ENGINEERING MECHANICS

ME: 2303

Moments of Inertia

Md. Akibul Islam

Assistant Professor,
Department of ME,DUET
 Contents

Introduction Moments of Inertia of Composite

Moments of Inertia of an Area
Moment of Inertia of an Area by
Integration
Polar Moment of Inertia
Radius of Gyration of an Area
Sample Problem 9.1
Sample Problem 9.3
Problem 1
Parallel Axis Theorem
Areas
Sample Problem 9.5
Product of Inertia
Sample Problem 9.6
Moment of Inertia of a Mass
Parallel Axis Theorem
Moment of Inertia of Common
Geometric Shapes
Problem 2
Sample Problem 9.12

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 Introduction
• Previously considered distributed forces which were proportional to the area
or volume over which they act.
- The resultant was obtained by summing or integrating over the areas or
volumes.
- The moment of the resultant about any axis was determined by
computing the first moments of the areas or volumes about that axis.

• Will now consider forces which are proportional to the area or volume over
which they act but also vary linearly with distance from a given axis.
- It will be shown that the magnitude of the resultant depends on the first
moment of the force distribution with respect to the axis.
- The point of application of the resultant depends on the second
moment of the distribution with respect to the axis.

• Current chapter will present methods for computing the moments and
products of inertia for areas and masses.

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 Moment of Inertia of an Area

• Consider distributed forces F whose magnitudes are
proportional to the elemental areas A on which they
act and also vary linearly with the distance of A
from a given axis.
• Example: Consider a beam subjected to pure bending.
Internal forces vary linearly with distance from the
neutral axis which passes through the section centroid.

F = kyA
R = k  y dA = 0  y dA = Q x = first moment
M = k  y 2 dA  dA = second moment
y 2

• Example: Consider the net hydrostatic force on a

submerged circular gate.
F = pA = yA
R =   y dA
M x =   y 2 dA
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 Moment of Inertia of an Area by Integration

• Second moments or moments of inertia of

an area with respect to the x and y axes,
I x =  y 2 dA I y =  x 2 dA

• Evaluation of the integrals is simplified by

choosing dA to be a thin strip parallel to
one of the coordinate axes.

• For a rectangular area,

h
I x =  y dA =  y 2bdy = 13 bh 3
2

• The formula for rectangular areas may also

be applied to strips parallel to the axes,
dI x = 13 y 3dx dI y = x 2 dA = x 2 y dx

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 Polar Moment of Inertia

• The polar moment of inertia is an important

parameter in problems involving torsion of
cylindrical shafts and rotations of slabs.
J 0 =  r 2 dA

• The polar moment of inertia is related to the

rectangular moments of inertia,

𝐽0 = න𝑟 2 𝑑𝐴 = න 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 𝑑𝐴 = න𝑥 2 𝑑𝐴 + න𝑦 2 𝑑𝐴
= 𝐼𝑦 + 𝐼𝑥

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 Radius of Gyration of an Area
• Consider area A with moment of inertia
Ix. Imagine that the area is concentrated
in a thin strip parallel to the x axis with
equivalent Ix.
Ix
I x = kx A
2
kx =
A
kx = radius of gyration with respect
to the x axis
• Similarly,
Iy
Iy = k y2 A ky =
A
JO
J O = kO2 A kO =
A
kO2 = k x2 + k y2

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 Sample Problem 9.1
Determine the moment of inertia of a triangle with respect to its base.

SOLUTION:
• A differential strip parallel to the x axis is chosen for
dA.
dI x = y 2dA dA = l dy

• For similar triangles,

l h− y h− y h− y
= l =b dA = b dy
b h h h

• Integrating dIx from y = 0 to y = h,

h− y
( )
h
bh 2
I x =  y dA =  y b
2 2
dy =  hy − y 3 dy
0 h h0
h
b  y3 y 4  bh3
= h −  I x=
h 3 4 12
0

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 Sample Problem 9.3
(a) Determine the moment of inertia of the shaded area shown with respect to each of the
coordinate axes. (b) Using the results of part a, determine the radius of gyration of the shaded
area with respect to each of the coordinate axes.

SOLUTION:
• we obtain the following expressions for the
equation of the curve and the total area:

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 Sample Problem 9.3
Moment of Inertia Ix.
A vertical differential element of area is chosen to be dA. Since all portions of this
element are not at the same distance from the x axis, we must treat the element as a thin
rectangle. The moment of inertia of the element with respect to the x axis is then,

Moment of Inertia Iy.

The same vertical differential element of area is used. Since all portions of the element are
at the same distance from the y axis, we write

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 Sample Problem 9.3

Radius of Gyration 𝒌𝒙 and 𝒌𝒚 By definition

𝑏2
𝒌𝒙 =
7

3𝑎2
𝒌𝒚 =
5

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 Problem 1
Compute the moments of inertia of the shaded area shown in figure about x and y axes.

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 Problem 1

SOLUTION:
• An annular differential area element is chosen,

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 Problem 1

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 Parallel Axis Theorem

• Consider moment of inertia I of an area A

with respect to the axis AA’

I =  y 2 dA

• The axis BB’ passes through the area centroid

and is called a centroidal axis.

I =  y 2 dA =  ( y  + d )2 dA
=  y  2 dA + 2d  y dA + d 2  dA

I = I + Ad 2 parallel axis theorem

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 Parallel Axis Theorem

• Moment of inertia IT of a circular area with

respect to a tangent to the circle,
( )
I T = I + Ad 2 = 14  r 4 +  r 2 r 2

= 54  r 4

• Moment of inertia of a triangle with respect to a

centroidal axis,
I AA = I BB + Ad 2

I BB = I AA − Ad 2 = 12 ( )2
1 bh 3 − 1 bh 1 h
2 3
= 36
1 bh 3

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 Moments of Inertia of Composite Areas
• The moment of inertia of a composite area A about a given axis is obtained
by adding the moments of inertia of the component areas A1, A2, A3, ... ,
with respect to the same axis.

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 Sample Problem 9.5
Determine the moment of inertia of the shaded area with respect to the x axis.

SOLUTION:
• Compute the moments of inertia of the
bounding rectangle and half-circle with
respect to the x axis.

• The moment of inertia of the shaded area is

obtained by subtracting the moment of
inertia of the half-circle from the moment
of inertia of the rectangle.

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 Sample Problem 9.5

• Compute the moments of inertia of the bounding

rectangle and half-circle with respect to the x axis.

Rectangle:
I x = 13 bh3 = 13 (240)(120) = 138.2  106 mm 4

Half-circle:
moment of inertia with respect to AA’,
I AA = 18 r 4 = 18  (90)4 = 25.76  106 mm 4

moment of inertia with respect to x’,

a=
4r (4 )(90)
= = 38.2 mm ( )(
I x = I AA − Aa 2 = 25.76  106 12.72  103 )
3 3
= 7.20  106 mm 4
b = 120 - a = 81.8 mm
moment of inertia with respect to x,
1 r 2 1 (90)
A= =
( )
2
2 2
I x = I x + Ab 2 = 7.20  106 + 12.72  103 (81.8)2
= 12.72  10 mm 3 2
= 92.3  106 mm 4

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 Sample Problem 9.5

• The moment of inertia of the shaded area is obtained by subtracting the

moment of inertia of the half-circle from the moment of inertia of the rectangle.

Ix = 138.2  106 mm4 − 92.3  106 mm4

I x = 45.9  106 mm 4

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 Product of Inertia

• Product of Inertia:
I xy =  xy dA

• When the x axis, the y axis, or both are an

axis of symmetry, the product of inertia is
zero.

• Parallel axis theorem for products of inertia:

I xy = I xy + x yA

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 Sample Problem 9.6
Determine the product of inertia of the right triangle (a) with respect to the x and y axes
and (b) with respect to centroidal axes parallel to the x and y axes.

SOLUTION:
• Determine the product of inertia using
direct integration with the parallel axis
theorem on vertical differential area strips
• Apply the parallel axis theorem to
evaluate the product of inertia with respect
to the centroidal axes.

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 Sample Problem 9.6

• Determine the product of inertia using direct integration

with the parallel axis theorem on vertical differential
area strips
 x  x
y = h1 −  dA = y dx = h1 − dx
 b  b
 x
xel = x yel = 12 y = 12 h1 − 
 b

Integrating dIx from x = 0 to x = b,

()
b 2
2x
I xy =  dI xy =  xel yel dA =  x 1 h 1 −  dx
0
2
 b
b 2 b
2 x x
2
x3   x 2 x3 x 4 
=h  − + dx = h  − + 2 
 2 b 2b 2 
0   4 3b 8b  0

I xy = 24
1 b2h 2

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 Sample Problem 9.6

• Apply the parallel axis theorem to evaluate the

product of inertia with respect to the centroidal axes.

x = 13 b y = 13 h
With the results from part a,
I xy = I xy + x yA
I xy = 24 ( )(13 h)(12 bh)
1 b 2h 2 − 1 b
3

I xy = − 72
1 b2h2

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 Moment of Inertia of a Mass

• Angular acceleration about the axis AA’ of the

small mass m due to the application of a
couple is proportional to r2m.
r2m = moment of inertia of the
mass m with respect to the
axis AA’

• For a body of mass m the resistance to rotation

about the axis AA’ is
I = r12 m + r22 m + r32 m + 
=  r 2 dm = mass moment of inertia

• The radius of gyration for a concentrated mass

with equivalent mass moment of inertia is
I
I = k 2m k=
m

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 Moment of Inertia of a Mass

• Moment of inertia with respect to the y coordinate

axis is
( )
I y =  r 2 dm =  z 2 + x 2 dm

• Similarly, for the moment of inertia with respect to

the x and z axes,
( )
I x =  y 2 + z 2 dm
I z =  (x 2 + y 2 )dm

• In SI units,
(
I =  r 2 dm = kg  m 2 )
In U.S. customary units,

( )
 lb  s 2 2 
I = slug  ft = 
2
 ft
(
ft  = lb  ft  s 2

)
 
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 Parallel Axis Theorem
• For the rectangular axes with origin at O and parallel
centroidal axes,
( )  
I x =  y 2 + z 2 dm =  ( y  + y )2 + ( z  + z )2 dm
=  (y  2 + z  2 )dm + 2 y  y dm + 2 z  z dm + (y 2 + z 2 ) dm

I x = I x + m(y 2 + z 2 )

I y = I y + m(z 2 + x 2 )
I z = I z + m(x 2 + y 2 )

• Generalizing for any axis AA’ and a parallel centroidal

axis,
I = I + md 2

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Moments of Inertia of Common Geometric Shapes

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 Problem 2
Determine the mass moments of inertia of the circular bending rod as shown in figure.

SOLUTION:
2 2 3
Given, y=(𝑎 − 𝑥 ) 3 3 2 2 2 3
y=(𝑎 − 𝑥 )
3 3 2
2 2 1 1
𝑑𝑦 3 2 −3
= (𝑎 − 𝑥 ) . -
3 3 2 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 2 3
1 2 2 1
−3
= − 𝑥 (𝑎 − 𝑥 ) 3 3 2

By considering the bending rod divided into many small section

Mass of small section, dm = 𝑚ƴ . dL where, 𝑚ƴ = mass per unit length

dL= 𝑑𝑥 2 + 𝑑𝑦 2 dL
𝑑𝑦 dy
= 𝑑𝑥 2 (1 + (𝑑𝑥 )2
𝑑𝑦 dx
= (1 + (𝑑𝑥 )2 ). dx

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 Problem 2
2 2 2
𝑑𝑦 −
Now, 1 + ( )2 = 1+ 𝑥 (𝑎 − 𝑥 )
3 3 3 2 2 3
𝑑𝑥 y=(𝑎 − 𝑥 )
3 3 2

𝑎 2 𝑎 2
= 1+ ( )3 -1 = ( )3
𝑥 𝑥

dm = 𝑚 ́ . dL
𝑑𝑦 𝑎 1
= 𝑚 ́. 1+ ( )2 . dx = 𝑚 ́. ( )3 dx
𝑑𝑥 𝑥

Total mass, m =‫𝑚𝑑 ׬‬

𝑎 𝑎 1 3 1 2
3
= ‫׬‬0 𝑚 ́. ( )3 dx = 𝑚ƴ 𝑎 [𝑥 ]𝑎0 = 𝑚a
3 3 ƴ
𝑥 2 2

2𝑚
ƴ =
∴𝑚
3𝑎

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 Problem 2

𝑎 𝑎 1
𝐼𝑦 = ‫׬‬ 𝑥2 dm = ‫׬‬0 𝑥 2 . {𝑚 ́. ( )3 }.dx
𝑥 2 2 3
1 5
= 𝑚 ́𝑎 ‫׬‬0 𝑥 dx
3
𝑎
3 y=(𝑎 − 𝑥 )
3 3 2

1 8
3
= 𝑚 ́𝑎 3 . . [𝑥 3 ]𝑎0
8
1 8
3 (3+3)
= 𝑚ƴ 𝑎
8 2𝑚
=
3 2𝑚 3
. .𝑎 ƴ =
∴𝑚
3𝑎
8 3𝑎
𝑚𝑎2
=
4

𝑚𝑎2
By symmetry, 𝐼𝑦 = 𝐼𝑥 =
4

𝑚𝑎2 𝑚𝑎2 𝑚𝑎2

𝐼𝑧 = 𝐼𝑥 + 𝐼𝑦 = + =
4 4 2

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 Sample Problem 9.12
Determine the moments of inertia of the steel forging with respect to the xyz coordinate
axes, knowing that the specific weight of steel is 490 lb/ft3.

SOLUTION:
• With the forging divided into a prism and
two cylinders, compute the mass and
moments of inertia of each component
with respect to the xyz axes using the
parallel axis theorem.
• Add the moments of inertia from the
components to determine the total moments
of inertia for the forging.

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 Sample Problem 9.12
• Compute the moments of inertia cylinders (a = 1in., L = 3in., x = 2.5in., y = 2in.) :
of each component with respect
to the xyz axes. I x = 12 ma 2 + my 2

= 12 (0.0829) 12
1( )2
+ (0.0829) 12
2 ( )2
= 2.59  10−3 lb  ft  s 2

I y = 12  
1 m 3a 2 + L2 + mx 2

= 12
 12
( ) (123 )2  + (0.0829)(212.5 )2
1 (0.0829)3 1 2 +

= 4.17  10−3 lb  ft  s 2
each cylinder :

m=
V
=
(490 lb/ft 3 )(  12  3)in 3 I yZ = 12   
1 m 3a 2 + L2 + m x 2 + y 2 
g (1728in3 ft 3 )(32.2 ft s2 ) ( ) (123 )2  + (0.0829)(212.5 )2 + (122 )2 
1 (0.0829)3 1 2 +
= 12
m = 0.0829 lb  s 2 ft  12
= 6.48  10−3 lb  ft  s 2
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 Sample Problem 9.12
prism (a = 2 in., b = 6 in., c = 2 in.):
 
1 m b 2 + c 2 = 1 (0.211) 6 2 +
I x = I z = 12 12  12
( ) (122 )2 
= 4.88  10−3 lb  ft  s 2

 
1 m c 2 + a 2 = 1 (0.211) 2 2 +
I y = 12 12  12
( ) (122 )2 
= 0.977  10−3 lb  ft  s 2
• Add the moments of inertia from the components
to determine the total moments of inertia.
(
I x = 4.88  10−3 + 2 2.59  10−3 )
prism : I x = 10.06  10−3 lb  ft  s 2

m=
V
=
(490 lb/ft 3 )(2  2  6 )in 3 (
I y = 0.977  10−3 + 2 4.17  10−3 )
g (1728in3 ft 3 )(32.2 ft s2 ) I y = 9.32  10−3 lb  ft  s 2
m = 0.211 lb  s 2 ft
(
I z = 4.88  10−3 + 2 6.48  10−3 )
I z = 17.84  10−3 lb  ft  s 2
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 Acknowledgement

In this PowerPoint presentation, most of the slide has been made from the lecture
note of Ferdinand P. Beer. Russell Johnston, Jr. Special thanks to J. Walt Oler
(Texas Tech University ) for his valuable information about the Moment of Inertia.

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Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology, Gazipur-1707