Solid Mechanics

Chapter 5:
GEOMETRIC
PROPERTIES OF AN AREA

Academic year: 2021 - 2022

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5.1 CENTROID OF AN AREA
The centroid of an area refers to the point that defines the geometric
center for the area.

The x and y coordinates defining the location of the centroid C are

determined using the formulas

 xdA  ydA
x A
and y A

 dA
A
 dA
A

where  xdA and  ydA are the "first moment" of dA 2

5.1 CENTROID OF AN AREA
It should be noted that the location of the centroid for some areas may
be partially or completely specified by using symmetry conditions. In
cases where the area has an axis of symmetry, the centroid for the area
will lie along that axis.

Composite Areas: Often an area can be sectioned or divided into

several parts having simpler shapes.

x  ~
xA
and y  ~
yA 𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦represent the algebraic distances or x,
A A y coordinates for the centroid of each
composite part, and A represents the sum of
the areas of the composite parts or simply the
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total area.
 5.1 CENTROID OF AN AREA
In particular, if a hole, or a geometric region having no material, is located
within a composite part, the hole is considered as an additional composite
part having a negative area.
Example 5.1 Locate the centroid C of the cross-sectional area for the T -
beam shown in Fig. 5.4a.
Solution I
The y axis is placed along the axis of
symmetry so that x  0 , Fig. 5.4a. To obtain y

we will establish the x axis (reference axis) through

the base of the area.

y  ~
y A 5in.  10in.  2in.  11.5in.  3in.  8in.
  8.55in.
A 10in.  2in.  3in.  8in.

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5.1 CENTROID OF AN AREA
Solution II
Using the same two segments, the x axis can be
located at the top of the area as shown in Fig. 5.4b.
Here

y  ~
y A  8in.  10in.  2in.  ( 1.5in.)  3in.  8in.
  4.45in.
A 10in.  2in.  3in.  8in.

Solution III
It is also possible to consider the cross-sectional area to be
one large rectangle less two small rectangles, Fig. 5.4c.
Here we have

y
 yA 6.5in. 13in.  8in.  2  5in. 10in.  3in.
  8.55in.
A 13in.  8in.  2 10in.  3in.

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 5.2 MOMENT OF INERTIA FOR AN AREA, RADIUS OF
GYRATION
By definition, the moments of inertia of the differential element dA
about the x and y axes are dIx = y2dA and dIy = x2dA, respectively. For the
entire area, the moment of inertia is determined by integration, i.e.,

I x   y 2 dA and I y   x 2 dA
A A

The polar moment of inertia is

J o   r 2 dA  I x  I y
A

The relationship between Jo and Ix, Iy is possible Figure 5.5

since r2 = x2 + y2, Fig. 5.5.

From the above formulations it is seen that Ix, Iy, and Jo will always be
positive, since they involve the product of distance squared and area.
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 5.2 MOMENT OF INERTIA FOR AN AREA, RADIUS OF
GYRATION
The radius of gyration of an area A with respect to the x axis is defined as the
quantity rx, that satisfiies the relation
I
I x  rx2 A rx  x
A
In a similar way, we define the radii of gyration with respect to the y axis and
the origin O. We write
Iy
I y  ry A
2
ry 
A
Jo
Jo  r A
o
2 ro 
A
Substituting for Jo, Ix and Iy in terms of the corresponding radii of gyration in Eq.
5.4, we observe that

ro2  rx2  ry2

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5.2 MOMENT OF INERTIA FOR AN AREA, RADIUS OF GYRATION
 Parallel-Axis Theorem for an area
If the moment of inertia for an area is known about a centroidal axis, we can
determine the moment of inertia of the area about a corresponding parallel axis
using the parallel-axis theorem.
To derive this theorem, consider finding the moment of
inertia of the shaded area shown in Fig. 5.6 about the x
axis

I x    y'  dy  dA   y' 2 dA  2d y  y' dA  d y2  dA

2

A A A A

The result is
I x  I x'  Ad y2
Figure. 5.6 A similar expression can be written for Iy, that is
I y  I y'  Ad x2
The polar moment of inertia about an axis perpendicular to the x-y plane and passing
through the pole O (z axis), Fig. 5.6, we have

J o  J C  Ad 2 8
5.2 MOMENT OF INERTIA FOR AN AREA, RADIUS OF GYRATION
Composite Area:
Many cross-sectional areas consist of a series of connected simpler shapes, such
as rectangles, triangles, and semicircles.

I x   I x '  Ad y2 And I y   I y '  Ad 2

x
And J o   J C  Ad 2

Example 5.2 Determine the moment of inertia of the cross-sectional

area of the T-beam shown in Fig. 5.7a about the centroidal x' axis.
the moment of inertia of a rectangle about its
centroidal axis is I  121 bh
3

Solution I

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5.2 MOMENT OF INERTIA FOR AN AREA, RADIUS OF GYRATION
Composite Area:

Solution II

The area can be considered as one large rectangle less two small rectangles,
shown dashed in Fig. 5.7b. We have

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5.2 MOMENT OF INERTIA FOR AN AREA, RADIUS OF GYRATION
Example 5.3 Determine the moments of inertia of the beam's cross-
sectional area shown in Fig. 5.8a about the x and y centroidal axes.
Solution

The cross section can be considered as three

composite rectangular areas A, B, and D shown in
Fig. 5.8b.
Hence, using the parallel-axis theorem for rectangles
A and D, the computations are as follows:

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5.2 MOMENT OF INERTIA FOR AN AREA, RADIUS OF GYRATION

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5.3 PRODUCT OF INERTIA FOR AN AREA

In general, the moment of inertia for an area is different for every axis about
which it is computed. In some applications of mechanical or structural design it
is necessary to know the orientation of those axes that give, respectively, the
maximum and minimum moments of inertia for the area.

The product of inertia for the differential element

dA in Fig. 5.9. which is located at point (x, y), is
defined as dIxy = xy dA. Thus, for the entire area A,
the product of inertia is

I xy   xydA
A
Fig. 5.9

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5.3 PRODUCT OF INERTIA FOR AN AREA
For example, the product of inertia Ixy for an area will be zero if either the x or y
axis is an axis of symmetry for the area. To show this, consider the shaded area
in Fig. 5.10, where for every element dA located at point (x, y) there is a
corresponding element dA located at (x, -y). Sine the products of inertia for
these elements are, respectively, xy dA and -xy dA, their algebraic sum or the
integration of all the elements of area chosen in this way will cancel each other.

Fig. 5.10

It also follows from the definition of Ixy that the "sign" of this Fig. 5.11
quantity depends on the quadrant where the area is located.
As shown in Fig. 5.11, the sign of Ixy will change as the area is
rotated from one quadrant to the next. 14
5.3 PRODUCT OF INERTIA FOR AN AREA
 Parallel-Axis Theorem
Consider the shaded area shown in Fig. 5.12, where x' and y' represent a set of centroidal
axes, and x and y represent a corresponding set of parallel axes. Since the product of
inertia of dA with respect to the x and y axes is dIxy=(x' + dx)(y' + dy) dA, then for the
entire area,

I xy   x' dx  y' dy dA   x' y' dA  d x  y' dA  d y  x' dA  d x d y  dA

A A A A A

Then, the final result is

I xy  I x' y'  Ad x d y

Fig. 5.12 15
5.3 PRODUCT OF INERTIA FOR AN AREA
Example 5.4 Determine the product of inertia of the beam's cross-
sectional area, shown in Fig. 5.13a, about the x and y centroidal axes.

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5.4 MOMENTS OF INERTIA FOR AN AREA ABOUT
INCLINED AXIS
In mechanical or structural design, it is sometimes necessary to calcu-
late the moments and product of inertia Ix’, Iy’ and Ix’y’ for an area with
respect to a set of inclined x' and y' axes when the values for , Ix, Iy, and
Ixy are known.
The transformation equations
x' = x cos  + y sin 
y' = y cos  - x sin 

The moments and product of inertia

of dA about the x' and y' axes become

dIx’ = y'2 dA = (y cos  - x sin )2 dA

dIy’ = x'2 dA = (x cos  + y sin )2 dA
Fig. 5.14
dIx’ y’ = x' y' dA = (x cos  + y sin )(y cos  - x sin ) dA
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5.4 MOMENTS OF INERTIA FOR AN AREA ABOUT
INCLINED AXIS
Expanding each expression and integrating, we obtain
Ix’ = Ix cos2  + Iy sin2  – 2Ixy sin  cos 
Iy’ = Ix sin2  + Iy cos2  + 2Ixy sin  cos 
Ix’y’ = Ix sin  cos  - Iy sin  cos  + Ixy(cos2  - sin2 )

The final reuslts are:

Ix  Iy Ix  Iy
I x'   cos 2  I xy sin 2
2 2
Ix  I y Ix  Iy
I y'   cos 2  I xy sin 2 (*)
2 2
I  Iy
I x' y'  x sin 2  I xy cos 2
2
The polar moment of inertia about the z axis passing through point O is
independent of the orientation of the x' and y' axes; i.e.,
Jo =Ix’ + Iy’ = Ix + Iy 18
5.4 MOMENTS OF INERTIA FOR AN AREA ABOUT
INCLINED AXIS
 Principal Moments of Inertia
The inclined axes which it’s orientation have the moments of inertia for
the area, Ix’, Iy’ are maximum and minimum is called the principal axes
of inertia for the area, and the corresponding moments of inertia with
respect to these axes are called the principal moments of inertia.
The angle  = p, which defines the orientation of the principal axes for the
area, may be found by differentiating the first of Eq. (*) with respect to  and
setting the result equal to zero. Thus,
dI x' Ix  Iy
 2 sin 2  2 I xy cos 2  0
d 2
Therefore, at  = p
 I xy
tan 2 p 
I x  I y  / 2 (**)

This equation has two roots, p1 and p2 which are 90° apart and so specify the
inclination of each principal axis. 19
 5.4 MOMENTS OF INERTIA FOR AN AREA ABOUT
INCLINED AXIS
 Principal Moments of Inertia
The sine and cosine of 2p1 and 2p2 can be obtained from the triangles
shown in Fig. 5.15, which are based on Eq. (**). If these trigonometric
relations are substituted into the first or second of Eq. (*) and simplified,
the result is

Ix  Iy  Ix  Iy 
2

I max      I xy2
min 2  2 

If the above trigonometric relations for p1

and p2 are substituted into the third of
Eq. (*), it will be seen that Ix’y’ = 0; that is,
the product of inertia with respect to the
principal axes is zero.
any symmetrical axis represents a principal axis of Fig. 5.15
inertia for the area. 20
5.4 MOMENTS OF INERTIA FOR AN AREA ABOUT
INCLINED AXIS
Example 5.5 Determine the principal moments of inertia for the beam's
cross-sectional area shown in Fig. 5.16 with respect to an axis passing
through the centroid C.
Solution

The moments and product of inertia of

the cross section with respect to the x, y
axes have been computed in Examples 5.3
and 5.4. The results are

Ix = 2.90(109) mm Iy = 5.60(109) mm
Ixy = -3.00(109) mm4
Using Eq. (**), the angles of inclination of the principal axes
Fig. 5.16 x' and y' are
 I xy 3.00( 109 )
tan 2 p 
I x  I y  / 2  [ 2.90( 109 )  5.6( 109 )] / 2  2.22
2p1 = 114.2° and 2p2 = -65.8° OR p1 = 57.1° and p2 = -32.9° 21
 5.4 MOMENTS OF INERTIA FOR AN AREA ABOUT
INCLINED AXIS
The principal moments of inertia with respect to the x' and y' axes are
determined by using Eq. (***). Hence,

Ix  Iy  Ix  Iy 
2

I max      I xy2
min 2  2 
2
2.9  10  5.6  10  2.9  10  5.6  10 
 
9 9 9 9
2
      3  109
2  2 
 4.25  109  3.29  109

OR
Imax = 7.54(109) mm4 Imin = 0.960(109) mm4

Specifically, the maximum moment of inertia, Imax = 7.54(109) mm4 occurs

with respect to the x' axis (major axis), since by inspection most of the
cross-sectional area is farthest away from this axis. To provcz this,
substitute the data with  = 57.1° into the first of Eq. (*).
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Geometric Properties of Area
Elements

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Geometric Properties of Area
Elements

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Geometric Properties of Area
Elements

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