University of Benin

Distributed Forces

Engr. Martin Osikhuemhe

 Introduction
 In previous lectures and topics covered, all topics are treated as Concentrated Load

 Also called point load, concentrated load is a load that us applied to a structure at a single point or on a small

elemental area.

 In reality, concentrated forces do not exist since every external force applied mechanically to a body is

distributed over a finite contact area, however small.

 A distributed force is any force where the point of application of the force is an area or a volume

 This means that the "point of application" is not really a point at all.

 Though distributed forces are more difficult to analyze than point forces, distributed forces are quite common in
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real world systems so it is important to understand how to model them.

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Uniben Concentrated and Distributed Loads

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Uniben Concentrated and Distributed Loads

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 Distributed Load
 Distributed loads are a way to represent a force over a certain distance.

 It is sometimes called intensity, and it is given the variable:

𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 ω=F d = Nm−1 or lb/ft

From which,
F= ω∗d
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 Distributed Loads
 When forces are applied over a region whose dimensions are not negligible compared with other pertinent
dimensions, then we must account for the actual manner in which the force is distributed.

 This can be done by summing the effects of the distributed force over the entire region using mathematical integration.

 To achieve this, the intensity of the force at any location must be known.

 There are three categories of such problems as shown in Fig (a), (b) and (c.)

 (a) Line (b) Area (c.) Volume

.
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 Centre of Gravity
 The plate can be divided into ‘𝐧’ small elements.
 Let the coordinates of the first element be (x1, y1) and for the second element, (x2, y2) and so on,
 the forces exerted by the earth on the elements of the plates are denoted respectively by ΔW1, ΔW2, . . . ΔWn
whose forces or weight are directed toward the center of the earth and are assumed parallel..
 Their resultant force is thus a single force in the same direction.
 The magnitude W of this force is obtained by adding the magnitudes of the elemental weights.
∑F_z = W = ΔW_1 + ΔW_2+. . . ΔW_n
Or for an elemental force, 𝑑𝑊,
𝐖 = ∫𝐝𝐖 … … … … … . (1)
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 Centre of Gravity
 Mathematically, the location of the center of gravity of any body can be obtained by we applying the principle of
moments to the parallel system of gravitational forces.
 The moment of the resultant gravitational force 𝛥𝑊 about any axis equals the sum of the moments about the
same axis of the gravitational forces acting on all particles.
 If the moment particle is applied about the y-axis, the moment about the x-axis of the elemental weight is given
by 𝑥𝑑𝑊, and the sum of the moments must equal W𝑥, the moment of the sum is thus
𝑥𝐖 = ∫𝐱𝐝𝐖 … … … (𝟐)

ΣMy : xW = x1 𝚫𝐖𝟏 + 𝐱𝟐 𝚫𝐖𝟐 +. . . 𝐱𝐧 𝚫𝐖𝐧

x1 𝚫𝐖𝟏 + 𝐱𝟐 𝚫𝐖𝟐 +...𝐱𝐧 𝚫𝐖𝐧

Where x = …….(3)
W

∫𝐱𝐝𝐖
Or x =
W

Similarly,
∫𝐲𝐝𝐖 ∫𝐳𝐝𝐖
y = , z = …….(5)
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W W

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 Centre of Gravity
Using any of the above expressions, with the substitution of 𝑾 = 𝒎𝒈 and 𝒅𝑾 = 𝒈𝒅𝒎, the above expression for the coordinate of
the center of gravity becomes,

∫𝐱(𝐠𝐝𝐦)
x =
mg
Which gives,
∫𝐱𝐝𝐦
x = … . . (6).
m
Similarly,

∫𝐲𝐝𝐦 ∫𝐳𝐝𝐦
y = , z = …….(6b)
m m

The density 𝜌 of a body is its mass per unit volume. Thus, the mass of a differential element of volume 𝑑𝑉 becomes 𝑑𝑚 = 𝜌𝑑𝑉

∫ xρdV
x= , , … … . (7)
∫ ρdV

When a body is uniform throughout, its density will cancel out and the equation reduces to:
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∫𝐱𝐝𝐯
x = … … … … … … (7𝑏)
dv

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 Centroid of Lines
Consider a rod or wire of length, L, cross-sectional area, A, and density ρ as shown in :

𝑚 = 𝜌𝑉 … . (8)
For a body of area, A and length, L,
V = AL
Thus, m = ρAL … … . (9)
or the elemental strip;
dM = ρAdLv……..(10)

∫xρAdL
x = … … (11)
ρAL
If ρ and A are constant over the length of the rod, equation (11) becomes

∫xdL
𝑥 = … … … … … … … … . (12)
ρL
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∫ydL ∫zdL
Similarly, y = and z =
ρL ρL

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 Centroid of Areas
Consider the body in Fig.5 of density ρ with a constant thickness, t,. This can be modeled as a surface area A.
Let the mass of the body be,

𝑀 = 𝜌𝑉 as before

For a body of Area, A, and thickness, t,

M = ρAt … … … … … . (13)

For the elemental body of Area, 𝒅𝑨, the elemental mass is given by

dM = ρtdA … … … … … . . (14)

Substituting equations (13) and (14) into equation (7), we get:

∫xρtdA
x = … … … … . . (15)
xAt
If the density and thickness are constant
∫𝑥𝑑𝐴
𝑥 = … … … … (16)
𝐴
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Equations (16) and (16b) are called the first moment of area

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Uniben Centroid of Areas

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 Examples
Examples Determine the distance ℎ from the base of a triangle of altitude h to the Centroid of its area.
Solution:
Draw a triangle and let its x-axis coincide with its base as in Fig. 7
Take an elemental stop, dA, and let the area be:
𝑑𝐴 = 𝑥𝑑𝑦
Or
𝑥 𝑏
=
ℎ−𝑦 ℎ
Recall,
∫ 𝑦 𝑑𝐴
𝑦=
𝐴
ℎ
჻ 𝐴𝑦 = 𝑦 𝑥𝑑𝑦
0
From the similar y,
𝑏(ℎ − 𝑦)
𝑥=
ℎ
Where
𝐴 = 1 2 𝑏ℎ
Substituting,
ℎ
𝑏ℎ 𝑏(ℎ − 𝑦)
.𝑦 = 𝑦. 𝑑𝑦
2 0 ℎ
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ℎ
𝑏ℎ 1
.𝑦 = (𝑦𝑏ℎ − 𝑏𝑦2 ) 𝑑𝑦
2 ℎ 0
ℎ
𝑏ℎ 1 𝑦2 𝑦3
.𝑦 = 𝑏ℎ − 𝑏
2 ℎ 2 3 0
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 Examples contd
Substituting,
ℎ
𝑏ℎ 𝑏(ℎ − 𝑦)
.𝑦 = 𝑦. 𝑑𝑦
2 0 ℎ
ℎ
𝑏ℎ 1
.𝑦 = (𝑦𝑏ℎ − 𝑏𝑦2 ) 𝑑𝑦
2 ℎ 0
ℎ
𝑏ℎ 1 𝑦2 𝑦3
.𝑦 = 𝑏ℎ − 𝑏
2 ℎ 2 3 0
2 2
𝑏ℎ 3ℎ 𝑏 − 2ℎ 𝑏
.𝑦 =
2 6
𝑏ℎ 𝑏ℎ2
.𝑦 =
2 6
∴𝑦= 3 ℎ
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