Engineering Mechanics Chapter 3 : Moments and Couples

Objectives
Understand the Principle of Transmissibility of a Force; Determine the Moment of a Force System from Basic Definition and/or with the application of Varignons Theorem; Understand the Properties of a Couple; Determine a Force-Couple Equivalent to Replace a System of Forces.
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Introduction
A force will cause motion along its direction. A force may also cause rotation about a fixed point some distance away.

This rotation or turning effect of a force is called MOMENT.

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Principle of Transmissibility
If we move (TRANSMIT) the Force P from point A to point B which lies on the Line of Action of Force P, the same effect would be expected. P Point of B Application A

P
Line of action Principle of transmissibility states that a force acting on a rigid body at different points along the forces line of action will produce the same effect on the body.
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Moment of A Force
The moment M of a force F about a fixed point A is defined as the product of the magnitude of force F and the perpendicular distance d from point A to the line of action of force F. MA = F x d
Where force F is in newtons, N A And distance d is in meters, m Thus moment MA is in newton-meter, Nm.
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Moment Sign Convention

Anti-clockwise : + VE (Counter-clockwise)

Clockwise :

- VE

Example 3.1 Calculate the moment of the 500 N force about the point A as shown in the diagram.
500 N
A 1.5 m

Example 3.1 Solution

500 N

1.5 m

Since the perpendicular distance from the force to the axis point A is 1.5 m, from MA = F x d

MA = - 500 x 1.5 = - 750 Nm

= 750 Nm
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Example 3.2
Calculate the moment about point A caused by the 500 N force as shown in the diagram.
500 N
A 1.5 m 60o

Example 3.2 Solution:

500 N 1.5 m A 600 d B 600

1.5 m

500 N
60o

MA = F x d
= -500 x AB = -500 x 1.5 sin 60

Line of action

= -649.5 Nm
= 649.5 Nm
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Addition of Moments of Coplanar Forces

Coplanar Forces refers to forces acting on the Same Plane ( i.e. 2-D ). For a system of several coplanar forces, the combined turning effect of the forces can be determined by adding algebraically the moment caused by each individual force, taking into account their sense of rotation, i.e +ve for anti-clockwise and ve for clockwise rotation.
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Example 3.3
Determine the resulting moment about point A of the system of forces on bar ABC as shown in the diagram.

500 N 1.5 m
0.5m

800 N

60 0 A B C
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Example 3.3 Solution:

500 N 1.5 m 0.5 m
A 600 D
A

500 1.5 m
0.5 m

800 N 60 0

AD = (1.5 + 0.5) sin 60 C = 2.0 sin 60 Line of Action = 1.732 m MA = (-500 x 1.5) + (-800 x 1.732) = - 750 1385.6 = - 2135.6 Nm
= 2135.6 Nm
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800 N

Varignons Theorem
Varignons Theorem states that the moment of a force about any point is equal to the sum of the moments of its components about the same point. To calculate the moment of any force with a slope or at an angle to the x or yaxis, resolve the force into the Fx and the Fy components, and calculate the sum of the moment of these two force components about the same point.
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Example 3.4
Re-Calculate Example 3.3 Above Employing Varignons Theorem.
500 N 1.5 m
0.5m

800 N

60 0 A B C

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Example 3.4 Solution

A

500 N 1.5 m
0.5m

800 N

60 0 B C

500 N
1.5 m A 0.5m

Fy

800 N 600

MA = (-500 x 1.5) + (- 800 sin 60 x 2) = -2135.6 Nm Fy = 800 sin 600

C Fx
= 2135.6 Nm 600

600 Fx = 800 cos

* Same answer as in example 3.3

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Example 3.5
Determine the resulting moment about point A for the system of forces acting on the plate ABCD as shown in the diagram.
15 cm 20 N 45o D 8cm

C
30o 35 N A 10.38 cm B 80o 45 N

Example 3.5 Solution

35 N 8cm

D 30o A

15 cm 45o

20 N C

B 10.38 cm

80o
45 N

Fy

Fx 800 45 N

45 N force:

Fx = 45 cos 80 = 7.814 N Fy = 45 sin 80 = 44.32 N

Fx
35 N 300 Fy

35 N force:

Fx = 35 cos 60 = 17.5 N Fy = 35 sin 60 = 30.31 N

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Example 3.5 Solution

60o 0.08m

0.15 m 45o

20 N C

35 N 20 N 450 Fx
0.1038 m Fy 20 N force:

80o
45 N

Fx = 20 cos 45 = 14.14 N Fy = 20 sin 45 = 14.14 N

MA = (- 45 sin 80 x 0.1038) + (- 35 cos 60 x 0.08) + (20 cos 45 x 0.08) + (20 sin 45 x 0.15) = - 4.591 1.4 + 1.131 + 2.121 = - 2.74 Nm = 2.74 Nm 19

3.6
F d

Couples
F

d
F

A couple consists of a pair of 2 forces which has the following properties :- Equal magnitude and opposite in direction - Act along parallel lines of action - Separated by a perpendicular distance d.
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What a couple does?

A couple causes a body to rotate only without translational motion since the two forces cancels out each other giving zero resultant. A couple acting in a system of forces will only contribute to the resulting moment but not to the resulting force.
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Magnitude of a Couple
Consider a light bar acted upon by a couple as shown :F
d1 A d2 d B

F The moment of the couple about A is

MA = + ( F x d2 ) - ( F x d1 ) MA = F x ( d2 - d1 ) MA =Fxd What is the total moment of the couple about point B ?

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From above, we see that : The couples moment about any pivot point is equal to F x d A couple has the same moment about all points on a body.
F

F
F

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Example 3.6 A light bracket ABC is subjected to two forces and two couples as shown. Determine the moment at (a) point A and (b) point B.
80 Nm 120 Nm 2 KN 30o 1.5 m 2.5 m B 3 KN

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Example 3.6 Solution:

80 Nm 120 Nm

2 KN 30o
1.5 m

A
2.5 m B

3 KN

a) MA = (2000 cos 60 x 2.5) (2000 sin 60 x 1.5) + ( 3000 x 0) + 120 80 = 2500 2598 + 0 +120 - 80 = - 58 Nm = 58 Nm (b) MB = (2000 cos 60 x 0) (2000 sin 60 x 1.5) + (3000 x 0) + 120 80 = -2558 Nm = 2558 Nm
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3.7 Force Couple Equivalent

The Force-Couple Equivalent concept will enable us to transfer a force to another location outside its line of action. Consider a force F acting at a point B on a rigid body as shown in diagram (a) below. How do we transfer the force F from point B to point A?
d A F B

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F d A B A

F B

F d A

F B

MA = F x d Force Couple Equivalent

The above shows how a force can be replaced by a force-couple equivalent.

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Example 3.7

(Single Force System)

Determine the force-couple equivalent at point A for the single force of 20 kN acting at point C on the bracket ABC.
20 KN
C 40o 1.2 m A

2.3 m

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Example 3.7 solution

Fy
C

20 KN
40o Fx 1.2 m

2.3 m

MA = (20 sin 40 x 2.3) (20 cos 40 x 1.2) = 11.18 kNm Answer: 11.18 kNm A
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20 kN 40 0

Example 3.8 (Multiple force system) Another 30 kN horizontal force is added to Example 3.7 at point B. Determine the forcecouple equivalent at point A.
20 KN C

40o
1.2 m

A 2.3 m

30 KN

30

Example 3.8 Solution

Fy

20 KN 40o Fx 1.2 m 30 KN

A 2.3 m B Fy

400
Fx

Rx = Fx = 20 cos 40 + 30 = 45.32 kN Ry = Fy = 20 sin 40 = 12.86 kN R = (45.322 + 12.862) = 47.11 kN tan = Ry = 12.86 = 15.84 0 Rx 45.32

Therefore
And

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Example 3.8 Solution

A 2.3 m

Fy C

20 KN 40o

Fx 1.2 m
30 KN

MA = (20 sin 40 x 2.3) (20 cos 40 x 1.2) + (30 x 0) = 11.18 kNm Answer: 47.11 kN 11.18 kNm 15.84 0
End of Chapter 3
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