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Mechanics 1
EE1MEC
Lecture 4
FORCE SYSTEMS
Dr. Khalid Anwar
Kanwar@muscatuniversity.edu.om
Room 606
Tel: 2464-5(455)
Couple

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 Couple
The moment produced by two equal, opposite, and noncollinear forces is called a couple.
Consider the action of two equal and opposite forces F and -F a distance d apart.
These two forces cannot be combined into a single force because their sum in every
direction is zero. Their only effect is to produce a tendency of rotation.
The combined moment of the two forces about an axis normal to their
plane and passing through any point such as O in their plane is the couple
M. This couple has a magnitude

M = F(a + d) - Fa M=Fd

Its direction is counter-clockwise when viewed from above for the case
illustrated.

Equivalent Couples

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IMPORTANT POINTS
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 Example 1
Two couples act on the beam with the geometry shown. Find The magnitude of F. so that the
resultant couple moment is 1.5 kN.m clockwise.

Step#1)Add the two couples to find the resultant couple.

Step#2)Equate the net moment to 1.5 kN.m clockwise to find F.

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Solution 1

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 Example 2
Two couples act on the beam with the geometry shown.
Find the resultant couple

Step#1)Resolve the forces in x and y-directions so they

can be treated as couples.

Step#2)Add the two couples to find the resultant couple.

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 Solution 2
The x and y components of the upper-left 30 kNforce are:

(4/5)(30 kN) = 24 kN vertically up

(3/5)(30 kN) = 18 kN to the left

Do both of these components form couples with their

matching components of the other 30-kN force?

No! Only the 24 kNcomponents create a couple. Why?

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 Solution 2
Now resolve the lower 15 kN force:

(15 kN) (sin 30°), acting up

(15 kN) (cos 30°), acting to the left

Do both of these components create a couple with

components of the other 15 kNforce?

The net moment is equal to:

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Resultant Forces
The resultant of a system of forces is the simplest force combination which can
replace the original forces without altering the external effect on the rigid body to
which the forces are applied.

Equilibrium of a body is the condition in which the resultant of all forces acting on the
body is zero. This condition is studied in statics.

When the resultant of all forces on a body is not zero, the acceleration of the body

is obtained by equating the force resultant to the product of the mass and
acceleration of the body.

This condition is studied in dynamics. Thus, the determination of resultants is basic to

both statics and dynamics.

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Resultant Forces
The most common type of force system occurs when the forces all act in a single
plane, say, the x-y plane, as illustrated by the system of three forces F1, F2, and F3.
We obtain the magnitude and direction of the resultant force R by forming the force
polygon shown in figure, where the forces are added head-to-tail in any sequence.

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Principle of Moments
This process is summarized in equation form by

The first two reduce a given system of forces to a force– couple system at an arbitrarily chosen
but convenient point O. The last equation specifies the distance d from point O to the line of action
of R, and states that the moment of the resultant force about any point O equals the sum of the
moments of the original forces of the system about the same point. This extends Varignon’s
theorem to the case of non-concurrent force systems; we call this extension the principle
of moment

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SIMPLIFICATION OF FORCE AND
COUPLE SYSTEMS

What are the resultant effects on the person’s hand when the force is applied in these
four different ways?
Why is understanding these differences important when designing various load-bearing
structures?

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MOVING A FORCE OFF OF ITS LINE OF ACTION

When a number of forces and couple moments are acting on a body, it

is easier to understand their overall effect on the body if they are
combined into a single force and couple moment having the same
external effect.

The two, force and couple systems are called equivalent systems
since they have the same external effect on the body.

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 MOVING A FORCE ON ITS LINE OF ACTION

Moving a force from A to B, when both points are on the vector’s line of action, does not change the external effect.
Hence, a force vector is called a sliding vector. (But the internal effect of the force on the body does depend on
where the force is applied).

When a force is moved, but not along its line of action, there is a change in its external effect!
Essentially, moving a force from point A to B(as shown above) requires creating an additional couple moment. So
moving a force means you have to “add” a new couple.

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EXAMPLE 3

A 2-D force system with geometry as

shown. Find the equivalent resultant force
and couple moment acting at A and then
the equivalent single force location
measured from A.

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 Solution 3

The equivalent single force FR can be located at a distance d measured from A.

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 EXAMPLE 4

A 2-D force and couple system as shown. Find the equivalent resultant force
and couple moment acting at A.

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Solution 4

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 Sample problem
Determine the resultant of the four forces and
one couple which act on the plate shown.

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 Example 5
A 100 N force is applied to the hammer. Find the moment of the force at A.

Step#1)Resolve the 100 N force along the handle’s x and y axes.

Step#2)Determine MAusing a scalar analysis.

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Example 6

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Example 7

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Example 8

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