Centroids

The centroid of an area is situated at its geometrical

centre. In each of the following figures ‘G’ represents the
centroid, and if each area was suspended from this point it
would balance.
 Center of gravity
The centre of gravity of a body is:
•The point at which all the mass of the body may be
assumed to be concentrated.

•The point through which the force of gravity is

considered to act vertically downwards, with a force
equal to the weight of the body.

•The point about which the body would balance.

The centre of gravity of a homogeneous body is at its

geometrical centre.
Consider a homo. Block of wood, its center of
gravity will be its geometrical center,
• half way of its length,
• half way of its breadth, and
• half way of its depth
Place a wedge under its C.G, the block will balance

W
Effect of removing or discharging mass

W
w
d
Moment = w x d
G

G1 G And also moment = (W- w) x GG1

W- w
w x d =( W –w) x GG1
 Moment = w x d

& Moment = (W-w) x GG1

w x d = (W-w) x GG1
Therefore GG1 = w x d
W-w

Where, GG1 is the shift of the C.G of the body

w is the mass removed

d is the distance between the c.g of the mass

removed and the C.G of the body
(W –w) is the final mass
 CONCLUSION
Effect of removing or discharging mass

When a mass is removed from a body, the

center of gravity of the body will move
directly away from the center of gravity of
the mass removed
 CONCLUSION
Effect of adding or loading mass
When a mass is added to a body, the
center of gravity of the body will move
directly towards the center of gravity of
the mass added
Centroid Principles
One can determine a centroid location
by utilizing the cross-section view of a
three-dimensional object.
Centroid Location
Symmetrical Objects
Centroid location is determined by an
object’s line of symmetry.

Centroid is located on When an object has multiple lines of symmetry, its

the line of symmetry. centroid is located at the intersection of the lines
of symmetry.
Centroid Location
The centroid of a square or rectangle is located
at a distance of 1/2 its height and 1/2 its base.

H B H
2 2
B
Centroid Location
The centroid of a right triangle is located at a
distance of 1/3 its height and 1/3 its base.

B
Centroid Location
The centroid of a ½ circle or semi-circle is
located at a distance of 4r away from the axis
3
on its line of symmetry

.849in.

4r 4  2in.
  0.849 in. = 0.8in.
3 3
Centroid Location Equations
Complex Shapes

x=
 xA i i

A i  zA
i i
z=
y=
 yA i i A i

A i
Properties of Areas
1. Centroid of an Area

The centroid of an area is analogous to the center of

gravity of homogeneous body. The centroid is often
described as the point at which a thin
homogeneous plate wood balance.

By Integration:
AT xc = ∫ x dA
AT yc = ∫ y dA
Properties of Areas
1. Centroid of an Area

The centroid of a complex area can be found by

dividing the area into basic shapes (rectangles,
triangles, circles, ... etc)

AT xc = ∑ ax = a1x1 + a2x2 + a3x3 + ....

AT yc = ∑ ay = a1y1 + a2y2 + a3y3 + ....

Center of Gravity
Varignon’s Theorem
AT y =∑ay
AT x =∑ax
AT = Total Area
y = center of gravity
(measured form horizontal reference axis)
x = center of gravity
(measured form vertical reference axis)
a = divided small area
(known area and center of gravity)
y = distance of C.G. of “a” from reference horizontal axis
x = distance of C.G. of “a” from reference vertical axis
2. “Moment of Inertia” (sometimes called 2nd
moment of area)
Moment of inertia I, of an area beams cross section
measures the ability of the beam to resist bending.

I = ∫ x2 dA
I = ∫ y2 dA
bh3
INA =
N.A. r2
h
bh3
base Ibase =
3
b
“Moment of Inertia” (sometimes called 2nd
moment of area)

I = ∫ x2 dA
I = ∫ y2 dA

bh3
N.A. INA =
36
h
base bh3
b Ibase =
12
3. Transfer Moment of Inertia
If the moment of inertia with respect to one axis is known, the moment
of inertia with respect to another axis parallel to the first, can be
calculated from the parallel axis theorem also known as transfer axis
theorem. A

N.A.
d
s

Is = INA + Ad2
4. Radius of Gyration

Radius of gyration is an imaginary distance from

the centroidal axis at which the entire area can be
assumed to exist without affecting the moment of
inertia.

Given: A. INA and d

Is = INA + Ad2
I
Radius of gyration: r =
A
r = radius of gyration A = Cross-sectional area
I = moment of inertia at N.A.
Problem:
Locate C.G. of the figure below:
Reference axis

150 mm
150 mm 50 mm
A2 A1 50 mm
Reference axis
300 mm
Problem:
Locate C.G. of the figure below:
Reference axis
x2 x1
150 mm

150 mm 50 mm
y2 50 mm
y1
Reference axis
300 mm
Problem:
Determine its center of gravity, moment of
inertia and radius of gyration of the figure.

A2 A1 = (60)(30) = 1800 mm2

A2 = (40)(30) = 1200 mm2
A3 A3 = (140)(30) = 4200 mm2

AT = 7200 mm2
A1
Problem:
Determine its center of gravity, moment of inertia
and radius of gyration of the figure.
x2
Reference line
70 mm
30 mm Reference line
30 mm y2
40 mm
y3
140 mm y1
60 mm
30 mm
90 mm
x1
x3
Problem:
Determine its center of gravity, moment of inertia
and radius of gyration of the figure.
x2
x = 32.08 mm
y axis

y = 74.58 mm Y2
X2
Y3 x axis
Y1

X1
x1
X3
For Ix, moment of inertia of A1, A2, A3 about its NA parallel
to x

40 mm 60 mm
30 mm N.A. 30 mm N.A.
Base

30 mm

140 mm
N.A.
For Iy, moment of inertia of A1, A2, A3 about its NA parallel
to y
N.A. N.A.

30 mm 30 mm
40 mm Base
60 mm

N.A.

140 mm

30 mm
Locate center of gravity and determine its radii of gyration.

250 mm
15 mm

50 mm