PROPERTIES OF SURFACES AND SOLIDS 195

∫ ydA
y =
A

∫ xdA
x =
A
The location of the centroid using the above equations may be considered as
finding centroid from first principle. Now, let us find centroid of some standard
figures from first principles.

Centroid of a Triangle
Consider the triangle ABC of base width b and height h as shown in Fig. 5.25. Let
us locate the distance of centroid from the base. Let b1 be the width of elemental
strip of thickness dy at a distance y from the base. Since DAEF and DABC are
similar triangles, we can write:
b1 h−y
=
b h
⎛h− y⎞ ⎛ y⎞
b1 = ⎜ ⎟ b = ⎜1 − ⎟ b
⎝ h ⎠ ⎝ h⎠
\ Area of the element = dA = b1dy Fig. 5.25
⎛ y⎞
= ⎜ 1 − ⎟ b dy
⎝ h⎠
1
Area of the triangle A = bh
2
\ From Eqn. (5.4), we have
Moment of area ∫ ydA
y = =
Total area A
h
⎛ y⎞
Now, ∫ ydA = ∫ y ⎜⎝1 − h ⎟⎠ b dy
0

h
⎛ y2 ⎞
= ∫ ⎜⎜ y − ⎟⎟ b dy
h ⎠
0 ⎝

h
⎡ y2 y3 ⎤
= b⎢ − ⎥
⎣⎢ 2 3h ⎥⎦0

bh 2
=
6
196 ENGINEERING MECHANICS

ydA bh2 1
\ y =
∫ A
=
6
×
1
bh
2
h
\ y =
3
h 2h
Thus the centroid of a triangle is at a distance from the base (or from
3 3
the apex) of the triangle where h is the height of the triangle.

Centroid of a Semicircle
Consider the semicircle of radius R as shown in Fig. 5.26. Due to symmetry,
centroid must lie on y-axis. Let its distance from diametral axis be y . To find y ,
consider an element at a distance r from the centre O of the semicircle, radial
width being dr and bound by radii at q and q + dq.
Area of element = r dq dr.
Its moment about diametral axis x is given by:
rdq × dr × r sin q = r2 sin q dr dq
\ Total moment of area about diametral axis,
πR π R
⎡ r3 ⎤
∫∫ r sin θdr d θ = ∫
2
⎢ ⎥ sin θ dθ
00 0 ⎣⎢ 3 ⎦⎥0

R3
= [ − cos θ]0π
3
Fig. 5.26
R3 2 R3
= [1 + 1] =
3 3
1 2
Area of semicircle A= πR
2

2 R3
Moment of area
\ y = = 3
Total area 1 2
πR
2

4R
=
3π
4R
Thus, the centroid of the circle is at a distance from the diametral axis.
3π
PROPERTIES OF SURFACES AND SOLIDS 197

Centroid of Sector of a Circle

Consider the sector of a circle of angle 2a as shown in Fig. 5.27. Due to symmetry,
centroid lies on x-axis. To find its distance from the centre O, consider the elemental
area shown.
Area of the element = rd q dr
Its moment about y axis
= rd θ × dr × r cos θ
= r 2 cos θ dr d θ
\ Total moment of area about y axis
α R

∫ ∫r
2
= cos θ drd θ
−α 0

R
⎡ r3 ⎤
= ⎢ ⎥ [sin θ]α−α Fig. 5.27
⎣⎢ 3 ⎦⎥ 0

R3
= 2 sin α
3
Total area of the sector
α R
=
∫ ∫ rdrdθ
−α 0

α R
⎡ r2 ⎤
∫
= ⎢ ⎥ dθ
⎢ 2 ⎦⎥ 0
−α ⎣

R2 α
= [ θ]−α
2
= R2α
\ The distance of centroid from centre O
Moment of area about y-axis
=
Area of the figure
2 R3
sin α
2R
= 3 2 = sin α
R α 3α

Centroid of Parabolic Spandrel

Consider the parabolic spandrel shown in Fig. 5.28. Height of the element at a
distance x from O is y = kx2.
198 ENGINEERING MECHANICS

Width of element = dx
\ Area of the element = kx2dx
a
\ Total area of spandrel = ∫ kx dx
2

a
⎡ kx 3 ⎤ ka 3
⎢ ⎥ = Fig. 5.28
⎢⎣ 3 ⎥⎦ 0 3

Moment of area about y-axis

a

∫ kx dx × x
2
=
0

∫ kx dx
3
=
0

ka 4
=
4
Moment of area about x-axis
a a
kx 2 k 2x4
= ∫ kx 2 dx
2
= ∫ 2
dx
0 0

k 2a5
=
10

ka 4 ka 3 3a
\ x = ÷ =
4 3 4

k 2 a 5 ka 3 3 2
y = ÷ = ka
10 3 10
From Fig. 5.28, at x = a, y = h
h
\ h = ka2 or k =
a2
3 h 2 3h
\ y = × a =
10 a2 10

⎛ 3a 3h ⎞
Thus, centroid of spandrel is ⎜ , ⎟
⎝ 4 10 ⎠
Centroids of some common figures are shown in Table 5.2.
PROPERTIES OF SURFACES AND SOLIDS 199

Table 5.2 Centroid of Some Common Figures

Shape Figure x y Area

h bh
Triangle –
3 2

4R πR 2
Semicircle 0
3π 2

4R 4R πR 2
Quarter circle
3π 3π 4

2R
Sector of a circle sin a 0 αR 2
3α

3h 4 ah
Parabola 0
5 3

3 3h 2ah
Semi Parabola a
8 5 3

3a 3h ah
Parabolic Spandrel
4 10 3

Centroid of Composite Sections

So far, the discussion was confined to locating the centroid of simple figures such
as rectangle, triangle, circle, semicircle, etc. In engineering practice, use of sections
which are built up of many simple sections is very common. Such sections may
be called as built-up sections or composite sections. To locate the centroid of
composite sections, one need not go for the first principles (method of integration).
The given composite section can be split into suitable simple figures and then the
centroid of each simple figure can be found by inspection or using the standard
formulae listed in Table 5.2. Assuming the area of the simple figure as concentrated
at its centroid, its moment about an axis can be found by multiplying the area
with distance of its centroid from the reference axis. After determining moment
of each area about reference axis, the distance of centroid from the axis is obtained
by dividing total moment of area by total area of the composite section.
200 ENGINEERING MECHANICS

Example 5.4 Locate the centroid of the T-section shown in the Fig. 5.29.
Solution. Selecting the axis as shown in Fig.
5.29, we can say that due to symmetry, centroid
lies on y-axis, i.e., x = 0
Now the given T-section may be divided
into two rectangles A1 and A2 each of size 100
× 20 and 20 × 100. The centroid of A1 and A2
are g1(0, 10) and g2(0, 70) respectively.
\ The distance of centroid from top is
given by:
100 × 20 × 10 + 20 × 100 × 70
y =
100 × 20 + 20 × 100
= 40 mm
Hence, centroid of T-section is on the
Fig. 5.29
symmetric axis at a distance 40 mm from the
top. Ans.
Example 5.5 Find the centroid of the unequal angle 200 × 150 × 12 mm, shown
in Fig. 5.30.
Solution. The given composite figure can be divided into two rectangles:
A1 = 150 × 12 = 1800 mm2
A2 = (200 – 12) × 12 = 2256 mm2
Total area A = A1 + A2 = 4056 mm2
Selecting the reference axes x and y as shown in Fig. 5.30. The centroid of
A1 is g1 (75, 6) and that of A2 is:
⎡ 1 ⎤
g2 ⎢ 6,12 + (200 − 12)⎥
⎣ 2 ⎦
i.e., g2 (6, 106)
Moment about y -axis
\ x =
Total area
A1 x1 + A2 x2
=
A
1800 × 75 + 2256 × 6
=
4056
Fig. 5.30
= 36.62 mm
Moment about x -axis
y =
Total area
A y + A2 x2
= 1 1
A
PROPERTIES OF SURFACES AND SOLIDS 201

1800 × 6 + 2256 × 106

=
4056
= 61.62 mm
Thus, the centroid is at x = 36.62 mm and y = 61.62 mm as shown in the
figure. Ans.
Example 5.6 Locate the centroid of the I-section shown in Fig. 5.31.

Fig. 5.31
Solution. Selecting the co-ordinate system as shown in Fig. 5.31, due to symmetry
centroid must lie on y-axis,
i.e., x =0
Now, the composite section may be split into three rectangles
A 1 = 100 × 20 = 2000 mm2
Centroid of A1 from the origin is:
20
y1 = 30 + 100 + = 140 mm
2
Similarly, A 2 = 100 × 20 = 2000 mm2
100
y2 = 30 + = 80 mm
2
A 3 = 150 × 30 = 4500 mm2, and
30
y3 = = 15 mm
2
202 ENGINEERING MECHANICS

A1Y1 + A2Y2 + A3Y3

\ Y =
A
2000 × 140 + 2000 × 80 + 4500 × 15
=
2000 + 2000 + 4500
= 59.71 mm
Thus, the centroid is on the symmetric axis at a distance 59.71 mm from the
bottom as shown in Fig. 5.31. Ans.
Example 5.7 Determine the centroid of the section of the concrete dam shown in
Fig. 5.32.

Fig. 5.32
Solution. Let the axis be selected as shown in Fig. 5.32. Note that it is convenient
to take axis in such a way that the centroids of all simple figures are having
positive coordinates. If coordinate of any simple figure comes out to be negative,
one should be careful in assigning the sign of moment of area of that figure.
The composite figure can be conveniently divided into two triangles and
two rectangles, as shown in Fig. 5.32.
1
Now, A1 = × 2 × 6 = 6 m2
2
A2 = 2 × 7.5 = 15 m2
1
A3 = × 3 × 5 = 7.5 m2
2
A4 = 1 × 4 = 4 m2
A = Total area = 32.5 m2
PROPERTIES OF SURFACES AND SOLIDS 203

Centroids of simple figures are:

2 4
x1 = ×2 = m
3 3
1
y1 = × 6 = 2m
3
x2 = 2 + 1 = 3m
7.5
y2 = = 3.75 m
2
1
x3 = 2 + 2 + × 3 = 5m
3
1 8
y3 = 1 + × 5 = m
3 3
4
x4 = 4 + =6m
2
y4 = 0.5 m
A1 x1 + A2 x2 + A3 x3 + A4 x4
x =
A
4
6 × + 15 × 3 + 7.5 × 5 + 4 × 6
= 3
32.5
= 3.523 m
A1 y1 + A2 y2 + A3 y3 + A4 y4
y =
A
8
6 × 2 + 15 × 3.75 + 7.5 × + 4 × 0.5
= 3
32.5
= 2.777 m
The centroid is at x = 3.523 m Ans.
and y = 2.777 m Ans.

Example 5.8 Determine the centroid of the area shown in Fig. 5.33 with respect
to the axis shown.

Fig. 5.33
204 ENGINEERING MECHANICS

Solution. The composite section is divided into three simple figures, a triangle, a
rectangle and a semicircle.
1
Now, area of triangle A1 =× 3 × 4 = 6 m2
2
Area of rectangle A2 = 6 × 4 = 24 m2
1
Area of semicircle A3 = × π × 2 2 = 6.2832 m2
2
\ Total area A = 36.2832 m2
The coordinates of centroids of these three simple figures are:
1
x1 = 6 + × 3 = 7m
3
4
y1 = m
3
x2 = 3 m
y2 = 2 m
−4 R 4×2
x3 = =− = −0.8488m
3π 3π
y3 = 2 m (Note carefully the sign of x3).
A1 x1 + A2 x2 + A3 x3
x =
A
6 × 7 + 24 × 3 + 6.2832 × ( −0.8488)
=
36.2832
i.e., x = 2.995 m Ans.
A1 y1 + A2 y2 + A3 y3
y =
A
6× 4
+ 24 × 2 + 6.2832 × 2
= 3
36.2832
i.e., y = 1.890 m Ans.

Example 5.9 In a gusset plate, there are six rivet holes of 21.5 mm diameter as
shown in Fig. 5.34. Find the position of the centroid of the gusset plate.

Fig. 5.34
PROPERTIES OF SURFACES AND SOLIDS 205

Solution. The composite area is equal to a rectangle of size 160 × 280 mm plus
a triangle of size 280 mm base width and 40 mm height and minus areas of six
holes. In this case also, Eqn. (5.4) can be used for locating centroid by treating
area of holes as negative. The area of simple figures and their centroids are as
shown in Table 5.3.
Table 5.3

Figure Area in mm2 xi in mm yi in mm

Rectangle 160 × 280 = 44,800 140 80
1 560 40
Triangle × 280 × 40 = 5600 160 + = 173.33
2 3 3

−π × 21.52
1st hole = −363.05 70 50
4
2nd hole –363.05 140 50
3rd hole –363.05 210 50
4th hole –363.05 70 120
5th hole –363.05 140 130
6th hole –363.05 210 140
\ A = ΣAi = 48,221.70
560
\ ΣAi xi = 44,800 × 140 + 5600 ×
3
−363.05(70 + 140 + 210 + 70 + 140 + 210)
= 70,12, 371.3 mm3
ΣAi xi
x = = 145.42 mm
A
ΣAi yi = 44,800 × 80 + 5600 × 173.33
–363.05(50 × 3 + 120 + 130 + 140)
= 43, 58, 601 mm3
ΣAi yi 43,58,601
y = =
A 48221.70
= 90.39 mm
Thus, the coordinates of centroid of
composite figure is given by:
x = 145.42 mm Ans.
y = 90.39 mm Ans.

Example 5.10 Determine the coordinates xc and

yc of the centre of a 100 mm diameter circular
hole cut in a thin plate so that this point will be
the centroid of the remaining shaded area shown Fig. 5.35
in Fig. 5.35 (All dimensions are in mm).
206 ENGINEERING MECHANICS

Solution. If xc and yc are the coordinates of the centre of the circle, centroid also
must have the coordinates xc and yc as per the condition laid down in the problem.
The shaded area may be considered as a rectangle of size 200 mm × 150 mm
minus a triangle of sides 100 mm × 75 mm and a circle of diameter 100 mm.
1 ⎛ π⎞
\ Total area = 200 × 150 – × 100 × 75 – ⎜ ⎟100 2
2 ⎝4⎠
= 18,396 mm2
x = xc

1 ⎡ ⎛ 100 ⎞ ⎤ π
200 × 150 × 100 − × 100 × 75 × ⎢200 − ⎜ ⎟ ⎥ − × 100 2 × xc
2 ⎣ ⎝ 3 ⎠⎦ 4
Hence, xc =
18,396

1 π
\ xc (18,396) = 200 × 150 ×100 – × 100 × 75 × 166.67 – × 1002 xc
2 4
23,75000
xc = = 90.48 mm Ans.
26,250
Similarly,
1 π
18,396 yc = 200 × 150 × 75 – × 100 × 75 × (150 – 25) – × 1002 yc
2 4
17,81250.0
\ yc = = 67.86 mm Ans.
26,250
Centre of the circle should be located at (90.48, 67.86) so that this point
will be the centroid of the remaining shaded area shown in Fig. 5.35.

Note: The centroid of the given figure will coincide with the centroid of the
figure without circular hole. Hence, the centroid of the given figure may be
obtained by determining the centroid of the figure without the circular hole also.
Example 5.11 Determine the coordinates of the centroid of the plane area shown
in Fig. 5.36 with reference to the axis shown. Take x = 40 mm
Solution. The composite figure is divided into the following simple figures:
(i) A rectangle A1 = (14x) × (12 x) = 168 x2
x1 = 7x; y1 = 6x:
1
(ii) A triangle A2 = (6x) × (4x) = 12x2
2
x2 = 14x + 2x = 16x
4x
y2 =
3
PROPERTIES OF SURFACES AND SOLIDS 207

Fig. 5.36
(iii) A rectangle to be subtracted
A 3 = (–4x) × (4x) = –16x2
x3 = 2x; y3 = 8x + 2x = 10x
(iv) A semicircle to be subtracted
1
A 4 = − π (4 x )2 = −8 πx 2
2
x4 = 6x
4R (4 x ) 16 x
y4 = = 4× =
3π 3π 3π
(v) A quarter of a circle to be subtracted
1
A 5 = − × π (4 x )2 = −4 πx 2
4
4R ⎛ 4x ⎞
x5 = 14 x − = 14 x − (4) ⎜ ⎟ = 12.3023 x
3π ⎝ 3π ⎠

⎛ 4x ⎞
y5 = 12 x − 4 × ⎜ ⎟ = 10.3023 x
⎝ 3π ⎠
Total area A = 168x + 12x2 – 16x2 – 8px2 – 4px2
2

= 126.3009 x2
ΣAi xi
x =
A
ΣAi xi = 168x2 × 7x + 12x2 × 16x – 16x2 × 2x
–8px2 × 6x – 4px2 × 12.3023x
= 1030.6083x
208 ENGINEERING MECHANICS

1030.6083 x 3
\ x =
126.3009 x 2
= 8.1599x = 8.1599 × 40 (since x = 40 mm)
= 326.40 mm
ΣAi yi
y =
A
4x
ΣAi xi = 168 x 2 × 6 x + 12 x 2 × − 16 x 2 × 10 x
3
16 x
−8πx 2 × − 4 πx 2 × 10.3023 x
3π
= 691.8708x3
691.8708
\ y =
126.3009x 2
= 5.4780 x
= 219.12 mm (since x = 40 mm)
Centroid is at (326.40, 219.12) Ans.

5.5 SECOND MOMENTS OF PLANE AREA

Consider the area shown in Fig. 5.37(a). dA is an elemental area with coordinates
as x and y. The term Σy2 i dAi is called moment of inertia of the area about x-axis
and is denoted as Ixx. Similarly, the moment of inertia about y-axis is
Iyy = Σx 2 i dAi
In general, if r is the distance of elemental area dA from the axis AB [Fig.
5.37(b)], the sum of the terms Sr2 dA to cover the entire area is called moment of
inertia of the area about the axis AB. If r and dA can be expressed in general
terms, for any element, then the sum becomes an integral. Thus,
IAB = Σr 2i dAi = ∫ r 2 dA ...(5.6)

Fig. 5.37