ME 241: Engineering Mechanics Lecture: 11

ENGINEERING MECHANICS
ME 241

Chapter 5: Centroid and

Center of Gravity

Dr. Md. Ashiqur Rahman

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LAST CLASS:

 Center of gravity of a body

 Centroid of a line, area

 Axis of symmetry and center of symmetry

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LAST CLASS

x A   x dA  Q y
 If an area possesses a line
of symmetry, its centroid
x L   x dL lies on that axis.

yL   y dL

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LAST CLASS
Center of Symmetry:

• If an area possesses two lines of symmetry, its centroid lies at

their intersection.
• An area is symmetric with respect to a center O if for every element
dA at (x,y) there exists an area dA’ of equal area at (-x,-y).

• An area having two axes of symmetry does not necessarily

possess a center of symmetry, except for axes of symmetry
at right angles.
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CENTROIDS OF COMMON SHAPES OF AREAS

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CENTROIDS OF COMMON SHAPES OF AREAS

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CENTROIDS OF COMMON SHAPES OF LINES

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DETERMINATION OF CENTROIDS BY DIRECT INTEGRATION

 The double integration to find the first moment:

x A   x dA   x dx dy
yA   y dA   y dx dy

 Double integration to find the first

moment may be avoided by defining
dA as a thin rectangle or strip.

 Let’s denote the coordinates of the

centroid of the element dA by xel
and yel.
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DETERMINATION OF CENTROIDS BY DIRECT INTEGRATION

Using a Vertical strip to perform single integration to find the first

moments.

x A   xel dA yA   yel dA

 xel and yel should be expressed in

terms of the coordinates of a point
located on the curve bounding the
area under consideration

yA   yel dA x A   xel dA

 ydx    x  ydx 
y

2
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DETERMINATION OF CENTROIDS BY DIRECT INTEGRATION

Similarly
• We can use a Horizontal strip to perform a single integration to find
the first moments.

x A   xel dA
ax
  a  x dy 
2

yA   yel dA

  y a  x dy 
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PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGY

1. Choose an appropriate differential element dA at a general

point (x,y).
• Hint: Generally, if y is easily expressed in terms of x (e.g.,
y = x2 + 1), use a vertical rectangular element.
• If the converse is true, then use a horizontal rectangular
element.

2. Express dA in terms of the differentiating element dx (or dy).

3. Express all the variables and integral limits in the formula using
either x or y depending on whether the differential element is in
terms of dx or dy, respectively, and integrate.

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Example 5.4

Determine, by Direct Integration, the

location of the centroid of a parabolic
spandrel.

Strategy:

• Determine the constant k.

• Evaluate the total area.

• Using either vertical or horizontal strips, perform a single
integration to find the first moments.
• Evaluate the centroid coordinates.

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Solution: • Determine the constant k.

y  k x2
b
bka k  2
2

a
b 2 a 12
y 2 x or x  12 y
a b

Using a Vertical Strip:

• Evaluate the total area.
A   dA
a  3 a
b b x
  y dx   2 x 2 dx   2 
0a  a 3  0
ab

3
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Solution:
• Using a vertical strip, perform a single integration to find the
first moments.

 b 2
a
Q y   xel dA   xy dx   x 2 x dx
0  
a
a
b x  4
a 2b
 2  
 a 4 0 4

2
1 b 
a
y
Qx   yel dA   y dx    2 x 2  dx
2 0
2a 
a
b x 
2 5
ab 2
 4  
 2a 5  0 10
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Alternate Solution:

Using a Horizontal Strip:

ax a2  x2
b
Q y   xel dA   a  x dy   dy
2 0
2
1  2 a2 
b
a 2b
   a  y dy 
2 0 b  4

 a 12
Qx   yel dA   y a  x dy   y a  1 2 y dy
 b 
 a 32
b
ab 2
   ay  1 2 y dy 
0 
b 10
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Solution:

 Evaluate the centroid coordinates:

xA  Q y
ab a 2b
x 
3 4 3
x a
4
yA  Q x
ab ab 2
y 
3 10 3
y b
10
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Problem: 01

Find the Centroid of the

area shown.

Strategy:
 Since y is given in terms of x, choose dA as a vertical
rectangular strip.
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Solution:
dA = y dx = (9 – x2) dx

Using a vertical strip: xA  Qy

Q y   xel dA   xy dx

xel = x and yel = y/2

x = ( A xel dA)/(A dA )
3
0  x ( 9 – x 2) d x [ 9 (x2)/2 – (x4) / 4] 03
= =
3
0  ( 9 – x 2) d x [ 9 x – (x3) / 3 ] 3
0
= (9(9)/2 – 81/4)/(9(3) – (27/3)) = 1.13 ft.
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Solution:

3
A yel dA ½ 0  ( 9 – x2) ( 9 – x2) dx
y = = 3 3
= 3.60 ft
A dA 0  ( 9 – x 2) d x

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Problem: 02

A uniform circular rod of weight 8 lb

and radius r = 10 inch is shown.

Determine the tension in the cable AB

& the reaction at C.

Solution:

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Problem: 03

Find the Centroid x of

the area shown.

Strategy:
 Choose dA as a horizontal rectangular strip.

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Solution:

(x1,,y) (x2,y)

dA = (x2 – x1)dy
= ((2 – y) – y2) dy

xel = (x1+ x2)/2

= 0.5 ((2 – y) + y2)
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Solution:
(x1,,y) (x2,y)

dA = (x2 – x1)dy
= ((2 – y) – y2) dy
x = (A xel dA )/(A dA )
xel = (x1+ x2)/2
1 = 0.5 ((2 – y) + y2)
A dA = 0 (2 – y – y2) dy
= [2 y – y2/2 – y3 / 3] 1 = 1.167 m2
0

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Solution: (x1,,y) (x2,y)

1
A xel dA = 0 0.5 (2 – y + y2) (2 – y – y2) dy
1
= 0.5 0 (4 – 4y + y2 – y4) dy
= 0.5 [4y – 4y2/2 + y3/3 – y5/5] 01
= 1.067 m3

x = (A xel dA )/(A dA )

x = 1.067 /1.167 = 0.914 m

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