CONTENTS

 Moment of a force
 Couple, Characteristics of couple
 Equivalent force - couple system
 Varignon’s Theorem/Principle of Moments
 Resultant of Coplanar Non-concurrent
force system
 CONTENTS
 Equilibrium of forces- Definition of Equilibrant
 Conditions of static equilibrium for different
force systems.
 Particle equilibrium in 2-D and 3-D
 Concept of Free Body Diagram
 Equilibrium of Coplanar Concurrent force
system
 MOMENT OF A FORCE

Sign Convention:
Clockwise Moments: Positive
Anti-clockwise Moments: Negative

𝑀 = 𝐹. 𝑑
Positive Negative
 The measure of rotational effect of a force.
Moment is defined as a product of magnitude of force and the
perpendicular distance between the line of action of the force
and the moment centre.
Member AB is of 5m in length and is subjected to load at point B
and fixed at A as shown in figure. Determine the moment at point A.
50N
50sin70
20°

B 50cos70

A 40°

𝑀𝐴 = 50𝑐𝑜𝑠70 5𝑠𝑖𝑛40 − 50𝑠𝑖𝑛70(5𝑐𝑜𝑠40)

𝑀𝐴 = −125 𝑘𝑁 − 𝑚
= 125 𝑘𝑁 − 𝑚
 COUPLE
 Two parallel forces equal in magnitude, opposite in
direction and separated by a definite distance are
said to form a couple.
Characteristics of Couple:
 Translatory effect of a couple on a body is zero.
 Rotational effect of couple about any point is constant.
 Algebraic sum of moments of forces constituting couple
about any point is equal to the moment of a couple itself.
 A couple can be balanced only by an equal and opposite
couple in same plane.
 Any number of coplanar couples can be reduced to a single
couple whose magnitude will be equal to algebraic sum of
moments of all couples.
 Any two couples whose moments are equal and of same
sign are equivalent.
𝐹 d x1
o
𝐹

𝑀𝑜 = 𝐹 𝑑 + 𝑥1 − 𝐹(𝑥1)
𝑀𝑜 = 𝐹𝑑 + 𝐹𝑥1 − 𝐹𝑥1
𝑀𝑜 = 𝐹𝑑
o x2 𝐹
d
𝐹

𝑀𝑜 = −𝐹 𝑥2 + 𝐹 𝑑 + 𝑥2
𝑀𝑜 = −𝐹𝑥2 + 𝐹𝑑 + 𝐹𝑥2
𝑀𝑜 = 𝐹𝑑
 Equivalent force-couple system
 A force can be replaced away from its line of action to
some other point by another force which is same in
magnitude and direction and a couple, whose effect is
same as that of the original force.
F F
F F
A A
A

d B
d B
d B

M=Fd
F

Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3

 Equivalent force-couple system
 It will be advantageous to resolve a force acting at a point on a
body into a force acting at some other suitable point on the body
and a couple. In Fig.1, F is a force acting on a body at A.
 Now, it is possible to show that F at A may be resolved into a force
F at B and a moment, M = F × d, where d is the perpendicular
distance of B from the line of action of F acting through A.
 By applying equal and opposite forces F at B the system of forces
is not disturbed. Hence the system of forces in Fig.2 is the same as
the system given in Fig.1.
 Now, the original force F at A and the opposite force F at B form a
couple of magnitude Fd. The system in Fig.2 can be replaced by the
system shown in Fig.3.
 Thus, the given force F acting at point A is replaced by a force F
acting at B and a moment M = F × d.
Replace the force acting at point A with equivalent force couple
system at B as shown in figure.

100N A 100N A

2m =
40° 40° B
B
100N 100N
A

=
40° B
100N
𝑀𝐵 = 100 𝑥 2 = 200𝑁 − 𝑚 200 N-m
 Replace the force acting at point B with equivalent force couple
system at A as shown in figure.
50N
50sin70 50sin70
20°

B 50cos70 B 50cos70
50sin70

A 40° A 40°
50cos70 50cos70

50sin70

𝑀𝐴 = 50𝑐𝑜𝑠70 5𝑠𝑖𝑛40 − 50𝑠𝑖𝑛70(5𝑐𝑜𝑠40)

B
50N
𝑀𝐴 = −125 𝑘𝑁 − 𝑚 50sin70
20°
= 125 𝑘𝑁 − 𝑚
A 40°

125 𝑘𝑁 − 𝑚 50cos70
Varignon’s Theorem/Principle of Moments
The algebraic sum of moments of a coplanar force
system about a moment centre is equal to the moment
of their resultant force about the same moment centre.
y
F2 R×d = (F1×d1) + (F2×d2)
O d2
θ2 R
θ
θ1 d
d1 F1
θ
θ2

θ1
x
A
Varignon’s Principle of Moments
Proof:
Let R be the resultant of the forces F1 and F2 and O be the
moment centre. Let d, d1 and d2 be the moment arms
(perpendicular distance) of the forces R, F1 and F2 respectively.
Join OA and consider it as y-axis and draw x-axis perpendicular
to it. Considering A as origin, let the resultant R make an angle θ
with x-axis and F1 and F2 make angles θ1 and θ2 respectively.
Then the distances d, d1 and d2 in terms of OA is
d = OA cosθ ; d1 = OA cosθ1 ; d2 = OA cosθ2
Moment of the resultant R about O is given by,
R × d = R × (OA cosθ)
R × d = OA × (R cosθ)
R × d = OA × (Rx) ------------- (1)
Varignon’s Principle of Moments
Moment due to force F1 about the moment centre O is given by,
F1 × d1 = F1 × (OA cosθ1)
F1 × d1 = OA × (F1cosθ1)
F1 × d1 = OA × (F1x) ------------- (2)
Moment due to force F2 about the moment centre O is given by,
F2 × d2 = F1 × (OA cosθ2)
F2 × d2 = OA × (F2cosθ2)
F2 × d2 = OA × (F2x) ------------- (3)
Adding Eqn. (2) and (3); we get;
(F1×d1) + (F2×d2) = OA(F1x) + OA(F2x)
(F1×d1) + (F2×d2) = OA (F1x + F2x)
(F1×d1) + (F2×d2) = OA (Rx) ------------- (4)
Equating Eqn. (1) and (4); we get;
R × d = (F1×d1) + (F2×d2)
The above equation can be extended to a multiple force system as;
ƩM = R × d = (F1×d1) + (F2×d2) + (F3×d3) +……
R × d = Ʃ (F × d)
Resultant of Coplanar Non-Concurrent force system
 Resultant of a force system is the one which will have
the same rotational and translatory effect as the
given system of forces is having.
 It may be a single force, a pure moment or a force and
a moment.

F1 F2 R R
F1
d
F2
O O O O
F3 ƩMo F3 ƩMo

Fig.1 Fig.2 Fig.3 Fig.4

Resultant of Coplanar Non-Concurrent force system
 Let F1, F2 and F3 shown in Fig.1 constitute a system of forces acting
on a body. Each force can be replaced by a force of same magnitude,
acting in the same direction at point O and a moment about O.
 Thus the given system in Fig. 1 is equal to the system shown in Fig.2,
where ƩMo is algebraic sum of the moments of the given forces about
O. At O, the concurrent forces F1, F2 and F3 can be combined to get
the resultant force R.
 Now the resultant of the given system is equal to a force R at O and a
moment ƩMo as shown in Fig.3.
 The force R and ƩMo shown in Fig.3 can be replaced by a single force
R acting at a distance d from O such that the moment produced by this
force about O is equal to ƩMo as shown in Fig.4.
 Thus we get a single force R acting at a distance d from the point O
which gives the same effect as the constituent forces of the system.
Resultant of Coplanar Non-Concurrent force system
 Mathematically,
R = √ (ƩFx)2 + (ƩFy)2

Ʃ Fx
θ = tan-1
Ʃ Fy
Ʃ MO
d=
R
Where, Ʃ Fx -- Algebraic sum of components of all forces in x-direction.
Ʃ Fy -- Algebraic sum of components of all forces in y-direction.
θ -- Inclination of the resultant R with respect to x-axis.
Ʃ MO -- Algebraic sum of all forces about a point O.
d -- Distance of the line of action of resultant from point O.
 x-intercept and y-intercept of Resultant
y-axis
x-intercept of the resultant,
Ʃ Mo
x=
Ʃ Fy
y
d R
y-intercept of the resultant, x-axis
Ʃ Mo θ
y=
Ʃ Fx x
 Problem 01: Determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant with
respect to point A for the force system acting on a plate element ABCD as
shown figure.

12 kN 12sin30

30° 20 kN
D C
12cos30 2
10sin40 𝑅= σ 𝐹𝑥 2 + σ 𝐹𝑦 =
3m 10kN
= 17.262 + 4.432 = 17.82 𝑘𝑁
40°
A
4m B 10cos40 σ 𝐹𝑦
−1
θ = tan
8 kN σ 𝐹𝑥

෍ 𝐹𝑥 = 10cos40 + 20 − 12cos30 4.43

θ = tan−1 = 14.39°
17.26
= 17.26 𝑘N(→) 4.43 𝑘𝑁
17.82 𝑘𝑁
෍ ↑ 𝐹𝑦 = −8 + 10sin40 + 12sin30
14.39° 17.26 kN
= 4.43 kN (↑)
 12 kN 12sin30
σ 𝑀𝐴
30° D C
20 kN ∴ d= R
12cos30 3.11
10sin40 = = 0.1745𝑚
3m 10kN 17.82

40°
A x-intercept of the resultant,
4m B 10cos40 Ʃ𝑀𝐴 3.11
x= = = 0.7182𝑚
8 kN Ʃ F𝑌 4.33

y-intercept of the resultant,

෍ 𝑀𝐴 = −10sin40 ∗ 4 + 20 ∗ 3 − 12cos30 ∗ 3 Ʃ𝑀 3.11
y = Ʃ F𝐴𝑋 = 17.26 = 0.1802𝑚
= 3.11 kN − m
17.82
From Varignon’s Theorem,

෍ 𝑀𝐴 = 𝑅 ∗ 𝑑 𝑑 0.1802𝑚
θ
0.1718𝑚 A
 12 kN 12sin30

30° 20 kN
D C
12cos30
10sin40
3m 10kN

40°
A
4m B 10cos40
8 kN

෍ 𝑀𝑩 = −8 ∗ 4 + 20 ∗ 3 − 12𝑐𝑜𝑠30 ∗ 3 + 12𝑠𝑖𝑛30 ∗ 4 = 20.82𝑘𝑁 − 𝑚

෍ 𝑀𝐶 = 12𝑠𝑖𝑛30 ∗ 4 − 8 ∗ 4 − 10𝑐𝑜𝑠40 ∗ 3 = −30.98 𝑘𝑁 − 𝑚

෍ 𝑀𝐷 =