If two force systems are creating the same external effect on the rigid body,

they are said to be “ ”.

The resultant of a force system is the simplest combination that they can be
reduced without changing the external effects on the body.

2
Coplanar Force Systems
   
If the resultant of all forces F1 , F 2 , F 3 , ..., F n lying in a single plane such as xy is 𝑅, this
resultant is calculated by the vector sum of these forces.

    
R  F1  F 2  F 3  ...  F n

Rx  F x
Ry  F y

R   F    F 
x
2
y
2

1
Ry
  tan
Rx
3
The location of the line of action of the resultant force 𝑅 to an arbitrary point (such as
point O is the origin of the xy coordinate system) can be determined by using the
Varignon’s theorem. The moment of 𝑅 about point O will be equal the sum of the couple
moments constructed by moving its components to point O.

 
R   F

Mo   M    Fd 

M
d  o

R
4
 PROBLEM ON RESULTANTS in 2D

1) Replace the three horizontal forces and applied couple with an equivalent force-couple
system at O by specifying the resultant 𝑅 and couple MO.

5
    
R 

 F  F1  F 2  F 3
     
R  ( 4 sin 70 i  4 cos 70 j )  (10 sin 70 i  10 cos 70 j )  (  6 sin 70 i  6 cos 70 j )
  
R  7 . 52 i  2 . 74 j ( kN )

+
M O  4 cos 70 (1)  4 sin 70 ( 0 . 3 )  6 sin 70 ( 0 . 3 )  6 cos 70 ( 2 . 5 )  10 cos 70 ( 4 )  15

M O  22 . 10 kN  m ( ccw )

Equivalent force-couple system at O

70°

 M O

70° R
x
70°
6
 PROBLEM ON RESULTANTS in 2D

2) A machine component is subjected to the forces and couples shown. The component is to be
held in place by a single rivet that can resist a force but not a couple. Determine the location of
the rivet hole if it is to be located (a) on line FG, (b) on line GH.

120 N
200 N

42 N.m
80 N

60 N

40 N.m

7
Determine the location of the rivet hole if it is to be located (a) on line FG, (b) on line GH.
 
Resultant Force: R 
 F
 
 200 cos 15 i  200 sin 15 j 
 
  120 cos 70 i  120 sin 70 j 
 
  80 j   60 i 

   
R   F  212 . 14 i  244 . 53 j

Total Moment about G

(resultant couple):

M G  42  40  80 0 . 59   60 0 . 13   120 cos 70 0 . 47   120 sin 70 0 . 19 

 200 sin 15 0 . 05   200 cos 15 0 . 47 

M G   63 . 34 N  m
8
Determine the location of the rivet hole if it is to be located (a) on line FG, (b) on line GH.

Equivalent Force-Couple System at point G:

  
R  212 . 14 i  244 . 53 j
M G   63 . 34 N  m

Equivalent Force-Couple System at G: F (a) (b)

  
R  212 . 14 i  244 . 53 j

MG 
y

G G H
G x
63 . 34   
y  0 . 298 m R  212 . 14 i  244 . 53 j
212 . 14
   63 . 34
R  212 . 14 i  244 . 53 j x  0 . 259 m
244 . 53 9
THREE DIMENSIONAL FORCE SYSTEMS

The same principles can be enlarged to three dimensional force systems. The resultant
   
of forces F1 , F 2 , F 3 , ..., F n acting on a body can be obtained by moving them to a
desired point. In this way, the given force system will be converted to

1) Three dimensional, concurrent forces comprising the same magnitudes and

directions as the original forces,
2) Three dimensional couples.

10
 By calculating the resultants of these forces and couples, a single resultant force and a
single couple can be obtained.

     
The resultant force, R  F1  F 2  F 3  ...  F n   F

Rx  F x R  F y R y z  F z

R   F    F    F 
x
2
y
2
z
2

11
 C
C

The resultant couple moment,

   
M   rF   C

The selection of point O is arbitrary, but the magnitude and direction of 𝑀 will depend

on this point; whereas, the magnitude and direction of 𝑅 are the same no matter which
point is selected.
12
 PROBLEM ON RESULTANTS in 3D

3. Represent the resultant of the force system acting on

the pipe assembly by a single force and a couple at A .

13
Determine a single force and a couple at A .
 
SOLUTION: Resultant force R  F
   
R  120 i  180 j  100 k

   
Sum of the moments about point A M A   rF   C

  
  

 
  
M  0 . 25 k  120 i  0 . 3 i   100 k  50 k  160  0 . 25  j
A
  
40 j
  
M A
 100 j  50 k

Equivalent force-couple system at A

z

 A
  
M A
 100 j  50 k
x
   
R  120 i  180 j  100 k y

14
 PROBLEM ON RESULTANTS in 3D

4. The pulley wheels are subjected to the loads

shown. Determine the equivalent force-couple
system at point O.

15
Determine the equivalent force-couple system at point O.

   
SOLUTION: Resultant force: R   F  1000 j  500 k

   
Sum of the moments about point O M o   rF   C
  
   
   
M o  0 . 6 i  0 . 24 j   200 k  0 . 6 i  0 . 24 j   300 k
 
   
   
 1 . 2 i  0 . 18 k  400 j   1 . 2 i  0 . 18 k  600 j 
   
M o  12 i  300 j  1200 k

Equivalent force-couple system at point O

  
R  1000 j  500 k y

 O
x
z    
M o  12 i  300 j  1200 k

16
As a special case, if the resultant couple σ 𝑀 is perpendicular to the resultant force 𝑅, these two vectors can
σ𝑴
further be simplified to obtain a single resultant force 𝑅. The distance d will be equal to 𝒅 = .
𝑹

𝑧 𝑧

𝑀

≡
𝑅
𝑦
𝑥
𝑦
𝑥 𝑅 σ𝑴
𝒅=
𝑹

17
5) The floor exerts the four indicated forces on the wheels of an engine hoist.
Determine the location in the x-y plane at which the resultant of the forces act.

18
Determine the location in the x-y plane at which the resultant of the forces act.

   O (0, 0, 0) A ( 0 .6 ,  0 .4 , 0 ) B (  0 .5,  0 .4 , 0 )
R  F  ( 240  120  1080  840 ) k

C (  0 . 475 , 1 . 9 , 0 ) D ( 0 .5, 2 , 0 )

R  2280 k ( N )

        
M O  r1  F1  r2  F 2  r3  F3  r4  F 4
      
   

      

M O  0 . 6 i  0 . 4 j   240 k   0 . 5 i  0 . 4 j   120 k
    
 
  
 144 j  96 i 60 j  48 i
     
 
  0 . 475 i  1 . 9 j   840 k  0 . 5 i  2 j   1080 k
           
 
 
399 j  1596 i  540 j  2160 i
  
M O  3612 i  225 j ( N  mm )

19
     
R  2280 k ( N ) M O  3612 i  225 j ( N  m ) (Equivalent force-couple system at O)
   
R  MO  R  M O  0 (Equivalent force-couple system can be reduced to a single force)
       
M O  ( x i  y j )  2280 k   2280 x j  2280 y i  3612 i  225 j


i 2280 y  3612  y  1 . 58 m (coordinates in the x-y plane at which the
 resultant of the forces act)
j  2280 x   225  x  0 . 0987 m

P ( 0 . 0987 , 1 . 58 ) m
R

R

 rP / O
MO
P (x, y)

20
When the resultant couple vector 𝑀 is parallel to the resultant force 𝑅, the resultant is called a “wrench”.

The wrench is the simplest form in which the resultant of a general force system may be expressed. By definition, a
wrench is positive if the couple and force vectors point in the same direction, and negative if they point in opposite
directions.

M
R

A common example of a wrench is found with the application of a screw driver.

21
 All force systems can be reduced to a wrench acting at a particular line of action.
M is resolved into components M1 along the
direction of R and M2 normal to R.
Equivalent force-couple
system at point O

    

M 1  M R //  M  n R n R 
   
M 2  M R   M  M R //

Positive wrench

M
d  2

R 22
 R

M
R

23
6) Replace the three forces acting on the
plate by a wrench. Specify the magnitude
of the force and couple moment for the
wrench and the point P(x, y) where its
line of action intersects the plate.

24
Solution:

Equivalent force-couple system at A

Resultant force
    
R   F  500 i  300 j  800 k

Sum of the moments about point A

   
M rF C z

A
 
 
   
M A
 4 j   800 k  6 i  4 j   300 j  R
  
M  3200 i  1800 k 
A M A
A

y
x

25
 REDUCTION TO WRENCH: Equivalent force-couple system at A
 
  
       
R   F  500 i  300 j  800 k
500 i  300 j  800 k  3200 i  1800 k  3040000  0   
M A  3200 i  1800 k
(Couple is not perpendicular to the force. Force-couple system can be reduced to a wrench – positive wrench.)
  
 500 i  300 j  800 k   
Unit Vector of Resultant force: nR   0 . 505 i  0 . 303 j  0 . 808 k
989 . 95
Parallel component of the couple to resultant force:
 
  
  
M R //  3200 i  1800 k  0 . 505 i  0 . 303 j  0 . 808 k  3070 . 4 N  m
Parallel component of the couple to resultant force in vector form:
  
 
   
M R //  3070 . 4 0 . 505 i  0 . 303 j  0 . 808 k  1550 . 55 i  930 . 33 j  2480 . 88 k


Positive Wrench M R //
z

 (Wrench Resultants)
R    
R  500 i  300 j  800 k
    
M A M R //
 1550 . 55 i  930 . 33 j  2480 . 88 k
R

y
x 26
Normal (perpendicular) component of the couple to resultant force in vector form Equivalent force-couple system at A
    
    
   
   R   F  500 i  300 j  800 k
  
M R   M A  M R //  3200 i  1800 k  1550 . 55 i  930 . 33 j  2480 . 88 k M A  3200 i  1800 k
     
M R   M A  M R //  1649 . 45 i  930 . 33 j  680 . 88 k
Coordinates of the point in the xy plane through which the line of action of the wrench passes
    
  
     
r  R  M R  
x i  y j  500 i  300 j  800 k  1649 . 45 i  930 . 33 j  680 . 88 k
      
300 x k  800 x j  500 y k  800 y i  1649 . 45 i  930 . 33 j  680 . 88 k

i  800 y  1649 . 45  y  2 . 06 m

j   800 x   930 . 33  x  1 . 16 m

M z
Positive Wrench R //
z

M R //



R  (Positive Wrench)
A R
 
M R A r y
y x (1.16,2.06,0)
27
x