University of Engineering & Technology Peshawar

CE-117: Engineering Mechanics

MODULE 5:

Resultant of Parallel and

Non-Parallel, Non-Concurrent force systems

1
 Lecture Objectives

• How to calculate Resultant and location of the line of action of

Parallel force system (point loads)

• How to calculate Resultant and location of the line of action of

Parallel force system (distributed loads)

• How to calculate Resultant and location of the line of action of

Non Parallel, Non Concurrent force system
 Resultant of parallel force system

Parallel forces can be in the same or in opposite directions.

The sign of the direction can be chosen arbitrarily, meaning , taking one
direction as positive makes the opposite direction negative.

The complete definition of the resultant is according to its magnitude,

direction, and line of action.
 Resultant of parallel force system
Figure (a) shows a coplanar force system, where the forces F1, F2, F3, . . . are parallel to
the y-axis. The equivalent force-couple system at point O is shown in Fig. (b),

R = F1 + F2 + F3 + · · · = ∑F
C R = F1x1 + F2x2 + F3x3 + · · · =∑ MO
CR= Moment due to resultant force

If ∑ F ≠ 0, the resultant is a force R located at

the distance x from O, as indicated in Fig. (c).
The value of x is obtained by equating the
CR
moments about O in Figs. (b) and (c):

CR

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Problem 5.1

A B C D

5
 R
4 kN
Problem 5.1 xA

A B C D

R = ∑ F = -10+6= -4 kN = 4 kN ↓
Apply Varignon’s theorem to any convenient point (say A)
(MR)A= ∑ MA => 4*xA= -6*3+10*9-52
=> xA= 5 m

Will the distance from point A change if B,C or D is taken as Moment center ?
6
 Exercise 5.1

5.1a

Ans: R =4.5 kN downward at

distance of 2.22m from A

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 Exercise 5.1
5.1b
Locate the amount and position of the
resultant of the loads acting on the Fink
truss
Ans: R =15130 N downward , 3.62m
from A
5.1c
Find the value of P and F so that the four
forces shown in Figure produce an upward
resultant of 300 lb acting at 4 ft from the
left end of the bar.
Ans: F=200 lb , P= 400 lb
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 Distributed Force System
Concentrated” forces do not exist in the exact sense, since every external force applied
mechanically to a body is distributed over a finite contact area, however small.

 For instance, consider the force exerted by

the pavement on an automobile tire over its
entire area of contact, Fig. a.
 When analyzing the forces acting on the car
as a whole, if the dimension b of the contact
area is negligible compared with the other
pertinent dimensions then we may replace the
actual distributed contact forces by their
resultant R treated as a concentrated force.
 Types of Distributed Force System
When forces are applied over a region whose dimensions are not negligible compared
with other pertinent dimensions, then we must account for the actual manner in which
the force is distributed.
 We do this by summing the effects of the distributed force over the entire region using
mathematical integration.
 There are three categories of such problems.

(1) Line Distribution. When a force is distributed along a

line, as in the continuous vertical load supported by a
suspended cable, Fig. a, the intensity w of the loading is
expressed as force per unit length of line, newtons per
meter (N/m) or pounds per foot (lb/ft).
 Types of Distributed Force System
Area
(2) Area Distribution. When a force is distributed over an
area, as with the hydraulic pressure of water against the
inner face of a section of dam, Fig. b, the intensity is
expressed as force per unit area. This intensity is called
pressure for the action of fluid forces and stress for the
internal distribution of forces in solids.

(3) Volume Distribution. A force which is distributed over the

volume of a body is called a body force.
The most common body force is the force of gravitational
attraction, which acts on all elements of mass in a body. The
determination of the forces on the supports of the heavy
cantilevered structure in Fig. c, for example, would require
accounting for the distribution of gravitational force throughout
the structure.
 Resultant of a Distributed Force System

• Most common case of distributed pressure loading is uniform loading

along one axis of a flat rectangular body

Load is uniformly distributed along

z-axis but varies along x-axis

Entire loading on the plate is a system of parallel forces, infinite in number, each acting
on a separate differential area of the plate
 Resultant of a Distributed Force System

• Loading function p = p(x) [in N/m2 or lb/ft2] is a function of x since

pressure is uniform along the z axis

• Multiply the loading function by the width

w = p(x) [N/m2]*a [m] = w(x) N/m

• Measured as force per unit length

rather than per unit area
 Resultant of a Distributed Force System

• Load-intensity diagram for w = w(x) can be represented by a system of

coplanar parallel forces

• This system of forces can be simplified into a single resultant force FR and its
location can be specified
 Resultant of a Distributed Force System

Magnitude of Resultant Force

FR = ∑F
Integration is used for infinite number of parallel forces dF
acting along the plate
Area under the curve defined by eqn. w=w(x)

For entire plate length,

Magnitude of resultant force is equal to the

total area A under the loading diagram w = w(x)
 Resultant of a Distributed Force System
Location of Resultant Force
• MR = ∑MO
• Location of the line of action of FR can be determined by equating
the moments of the force resultant and the force distribution
about point O
• dF produces a moment of xdF = x w(x) dx about O
• For the entire plate,

Varignon’s theorem
 Resultant of a Distributed Force System

Location of Resultant Force

• Solving,

• Resultant force has a line of action which passes through the centroid
C (geometric center) of the area defined by the distributed loading
diagram w(x)
 Problem 5.2

Determine the magnitude and location of the equivalent resultant

force acting on the shaft
 Problem 5.2
Solution

For the colored differential area element,

For resultant force

 Problem 5.2
Solution
For location of line of action,
 Resultant of Commonly used Distributed Forces

• Beam supporting this stack of lumber is subjected to a uniform distributed

loading, and so the load-intensity diagram has a rectangular shape
• If the load-intensity is wo, resultant is determined from the are of the
rectangle

b FR = wob
F R = w ob b/2
 Resultant of Commonly used Distributed Forces

• Line of action passes through the centroid or center of the rectangle,

• Resultant,
• Both loadings produce same “external” effects or support reactions on the
beam
Resultant of Common Distributed Force Systems
 Prob 5.3

Ans: FR= 3.1kN, xA= 2.06m

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 Prob 5.3: solution
R1= 800*5= 4000 N

≡ 800 N/m

A
B

R= ∑F= -4000+900= -3100= 3100 N ↓ + R2 = 0.5*600*3 = 900 N

8m
(MR)B= ∑MB + - 800-200= 600 N/m
-3100*xB= -4000*(1/2*5)+900*(1/3*3)
xB= 2.94 m
A
 xA= 5-2.94= 2.06 m 2m 3m B25
 Exercise 5.2

5.2a

Ans: FR= 107 kN, h= 1.6m

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 Exercise 5.2

5.2b

Ans: FR= 7 lb, xA= 0.268 ft

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 Exercise 5.2

5.2c

Ans: FR= 3.9 k, xo= 11.3 ft

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Resultant of Non Concurrent , Non Parallel force system

Magnitude of the Resultant

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 Resultant of Non Concurrent , Non Parallel force
system

Location of the Resultant

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 Problem 5.4
Determine the resultant of the three forces acting on the dam
shown in Figure and locate its intersection with the base AB. For
good design, this intersection should occur within the middle third
of the base. Does it?

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 Problem 5.4
Rx = ΣFx= 10000- 6000 Cos 30o
= 4804 lb= 4804 lb →

 Ry= ΣFy= -24000-6000 Sin 30o

= - 27000 lb = 27000 lb ↓

 R= √(7000)2+(27000)2 = 27424 lb

7000 lb
θx = Tan-1 |27000/-4804| θx
= 79.9o
27000 lb
27893 lb 32
 Problem 5.4

Applying Varignon’s theorem at A by assuming line

of action of R intersect base to the right side of A
 (MR)A= ΣMA 27000*AAʹ=10000*6+24000*7+
6000 Sin 30o*(18-2)-6000 Cos 30o*3.47
y ≡
AA ʹ = 9.55 ft (+ ve sign indicate that our 27893 lb
27000 lb
assumption (that R intersect x-axis to the the right
side of A) is correct. 7000 lb

Aʹ x
ix Middle third

For R to intersect middle third, 12 ≥ ix ≥ 6 . Since calculated 6ʹ

6ʹ 6ʹ
value ix is with in this limit, hence the design is safe A B
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 Middle Third Rule

In civil engineering, the middle third rule states that

no tension is developed in a wall or foundation if
the resultant force lies within the middle third of the
structure.

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 Application of Middle third: Design of masonry
buildings

Width of a masonry wall is

calculated such that resultant of all
forces (gravity and wind) passes
through the middle third portion
of width

Thrust line is the line obtained by

joining the point of application of
resultant force across the height

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 Exercise 5.3
5.3a
The Howe roof truss shown in Figure carries the given loads. The wind
loads are perpendicular to the inclined members. Determine the
magnitude of the resultant, its inclination with the horizontal, and where
it intersects AB.

Ans: R= 10778 N downward, θx = 68.2 c.w with = +ve x-axis , 4.8 m to

the right of A

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 Exercise 5.3
5.3b

5.3c

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 Exercise 5.3

5.3d

Ans: R= 65.9 lb, θ =49.8o with x-axis in

C.W direction, d=2.1 ft

5.3e

Ans: d=4.62 ft
 Exercise 5.3

5.3f

Ans: R= 542 N, θ =10.6o with -ve x-axis

in A.C.W direction, d=827 mm

5.3g

Ans: d=2.17 m
 Exercise 5.3
5.3h

5.3i

Ans: R= 50.2 kN, θ =84.3o with -ve x-

axis in A.C.W direction, d=4.79m 40