Chapter 10:

Moments of Inertia
Chapter Objectives

 To develop a method for determining the moment of

inertia for an area.
 To introduce the product of inertia and show how to
determine the maximum and minimum moments of inertia
for an area.
 To discuss the mass moment of inertia.
Chapter Outline

 Definitions of Moments of Inertia for Areas

 Parallel-Axis Theorem for an Area
 Radius of Gyration of an Area
 Moments of Inertia for an Area by Integration
 Moments of Inertia for Composite Areas
 Product of Inertia for an Area
Chapter Outline

 Moments of Inertia for an Area about Inclined Axes

 Mohr’s Circle for Moments of Inertia
 Mass Moment of Inertia
10.1 Moments of Inertia
Definition of Moments of Inertia for Areas
 Centroid for an area is determined by the first
moment of an area about an axis
 Second moment of an area is referred as the moment
of inertia
 Moment of inertia of an area originates whenever
one relates the normal stress σ or force per unit area,
acting on the transverse cross-section of an elastic
beam, to applied external moment M, that causes
bending of the beam
10.1 Moments of Inertia
Definition of Moments of Inertia for Areas
 Stress within the beam varies linearly with the
distance from an axis passing through the centroid C
of the beam’s cross-sectional area
σ = kz
 For magnitude of the force acting
on the area element dA
dF = σ dA = kz dA
10.1 Moments of Inertia

Definition of Moments of Inertia for Areas

 Since this force is located a distance z from the y axis,
the moment of dF about the y axis
dM = dF z= kz2 dA
 Resulting moment of the entire stress distribution =
applied moment M
M   z dA
2

 Integral represent the moment of inertia of area

about the y axis
10.1 Moments of Inertia
Moment of Inertia
 Consider area A lying in the x-y plane
 Be definition, moments of inertia of the differential
plane area dA about the x and y axes
dI x  y 2dA dI y  x 2dA
 For entire area, moments of
inertia are given by
I x   y 2dA
A
I y   x 2dA
A
10.1 Moments of Inertia
Moment of Inertia
 Formulate the second moment of dA about the
pole O or z axis
 This is known as the polar axis
dJO  r dA 2
where r is perpendicular from the pole (z axis) to
the element dA
 Polar moment of inertia for entire area,
J O   r dA  I x  I y
2
A
10.1 Moments of Inertia

Moment of Inertia
 Relationship between JO, Ix and Iy is possible since
r2 = x2 + y2
 JO, Ix and Iy will always be positive since they involve
the product of the distance squared and area
 Units of inertia involve length raised to the fourth
power eg m4, mm4
10.2 Parallel Axis Theorem for an
Area

 For moment of inertia of an area known about an axis

passing through its centroid, determine the moment
of inertia of area about a corresponding parallel axis
using the parallel axis theorem
 Consider moment of inertia
of the shaded area
 A differential element dA is
located at an arbitrary distance
y’ from the centroidal x’ axis
10.2 Parallel Axis Theorem for an
Area

 The fixed distance between the parallel x and x’ axes is defined

as dy
 For moment of inertia of dA about x axis
dI x   y ' d y  dA
2

 For entire area

I x    y ' d y  dA
2
A

  y '2 dA  2d y  y ' dA  d y2  dA
A A A

 First integral represent the moment of inertia of the area

about the centroidal axis
10.2 Parallel Axis Theorem for an
Area
 Second integral = 0 since x’ passes through the area’s centroid
C
 
y ' dA  y dA  0; y  0

 Third integral represents the total area A

I x  I x  Ad y2
 Similarly
I y  I y  Ad x2
 For polar moment of inertia about an axis perpendicular to
the x-y plane and passing through pole O (z axis)

J O  J C  Ad 2
10.2 Parallel Axis Theorem for an
Area

 Moment of inertia of an area about an axis =

moment of inertia about a parallel axis passing
through the area’s centroid plus the product of the
area and the square of the perpendicular distance
between the axes
10.3 Radius of Gyration of an Area

 Radius of gyration of a planar area has units of length

and is a quantity used in the design of columns in
structural mechanics
 Provided moments of inertia are known
 For radii of gyration
I Iy JO
kx  x ky  kz 
A A A
 Similar to finding moment of inertia of a differential
area about an axis
I x  k x2 A dI x  y 2dA
10.4 Moments of Inertia for an Area
by Integration

 When the boundaries for a planar area are expressed

by mathematical functions, moments of inertia for the
area can be determined by the previous method
 If the element chosen for integration has a differential
size in two directions, a double integration must be
performed to evaluate the moment of inertia
 Try to choose an element having a differential size or
thickness in only one direction for easy integration
10.4 Moments of Inertia for an Area
by Integration

Procedure for Analysis

 If a single integration is performed to determine the
moment of inertia of an area bout an axis, it is
necessary to specify differential element dA
 This element will be rectangular with a finite length
and differential width
 Element is located so that it intersects the boundary
of the area at arbitrary point (x, y)
 2 ways to orientate the element with respect to the
axis about which the axis of moment of inertia is
determined
10.4 Moments of Inertia for an Area
by Integration

Procedure for Analysis

Case 1
 Length of element orientated parallel to the axis
 Occurs when the rectangular element is used to
determine Iy for the area
 Direct application made since the element has
infinitesimal thickness dx and
therefore all parts of element
lie at the same moment
arm distance x from the y axis
10.4 Moments of Inertia for an Area
by Integration

Procedure for Analysis

Case 2
 Length of element orientated perpendicular to the
axis
 All parts of the element will not lie at the same
moment arm distance from the axis
 For Ix of area, first calculate moment of inertia of
element about a horizontal
axis passing through the
element’s centroid and x axis
using the parallel axis theorem
10.4 Moments of Inertia for an Area
by Integration

Example 10.1
Determine the moment of
inertia for the rectangular area
with respect to (a) the centroidal
x’ axis, (b) the axis xb passing
through the base of the
rectangular, and (c) the pole or
z’ axis perpendicular to the x’-y’
plane and passing through the
centroid C.
10.4 Moments of Inertia for an Area
by Integration

Solution
Part (a)
 Differential element chosen, distance y’ from x’ axis
 Since dA = b dy’

h/2
I x   y ' dA  
2 2
y ' dy
A h / 2

1 3
 bh
12
10.4 Moments of Inertia for an Area
by Integration

Solution
Part (b)
 Moment of inertia about an axis passing through the
base of the rectangle obtained by applying parallel
axis theorem
I xb  I x  Ad 2

2
1 3 h 1 3
 bh  bh   bh
12 2 3
10.4 Moments of Inertia for an Area
by Integration

Solution
Part (c)
 For polar moment of inertia about point C

1 3
I y '  hb
12
JC  I x  I y'
1
 bh(h 2  b 2 )
12
10.4 Moments of Inertia for an Area
by Integration

Example 10.2
Determine the moment of
inertia of the shaded area
about the x axis
10.4 Moments of Inertia for an Area
by Integration
Solution
 A differential element of area that is parallel to the x
axis is chosen for integration
 Since element has thickness dy and intersects the
curve at arbitrary point (x, y), the area
dA = (100 – x)dy
 All parts of the element lie at the same distance y
from the x axis
10.4 Moments of Inertia for an Area
by Integration

Solution
I x   y 2 dA
A

  y 2 (100  x)dy
A

200  y 2

  y 100 
2
dy
0
 400 
200 1 200 4
 100 y dy 
2
 y dy
0 400 0
 107(106 )mm4
10.4 Moments of Inertia for an Area
by Integration

Solution
 A differential element parallel to
the y axis is chosen for integration
 Intersects the curve at arbitrary
point (x, y)
 All parts of the element do not lie
at the same distance from the x
axis
10.4 Moments of Inertia for an Area
by Integration

Solution
 Parallel axis theorem used to determine moment of
inertia of the element
 For moment of inertia about its centroidal axis,
1 3
I x  bh
12
 For the differential element shown
b  bx h  y
 Thus,
1
dI x  dxy3
12
10.4 Moments of Inertia for an Area
by Integration

Solution
 For centroid of the element from the x axis
~
y  y/2
 Moment of inertia of the element
2
~ 1  y 1 3
dI x  dI x  dAy  dxy  ydx   y dx
2 3

 Integrating
12 2 3

1 3
400 x  dx
100 1
I x   dI x   y dx  
3/ 2
A3 0 3

 
 107 106 mm4
10.4 Moments of Inertia for an Area
by Integration

Example 10.3
Determine the moment of inertia with respect
to the x axis of the circular area.
10.4 Moments of Inertia
for an Area by Integration

Solution
Case 1
 Since dA = 2x dy

I x   y 2 dA
A

  y 2 (2 x)dy
A
a
 
  y 2 2 a 2  y 2 dy
a

a 4

4
10.4 Moments of Inertia for an Area
by Integration

Solution
Case 2
 Centroid for the element lies on
the x axis
 Noting
dy = 0
 For a rectangle,

1 3
I x '  bh
12
10.4 Moments of Inertia for an Area
by Integration

Solution dI x  dx2 y 
1 3

12
2 3
 y dx
3
Integrating with respect to x
a
Ix   
2 2
a 3
a  x2 
3/ 2
dx

a 4

4
10.4 Moments of Inertia for an Area
by Integration

Example 10.4
Determine the moment of inertia of the
shaded area about the x axis.
10.4 Moments of Inertia for an Area
by Integration
Solution
Case 1
 Differential element parallel to x axis chosen
 Intersects the curve at (x2,y) and (x1, y)
 Area, dA = (x1 – x2)dy
 All elements lie at the same distance y from the x
axis

I x   y dA   y x1  x2 dy   y 2
A
2
1

0
2
1

0
 
y  y dy
2 7/2 1 4 1
I x  y  y  0.0357m 4
7 4 0
10.5 Moments of Inertia for
Composite Areas

 A composite area consist of a series of connected

simpler parts or shapes such as semicircles, rectangles
and triangles
 Provided the moment of inertia of each of these
parts is known or can be determined about a
common axis, moment of inertia of the composite
area = algebraic sum of the moments of inertia of all
its parts
10.5 Moments of Inertia for
Composite Areas

Procedure for Analysis

Composite Parts
 Using a sketch, divide the area into its composite
parts and indicate the perpendicular distance from the
centroid of each part to the reference axis

Parallel Axis Theorem

 Moment of inertia of each part is determined about
its centroidal axis, which is parallel to the reference
axis
10.5 Moments of Inertia for
Composite Areas

Procedure for Analysis

Parallel Axis Theorem
 If the centroidal axis does not coincide with the
reference axis, the parallel axis theorem is used to
determine the moment of inertia of the part about
the reference axis

Summation
 Moment of inertia of the entire area about the
reference axis is determined by summing the results
of its composite parts
10.5 Moments of Inertia for
Composite Areas

Procedure for Analysis

Summation
 If the composite part has a hole, its moment of
inertia is found by subtracting the moment of inertia
of the hole from the moment of inertia of the entire
part including the hole
10.5 Moments of Inertia for
Composite Areas

Example 10.5
Compute the moment of
inertia of the composite
area about the x axis.
 10.5 Moments of Inertia for
Composite Areas

Solution
Composite Parts
 Composite area obtained by subtracting
the circle form the rectangle
 Centroid of each area is located in the
figure
10.5 Moments of Inertia for
Composite Areas

Solution
Parallel Axis Theorem
 Circle
I x  I x '  Ad y2

4
4 2 2
 
  25   25 75  11.4 106 mm4
1

 Rectangle
I x  I x '  Ad y2


1
12
 
1001503  100150752  112.5 106 mm4
10.5 Moments of Inertia for
Composite Areas

Solution
Summation
 For moment of inertia for the composite area,

   
I x  11.4 106  112.5 106
 
 101 106 mm4
10.5 Moments of Inertia for
Composite Areas

Example 10.6
Determine the moments
of inertia of the beam’s
cross-sectional area
about the x and y
centroidal axes.
10.5 Moments of Inertia for
Composite Areas

Solution
Composite Parts
 Considered as 3 composite areas A,
B, and D
 Centroid of each area is located in
the figure
10.5 Moments of Inertia for
Composite Areas

Solution
Parallel Axis Theorem
 Rectangle A

I x  I x '  Ad y2


1
12
 
1003003  1003002002  1.425 109 mm4
I y  I y '  Ad x2


1
12
 
3001003  1003002502  1.90 109 mm4
10.5 Moments of Inertia for
Composite Areas

Solution
Parallel Axis Theorem
 Rectangle B

I x  I x '  Ad y2
1
12
3
 
 600 100   0.05 109 mm4

I y  I y '  Ad x2


1
12
 
1006003  1.80 109 mm4
10.5 Moments of Inertia for
Composite Areas

Solution
Parallel Axis Theorem
 Rectangle D

I x  I x '  Ad y2

12
3 2
 
 100300   100300200  1.425 109 mm4
1

I y  I y '  Ad x2


1
12
 
3001003  1003002502  1.90 109 mm4
10.5 Moments of Inertia for
Composite Areas

Solution
Summation
 For moment of inertia for the entire cross-sectional
area,

     
I x  1.425 109  0.05 109  1.425 109
 2.9010 mm
9 4

I  1.9010   1.8010   1.9010 

y
9 9 9

 5.6010 mm
9 4