG
, G
1
2 X
The moments of inertia about the XG axis are:
2 2
 5 19 3a
I1XG  I X1     a 2   0.008789  0.015306  a 4  0.024095 a 4
 8 56 16
2 2
 19 1 2 a
I 2XG  I X 2     a   0.001302  0.01148  a 4  0.01278 a 4
 56 8 4

The total moment of inertia about the centroidal X axis of

the composite area is, consequently:

I XG  I1XG  I 2XG   0.024095  0.01278  a 4  0.036876 a 4

Transferring the moments of inertia to the YG axis:

yG

xG
G
1
2 X
 The moments of inertia about the YG axis are:
2
 19 1 2 3
I1YG  I Y1     a a 2   0.0009766  0.008610  a 4  0.009586 a 4
 56 8 16
2 2
 1 19 a
I 2YG  I Y2     a 2   0.02083  0.006457  a 4  0.02729 a 4
 2 56 4

The total moment of inertia about the centroidal Y axis of

the composite area is, consequently:

I YG  I1YG  I 2YG   0.009586  0.02729  a 4  0.036876 a 4

Transferring the products of inertia to the centroidal XGYG axes:

y1
yG
x1
G1
xG
G
1 y2

x2
G2 2 X
  5 19  19  1 2 3 2
P1XG YG  0      a a  0.01148 a 4
 8 56  56  8 16

2
 1 19  19  1 2 a
P2XG YG  0       a 0.008610 a 4
 2 56  56  8 4

The total product of inertia about the centroidal XY axes

of the composite area is, consequently:

PXG YG  P1XG YG  P2XG YG   0.01148  0.008610  a 4  0.02009 a 4

The matrix of inertia of the composite area about the centroidal
axes GX G YG is:

 I XG  PXG YG   0.036876 a 4 0.02009 a 4

I GXY     4
  PX Y I YG    0.02009 a 0.036876 a 
4
 G G

There is symmetry
The principal moments of inertia can be calculated by using the
expressions:
2
Moments maximum IX  IY  IX  IY 
I X 0 ,Y0      PXY
2

and minimum: 2  2 
 Maximum moment of inertia IV  I X0  0.056967 a 4

Minimum moment of inertia IW  I Y0  0.016785 a 4

The principal axes of inertia are defined by the angles with

respect to the X axis:

tg 
I XG  I X 0

 0.036876  0.056967  a 4
 1
PXG YG 0.02009 a 4

Therefore, the angle between the XG axis and the principal X0 axis is:

  tg 1   1  45º
 The principal axes of inertia are defined by the angles with
respect to the X axis:

tg 
I XG  I X 0

 0.036876  0.056967  a 4
 1
PXG YG 0.02009 a 4

Therefore, the angle between the XG axis and the principal X0 axis is:
  tg 1   1  45º

tg 
I XG  IY0

 0.036876  0.016785  a 4
 1
PXG YG 0.02009 a 4

and the angle between XG and the principal Y0 axis is:

(axis of symmetry of the section).   tg 1   1  45º

Exercise 5

Geometry of Masses
Moments of inertia

Dept. Physics, System Engineering and Sign Theory

University of Alicante Polytechnic School
Determine the principal moments of inertia of the rectangular pillar
with respect a to its vertex O. Obtain the solution when the length
of one side be double of the other.

Y a

X
O
First of all, we calculate the moments of inertia of the section with
respect to axes through O origin of the coordinate system.
The moments of inertia for a rectangle (check tables):

1 3 1 3 1 2 2
I X  ab IY  a b PXY  a b
3 3 4
That may calculate by direct integration easily:
b a
1 3 1 3
I x   y a dy  ab
2
I y   x b dx  ba
2

y 0
3 x 0
3
a b
1 2 2
I xy    xydx dy  a b
x 0 y 0
4
Therefore the matrix of inertia about the OXY axes is:

 1 3 1 2 2
 ab  a b
3 4
I OXY   
 1 2 2 1 3 
  ab ab
 4 3 
To determine the principal moments of inertia through the origin
point O, we diagonalize the matrix of inertia. To do this, the
determinant of the matrix should be equal to zero, where values
forare the eigenvalues of the matrix:
1 3 1
ab    a 2b 2
3 4
0
1 1 3
 a 2b 2 a b
4 3
Thus, the previous equation give us a second degree equation in
:
ab  a 2  b2  7 4 4
2   a b 0
3 144

which solutions are:

ab  2 7 2 2
   a  b2 
6 
a 2
b 
2 2
 a b
4 
These are the principal moments of inertia, maximum and minimum:

ab  2  ab  2 7 2 2
I X0 
6 
 a b 
2
a 2
b 
2 2 7
 a 2b 2
4
I Y0 
6 
 a b 
2
a 2
b 
2 2
 a b
4
 

To calculate the inclination of the principal axes of inertia, we

need to calculate the eigenvectors of the matrix.
The orientation of the maximum moment of inertia will form an
angle with the X axis at O, and its runit vector may be expressed in
uuu
the reference system OXY as: uX   cos  , sen  0

To be an eigenvector of the eigenvalue I X , it should be verified 0

the expression: uuu

r uuur
I OXY uX0 I X0 
uX 0
  1 3 1 
 3 ab  I X0  a 2b 2   cos    0
4    
      
  1 a 2b 2 1 3 
a b  I X0  sen   0
 4 3   

From the first row we obtain the equation:

 1 3  1 2 2
 ab  I X0 cos   a b sen  0
 3  4

which solution is:


 2 2 
4b 4 I X0
2 b a b a 
22 2
7
tg   2 2     
3a ab 3  ab  ab  4
 
In the particular case b  2a , results are:

ab  2 7 2 2  5 
   a  b2 
6 
a 2
b 2 2
  a b     2 a 4
4  3 


where according to the sign  we obtain I X0 or I Y0.

The inclination of the principal axes of inertia X0 and Y0 is given by

the equation:
4 a 4 I X0
tg   2 2  m 2 1 ,
3b a b

the angle for X0 axis is:  

  tg 1  2  1  22.5º

and for Y0 axis is:   tg 1  

2  1  67.5º (perpendicular to the
previous one).
As a numerical example, the principal moments of inertia and its
orientation for a rectangular pillar of dimensions 4080 cm.

Using the previous solutions:

 5 
I X0    2 a 4  3.0809  0.4 4  0.7887 m4 (maximum moment)
 3 
 5 
I Y0    2 a 4  0.2525  0.4 4  0.006463 m4 (minimum moment)
 3 
The principal X0 axis forms an angle with respect to the X axis
equal to the value we obtained previously:

 
  tg 1  2  1  22.5º
Exercise 6

Geometry of Masses
Moments of inertia

Dept. Physics, System Engineering and Sign Theory

University of Alicante Polytechnic School
Exercise on the book

6.2
For the three quarter circle area shown, determine: a) Matrix of
inertia relative to the origin. b) Matrix of inertia at point (-R,0).
c) Moment of inertia about the axis of equation y + R = x - R.

X
O
 a) Matrix of inertia relative to the origin.
We calculate the moment of the quarter circular area (or make
expedient use of tabulated moments of inertia):
R
1     4
R
y
I X   y 2 dS  y 0 y 2
R 2
 y 2
dy   tan  1
 R 4  y R 2  y 2  2 y 2  R 2   R
8  R 2  y 2  16
S    0
Y
where dS  R 2  y 2 dy
dS
dy
y
x X
The total momentsO
of inertia of the composite area are:
  4
I X  IY  3  R
 16 
 a) Matrix of inertia relative to the origin.
The product of inertia of the quarter circle is:
R  R2  y2  R R2  y2
 1 2
PXY   xydS     
xydx dy    x y
 y 0 
2  0
dy 
S y 0
 0


R
 R 2 y y 3 R4 R4 R4 where dS  dx dy
     dy   
y 0 
2 2 4 8 8

The total product of inertia of the composite area is:

R4 R4 R4 R4
PXY    
8 8 8 8
a) Matrix of inertia relative to the origin.

Consequently, matrix of inertia relative to the origin is:

 3 R 4 R4   3 1
     
16 8 16 8  0.589 0.125
I    R 4
   R 4

 R 4
3 R 4
   1 3   0.125 0.589
    8 16
 8 16   
b) Matrix of inertia relative to the point (-R,0). Y

We need to transfer the moments of R

inertia from the centre of the circle to point
(-R, 0) X
(-R,0) using the equation: O

IY ´  IY  2a xG S  a 2 S
where a is the distance between axes Y and Y´, and xG is the
horizontal coordinate of the CG in the coordinate system OXY.

The CG of the composite area may be calculated or used tabulated

values. For the quarter circle is:
R

 xdS  x R 2  x 2 dx R
4  R2  x2 
3
2
4R
xG  yG  S
 x 0
 
 2
 dS R 3 R 2
x 0
3
S 4
b) Matrix of inertia relative to the point (-R,0).
The CG for the composite area is:
4R  R2 4R  R2 4R  R2
    
3 4 3 4 3 4 4R
xG   yG  
 R2 9
3
4
The moment of inertia about Y´ axis and parallel to the Y axis through
point (-R,0) is:
3 R 4
4 R 3 R 2
3 R 2
IY ´  IY  2a xG S  a 2 S   2R  R2 
16 9 4 4

45  32 4
 R  3.612 R 4
48
b) Matrix of inertia relative to the point (-R,0).

Transferring also the product of inertia to the Y´ axis through point

(-R,0):
R 4  4 R 3 R 2 5 4
PXY ´  PXY   a yG  b xG  ab  S   R    R
8  9 4 24

The matrix of inertia at point (-R,0) is:

 0.589 0.208
I R
4

 0.208 3.612
 c) Moment of inertia with respect to the axis y + R = x - R.

We have to transfer matrix of inertia to any point on this axis and

then rotate the correspondent angle.

A point on the axis is (2R, 0), therefore we have to transfer IY and PXY
being a = -2R now:
3 R 4
4 R 3 R 2
3 R 2
 2  2 R    2 R 
2
IY ´´  IY  2a xG S  a 2 S  
16 9 4 4
Y

153  64 4
 R  8.68 R 4
48 (2R, 0)
X
O
 c) Moment of inertia with respect to the axis y + R = x - R.

R 4  8 R 3 R 2 19 4
PXY ´´  PXY   a yG  b xG  ab  S   R   R 
8  9 4 24
 0.792 R 4

 0.589 0.792
Matrix of inertia at (-2R,0) is: I  R 4

 0.792 8.68 
and rotating an angle = +45º, X axis is transferred to axis
y + R= x - R . Gyration of axes is equivalent to this change of I :

 0.589 8.68
IV  I X cos   PXY sen 2  IY sen   
2 2
 0.792   R 4

 2 2
 3.84 R 4
Exercise 7

Geometry of Masses
Moments of inertia

Dept. Physics, System Engineering and Sign Theory

University of Alicante Polytechnic School
Given the beam cross sections in figure below, assumed its are
homogeneous, its principal centroidal moments are
I XG1  386.67 cm4, IYG1  41.67 cm4 respectively.
Determine, from the previous values, the moments of inertia with
respect to the X and Y axes of the composite beam joining three
equal beams as shows each figure. See data on next slide.
Y
Y

X= xG1
X=XG1
Data of the beam cross section are:

1cm

386.67 cm4

41.67 cm4

1
5 cm
We calculate it centre of gravity:
Y

1cm
yG  0

xG 
 xi Si 
0.5 12 3 4 3 4
 1.5 cm
386.67 cm4 x
S i 12  4  4

41.67 cm4

G =  1.5, 0  1
5 cm
Adding the moments of inertia of the three beams, the total
moment of inertia with respect to the X axis will be:

 } 
STEINER

I X  I XG1  2  IYG1  d 2 S

 
386.67 cm 4  
X
I X  386.67  2  41.67  2.52 20 
41.67 cm4

I X  720 cm 4
 Adding the moments of inertia of the
Y three beams, the total moment of
inertia with respect to the Y axis
will be:
386.67 cm4
X

 6STEINER
78  } R
STEINE
41.67 cm4 IY   IYG1  dY21 S1 2  I XG1 d 2 S
   
   

IY   41.67  1.52 20  2  386.67 6 2 20 

IY  2300 cm 4
Adding the moments of inertia of the three beams, the total
moment of inertia with respect to the X axis will be:

 } 
STEINER

I X  I XG1  2  IYG1  d 2 S

 
 
386.67 cm4
X
I X  386.67  2  41.67  4.52 20 
41.67 cm4

I X  1280 cm 4
 Adding the moments of inertia of the
three beams, the total moment of
Y
inertia with respect to the Y axis
will be:
386.67 cm4
X
 6STEINER
78  } R
STEINE

41.67 cm4 IY   IYG1  dY21 S1 2  I XG1 d 2 S

   
   

IY   41.67  1.52 20  2  386.67 6 2 20 

IY  2300 cm 4
Now, calculate the moments of inertia with respect to X and Y
axes of these composites beam cross section equal to the previous
exercise.
Y
Remembering data:
1cm

Y
386.67 cm4

41.67 cm4

1 X
5 cm
Exercise 8

Geometry of Masses
Moments of inertia

Dept. Physics, System Engineering and Sign Theory

University of Alicante Polytechnic School
Study the moment of inertia about X´ axis of the composite area,
shown in figure below, in terms of the angle , from  = 0º to
180º.

Y’ Y

b X’

 X
b b
The given area is subdivided into the two sub-areas shown, a
square (1) and a quarter circle (2).

1 2 X
b b
The moments of inertia of the square with respect to parallel axes
to the coordinate system OXY that pass through the CG are:
b b
3
y b4
2 2

I xG   y dS   y b dy  b
2 2
 ,
S y  b
3  b2
12
2

b b
3
2
x 2
b4
I yG   x dS   x b dx  b
2 2

S x  b
3  b2
12
2

where dS  b dy , dS  b dx respectively.
Y

1 2 X
b b
Applying the Steiner's theorem, it is transferred to the coordinate
b
system OXY, being the distance d  :
2
4 2 4
b  b b
I x  I xG  d S   
2
 b 2
 ,
12  2 3
4 2 4
b  b b
I y  I yG  d 2S     b 2

12  2 3
Y

Steiner

1 2
X
The moment of inertia of the quarter circle with respect to the
coordinate system OXY can be derived from the polar moment of
inertia about the pole O:
4 b
 3
b
 r  4
I O   r 2 dS 
2 0
r dr   b
S
2 4 0
8


where dS  r dr.
2
Because both moments of inertia are equals,I O  I x  I y  2 I x  2 I y
therefore:
IO  4
Ix  I y   b
2 16
The product of inertia I xy of the square may be calculated
using the Steiner's theorem where distances to the Y and X axes
are d   b and d  b , respectively.
y x
2 2

b b 2 b4
I xy  I xG yG  dxd y S  0   b 
2 2 4
Y

1 2
X
b b
 The product of inertia of a quarter circle may be calculated by
integrating all the area the differential element dS  dx dy
multiplied by distances to the axes:

b b2  y 2 b  b2  y 2  b
 b 2  y 2
Iy    xy dx dy     x dx ydy   
 y 0 
2 
 ydy 
y 0 x0 y 0
 x 0


2 2 4 b
b y y b4 b4 b4
    
4 8 y 0
4 8 8

Or making direct use of the expressions in the table of moments of

inertia.
The total moments of inertia of the composite area are,
consequently:

b 4  4 16  3 4
Ix  I y   b  b
3 16 48

b4 b4 b4
I xy     
4 8 8

1 2 X
b b
The moment of inertia about the X´ axis rotated an angle  with
respect to the X axis, is:

Ix  I y Ix  I y
I x´   cos  2   I xy sen  2 
2 2

For the area of this exercise, the moment of inertia is:

16  3 4 b 4
I x´  b  sen  2 
48 8
and it is plotted for angles between =0 and =/2.
The principal moments of inertia (maximum and minimum) are
obtained from the following expression:
Ix  I y
2
 I x  I y 16  3 4 1 4 0.65468 b 4
I x0 , y0      I xy 
2
b  b 
2  2  48 8 0.40468 b 4
The angle which makes the moments of inertia maximum  or
minimum  with respect to the X axis is given by the expressions:

b4 b4
I xy  I xy 
tan    84  1    45º tan    84  1    135º
I y  I x0 b I y  I y0 b
 
8 8
Exercise 9

Geometry of Masses
Moments of inertia

Dept. Physics, System Engineering and Sign Theory

University of Alicante Polytechnic School
La figura presenta la sección transversal de un perfil de acero de
patín ancho que se descompone en tres elementos rectangulares
iguales. Obtener las dimensiones c y d de la sección de la viga
maciza rectangular con los mismos momentos de inercia
principales centrales que el perfil.
YG
c

d XG
a G

b
El perfil en doble T compuesto de tres rectángulos iguales de
dimensiones a y b.

Los momentos de inercia se obtienen sumando los de cada rectángulo:

2
ba3
ab  a  b
3

I X1  I X2    ab
12 12  1 422 4 3 YG
Steiner

I XG  I X1  2 I X2 

ba ab  a  b  XG
2
3 3
a G
   ab
12 6 2
1
b 2
El eje YG pasa por los c.d.g. de los tres rectángulos, por lo que:

ab 3 ba 3
I Y1  I Y2 
12 12

YG
I YG  I Y1  2 I Y2 

ab3 ba 3
 
12 6 a G
XG

1
b 2
Los momentos de inercia de la viga maciza respecto a los
mismos ejes principales centrales son:
YG
I X VIGA 
cd 3 c
12

d XG
dca
3
G .
I YVIGA 
12

b
Igualando las expresiones de los momentos de ambas secciones

I YG : ab 3 ba 3 dc 3 ab 3
 2ba 3
   c 3
12 12 12 d

 
2
I XG ba
:  ab3
a  b
3
d 3
c
 ab  
12 6 2 12

c
 ab 3
 2ba 3  38

d
ba 3
 2ab  6 a  b  ab
3 2
 38

ba 3
 2ab  6 a  b  ab
3 2
 18
 ab 3
 2ba 
3 18
Y su cociente es
c

 ab
 2ba 
3 3 12

d 
ba  2ab  6 a  b  ab
3 3 2 12


Para manejar expresiones más simples, se pueden usar nuevas

variables l y m definidas como:


l  ab  2ba
3

3 18
, 
m  ba  2ab  6 a  b  ab
3 3 2
 18

de forma que resulten: .

l3 m3 c l4
c , d , y  4
m l d m
 Un cálculo para un caso concreto es, por ejemplo, cuando las
dimensiones del patín de acero son a = 20cm y b = 3cm.

En este caso, las dimensiones de la sección rectangular equivalente

(mismos momentos principales centrales) son:

l   ab  2ba   
18
3 18
m  ba  2ab  6  a  b  ab
2
3
 3.85268 cm ,
1/ 2 3 3
 4.6418 cm1/ 2

l3 m3
c   12.32 cm, y d  25.96 cm.
m l
Exercise 10

Geometry of Masses
Moments of inertia

Dept. Physics, System Engineering and Sign Theory

University of Alicante Polytechnic School
Given the section shown in figure, calculate:
a) Matrix of inertia about point A.
b) Matrix of inertia about the centre of gravity of the section.
c) Determine the corresponding centroidal maximum and
minimum moments of inertia and the inclination of the
centroidal principal axes of inertia.
a) Matrix of inertia about point A.

We divided the area into two sub-areas: a rectangular and a

semicircle (hole).
The horizontal axis X is coincident with X .
A G
a) Matrix of inercia about point A.
Para el rectángulo es I X  I X  1 bh3  1 15 103 1.25 10
 3
cm 4
A1 G
12 12
Para el semicírculo es I  R 4
I 
X A2 XG  245.4 cm 4
8
Y para la figura completa es
I X A  I X A1  I X A 2  1250  245.4  1004.6 cm 4
a) Matrix of inertia about point A.
To calculate the moment with respect to the YA axis, we calculate
the moment with respect to Y axis, then we transfer them to
G
the Y axis using the Steiner's theorem and finally do the
A
subtraction.
 a) Matrix of inertia about point A.
The moment of inertia of the rectangle is:
1 3 1 3
IYA1  IYG  d S  b h  d bh  15 10
2 2
 2.52 150
 
3750 cm 4
12 12
The moment of inertia of the semicircle is:
2
 4 R  R2
IYA 2 
 IYG  d S  0.110 R  R  
2 4
 394 cm 4
 3 2
The total moment of inertia about YA axis is:

IYA  IYA1  IYA 2  3750  394  3356 cm 4

a) Matrix of inertia about point A.
The product of inertia of the section with respect to the centroidal
axes is zero (because the symmetry of the section). Transferring
them about point A using Steiner's theorem does not change this
result.
PXYA1  PXYA 2  PX GYG  d X dY S  0  0 dY S 0

Therefore, matrix of inertia about point A will be:

 1004.6 0 
IA    cm 4

 0 3356 
 b) Matrix of inertia about the centre of gravity of the section.
The origin of the coordinate system is located at left bottom
vertex inferior of the rectangular area. The y coordinate of the
CG is y  5 cm because of the axis of symmetry.
G

The x coordinate of the composite area is:

xG  

x1S1  x2 S 2 7.5 150   15 4 5/ 3   52/ 2 1125  505.72
  5.59 cm
S1  S 2 150   5 / 2
2
150 39.27
b) Matrix of inertia about the centre of gravity of the section.

We can transfer the moments of inertia about G to point A using

the Steiner's theorem.
The X axis is the same, so: I X G  I X A  1004.6 cm 4
The moment of inertia about Y axis will be:

IYG  IYA  d S 3356  10 5.59  110.73 1202.5 cm 4

2 2
b) Matrix of inertia about the centre of gravity of the section.
The product of inertia is the same about points A and G due to
symmetry of the area. Therefore, it is also zero about the CG.

Matrix of inertia about point G is:

 1004.6 0 
IG    cm 4

 0 1202.5
c) Determine the corresponding centroidal maximum and minimum
moments of inertia and the inclination of the centroidal principal
axes of inertia.

The principal moments of inertia about G may be obtained by

solving the second degree equation, so we have:
2
I X  IY  I X  IY
I X 0 ,Y0      PXY 
2

2  2 

2
1004.6  1202.5  1004.6  1202.5
    0 
2  2 

1004.6  1202.5 1004.6  1202.5 1004.6 cm 4  IY0 (mín)

  
2 2 1202.5 cm 4  I X 0 (máx)
c) Determine the corresponding centroidal maximum and
minimum moments of inertia and the inclination of the centroidal
principal axes of inertia.
It is clear that the centroidal principal axes of inertia are the X G
and YG axes, but we can calculate by equation:
PXY
tg  0    0º
IY  I X
0

If we compute the centroidal principal moments of inertia, the

orientation of X axis is vertical, andY axis is horizontal.
0 0