ENGINEERING MECHANICS: STATICS

(BDA 10203)
CHAPTER 2:
STATICS OF PARTICLES
 EQUILIBRIUM OF A PARTICLE IN 3-D
Today’s Objectives:
Students will be able to :
a) Draw a free body diagram (FBD), and,
b) Apply equations of equilibrium to solve
a 3-D problem.

Learning Topics:
• Application / relevance
• Equations of equilibrium

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APPLICATIONS

Whenever cables are used

for hoisting loads, they
must be selected so that
they do not fail when they
are placed at their points
of attachment.

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EQUATIONS OF 3-D EQUILIBRIUM (Section 3.4)

Since particle A is in equilibrium, the net

force at A is zero.
So FB + FD + FC - W = 0
or  F = 0

In general, for a particle in equilibrium,  F = 0 or

Fx i + Fy j + Fz k = 0 i + 0 j + 0 k (A vector
equation)
Or, written in a scalar form,
Fx = 0,  Fy = 0 and  Fz = 0
These are three scalar equations of equilibrium (EofE).
They can be used to solve for up to three unknowns.
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 EXAMPLE

Given: Crate mass 100 kg. and

geometry is as shown.
Find: Forces in the cords AC,
AD and the stretch of
the spring.
Plan:

1. Draw a FBD for Point A.

2. Apply EofE at Point A to solve for
the unknowns (FB, FC & FD).
3. Evaluate s = FB/k.
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 EXAMPLE (continued)

A FBD at A should look like the one

to the left. Note the assumed
directions for the three forces.

From the FBD, one can write

FB = FB i
FC = FC cos 1200 i + FC cos 1350 j + FC cos 600 k
= -0.5FC i – 0.707 FC j + 0.5FC k
FD = -0.333FD i + 0.667 FD j + 0.667FD k
W = -981 k N
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 EXAMPLE (continued)

Equilibrium requires
F = 0; FB + FC + FD + W = 0
FB i + -0.5FC i – 0.707 FC j + 0.5FC k +
-0.333FD i + 0.667 FD j + 0.667FD k - 981 k = 0
The scalar EofE are:
+   Fx = FB – 0.5FC -0.333FD = 0 (1)
+  Fy = -0.707FC – 0.667FD = 0 (2)
+ z  Fz = 0.5FC + 0.667FD - 981 = 0 (3)

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 EXAMPLE (continued)

Solving these three simultaneous equations for the

three unknowns yields:
FB = 693.7 N
FC = 813 N
FD = 862 N

The stretch of the spring is therefore

F = ks; (or FB = ks) 693.7 = 1500 s
s = 0.462 m

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IN CLASS TUTORIAL (GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING)

Given: Load 500N and

geometry is as shown.
Find: Forces in the cable AC,
BC and CD.
Plan:

1. Draw a FBD for Point C.

2. Apply EofE at Point C to solve for
the unknowns (FAC, FBC & FCD).

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 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING (continued)

FCA = FCA UAC = FCA (rCA/rCA)

rCA = {( XA – XC ) i + ( YA – YC ) j + ( ZA – ZC ) k }m
= {(0.2 – 0 ) i + ( 0 – 0.6) j + ( 0 – 0) k }m
= {0.2i - 0.6j + 0k }m
1
 2 2
rCA  (0.2)  (0.6)  (0) 
2 2
 0.63m
FCA = FCA UCA = FCA (rCA/rCA)
= FCA {0.32i – 0.95j + 0k} 10
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING (continued)
rCB = {( XB – XC ) i + ( YB – YC ) j + ( ZB – ZC ) k }m
= {(0 – 0.2 ) i + ( 0 – 0.6) j + ( 0 – 0) k }m
= {-0.2i - 0.6j + 0k }m
1
 2 2 2 2
rCB  (0.2)  (0.6)  (0)  0.63m 
FCB = FCB UCB = FCB (rCB/rCB)
= FCB {-0.32i – 0.95j + 0k}
rCD = {( XD – XC ) i + ( YD – YC ) j + ( ZD – ZC ) k }m
= {(0 – 0) i + ( 1.2 – 0.6) j + ( 0.8 – 0) k }m
= {0i + 0.6j + 0.8k }m
1

rCD  (0) 2  (0.6) 2  (0.8) 
2 2
 1m
FCD = FCD UCD = FCD (rCD/rCD)
= FCD {0i + 0.6j + 0.8k}
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 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING (continued)

ΣFX = 0.32FCA – 0.32FCB = 0

ΣFy = -0.95FCA – 0.95FCB + 0.6FCD = 0

ΣFz = 0.8FCD - W = 0

After solving the equations above, the answers are as follow :

FCD = 625 N
FCB = 197.4 N
FCA = 197.4 N

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 HOMEWORK TUTORIAL
If the mass of the flower pot is 50 kg, determine the tension
developed in each wire for equilibrium. Set x = 1.5 m, and z = 2 m

Ans: FAB = 1211.82 N

FAC = 606 N
FAD = 750 N 13
 HOMEWORK TUTORIAL (continued)
Determine the tension in the cables in order to support the 100 kg crate
in the equilibrium position shown.

Ans: FAD = 2943 N

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FAB = FAC = 1962 N
 HOMEWORK TUTORIAL (continued)
Q3 (3-55):
The ends of the three cables are attached to a ring at A and to the
edge of the uniform plate of mass M. Determine the tension in each
of the cables for equilibrium.
Given:
M = 150kg,
gravity = 9.81m/s²

Ans: FB = 858 N
FC = 0 N
FB = 858 N 15
 HOMEWORK TUTORIAL (continued)
Q4 (2-63):
Determine the force in each cable needed to support the platform of
weight W.
Units Used:
kN := 1000 N
Given:
W = 17500 N, d = 0.6 m

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