ENGINEERING MECHANICS

Eng.(Mrs). J .B . Samarasinghe
jeevani27@gmail.com
Lecture 1
Statics of a Rigid
Body
Introduction
• Engineering Mechanics consists of study of both
statics and dynamics.

• Statics deals with the equilibrium of bodies at rest or

moving with constant velocity .

• Dynamics deals entirely with bodies in motion.

• Dynamics is subdivided in to two parts.

Kinematics
Kinetics
Statics of a Rigid Body
• A particle will be in equilibrium, if the resultant of a
number of forces acting on a particle is zero.

• Such asset of forces whose resultant is zero, are

called equilibrium of forces.

• In this lesson we study conditions that have to be

satisfied for the equilibrium of the system.
Necessary and sufficient conditions for the
equilibrium of a rigid body.

1. The sum of the moments of the forces about a point

is zero and the vector sum of the forces is zero. ie,
𝑀𝑃 =0, 𝐹𝑥 = 𝐹𝑦 = 0
2. The sum of the moments about three non collinear
points are zero.
𝑴𝑷𝟏 = 𝑴𝑷𝟐 = 𝑴𝑷𝟑 = 0
3. The sums of the moments of the forces about two
distinct points are zero and the sum of the resolved
parts of the forces in a direction which is not
perpendicular to the line joining the two points is zero.
Necessary Conditions for the equilibrium of a
rigid body

• (𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡) = 0 ie. 𝑀𝑃 = 0

• 𝐹𝑥 =0, sum of the resolved components of the

forces in any direction is zero.

• 𝐹𝑅 =0, vector sum of the forces = 0.

• If three forces are acting, then all three forces should

pass through a common point,(Lami’s Theorem) or
the forces should be parallel.
Hinges and Joints
Light Smooth Hinge

Axis of Rotation

Smooth Bearing Surface

If two rigid bodies are smoothly hinged then the hinge exerts
equal and opposite forces on the members, and cannot exert
any couple on the bodies.
Two bodies connected by a rigid joint cannot move relative
to each other without breaking the joint. In addition to equal
and opposite forces; equal and opposite couples are acting
at the joint.
Free-Body Diagram

A diagram of a body (or a part of it) which shows all the

forces and couples applied on it, and which has all the
forces and couples labeled for use in the solution of the
problem is called a free-body diagram.
Follow these steps to draw a free-body diagram.
1. Select the body (or part of a body) that you want to
analyze, and draw it.

2. Identify all the forces and couples that are applied onto
the body and draw them on the body.

3. Place each force and couple at the point that it is

applied.

4. Label all the forces and couples with unique labels for
use during the solution process.

5. Add any relevant dimensions onto your picture.

Composite bodies and internal
forces
• Forces and couples which are a result of interaction
between one part of an object and another part of it will
not appear in the free-body diagram of the whole
object.

• This is due to Newton’s 3rd law.

• When the two parts are looked at as a single body, the

internal forces and couples are added together, and as
a result of Newton’s third law will cancel.
Worked Example I
The pulley and shaft shown in figure have a mass of
102kg and the tensions in the sides of the belt pressing
round the pulley are 2000N and 500N. Find the
magnitude and direction of the resultant force on the
bearing.
Bearing reactions are V &H

Resolve the forces

→ 2000 + 500 cos 30 = H
H = 2433 N = 2.43kN

↑ 500 cos 60 + v = 102 x 9.81

V = 102 x 9.81 - 250
= 750.62N = 0.75kN

Bearing reaction = =

= 2.54 kN

tan θ =
= 170 8’ to Horizontal
Worked Example II
Determine the tension in the cable and the horizontal
and vertical components of reaction of the pin A, if the
system shown in figure is in equilibrium. The pulley at
D is frictionless and weight of the beam AC can be
neglected.
 = T x 5 + T sin θ x 10 – 80 x15 = 0
T = 86.08 N

= Ax - T cos θ = 0

Horizontal component Ax = 38.49 N

= Ay + T + T sin θ - 80 = 0

Vertical component Ay = 83.07N

THE END