BASIC OF ENGINEERING

MECHANICS
(Equilibrium)

Atul Mani
Amity University
 By: Atul Mani, Amity University 2

Equilibrium

• The state of body does not change.

• Either the body is in rest state, or
• The body is moving in a straight line with constant
velocity. (Without Acceleration)

• The resultant force on the body is zero.

• The resultant moment on the body is zero.
• Such condition is called static equilibrium.
 By: Atul Mani, Amity University 3

Conditions for Equilibrium

(Coplanar Force System)
• Resultant of all the forces acting on a body is zero.
R=0
If we resolve all the forces in two perpendicular axis x
and y then:
∑ Fx = 0
∑ Fy = 0
• Resultant Moment on the body is zero.
∑M = 0
 By: Atul Mani, Amity University 4

Free Body Diagram (FBD)

• Free body diagram is a graphical illustration used to visualize
the applied forces, movements, and resulting reactions on a
body in a given condition.
 By: Atul Mani, Amity University 5

FBD Cont.
• A free body diagram is not meant to be a scaled drawing. An
FBD represents the body of interest and the external forces on
it.
Free body diagrams consist of:
• A simplified version of the body (often a dot or a box)
• Forces shown as straight arrows pointing in the direction they
act on the body
• Moments shown as curved arrows pointing in the direction
they act on the body
• A coordinate system.
 By: Atul Mani, Amity University 6

Lami’s Theorem
• Lami’s theorem states that if
three forces acting at a point are
in equilibrium, each force is
proportional to the sine of the
angle between the other two
forces.
• Consider three forces A, B, C
acting on a particle or rigid body
making angles α, β and γ with
each other. Then:
 By: Atul Mani, Amity University 7

Analysis of Equilibrium
• Steps to solve equilibrium problems of concurrent
force system having more than 3 forces:
• Draw FBD of all objects showing all external applied forces
and Reaction Forces from all contact points.
• If there are inclined forces then resolve all of them in
horizontal and vertical components.
• Apply following conditions to the force system:

∑ Fx = 0
∑ Fy = 0
 By: Atul Mani, Amity University 8

Equilibrant
• An equilibrant is a force and/or moment which
brings a body into equilibrium.
• If a body is under action of number of forces and
their resultant is not zero then the body will not be in
equilibrium. If a force of magnitude equal to that
resultant and opposite to it acts on the body then the
net force will be zero on it and it will be in
equilibrium. This equal and opposite force is called
equilibrant.
 By: Atul Mani, Amity University 9

Equilibrant Cont.
• Equilibrant of a concurrent planer force system is
only a FORCE.
• Equilibrant of a non-concurrent planer force system
is combination of a FORCE AND A MOMENT. This
is because a non-concurrent force system can not be
balanced only by a force.
 By: Atul Mani, Amity University 10

Beams
• A beam is a structural
element that primarily
resists loads applied laterally to
the beam's axis.
• Depending on the supports,
beams are of following types as
shown in the diagram:
• Cantilever
• Simply supported
• Overhanging
• Continuous
• Fixed ended
• Cantilever, simply supported
 By: Atul Mani, Amity University 11

Types of Supports-Beams
 By: Atul Mani, Amity University 12

Types of Loads-Beams
 By: Atul Mani, Amity University 13

Beam Equilibrium
• For equilibrium of beam under action of
forces, following conditions are necessary:
• Resultant Force on beam must be zero
∑ Fx = 0
∑ Fy = 0
• Resultant moment of all forces about any point
must be zero
∑M = 0
 By: Atul Mani, Amity University 14

Analysis of Beams
• Steps to solve equilibrium problems of beams:
• Draw FBD of beam showing all external applied forces and
Reaction Forces from all supports.
• Apply following conditions to the force system:

∑ Fx = 0
∑ Fy = 0
∑M = 0
• The moment can be taken about any point on the beam.