ME 1204: Engineering Statics

Dr. Faraz Junejo

 Objectives

• Develop the equations of equilibrium for a rigid

body

• Concept of the free-body diagram for a rigid

body

• Solve rigid-body equilibrium problems using

the equations of equilibrium
 Outline
1. Concept of Rigid Body

2. Conditions for Rigid Equilibrium

3. Free-Body Diagrams

4. Equations of Equilibrium
 Rigid Body
 A rigid body can be considered as a combination of a
large number of particles in which all particles remain at
a fixed distance from one another, both before and after
applying a load.

 This model is important as material properties of any

body that is assumed to be rigid will not have to be
considered when studying the effects of forces acting on
the body.
 Rigid Body (contd.)

 Statics deals primarily with the calculation of external

forces which act on rigid bodies in equilibrium.

 Determination of the internal deformations belongs to the

study of the mechanics of deformable bodies, which

normally follows statics in the curriculum i.e. Mechanics

or Strength of materials course.

 CONDITIONS FOR RIGID-BODY EQUILIBRIUM

In Chapter 3 we only considered

forces acting on a particle
(concurrent forces). In this case
rotation is not a concern, so
equilibrium could be satisfied by:

 F = 0 (no translation)
Forces on a particle
We will now consider cases where forces are
not concurrent so we are also concerned that
the rigid body does not rotate. In order for a
rigid body to be in equilibrium, the net force
as well as the net moment about any
arbitrary point O must be equal to zero.
 F = 0 (no translation)
Forces on a rigid
body and  MO = 0 (no rotation)
 Conditions for Rigid-Body Equilibrium
• The equilibrium of a body is expressed as

FR   F  0
 M R O   MO  0
 Conditions for Rigid-Body Equilibrium
(contd.)

 Consider summing moments

about some other point, such
as point A, we require

M A  r  FR   M R  O  0

FR   F  0
 M R O   MO  0
 Free Body Diagrams
Support Reactions
• If a support prevents the translation of a body
in a given direction, then a force is developed
on the body in that direction.

• If rotation is prevented, a couple moment is

exerted on the body.
Support Reactions (contd.)
Support Reactions (contd.)
Support Reactions (contd.)
 Summary: Support Reactions
• A reaction is a force with known line of action, or a force
of unknown direction, or a moment.
• The line of action of the force or direction of the moment
is directly related to the motion that is prevented.
Recognizing support unknowns in FBD’s
Support Reactions in 2D (Table 5-1) memorize this table!

The 2D reactions shown below are the ones shown in Table 5-1 in
the text. As a general rule:
1) if a support prevents translation of a body in a given
direction, then a force is developed on the body in the opposite
direction.
2) if rotation is prevented, a couple moment is exerted on the
body in the opposite direction
 Free Body Diagrams (contd.)
Internal Forces
• External and internal forces can act on a rigid body

In summary:
• For FBD, internal forces act between adjacent particles which are
contained within the boundary of the FBD, are not represented

• Particles outside this boundary exert external forces on the

system
Internal Forces (contd.)
 Free Body Diagrams (contd.)
Weight and Center of Gravity
• Each particle has a specified weight

• System can be represented by a single resultant

force, known as weight W of the body

• Location of the force application is known as the

center of gravity
 Procedure for Drawing a FBD

1. Draw Outlined Shape

• Imagine body to be isolated or cut free from its

constraints

• Draw outline shape

2. Show All Forces and Couple Moments

• Identify all external forces and couple moments that

act on the body
 Procedure for Drawing a FBD (contd.)

3. Identify Each Loading and Give Dimensions

• Indicate dimensions for calculation of forces

• Known forces and couple moments should be properly

labeled with their magnitudes and directions
 Example: 1

Draw the free-body diagram of the uniform beam. The

beam has a mass of 100kg.
 Example: 1 (contd.)
Free-Body Diagram
 Example: 1 (contd.)
Free-Body Diagram’s Description
• Support at A is a fixed wall, the wall exerts three reactions on the
beam. These three forces acting on the beam at A denoted as Ax,
Ay, Az, drawn in an arbitrary direction

• Unknown magnitudes of these vectors

• Assume sense of these vectors

• For uniform beam,

Weight, W = 100(9.81) = 981N

acting through beam’s center of gravity, 3m from A

 EXAMPLE: 2
Given: The operator applies a vertical
force to the pedal so that the
spring is stretched 1.5 in. and the
force in the short link at B is
20 lb.
Draw: A an idealized model and free-
body diagram of the foot pedal.

“Weightless link” (see Table 5-1)

“Smooth pin”
 Example: 2 (contd.)
Free-Body Diagram’s Description
 Exercise: 1

Draw a FBD of member ABC, which is supported by a smooth

collar at A, rocker at B, and link CD.
 Equations of Equilibrium

• For equilibrium of a rigid body in 2D,

∑Fx = 0; ∑Fy = 0; ∑MO = 0

• ∑Fx and ∑Fy represent sums of x and y components of

all the forces

• ∑MO represents the sum of the couple moments and

moments of the force components
 Procedure for Analysis
Free-Body Diagram

• Force or couple moment having an unknown magnitude

but known line of action can be assumed

• Indicate the dimensions of the body necessary for

computing the moments of forces

 Procedure for Analysis (contd.)
Equations of Equilibrium

• Apply ∑MO = 0 about a point O, that lies at the

intersection of the lines of action of two unknown
forces.

• In this way, moments of these unknowns are zero about

O and a direct solution for the third unknown can be
obtained
 Procedure for Analysis (contd.)
Equations of Equilibrium

• When applying the force equilibrium equations, orient

the x and y axes along the lines that will provide the
simplest resolution of the forces into their x and y
components

• Negative result implies scalar for a force or couple

moment magnitude is opposite to that was assumed on
the FBD
 Example: 1
Determine the horizontal and vertical components of reaction
on the beam caused by the pin at B and the rocker at A.
Neglect the weight of the beam in the calculations.
 Example: 1 (contd.)
Free Body Diagram
• 600N represented by x and y components
• 200N force acts on the beam at B
 Example: 1 (contd.)
Equations of Equilibrium
   Fx  0; 600 cos 45 N  Bx  0  Bx  424 N

 M B  0;
100N (2m)  (600 sin 45 N )(5m)  (600 cos 45 N )(0.2m)  Ay (7 m)  0
Ay  319N
   Fy  0;
319N  600 sin 45 N  100N  200N  B y  0
B y  405N
Example: 2
Example: 2 (contd.)
Example: 2 (contd.)
 Two- Force Members
• When a member is subject to no couple moments and
forces are applied at only two points on a member, the
member is called a two-force member.

• Only force magnitude must be determined

Two- Force Members (contd.)
 EXAMPLE OF TWO-FORCE MEMBERS

In the cases above, members AB can be considered as two-

force members, provided that their weight is neglected.

This fact simplifies the equilibrium analysis of some rigid

bodies since the directions of the resultant forces at A and B
are thus known (along the line joining points A and B).
 Three-Force Members
• When subjected to three forces, the forces are concurrent
or parallel
 Example: 1
The lever ABC is pin-supported at A and connected to a
short link BD. If the weight of the members are negligible,
determine the force of the pin on the lever at A.
 Example: 1 (contd.)
Free Body Diagrams
• BD is a two-force member
• Lever ABC is a three-force member
Equations of Equilibrium
 0.7 
  tan 1    60.3


 0.4 
   Fx  0; FA cos 60.3  F cos 45  400 N  0
   Fy  0; FA sin 60.3  F sin 45  0

Solving,
FA  1.07kN
F  1.32kN
 Example: 2
SOLUTION:

• Create a free-body diagram of the joist.

Note that the joist is a 3 force body
acted upon by the rope, its weight, and
the reaction at A.
• The three forces must be concurrent
A man raises a 10 kg joist, of
length 4 m, by pulling on a for static equilibrium. Therefore, the
rope. reaction R must pass through the
Find the tension in the rope intersection of the lines of action of the
and the reaction at A. weight and rope forces. Determine
the direction of the reaction force R.
• Utilize a force triangle to determine
the magnitude of the reaction force R.
Example: 2 (contd.)
• Create a free-body diagram of the joist.

• Determine the direction of the reaction

force R.
AF  AB cos 45   4 m  cos 45  2.828 m
CD  AE  12 AF  1.414 m
BD  CD cot(45  20)  1.414 m  tan 20  0.515 m
CE  BF  BD   2.828  0.515 m  2.313 m
CE 2.313
tan    1.636
AE 1.414

  58.6
Example: 2 (contd.)

• Determine the magnitude of the reaction

force R.
T R 98.1 N

 

sin 31.4 sin 110 sin 38.6

T  81.9 N
R  147.8 N
 Exercises

 Engineering Mechanics - Statics, R.C. Hibbeler, 12th

Edition

• Q5.11 – Q5.24

• Q5.32 – Q5.37

• Q5.41 – Q5.45
 QUIZ

1. If a support prevents translation of a body, then the

support exerts a ___________ on the body.
A) Couple moment
B) Force
C) Both A and B.
D) None of the above
2. Internal forces are _________ shown on the free body
diagram of a whole body.
A) Always
B) Often
C) Rarely
D) Never
 QUIZ (contd.)

3. The beam and the cable (with a frictionless pulley at D)

support an 80 kg load at C. In a FBD of only the
beam, there are how many unknowns?
A) 2 forces and 1 couple moment
B) 3 forces and 1 couple moment
C) 3 forces
D) 4 forces
 QUIZ (contd.)

4. Internal forces are not shown on a free-body diagram

because the internal forces are_____.
A) Equal to zero
B) Equal and opposite and they do not affect the
calculations
C) Negligibly small
D) Not important
 QUIZ (contd.)

5. The three scalar equations  FX =  FY =  MO = 0,

are ____ equations of equilibrium in two dimensions.
A) Incorrect B) The only correct
C) The most commonly used D) Not sufficient

6. A rigid body is subjected to forces.

This body can be considered
as a ______ member.
A) Single-force B) Two-force
C) Three-force D) Six-force