Sharif University of Technology,

International Campus
Kish Island, Iran
Fall 2021

Lecturer: Dr. A. Zabihollah

Teacher Assistance :
Sadyar Sarraf Ph.D. Nominated
TA Classes :
Wednesday 12.5 - 1.5 pm
Room: online
Email : [email protected]
TA Class
10th Edition

Vector Mechanics
for Engineers:
Statics
P. Beer
Late of Lehigh University
E. Russell Johnston, Jr.
Late of University of Connecticut
David F. Mazurek
U.S. Coast Guard

Chapter 2
STATIC method of Problem Solution
Problem Statement :

1-Recognize units system :

SI Units: Force ( N ) , Length (M) , Mass(KG)
US Units: Force (lbf) , Length ( inch) , Mass (Slug)
convert all units to selected units system if necessary.
2- Specified Forces and determine magnitude and direction of all:

Vector- A vector is an object that has both a A force is characterized by

magnitude and a direction a force is a magnitude and direction
vector quantity.
FORCE MAGNITUDE DIRECTION
unit angle coordinate
F1
F2
F3
1
 Unit System Definition & Conversion
• International System of Units (SI):
The basic units are length, time, and mass which are arbitrarily defined as the meter (m), second
(s), and kilogram (kg). Force is the derived unit.
• U.S. Customary Units:
The basic units are length, time, and force which are arbitrarily defined as the foot (ft), second (s),
and pound (lb). Mass is the derived unit.

Quantity Unit (SI) symbol Unit(US) Symbol Conversion

Length (L) Meter m Inch “ 0.254 m
Centimeter cm Feet Ft=12 inch 0.300 m
Force (F) Newton N Pound lb 4.448 N
KN=1000 N Kips=1000 lb 4.448 KN

2
Method of Problem Solution
Free-Body Diagrams :

3-Coordinate System /Space : Cartesian/ 2D or 3D space

2D space 3D space

4- Locate Origin of coordinate system “O” :

NOTE: With no moment, line of action of all forces intersect in one point , select this point as “O”.
5- Transfer all forces to origin of coordinate system and draw Free Body Diagram with all forces and
directions .
NOTE : Resultant of all forces in free body digarm should be zero (Newton’s First Law)

3
Free-Body Diagrams

4
Free-Body Diagrams

5
Method of Problem Solution
Determination of force components an resultant:

6- Determine force components ( Fx , Fy , Fz):

X-component Y-component Z-component

force magnitude
F(x) F(y) F(z)
F1 F1 F1x F1y F1z
F2 F2 F2x F2y F2z
F3 F3 F3x F3y F3z

7- Determine all force Resultant:

in 2D Space:
Σ F(x) = F1x+F2x+F3x+…
Σ F(y) = F1y+F2y+F3Y+…
in 3D Space:
Σ F(x) = F1x+F2x+F3x+…
Σ F(y) = F1y+F2y+F3Y+…
Σ F(z) = F1z+F2z+F3z+…
6
 2D space

Force Components in 2D space (Fx , Fy)

F = Fx . i + Fy . j
a) if angle of direction of force (θ) is given:
Fx = F . cos (θ)
Fy = F . sin (θ)

b) If coordinates of a point( X , Y ) on force line of action are given

L= ( X^2 + Y^2) ^1/2
Fx = F . (X/L)
Fy = F . (Y/L)

7
 3D space

Force Components in 3D space (Fx ,Fy ,Fz )

F = Fx . i + Fy . j +Fz . K
a) if angle of direction of force (θx,θy,θz) is given:
Fx = F . cos (θx)
Fy = F . cos (θy)
Fz = F . cos (θz)

b) If coordinates of a point( X , Y , Z ) on force direction are given

L= ( X^2 + Y^2+Z^2) ^1/2
λx = X / L , λy = Y/ L , λz = Z / L
Fx = F . λx
Fy = F . λy
Fz = F . λz

8
Method of Problem Solution
Fundamental Principles:

8 –Enforcement of Newton’s First Law:

Newton’s First Law: If the resultant force on a particle is zero,
the particle will remain at rest or continue to move in a
straight line.

Σ F= 0
The six fundamental principles of Newton’s First Law are applied to
express the conditions of rest or motion of each body.
If no moments are exist:

Newton’s First Law in 2D:

Σ F(x) = 0
Σ F(y) = 0
Newton’s First Law in 3D:
Σ F(x) = 0
Σ F(y) = 0
Σ F(z) = 0 Newton's First and Second laws, in Latin, from the original 1687

9
9 – Solve Equations: Applied rules of algebra to solve the equations for the unknown quantities.
Σ F(x) = F1x+F2x+F3x+…=0
Σ F(y) = F1y+F2y+F3Y+… =0
Σ F(z) = F1z+F2z+F3z+… =0

10
Sample Problem
A barge is pulled by two tugboats. If the resultant
of the forces exerted by the tugboats is 5000 lbf
directed along the axis of the barge, determine:
a)the tension in each of the ropes for a= 45o,

b)the value of for α which the tension in rope 2 is

a minimum.

SOLUTION – a):
1-Recognize units system :
US Units: Force (lb) , Length ( inch) , Mass (Slug)
2- Specified Forces and determine magnitude and
direction of all:

FORCE MAGNITUDE DIRECTION

lb angle coordinate
F1 T1 30 -
F2 T2 -45 -
F3 5000 180 -

11
Free-Body Diagrams :
3-Coordinate System /Space : Cartesian/ 2D or 3D space:2D space
4- Locate Origin of coordinate system “O” :
NOTE: with no moment, line of action of all forces intersect in one point , select this point as “O”.
5- Transfer all forces to origin of coordinate system and show all forces and directions in free-body
diagram.

T1

T3= 5000 30°

45°

T2
12
6- Determine force components ( Fx , Fy ):
F1x= T1 . cos (30)
F1Y=T1 . sin (30)
F2x= T2 . cos (-45)
F2Y=T2 . sin (-45)
F3x= 5000 . cos (180)=-5000
F3Y=5000. sin (180)=0.00
7- Determine all force Resultant in 2D Space:
Σ F(x) = F1x+F2x+F3x=T1 . cos (30)+ T2 . cos (-45) - 5000
Σ F(y) = F1y+F2y+F3y= T1 . sin (30)+ T2 . sin (-45) + 0.00
8 –enforcement of Newton’s First Law:
Σ F(x) = 0.00 : T1 . cos (30)+ T2 . cos (-45) – 5000 =0.00
Σ F(y) =0.00 : T1 . sin (30)+ T2 . sin (-45) =0.00
9 – Solve Equations:
T1 . cos (30)+ T2 . cos (-45) – 5000 =0.00
T1 . sin (30)+ T2 . sin (-45) =0.00 T1= 3700 lbs
T2= 2600 lbs 13
SOLUTION – b):

2- Specified Forces and determine magnitude and direction of all:

FORCE MAGNITUDE DIRECTION
lbf angle coordinate
F1 T1 30 -
F2 T2 min α -
F3 5000 180 -

3 – 5 Free body diagram:

6- Determine force components ( Fx , Fy ):
T1
F1x= T1 . cos (30)
F1Y=T1 . sin (30)
F2x= T2 . cos (α) T3= 5000 30°
F2Y=T2 . sin (α)
F3x= 5000 . cos (180)=-5000 α
F3Y=5000. sin (180)=0.00

T2(min) 14
7- Determine all force Resultant: in 2D Space:
Σ F(x) = F1x+F2x+F3x=T1 . cos (30)+ T2 . cos (α) - 5000
Σ F(y) = F1y+F2y+F3y= T1 . sin (30)+ T2 . sin (α) + 0.00
8 –Enforcement of Newton’s First Law:
Σ F(x) = 0.00 : T1 . cos (30)+ T2 . cos (α) – 5000 =0.00
Σ F(y) =0.00 : T1 . sin (30)+ T2 . sin (α) + 0.00 =0.00
9 – Solve Equations:
T1 . cos (30)+ T2 . cos (α) – 5000 =0.00
T1 . sin (30)+ T2 . sin (α) =0.00
T1=(-T2 . cos (α) + 5000 ) / 0.866
T2=- 0.5 T1 / sin (α)
T2 . sin (α) =- 0.5 T1 = -0.5 . (-T2 . cos (α) + 5000 ) / 0.866) = 0.577 . T2 .cos (α) – 2886.83
T2 . sin (α) - 0.577 . T2 .cos (α) =– 2886.83
T2 (sin (α) - 0.577 . cos (α) ) =– 2886.83
T2=– 2886.83 / (sin (α) - 0.577 . cos (α) )
T2 = T(min) MAX ( sin (α) – 0.577 . cos (α) )
derivative=0.00 ( cos (α) + 0.577 . sin (α) ) =0.00 α=-60 T1= 4330 lbs
T2= 2500 lbs 25