CE 201C Mechanics of Materials I

Lecture Note – 05: Properties of Plane Areas

Consider a plane area of an arbitrary shape and denote this area by 𝐴. (Refer to Fig. 1). Let x-
y be a, rectangular Cartesian co-ordinate system. An infinitesimal element at a point P (x,y) has
dimensions dx and dy as shown. Its area is dA = dx. dy. The area of this plane figure is given
by:

A = ∫ dA (1)

C(xc,yc)

Note that the area is additive, i.e. if a figure consists of several parts the area of the whole figure
is equal to the sum of the areas of the parts.
The first moment of area about the x axis (𝑄𝑥 ) and about the y axis (𝑄𝑦 ) are defined by:

𝑄𝑥 = ∫ 𝑦d𝐴 ; 𝑄𝑦 = ∫ 𝑥d𝐴 (2)

𝐴 𝐴

Once again note that the first moment of area also is additive; i.e. the first moment of a plane
area consisting of several parts is equal to the sum of the first moments of the parts. The
centroid C (xc, yc) of this area is defined by:
𝑄𝑥 ⁄ 𝑄𝑦 (3)
𝐴𝑦𝑐 = 𝑄𝑥 ; 𝐴𝑥𝑐 = 𝑄𝑦 . which means: 𝑦𝑐 = ⁄ .
𝐴 ; 𝑥𝑐 = 𝐴
Co-ordinate axes passing through the centroid are called centroidal axes. (𝑥,
̅ 𝑦̅ in Fig. 1). This
means that the co-ordinates of the centroid with respect to the centroidal axes (𝑥̅𝑐 , 𝑦̅𝑐 ) are both
zero. Then from (3) it is evident that 𝑄𝑥 = 𝑄𝑦 = 0. Therefore, we conclude that the first
moment of area about a centroidal axis must be zero. Conversely, if the first moment of area
about an axis is zero then that axis must pass through the centroid. The second moment of area
about the x axis (Ix) and about the y axis (Iy) are defined by:

I𝑥 = ∫ 𝑦 2 d𝐴 ; I𝑦 = ∫ 𝑥 2 d𝐴. (4)
𝐴 𝐴

Yet again note that the second moment of area also is additive. The second moment of the
whole area is equal to the sum of the second moments of area of its parts. The centroidal axes

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CE 201C Mechanics of Materials I

(x, y) are shifted from the (x-y) axes by 𝑥̅𝑐 , 𝑦̅𝑐 .This co-ordinate transformation is given by: 𝑥 =
̅ + 𝑥𝑐 and 𝑦 = 𝑦,
𝑥, ̅ + 𝑦𝑐 . Then we have:
2
I𝑥 = ∫(𝑦̅ + 𝑦𝑐 ) d𝐴 = ∫ 𝑦̅ 2 d𝐴 + 2𝑦𝑐 ∫ 𝑦̅d𝐴 + 𝑦𝑐2 ∫ d𝐴 = I𝑥̅ + 0 + 𝐴𝑦𝑐2
(5)
𝐴 𝐴 𝐴 𝐴
= I𝑥̅ + 𝐴𝑦𝑐2

A similar expression can be obtained for Iy too. This result is called the parallel axis theorem.
It is very useful when calculating second moments of areas.

I𝑦 = ∫(𝑥̅ + 𝑥𝑐 )2 d𝐴 = ∫ 𝑥̅ 2 d𝐴 + 2𝑥𝑐 ∫ 𝑥̅ d𝐴 + 𝑥𝑐2 ∫ d𝐴 = I𝑦̅ + 0 + 𝐴𝑥𝑐2

𝐴 𝐴 𝐴 𝐴
(6)
= I𝑦̅ + 𝐴𝑥𝑐2

Circle Ellipse
𝐴 = 𝜋𝑎𝑏
𝐴 = 𝜋𝑅 2
𝜋𝑎𝑏 3
𝜋𝑅 4
Ixc = 4
Ixc = Iyc = 4
𝜋𝑏𝑎3
Iyc = 4

Semicircle Parabola 4
𝐴= 𝑏ℎ
3
𝜋𝑅 2
𝐴= 2
2 y= 5ℎ
4𝑅
y= Ixc = 0.914𝑏ℎ3
3𝜋

𝜋𝑅 4 8 2 Ixc = Iyc𝜋𝑅
=4 4
Ixc = (1 − ( ) ),𝜋𝑅4Iyc = Iyc = 15 ℎ𝑏 3
8 3𝜋 8
4

Rectangle Circular Sector

𝐴 = 𝛼𝑅 2
𝐴 = 𝑏ℎ
2 𝑅 sin 𝛼
𝑏ℎ3
x= 3 𝛼
Ixc = 12
𝑅4 1
ℎ𝑏 3
Ixc = (𝛼 − 2 sin 2𝛼)
4
Iyc = 12
𝑅4 1
Iyc = (𝛼 + 2 sin 2𝛼)
4

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CE 201C Mechanics of Materials I

Triangle Thin-Wall Hollow Cylinder

𝑏ℎ
𝐴= 2
𝐴 = 2𝜋𝑅𝑡
ℎ 𝑏
y = 3, x = 3 Ixc = Iyc = 𝜋𝑅 3 𝑡
𝑏ℎ3
Ixc = 36

𝑏ℎ3
Iyc = 36

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