Eighth Edition

VECTOR MECHANICS FOR ENGINEERS:

5
CHAPTER

STATICS
Ferdinand P. Beer
E. Russell Johnston, Jr. Distributed Forces:
Centroids and Centers
Lecture Notes: of Gravity
J. Walt Oler
Texas Tech University

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Contents
Introduction Theorems of Pappus-Guldinus
Center of Gravity of a 2D Body Sample Problem 5.7
Centroids and First Moments of Areas Distributed Loads on Beams
and Lines Sample Problem 5.9
Centroids of Common Shapes of Areas Center of Gravity of a 3D Body:
Centroids of Common Shapes of Lines Centroid of a Volume
Composite Plates and Areas Centroids of Common 3D Shapes

Sample Problem 5.1 Composite 3D Bodies

Determination of Centroids by Sample Problem 5.12

Integration
Sample Problem 5.4

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Introduction
• The earth exerts a gravitational force on each of the particles
forming a body. These forces can be replace by a single
equivalent force equal to the weight of the body and applied
at the center of gravity for the body.

• The centroid of an area is analogous to the center of

gravity of a body. The concept of the first moment of an
area is used to locate the centroid.

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Center of Gravity of a 2D Body

• Center of gravity of a plate • Center of gravity of a wire

 M y x W   xW
  x dW
 M y yW   yW
  y dW

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Centroids and First Moments of Areas and Lines
• Centroid of an area • Centroid of a line

x W   x dW x W   x dW
x At    x t dA x  La    x  a dL
x A   x dA  Q y x L   x dL
 first moment with respect to y yL   y dL
yA   y dA  Qx
 first moment with respect to x

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
First Moments of Areas and Lines
• An area is symmetric with respect to an axis BB’
if for every point P there exists a point P’ such
that PP’ is perpendicular to BB’ and is divided
into two equal parts by BB’.
• The first moment of an area with respect to a
line of symmetry is zero.
• If an area possesses a line of symmetry, its
centroid lies on that axis
• If an area possesses two lines of symmetry, its
centroid lies at their intersection.
• An area is symmetric with respect to a center O
if for every element dA at (x,y) there exists an
area dA’ of equal area at (-x,-y).
• The centroid of the area coincides with the
center of symmetry.
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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Centroids of Common Shapes of Areas

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Centroids of Common Shapes of Lines

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Composite Plates and Areas
• Composite plates
X W   x W
Y W   y W

• Composite area
X  A  xA
Y  A   yA

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem 5.1
SOLUTION:
• Divide the area into a triangle, rectangle,
and semicircle with a circular cutout.
• Calculate the first moments of each area
with respect to the axes.
• Find the total area and first moments of
the triangle, rectangle, and semicircle.
Subtract the area and first moment of the
For the plane area shown, determine circular cutout.
the first moments with respect to the • Compute the coordinates of the area
x and y axes and the location of the centroid by dividing the first moments by
centroid. the total area.

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem 5.1

• Find the total area and first moments of the Qx  506.2  103 mm 3
triangle, rectangle, and semicircle. Subtract the
Q y  757.7 103 mm 3
area and first moment of the circular cutout.
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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem 5.1
• Compute the coordinates of the area
centroid by dividing the first moments by
the total area.

X  x A  757.7 103 mm 3

 A 13.828103 mm 2
X  54.8 mm

Y   y A  506.2 103 mm 3

 A 13.828103 mm 2
Y  36.6 mm

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Distributed Loads on Beams

L • A distributed load is represented by plotting the load

W   wdx   dA  A per unit length, w (N/m) . The total load is equal to
0
the area under the load curve.

OPW   xdW • A distributed load can be replace by a concentrated

L load with a magnitude equal to the area under the
OP A   xdA  x A load curve and a line of action passing through the
0 area centroid.

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem 5.9
SOLUTION:
• The magnitude of the concentrated load
is equal to the total load or the area under
the curve.
• The line of action of the concentrated
load passes through the centroid of the
area under the curve.
• Determine the support reactions by
A beam supports a distributed load as summing moments about the beam
shown. Determine the equivalent ends.
concentrated load and the reactions at
the supports.

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem 5.9
SOLUTION:
• The magnitude of the concentrated load is equal to
the total load or the area under the curve.
F  18.0 kN

• The line of action of the concentrated load passes

through the centroid of the area under the curve.
63 kN  m
X  X  3.5 m
18 kN

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Edition
Eighth
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem 5.9
• Determine the support reactions by summing
moments about the beam ends.

 M A  0 : B y 6 m  18 kN 3.5 m  0
B y  10.5 kN

 M B  0 :  Ay 6 m  18 kN 6 m  3.5 m  0

Ay  7.5 kN

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