Statics of Rigid Bodies: BASAEN, RV

BASIC OPERATIONS WITH FORCE MOMENT OF A FORCE

SYSTEMS
From its generalized definition as used in Mechanics,
Types of Vectors a moment is a tendency of a force to rotate a body, about a
point, or about a line or axis.
1. Fixed vector
This has a unique point of application and line of CASE A. MOMENT OF A FORCE ABOUT A POINT
action (e.g. force on a deformable body, in which
tension or pull is different from compression or
push, since a deformable body responds F Fy
differently)
d ϴ
Fx A b
2. Sliding vector O T
This has a unique line of action only. (e.g. force
on a rigid body, in which push, or pull is
practically the same – Principle of
a
transmissibility) c

3. Free vector The moment of a force about a point, by definition, is

This vector has no unique line of action. The equal to the force times its perpendicular (shortest) distance
vector is described with a magnitude and direction from the reference point. Conveniently, if the
only. (e.g. couple vector, which can be transferred perpendicular distance d can be determined, then the
to any line of action parallel to its original line of moment of the force about the reference point O is simply:
action, but with the same effect)
𝑀𝑀𝑜𝑜 = 𝐹𝐹 𝑥𝑥 𝑑𝑑

RESULTANT OF CONCURRENT FORCES In most cases, however, the distance d is not easily
known and because of this, the Varignon’s theorem is
For any system of concurrent forces (2D or 3D commonly used. From this theorem, the moment of a force
systems), the resultant can generally be determined with about a point is equal to the moments of the components of
the use of vector addition, i.e. 𝑹𝑹 = 𝚺𝚺𝑭𝑭. For 2D systems, the force about that point. Thus,
the analysis may be simplified with the aid of a scalar
solution only, either by parallelogram or component 𝑀𝑀𝑜𝑜 = F x d: also 𝑀𝑀𝑜𝑜 = Fx(b) + Fy(a)
method.
z z where the components of the force are easily expressed in
F1 terms of F and 𝛳𝛳: 𝐹𝐹𝑥𝑥 = 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝛳𝛳 and 𝐹𝐹𝑦𝑦 = 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝛳𝛳, and the
F2
distances involved (a and b) are simply the horizontal and
= vertical distances of the force from the point.
Rz R
o o
y Rx Ry
Moreover, using this method, if the force can be made to
y
slide along its line of action (say point T), one of its
components passes through the reference point, and thus,
F3
x x its moment at that point is then zero. Hence, sliding the
force F to point T, the moment of the force F with respect
to point O can be expressed as
A resultant force is defined to be a single force that can
replace two or more forces but with the same effect. 𝑀𝑀𝑜𝑜 = 𝐹𝐹𝑦𝑦 (𝑐𝑐)

R = F1 + F 2 + F 3 + . . .
… since the moment of the other component vanishes. It
R = 𝑅𝑅𝑥𝑥 𝒊𝒊 + 𝑅𝑅𝑦𝑦 𝒋𝒋 + 𝑅𝑅𝑧𝑧 𝒌𝒌
should be noted that the Moment of a force about a point is
(vector or rectangular form) zero if the force passes through the point.

13
 Statics of Rigid Bodies: BASAEN, RV

Sign Convention for Moments:

Counterclockwise moments are positive: +

Clockwise moments are negative: -

Note:
Signs of the moments maybe interchanged for special
applications, or as used by other texts. This is alright for as
long as its use throughout the application is maintained.
In this Statics of Rigid Bodies, a positive sign is always
attributed to counterclockwise moment, and a negative sign
for clockwise moment. This is to be consistent with the
accompanying requirement for the analysis of 3D systems.
For most 2D systems in Mechanics of Deformable
Bodies or Strength of Materials, however, a positive sign
for clockwise moment is more commonly adopted by most
textbooks. There should be no problem at all for as long as
consistency is observed.

Example 1:
A force system is given as shown. The magnitudes of
the forces are P = 200N and F = 300N. Determine the
following:
a) 𝑀𝑀𝑜𝑜𝑭𝑭
b) 𝑀𝑀𝐵𝐵𝑭𝑭
c) 𝑀𝑀𝑜𝑜𝑷𝑷
1m
C
1m
P F
A
d B

Solution:
(a) 𝑀𝑀𝑜𝑜𝑭𝑭 = ?

14
 Statics of Rigid Bodies: BASAEN, RV

MOMENT OF A FORCE ABOUT A POINT Solution:

(3D SYSTEMS) a) 𝑴𝑴𝑭𝑭𝒐𝒐 = ?

F
O r A 𝛳𝛳

d B

Plane defined by
F and r

Mo (moment vector
=
perpendicular to the plane)

By definition:

𝑴𝑴0 = r x F

Force vector
Position vector
Moment vector

Note:
• The moment vector 𝑴𝑴0 is referred to any point,
say point O.
• The position vector r should start from the
reference point of moment to any point on the line
of action of the force F.
• The magnitude of the moment vector Mo is
computed from: Mo = F(d) = F(rsin𝛳𝛳)

Example 2:
A force system is described below. Determine the
following:
a) 𝑴𝑴𝑭𝑭𝒐𝒐
b) Moment vector of the resultant of the forces about
point ‘O’.
c) Perpendicular distance of the resultant force R from
point ‘O’.
z
C 5 B
F = 500N
3 P = 400N
F Q Q = 300N b) 𝑴𝑴𝑹𝑹𝒐𝒐 = ?
o A
y

D
P A
x
15
 Statics of Rigid Bodies: BASAEN, RV

Solution:

c) d = ? (shortest distance of R from point O.)

CASE B. MOMENT OF A FORCE ABOUT A LINE OR
AXIS
From M = R(d)
Where the magnitude of M and R, respectively, are:
This is similar to the previous moment computation
𝑀𝑀 = �(2465)2 + (985.6)2 + (31.30)2 = 2654.9 (i.e. moment of a force about a point), except for the
N-m following:
R = �(328.6)2 + (805.6)2 + (492.9)2 = 999.96 N • The reference is an axis or a line and any two
points on the line can be used as a basis for the
required position vector
• The available formula for the calculation results
in a scalar quantity or magnitude only. To convert
Example 3: the resulting moment to its vector form, the said
A force 𝑭𝑭 = 50𝒊𝒊 − 100𝒋𝒋 − 70𝒌𝒌 N as shown magnitude should be multiplied by the unit vector
produces a moment vector about point ‘O’ of 𝑴𝑴𝒐𝒐 = of the reference line or axis.
400𝒊𝒊 + 410𝒋𝒋 − 300𝒌𝒌 N-m. Determine the coordinates of L
the point where the line of action of the force intersects the
plane.
z 𝛼𝛼
Mo
MLL
F
F
O 𝒓𝒓 A 𝛳𝛳
A
O d B
o y

x L
Plane defined by
F and r

16
 Statics of Rigid Bodies: BASAEN, RV

By definition, the moment of a force about a line or axis Solution:

LL as shown is: a) My-axis = ?

𝑀𝑀𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 = r x F λLL

Unit vector of line LL

Force vector
Position vector
Moment of force F
with respect to line LL
(scalar only)
where

MLL = magnitude of the moment of the force

about line LL (scalar).
r = position vector which starts from any
point on the reference line of moment up
to any point on the line of action of the
force. This can be expressed in several
ways, but the simplest expression is
always preferred to shorten the
computation.

The vector form of this moment is:

𝑴𝑴𝑳𝑳𝑳𝑳 = 𝑀𝑀𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 𝝀𝝀𝑳𝑳𝑳𝑳

Also, relating the two moments as shown, it can be seen

that
𝑀𝑀𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 = 𝑀𝑀𝑂𝑂 (𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝛼𝛼)

Or, 𝑀𝑀𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 is just a component of 𝑀𝑀𝑂𝑂

Note:
The moment of a force about a line or axis is zero if:
1. The force intersects the line, and
2. The force is parallel to the line b) MOE and MOE = ?
Example 1:
Determine the following from the force system
described below:
a) My-axis
b) MOE and MOE
c) MDB and MCD

z
D 6m B

E 2m
F
o G
y

C F = 300N
A
x
17
Statics of Rigid Bodies: BASAEN, RV

18