174  Equilibrium of Rigid Bodies

Number of
Support or Connection Reaction Unknowns

This rocker bearing

supports the weight
1 of a bridge. The
convex surface of
Force with known the rocker allows the
Rollers Rocker Frictionless
surface line of action bridge to move
perpendicular slightly horizontally.
to surface

Links are often used

1 to support suspended
spans of highway
Short cable Short link Force with known bridges.
line of action
along cable or link

90° Force applied to the

slider exerts a
1
normal force on the
rod, causing the
Collar on Force with known window to open.
frictionless rod Frictionless pin in slot line of action
perpendicular
to rod or slot

or
Pin supports are
2 common on bridges
and overpasses.
a
Frictionless pin Rough surface Force of unknown
or hinge direction

or
This cantilever
support is fixed at one
3 end and extends out
a into space at the
Fixed support other end.
Force and couple

Fig. 4.1  Reactions of supports and connections in two dimensions. (Rocker bearing): Courtesy Godden Collection. National Information Service for
Earthquake Engineering, University of California, Berkeley (Links): Courtesy Michigan Department of Transportation (Slider and rod): ©McGraw-Hill Education/Photo by
Lucinda Dowell (Pin support): Courtesy Michigan Department of Transportation (Cantilever support): ©Richard Ellis/Alamy

two unknowns and are usually represented by their x and y components.

In the case of a rough surface, the component normal to the surface must
be directed away from the surface.
3. Reactions Equivalent to a Force and a Couple. These reactions are
caused by fixed supports that oppose any motion of the free body and
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4.3  Equilibrium in Three Dimensions

F
Force with known
line of action, Force with known
perpendicular to line of action,
surface Cable along cable
Ball Frictionless surface (one unknown) (one unknown)

Fy

Fz
Two force components,
one perpendicular to
Roller on Wheel on rail surface and one parallel
rough surface to axis of wheel

Fy

Fx
Fz
Three force components,
mutually perpendicular
Rough surface Ball and socket at point of contact

My
Fy

Mx Fy Mx
Fx Mz Fx
Fz Fz
Universal Three force components, Three force components,
joint one couple Fixed support three couples (no translation,
no rotation)

(M y )

Fy

(M z) Fz
Two force components
Hinge and bearing supporting radial load only and up to two couples

(M y )

Fy

(M z) Fx
Fz

Hinge and bearing supporting Three force components

Pin and bracket axial thrust and radial load and up to two couples

Fig. 4.10  Reactions at supports and connections in three dimensions.