5
CHAPTER
Distributed Forces:
Centroids and Centers
of Gravity
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Center of Gravity
The location of the center of gravity of the object can be expressed as
rC x i yj z k
Where,
rC
r dW
C x , y, z
dW
xi yj zk dW
r
W
rC
xdW ydW zdW
i j k
W W W
Which yields:
1
x xdW (1a )
W
1
y ydW ( 2a )
W
1
z zdW (3a )
W
5-2
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Center of Mass
The location of the center of mass of the object can be expressed as:
rC x i yj z k m
Where,
rC C x , y, z
r dm
dm
xi yj zk dm
r
rC z z
m
xdm ydm zdm
i j k x x
m m m y
Which yields: y
1
x xdm (1b) x
m Note that if the density of the gravity (g) is constant
1
y ydm (2b) throughout the body, then the center of mass coincides with
m the center of gravity. This can be proved by setting: W =mg
1 and dW =gdm in equations (1a, 2a, 3a) to yield equations (1b,
z zdm (3b)
m 2b, 3b)
5-3
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Centroid of Volume
The location of the centroid of the volume can be expressed as
rC x i yj z k V
Where,
V
dV r C x , y, z
rC
dV
xi yj zk dV
r z
rG z
V
xdV ydV zdV
i j k x x
V V V y
Which yields: y
1
x xdV (1c)
V
1
y ydV (2c) Note that if the density of the body () is constant throughout
V the body, then the centroid of volume coincides with the
(3c) center of mass. This can be proved by setting: m =V and dm
1
z zdV
V =dV in equations (1b, 2b, 3b) to yield equations (1c, 2c, 3c)
5-4
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Centroid of Area
The location of the centroid of 3D surface area can be expressed as
rC x i yj z k
Where,
r dA
rC
dA
xi yj zk dA
xdA ydA zdA
i j k
A A A
Which yields:
1
x xdA (1d )
A
1
y ydA ( 2d )
A
1
z zdA (3d )
A
5-5
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Centroid of Area
Centroid for 2D surface area: y
A
rC x i yj
where
y Cx, y
1
x xdA y dA
A z 0
1
y ydA
A x
x x
If A is symmetric with respect to y - axis, then x 0
5-6
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Centroid of Area
y
If A is symmetric with respect to x - axis, then y 0.
dA
y
C
x
-y r
dA
If A is symmetric with respect to the origin O, then
x 0 and y 0.
5-7
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Centroid of lines
The location of the centroid of 3D line can be expressed as
rC x i yj z k
Where,
r dL
rC
dL
xi yj zk dL
xdL ydL zdL
i j k
L L L
Which yields:
1
x xdL (1e)
L
1
y ydL ( 2e )
L
1
z zdL (3e)
L
5-8
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example
locate of the centroid of the rectangular area shown
1 y
x xdA
A a
dA bdx A ab
dA
a
1 1 a a b
x bxdx bx 2 0 y
ab 0 2ab 2
x
1 x dx
y ydA
A
b
dA bdx A ab, y
2
1 ab
x 0
b a b
y bdx
ab 0 2 2a 2
a b
The coordinates of the centroid become : C ( x , y ) ( , )
2 2
5-9
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example
locate of the centroid of the right triangular area shown
1 y
x xdA
A
h b b dA
dA hdx, but h x b
x a a h y
x
b ba ab
Therefore, dA xdx A dA xdx x dx
a a0 2 a
x
2 ab 2 2 3a 2
x dx 3a 2 x 0 3 a
ab 0 a
1 h b ab
y ydA, y x, A
A 2 2a 2 C a3 b
which yields b3
a
a
1 2 a b b b a 2 b x 3
b
y ydA
a 3 3 0 3
( x )( x ) dx x dx
A ab 0 2a a a3 0
5 - 10
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example
locate of the centroid of the area shown
First we find k : y (a ) ka 2 b k b a 2 .
1
x xdA
A
dA hdx, h kx 2 dA kx 2 dx
a
ka 3 ab
A dA k x dx
2
0 3 3
1a 3
x kx dx
A0 4A
x 0
4A
k 4 a ka 4 3(b a 2 )a 4 3
4ab
a
4
1 h k ab
y ydA, y x 2 , A
A 2 2 3
which yields
1a k 2 2
y ( x )kx dx
A0 2
k2 a 4
2A 0
x dx
k2 5
10 A
x a
0
k 2 a 5 (b 2 a 4 )a 5 3
10 A
10ab 3
b
10
5 - 11
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Centroids of Common Shapes of Areas
5 - 12
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Centroids of common shapes of areas
5 - 13
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Centroids of Common Shapes of Lines
5 - 14
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Centroids of Common Shapes of Volumes
5 - 15
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Centroids of Common Shapes of Volumes
5 - 16
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem 5.3
A uniform semicircular rod of weight W and radius r is attached to a pin at A and
rests against a frictionless surface at B. Determine the reactions at A and B.
2r
M A 0 : B ( 2r ) W ( )
W
B
Fx 0 : Ax B 0
W W
Ax B , i.e., Ax
Fy 0 : Ay W 0
Ay W
12
W 2
FA W
2
W
tan 1 tan 1 72.3
W
5 - 17
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Centroid of Composite Bodies
The location of the center y
of mass of the composite
body can be expressed as:
X
xm
(1) x3
m C C3
X
Y
ym
( 2) x2 m3
m C2
Z
zm x1 Y m2
(3) C1
m
m1 y3
Where, y2
m represents the total y1
mass of the composite x
body.
Since g is constant throughout the body then the center of gravity of the composite
body coincides with its center of mass.
5 - 18
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Centroid of Composite Volumes and Areas
The location of the center
X xV
(1' ) Where,
of mass of a composite V V represents the total
Y
volume can be expressed yV volume of the composite
as: ( 2' )
V body.
Z
zV
(3' )
V
X
xA where,
(1' ' )
A A represents the total
Y
Where, yA area of the composite
m represents the total ( 2' ' )
A area
Z
mass of the composite zA
body. (3' ' )
A
5 - 19
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Centroid of Composite Lines
The location of the center
X xL
(1' ' ' ) where,
of mass of a composite L L represents the total
Y
line yL length of the composite
( 2' ' ' )
L line
Z
zL
(3' ' ' )
L
5 - 20
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem 5.1
Locate the centroid of the shaded area shown
5 - 21
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem 5.1
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
5 - 22
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem 5.2
The figure shown is made from a piece of
thin, homogeneous wire. Determine the
location of its center of gravity.
X x L 600 in 2
10 in, Y y L 180 in 2
3 in.
L 60 in L 60 in
5 - 23
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem 5.11
Determine the location of the center of gravity of the homogeneous body of revolution
shown, which was obtained by joining a hemisphere and a cylinder and carving out a cone.
Component Volume, mm3 x , mm x V , mm 4
Hemisphere 2 3 603 0.4524 106 22.5 10.18 10 6
Cylinder (60) 2 100 1.13110 6 50 56.55 10 6
Cone 3 (60) 2 100 0.377 10 6 75 28.28 10 6
1.206 10 6 18.09 10 6
X xV 18.09 10 6 mm 4
15 mm, Y 0, Z 0.
V 1.206 10 6 mm 3
5 - 24
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Distributed Loads on Beams
A distributed load is represented by plotting the load per unit length, w (N/m).
[N/m]
dW w( x)dx
w(x)
A distributed load can be replaced by a concentrated load (W) with a magnitude
equal to the area under the load curve (A) and a line of action passing through the
area centroid (C).
dW w( x)dx
L
W w( x)dx A (area under w( x) curve)
0
5 - 25
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Distributed Loads on Beams
The location x of the line of action of W can be determined by equating the
moment of W to the moment of the distributed load about point O.
dM o xdW , dW w( x)dx
L
M o xw( x)dx (a)
0
but :
M o xW (b)
Equation (b) (a )
L
x W xw( x)dx
0
1 L
x xw( x)dx x-coordinate of the centroid of the area
W0
5 - 26
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example
Determine the reaction at the support A of the loaded cantilever beam.
The constants in the load distribution are found to be w0=1000 N/m and k =2
N/m4. The load W is then
8
x4
W w( x)dx 1000 2 x dx 1000 x 10050 N
L 8
3
0 0 2 0
The x-coordinate of the centroid of the area is found by
8
1 L 1 8 1 2 5
x xw( x)dx x (1000 2 x 3
) dx 500 x 2
x 4.49 m
W0 10050 0 10050 5 0
5 - 27
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example/ cont.
MA 0: Free body diagram
M A 10050(4.49) 0
M A 45100 N.m ccw
Fy 0 :
Ay 10050 0
Ay 10050 N
Fx 0 :
Ax 0.
5 - 28
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Example
Determine the external reactions for the simply supported beam which is subjected
to the distributed load shown.
MA 0:
1200(5) 480(8) RB (10) 0
RB 984 lb
Fy 0 :
R A RB 1200 480 0
984
R A 696 lb
or :
MB 0:
R A (10) 1200(5) 480(2) 0
R A 696 lb
5 - 29
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem 5.9
A beam supports a distributed load as shown.
Determine the reactions at the supports.
First we find the equivalent concentrated loads
1 1
W1 (1.5)(6) 4.5 kN , W2 (4.5)(6) 13.5 kN
2 2
The line of action of the concentrated load passes
through the centroid of the area under the curve.
1
x1 6 2 m to the right of A
3
1
x2 (6) 2 m to the left of B
3
4 m to the right of A
MA 0:
4.5(2) 13.5(4) B y (6) 0; B y 10.5 kN
Fy 0 : Ay 4.5 13.5 B y 0; Ay 7.5 kN
Fx 0 : Ax 0.
5 - 30
