Equilibrium of Force System

Resultant =0
Free Body Diagram (FBD) = an isolated view of a body which shows only the external forces
exerted on the body.

Equations of Equilibrium

R X =∑ X =0 M X =∑ M X =0
R

RY =∑ Y =0 ∑ F=0 M RY =∑ M Y =0 ∑ M =0
R Z =∑ Z=0 M RZ =∑ M Z =0

Action of Forces

1. Weight
 cg

2. Flexible cord, rope, cable or wire = tension

θ θ

3. Smooth Surface = normal to the supporting surface

θ
θ
θ

Reaction

4. Roller = normal to the supporting surface

 θ

5. Hinge or Smooth Pin

θ H

6. Fixed wall or rigid support

 M
H

7. Ball and Socket Joint

Z
X

External forces

a. Weight
b. External load
c. Reactions

Example 1: The forces on the gusset plate of a joint in a bridge truss act as shown in the figure.
Determine the values of P and F to maintain equilibrium of the joint.

Required: P and F

Solution:
∑ F x =0+→
PCos 15−4000 cos 45−FCos 60=0
PCos 15−FCos60=2828.43 eqn 1

∑ F y =0+↑
PSin 15+4000 sin 45−FSin 60−3000=0
PSin 15−FSin 60=171.57 eqn 2
P=3342.79 lbs
F=800.91 lbs

Example 2: Cords are looped around a small spacer separating two cylinders each
weighing 400lbs and pass as shown in the figure, over frictionless pulleys to weight of
200lb and 600lbs. Determine the angle, θ and the normal reaction, N between the
cylinder and the smooth horizontal surface.

Required: N and θ 800

600
Solution: θ
200 ∑ X=0+ →
600 cos θ−200=0
θ=cos−1 ( )
200
600
=70.53

N
∑ Y =0+↑ N=234.31lbs
N−800+600 sin 70.53=0

Example 3: Solve the previous example if the cylinders rest on a smooth surface inclined
up to the right at 15o with the horizontal.
Required: N and θ
800
Solution: 600
θ 15o

200
∑ X=0+ ↗
15o
15o N

600 cos ( θ−15 )−800sin 15−200 cos 15=0

( θ−15 )=cos−1 ( 200 cos 15+800 sin 15
600 )
=48.16
θ−15=48.16
θ=48.16+15=63.16

∑ Y =0+↖
N +200 sin 15−800 cos 15+600 sin 48.16=0
N=273.97lbs

Coplanar Force System

Case 1: Concurrent Forces
∑ X=0
∑ Y =0
Case 2: Parallel Forces
∑ Y =0
∑ M =0 1

∑ M A =0 2
∑ M B=0
Case 3: Non – concurrent, Non – parallel Forces
∑ X=0
∑ Y =0
∑ M =0 1

∑ Y =0
∑ M A =0 2

∑ M B=0
∑ M A =0
∑ M B=0
∑ M C =0 3

Example 1: Determine the forces P, F, and T required to keep the triangular frame shown
in the figure in equilibrium.

Required: P, F & T to maintain equilibrium

Solution:
∑ M B=0+↷
3600 ( 12 )−T ( 8 )=0
T =5400 lbs

1 8
= ; cd=24
3 cd
2 8
= ;ce=12
3 ce
∑ M D=0+↷
3 2
1200 ( 24 ) −3600 (12 ) + ( F )( 8 ) + ( F )( 24 )=0
√ 13 √ 13
F=721.11lbs

∑ M E=0+↷
3 1
3600 ( 24 ) −1200 (12 ) − ( P) (8)− ( P ) ( 12 )=0
√ 10 √ 10
P=6324.56lbs
Example 2: The weight of the trapezoidal block is 7200lbs acting where shown in the
figure. The ground reaction varies uniformly from an intensity of ρA lb/ft at A to ρB lb/ft
at B. Determine ρA and ρB.

Required: ρA and ρB to maintain equilibrium

Solution:
1
P A = ρ A ( 12 )=6 ρ A
2
1
PB = ρB ( 12 )=6 ρB
2

∑ M C =0+↷
7200 ( 1 )−PB ( 4 )=0
7200 ( 1 )−6 ρ B ( 4 )=0
lbs
ρ B=300
ft

∑ M D=0+↷ C
D

P A ( 4 )−7200 ( 3 ) =0 4
4
6 ρ A ( 4 ) −7200 ( 3 )=0
PA PB
lbs
ρ A =900
ft

Example 3: If each pulley shown in the figure weighs 36lbs and W = 720lbs, find P to
maintain equilibrium.

Required: P to maintain equilibrium

FBD A
∑ Y =0+↑ T
T
T

36
 720

3 T −36−720=0
756
T= =252lbs
3

FBD B
∑ Y =0+↑ P
P
3 P−36−252=0 P
288
P= =96 lbs
3

36

T=252

Example 4.: Compute the tension, T in the cable and the horizontal and vertical
components of the reaction at A. Neglect the weight of the boom and the size of the
pulley at D.

Required: T, VA & HA

Solution:
∑ M D=0+↷
200 ( 2 ) +100 ( 6 )−H A ( 8 )=0
H A =125 lbs

∑ M A =0+↷
2
200 ( 2 ) +100 ( 6 )− ( T )( 4 ) =0
√5
T =279.51 lbs
2

∑ M C =0+↷
1

V A ( 4 )−200 ( 2 ) + ( 100 ) ( 2 )=0

V A =50 lbs

Example 4: The Fink truss in the figure shown is supported by a hinge at A and by rollers
on a 1 to 2 slope at B. The bracing bars are normal to the inclined members at their
midpoints. The wind loads are perpendicular to AC. Determine the horizontal and
vertical components of the reaction at A and B.
Required: horizontal and vertical
components of the reaction at A and B

Solution:

12

36

12 √ 10 x 12 √ 10 ( 6 √10 ) 72 ( 10 )
= ; x= = =20
36 6 √ 10 36 36

∑ M A =0+↷
3160 ( 6 √ 10 ) +1580 ( 12 √ 10 ) +8400 ( 20 ) +18,000 ( 52 )−BV ( 72 )=0
BV =16,998.80lbs

∑ F V =0+↑
3
AV + 16998.80−8400−18000− ( 1580+3160+1580 )=0
√10
AV =15 , 396.90lbs

2
16,998.80 lbs= RB
√5
R B=19,005.24 lbs

1 1
BH = R B= ( 19,005.24 )=8,499.40
√5 √5

∑ F H =0+→
1
( 1580+3160+1580 )−8499.40− A H =0
√10
A H =−6,500.84 lbs(WAD )

Example 5: The forces acting on a 1-ft length of a dam are shown in the figure. The
upward ground reaction varies uniformly from an intensity of ρA lbs/ft at A to ρB lbs/ft at
B. Determine ρA and ρB and also the horizontal resistance to sliding.

Required: ρA and ρB and horizontal

resistance to sliding

Solution:
1
P A = ρ A ( 18 )=9 ρ A
2
1
PB = ρB ( 18 )=9 ρB
2

∑ F H =0+→
10,000−H −6000 cos 30=0
H=4803.85 lbs

∑ F V =0+↑
P A + P B−24,000−6000 sin 30=0
9 ρ A + 9 ρ B =27000
ρ A + ρB =3000
ρ A =3000− ρB eqn 1

∑ M B=0+↷

P A ( 12 ) + PB ( 6 ) +10,000 ( 6 )−24000 ( 11 )−6000 ( 4 )=0 ρA

ρB
9 ρ A ( 12 ) +9 ρ B ( 6 ) +10,000 ( 6 )−24000 ( 11 )−6000 ( 4 )=0 PA
PB
18 ρ A + 9 ρB +10,000−4000 ( 11 )−1000 ( 4 )=0
18 ρ A + 9 ρB=38,000 eqn 2
1 in 2
18 ( 3000− ρB ) + 9 ρB=38,000
54,000−18 ρ B +9 ρ B=38,000
9 ρ B=16,000
ρ B=1,777.78 lbs/ ft

ρ A =3000−1777.78=1 ,222.22 lbs/ft

Example 6: A 12-ft bar of negligible weight rest in a horizontal position on the smooth
incline in the figure. Compute the distance x at which load T = 100lbs should be placed
from point B to keep the bar horizontal.

Required: x to maintain equilibrium

Solution:
ΔACO
h
tan 60= ; h=x A tan 60 eqn 1
xA

ΔBCO
h
tan 45= ;
( 12−x A ) O

h=( 12−x A ) tan 45 eqn 2

1=2
x A tan 60=( 12−x A ) tan 45
x A tan 60=12 tan 45−x A tan 45 C

x A tan 60+ x A tan 45=12 tan 45

x A ( tan 60+ tan 45 ) =12 tan 45
12 tan 45
x A= =4.39 ft
tan 60+ tan 45

∑ M O =0+↷
200 ( 1.39 )=100 ( 7.61−x )
x=4.83 ft
Assignment:
1. Bar AB of negligible weight is subjected to a vertical force of 600lbs and a
horizontal force of 300 lbs applied as shown in the figure. Find the angle, θ at
which equilibrium exists. Assume smooth inclined surfaces.

2. The roof truss in the figure shown is supported by a hinge at A and a horizontal
roller support at B. The wind loads are perpendicular to BC. Compute the total
reactions at A and B.
3. A pulley of 1-ft radius, supporting a load of 500lbs, is mounted at B on a
horizontal beam as shown in the figure. If the beam weighs 200lbs and the pulley
weighs 50lbs, find the hinge force at C.

4. The wheel loads on a small tractor crossing an 18 feet span are given in the figure.
Determine the distance, x at which the support reaction at A is twice that at B.

5. A beam supports a load varying uniformly from an intensity of w lbs/ft at the left end to
p lbs/ft at the right end. Find the values of w and p to cause the reactions shown in the
figure.