MOMENTS OF INERTIA

1. The mathematical definition of moment of inertia, I =   dA, indicates that an area is

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divided into small parts such as dA, and each area is multiplied by the square of its
moment arm about the references axis.
2. If the coordinates of the center of the differential area dA are (x, y), the moment of inertia
about the X- axis is the summation of the product of each area dA by the square of its
moment arm y.
I =  y2 dA (mm4 )

3. Similarly, the moment of inertia about the Y – axis is given by:

I =  x2 dA (mm4 )
4. The moment of inertia (of area) is sometimes called the second moment of area because each
differential area multiplied by its moment arm gives the moment of area; when multiplied
a second time by its moment arm it gives the moment of inertia.
5. The moment of inertia for an area relative to a line or axis perpendicular to the plane is called
the polar moment of inertia and is denoted by the symbol J.

Jz =  r2 dA =  (x2 + y2 )dA Jz =  x2 dA +  y2 dA
Jz = Ix + Iy This equation states that the polar moment of inertia for
an area with respect to an axis perpendicular to its plane is equal to the sum of the
moments of inertia about any two mutually perpendicular axes in its plane which
intersect on the polar axis.
6. The term radius of gyration is used to describe another mathematical expression and appears
most frequently in column formulas. Radius of gyration is usually denoted by the symbol
k (sometimes by r) and is defined by the relation:

k=I/A or I = A k2
I – the moment of inertia A – the cross-sectional area

7. Transfer Formula for Moment of Inertia

Ix = Ix + Ad2 This equation states that for any

area the moment of inertia with respect to any
axis in the plane of the area is equal to the
h N. A. moment of inertia with respect to a parallel
centroidal axis plus a transfer term composed
of the product of the area multiplied by the
h/2 square of the distance between the axes. The
X least moment of inertia for any given direction
of an axis is the centroidal moment of inertia.
b

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8. A similar relation exists between the radii of gyration with respect to parallel axes, one of
which is a centroidal axis.

Akx2 = Akx2 + Ad2 kx2 = kx2 + d2

9. For polar moment of inertia and polar radii of gyration the following analogous relations
between any axis and a parallel centroidal axis is obtained:

J = J + Ad2 k2 = k2 + d2

10. Moments of Inertia by Integration

In determining the moment of inertia by integration, it is desirable to choose the
differential area so that either:
1. All parts of the differential area are at the same distance from the reference axis, or
2. The moment of inertia of the differential area with respect to the reference axis is
known. The moment of inertia of the area is then the summation of the moments of
inertia of its elements.

11. As in the case of centroids, the moment of inertia of a composite figure may be found by
combining the moments of inertia of its parts. When the evaluation of I for a particular
part is known, the transfer formula is used to refer the moments of inertia of the various
parts of the figure to a common reference axis.

12. When a composite area can be divided into geometric elements (rectangles, triangles, etc.)
for which the moments of inertia are known, the moment of inertia for the composite area
is the sum of the moments of inertia for the separate elements.

Moments of Inertia for Geometric Shapes

Shape Moment of Inertia Radius of Gyration

Rectangle
Y Yo

Ix = bh3 / 12 kx = h /  12
h Xo
C Ix = bh3 / 3 kx = h /  3
X
b

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Any Triangle

Ix = bh3 / 36 kx = h /  18
h

Xo Ix = bh3 / 12 kx = h /  6
C

X
b
Circle

Ix =  r4 / 4 kx = r / 2
C Xo
r J =  r4 / 2 kz = r /  2

Semicircle
Yo

kx = ky = r / 2
Ix = Iy =  r / 8
4

kx = 0.264r
4
C Xo Ix = 0.11r
X

d = 2r
Quarter Circle

Y
Yo
Ix = Iy =  r4 / 16 kx = ky = r / 2

C Xo Ix = Iy = 0.055 r4 kx = 0.264r
X

r
Ellipse

b 3
a a
b
 Ix =  a b3 / 4 kx = b / 2
Xo
Iy =  b a3 / 4 ky = a / 2

13. The product of inertia is a mathematical expression of the form  xy dA and is denoted by
the symbol P.

14. If an area has an axis of symmetry, this axis together with any axis perpendicular to it will
form a set of axes for which the product of inertia is zero.

Practice Problem:

10mm 100mm
Xo

10mm
X
100mm
Fig. 1

Prob. From Fig.1, determine:

A. the position of Xo, the center of gravity, as referred from X.
B. the value of the moment of inertia about xo. (mm4)
C. the value of the moment of inertia about x. (mm4)

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 60mm

10mm

10mm

60mm
Xo

Fig. 2

10mm

Prob. From Fig. 5, determine:

A. location of Xo.
B. IxT. (mm4)
C. IxoT. (mm4)
D. IyT. (mm4)