Moment of

Inertia

MOMENT OF INERTIA

Learning Objectives:

The objective of this chapter is to:

 Explain and give examples the importance of the second moment of an area.
 Demonstrate the second moment of an area by integration.
 Solve the second moment of common sections using tabulated formulas.
 Apply the parallel axis theorem to second moment problems.
 Determine the second moment of a composite area.

Definition of Moments of Inertia for Areas

 Centroid for an area is determined by the first moment of an area about an axis
 Second moment of an area is referred as the moment of inertia (I).

Moment of Inertia (I) of an element of area about an axis in its plane is the product of
the area of the element and the square of its distance from the axis.

 Consider area A lying in the x-y plane moments of

inertia of the differential plane area dA about the x
and y axes

 For entire area, moments of inertia are given by

Ix  2
 y dA I y   x 2 dA

 Formulate the second moment of dA about the origin or z axis; this is called the Polar
Moment of Inertia (J).
dJ O  r 2 dA
where r is perpendicular from the pole (z axis) to the element dA

• Polar moment of inertia for entire area,

J O   r 2 dA  I x  I y
A

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 Moment of
Inertia

Moment of Inertia of Common Geometric Shapes

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 Moment of
Inertia

Parallel Axis Theorem for a Moment of Inertia of an Area

 Used to determine the moment of inertia or the second moment of area of a rigid
body about any axis, given the body's moment of inertia about a parallel axis through
the centroid of an area and the perpendicular distance between the axes.

Consider moment of inertia I of an area A

with respect to the axis AA’

I   y 2 dA

The axis BB’ passes through the area

centroid and is called a centroidal axis.

 y dA    y   d  dA
2
I  2

  y  dA  2d  y dA  d  dA
2 2

Parallel axis theorem (Transfer Formula of Moment of Inertia)

I  I  Ad 2
Sample Illustration:

Moment of inertia IT of a circular area with respect to a tangent to the circle,


I T  I  Ad 2  14  r 4   r 2 r 2 
 54  r 4

Moment of inertia of a triangle with respect to a centroidal axis,

I AA  I BB  Ad 2

I BB  I AA  Ad 2  12 2
 
1 bh3  1 bh 1 h 2
3
 36
1 bh3

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 Moment of
Inertia

Moments of Inertia for Composite Areas

• Composite area consists of a series of connected simpler parts or shapes

• Moment of inertia of the composite area = algebraic sum of the moments of inertia
of all its parts

Procedure for Analysis

Composite Parts

• Divide area into its composite parts and indicate the centroid of each part to the
reference axis

Parallel Axis Theorem

• Moment of inertia of each part is determined about its centroidal axis

• When centroidal axis does not coincide with the reference axis, the parallel axis
theorem is used

Summation

• Moment of inertia of the entire area about the reference axis is determined by
summing the results of its composite parts

Sample Problem:

8.1 Compute the moment of inertia of the composite area about the x axis.

Lecture Notes and Exercises on STATICS OF RIGID BODIES 70

 Moment of
Inertia
8.2 For the shaded area shown; Calculate, a)𝐼𝑥 , b)𝐼𝑦 , c)𝐼𝑥̅ , d)𝐼𝑦̅ , e) 𝐽𝑜

Radius of Gyration of an Area (k)

• Radius of gyration of a planar area has units of length and is a quantity used in the
design of columns in structural mechanics.

• Consider area A with moment of inertia Ix. Imagine that the area is concentrated in a
thin strip parallel to the x axis with equivalent Ix.

Ix
I x  k x2 A kx 
A

• Similarly;

Iy
I y  k y2 A ky 
A
JO
J O  kO
2
A kO 
A

Lecture Notes and Exercises on STATICS OF RIGID BODIES 71