CHAPTER - IV

EQUILIBRIUM OF NON-CONCURRENT
COPLANAR FORCE SYSTEM
EQUILIBRIUM OF NON-CONCURRENT COPLANAR FORCE SYSTEM

When a body is in equilibrium, it has neither translatory

nor rotatory motion in any direction. Thus the resultant
force R and the resultant couple M are both zero, and we
have the equilibrium equations for two dimensional force
system

Fx = 0; Fy = 0 Eq(1)

M = 0
These requirements are both necessary and sufficient
conditions for equilibrium.
Supports: A structure is subjected to external forces
and transfers these forces through the supports on to the
foundation. Therefore the support reactions and the
external forces together keep the structure in equilibrium.

Types of supports
There are different types of supports. Some of them are
a) Roller Support b) Hinged or pinned support c) Fixed
or built in support
Some supports are shown in the figure along with the
reactions that can be mobilised.
 Types of Supports Action on body

(a) Flexible cable ,belt ,chain,

rope BODY
BODY T

Force exerted by cable is

always a tension away from
the body in the direction of
cable

Contact forces are normal to

(b) Smooth surfaces the surfaces

F
F
(c) Roller
support Contact force is normal to the
surface on which the roller moves.
The reaction will always be
perpendicular to the plane of the
roller . Roller support will offer
only one independent reaction
component.(Whose direction is
known.)
 ( d )pinned Support / hinged support

Rh

R Rv

This support does not allow any translatory movement of

the rigid body. There will be two independent reaction
components at the support. The resultant reaction can be
resolved into two mutually perpendicular components.
Or it can be shown as resultant reaction inclined at an
angle with respect to a reference direction.
(e) Fixed or Built-in Support

M
RH

Rv

M
(contd .)
This type of support not only prevents the translatory
movement of the rigid body, but also the rotation of the
rigid body. Hence there will be 3 independent reaction
components of forces. Hence there will be 3 unknown
components of forces, two mutually perpendicular
reactive force component and a reactive moment as
shown in the figure.
 TYPES OF BEAMS
A member which is subjected to predominantly transverse loads
and supported in such a way that rigid body motion is prevented
is known as beam. It is classified based on the support
conditions. A beam generally supported by a hinge or roller at
the ends having one span(distance between the support) is
called as simply supported beam. A beam which is fixed at one
end and free at another end is called as a cantilever beam.
A B
HA
MA

span VA
span
(a) Simply supported beam (b) Cantilever beam
If one end or both ends of the beam project beyond the support
it is known as overhanging beam.
A cantilever with a simple support anywhere along its length is
a propped cantilever.

A B
HA MA

VA
span
(c) Overhanging beam
(right overhang) (d) Propped Cantilever
beam
A beam which is fixed at both ends is called a fixed beam.
A beam with more than one span is called continuous beam.

HA HA
HB
MA MB
span
VA VB VA VB VC

(e) Fixed beam (f) Two Span continuous beam

Statically determinate beam and statically indeterminate
beam:
Using the equations of equilibrium given in EQ(1) ,if all the
reaction components can be found out, then the beam is a
statically determinate beam ,and if all the reaction
components can not be found out using equations of
equilibrium only, then the beam is a statically indeterminate
beam.
In the above fig (a),(b)and ( c ) are statically determinate
beams ,where as (d),(e) and ( f) are statically Indeterminate
beams .
If the number of reaction components is more than the
number of non-trivial equilibrium equations available then
such a beam is a statically indeterminate beam.

If the number of reaction components is equal to the

number of non-trivial equilibrium equations available then
such a beam is a statically determinate beam

If the number of reaction components is less than the

number of non-trivial equilibrium equations available then
such a beam is an unstable beam.
 Determination of Beam reactions
Since three equilibrium equations are available, for a planar
structure a maximum of three unknown independent reaction
components can be determined using these equations.
Step I: Draw the free body diagram of the structure showing
the given loadings and the reactions at the supports.
Step 2: Apply the equations Fx = 0, Fy = 0, M = 0.
Assuming some directions and senses for unknown forces
and moments.
Step 3: solve for unknown reactions. If any of them is positive,
it is along the sense initially assumed while drawing the FBD.
If it is negative, it is opposite to the initially assumed sense
 Problems
(1) A beam AB of span 12m shown in the figure is hinged at A
and is on rollers at B. Determine the reactions at A and B
for the loading shown.

20kN 25kN 30kN

30 45
A B

4m 3m 3m 2m
 Problems
Solution
20kN 25kN 30kN
30 45 FBD
HA B
VA VB
4m 3m 3m 2m

Fx = 0 HA 25cos 30 30cos45 =0
Fy = 0 VA 20 25 sin30 30sin45 +VB = 0
MA = 0 -204 - 25 sin307 - 30 sin 4510+ VB 12=0
 Problems
Solution(contd.)

HA=42.86kN, VA=22.07kN, VB=31.64kN

RA H 2
A V A2 HA
VA
tan
1

HA RA
VA
RA= 48.21 kN

= 27.25
(2) Find the Support reactions for the given beam loaded as
shown in the figure.
60kN 40kN/m
0.5m

A B
2m

1m 60
5m
 Solution
Solution 40kN/m
HA 60kN
A RBH=RBCos30
C B
VA 30kNm FBD
60
1m 2m 2m RB

RBv = RBCos60

Fx = 0 HA + 60 RB Cos30 = 0
Fy = 0 VA + RB Cos60 40 x 2 = 0
MA = 0 -30 - 4024 + RB Cos605 = 0

HA
[Ans: RB=140kN VA=10
HA=61.24 RA= 62.05kN
RA
= 9.3] VA
(3) Find the Support reactions for the given beam loaded as
shown in the figure.
0.5m 30kN
80kN/m

A 100kN
B

2m 1m 3m
Solutions

30kN 80kN/m
15kNm
A
HA
100kN
B
VA
2m 1m 3m VB

FBD
 120kN
30kN
FBD
15kNm 1m
HA 100kN
A C B
2m VB
VA
6m

Fx = 0 HA + 100 = 0
Fy = 0 VA + VB 30 120 = 0
MA = 0 - 302 - 15 - (120)x5 + VBx6 = 0

[ Ans: VB= 112.5kN VA =37.5kN HA= 100kN

HA
RA= 106.8kN = 20.56]

RA
VA
(4) Find the Support reactions for the beam loaded as shown
in the figure.

15kN/m 30kN 23kN 20kN

3m 2m 2m
 Solution

45kN
30KN 23kN 20kN
HA A
MA
FBD
1.5m 1.5m 2m 2m
VA

Fx = 0 HA = 0
Fy = 0 VA 45 30 23 20 = 0
MA = 0 MA 45x1.5 30x3 23x5 20x7=0
[ Ans: VA = 118kN MA =412.5kNm]
(5) Find reactions at A,B,C and D
20KN/m

10KN/m

A D
C B

2m 3m 1m 2m
Solution 10kN/m

10kN/m 10kN/m

Rc
D

A
C B

2m 3m 1m 2m
 40kN FBD of top beam
Solution 20kN

C D

2.0m 1.33m 2m
Rc .67m VD

A B
FBD of bottom beam
C
VB
VA 2m 3m
Solution 40kN
20kN

2m 3.33m

0.67
RC
VD
For top Beam :
Fy = 0 Rc 40 20+VD=0
MD = 0 -Rc 6 +40 4 +20 3.33=0
Solving the above eqns
RC=37.77kN; VD=22.23kN
(Contd.)
For bottom beam :
Fy = 0 VA 37.77VB=0
MB = 0 -VA 5 +37.77 3=0
Solving the above eqns
VA=22.66kN; VB=15.10kN

RC=37.77kN

VA 2m 3m
VB
(6) A ladder of length 5m has a weight of 200N. The foot
of the ladder rests on the floor and the top of it leans
against the vertical wall. Both the wall and floor are
smooth. The ladder is inclined at 60 with the floor. A
weight of 300N is suspended at the top of the
ladder. Find the value of the horizontal force to be
applied at the foot of the ladder to keep it in
equilibrium.
 300N
Solution
HB

200N
FBD OF
LADDER

600

HA

VA
 Solution

Fy = 0 VA 200 300=0 ::VA=500N

MA = 0 300N

HB
HB x 5 sin60 200 2.5 cos 60 300 5cos60=0
200N
:: HB=230.94N

600
Fx = 0 HA HB=0
HA
HA=230.94N(Ans.)
VA
(7) Find the reactions at the supports A and C of the bent
B C
20 kN/m

2m
Solution
B C
Y
20 kN/m

VC

X
FBD

HA
VA
2m
Solution (contd.) Fx = 0 60 HA=0

B Fy = 0 VA+VC=0
C
MA = 0

VCx2-60 1.5=0
VC
60kN

FBD
HA
VA
2m
 Solving the above
Ans: VA = - 45kN
VC = 45 kN
HA = 60kN
B C
RA=75 kN
60kN
VC 36.90

FBD after
finding # ve sign for VA indicates
VA HA reactns
,reaction is downwards and
2m not upwards as assumed
initially.
(8) A roller (B) of weight 2000N rests as shown in the fig.
on beam CD of weight 500N.Determine the reactions at C
and D. Neglect the weight of beam AB.

A B

D 30
Solution: 2000N

RAB
FBD of
Roller

300 Hc

Vc
500N

FBD of beam CD

30
D

V
Solution: 2000N

RAB
FBD of
Roller

300

FBD of Roller :
Fy = 0 RBCD cos 300 2000=0
Fx = 0 RAB RBCD sin 300 =0
Solving above eqns : RBCD=2309.4N;
RAB=1154.7N
For bottom beam :
Fy = 0 VD 500+Vc 2309.4cos30=0
MC = 0
-VD 5cos30 + 500 2.5 cos30-2309.4 1=0
Solving the above eqns: VD=783.33N; VC=1716.67N

Fx = 0 300
Hc
2309.4 sin 30 HC =0 Hc=1154.7 N Vc
500
N

FBD of
30
beam CD D

V
(9) Compute the reactions for the bent beam shown in the
figure at A and F.
300Nm 50 N/m

B C D

A
45 F

3m 4m 3m

4m
Solution
MF = 0 VA 14 +200 5 300=0 200 N
300Nm 2m
VA=50N
B C D
FX=0 HF=0
45
FY=0 VA +VF=200; A HF
F
VF=200 50=150N
VA 3m 4m 4m 3m
FBD VF
18kN

26.570
RA=20.12kN
9kN
(10) Determine the support reactions for the trees shown

A 3KN

3KN
G
4m

F 3KN

B C D E
4m 4m 4m
 Solution

HA A 3KN FBD

G 3KN
VA
4m

F 3KN

HB C D E
4m 4m 4m
 MA = 0 HB 4 3 4 3 8 3 12=0
HB=18kN 3KN
A
FX=0 : HA+HB=0 HA 3KN
3KN
HA=18kN VA
4m
FY=0 VA 3 3 3=0;
VA=9kN HB
4m 4m 4m
18kN

26.570
9kN
RA=20.12kN
 Problems for practice

(1)Find the reactions at A,B,C and D for the beam loaded

as shown in the figure(Ans.RA=RB =34kN;RC=28.84kN;
MC=-140kNm ; C=-33.69 )

12kN/m 20 kN 12kN/m

4kN/m
4kN/m
30kN

A 3
B 4
C
40kNm

1m 2m 1m 1m 2m 1m 1m 2m
(2)A uniform bar AB of weight 50N shown in the figure
supports a load of 200N at its end. Determine the
tension developed in the string and the force supported
by the pin at B.(Ans. T=529.12N;RB=807.15N, B=64.6)

string

2.5m
B

A 60

200N
2.5m
2.5m
(3)Find the position of the hinged support (x),such that the
reactions developed at the supports of the beam are equal..
(Ans.x=2m.)

15kN
18kN/m
10kN/m

x
2.0m 1.0m 0.6 1.4m 3.0m
(4)A right angled bar ABC hinged at A as shown in fig
carries two loads W and 2W applied at B &C .Neglecting
self weight of the bar find the angle made by AB with
vertical(Ans: =18.44)
A
Lm

W
C
0.5L
2W