Chapter 12
Static Equilibrium
and
Elasticity
Static Equilibrium
Equilibrium implies the object is at rest
(static) or its center of mass moves with
a constant velocity (dynamic)
Static equilibrium is a common situation
in engineering
Principles involved are of particular
interest to civil engineers, architects,
and mechanical engineers
Conditions for Equilibrium
The net force equals zero
F = 0
If the object is modeled as a particle, then
this is the only condition that must be
satisfied
The net torque equals zero
= 0
This is needed if the object cannot be
modeled as a particle
Torque
=rxF
Use the right-hand
rule to determine the
direction of the
torque
The tendency of the
force to cause a
rotation about O
depends on F and
the moment arm d
Rotational Equilibrium
Need the angular acceleration of the
object to be zero
For rotation, = I
For rotational equilibrium, = 0
This must be true for any axis of
rotation
Equilibrium Summary
There are two necessary conditions for
equilibrium
The resultant external force must equal zero:
F = 0
This is a statement of translational equilibrium
The acceleration of the center of mass of the object must be
zero when viewed from an inertial frame of reference
The resultant external torque about any axis
must be zero: = 0
This is a statement of rotational equilibrium
The angular acceleration must equal zero
Static vs. Dynamic Equilibrium
In this chapter, we will concentrate on
static equilibrium
The object will not be moving
Dynamic equilibrium is also possible
The object would be rotating with a
constant angular velocity
In either case, the = 0
Equilibrium Equations
We will restrict the applications to
situations in which all the forces lie in
the xy plane
These are called coplanar forces since they
lie in the same plane
There are three resulting equations
Fx = 0
Fy = 0
z = 0
Axis of Rotation for Torque
Equation
The net torque is about an axis through
any point in the xy plane
The choice of an axis is arbitrary
If an object is in translational
equilibrium and the net torque is zero
about one axis, then the net torque
must be zero about any other axis
Center of Gravity
All the various
gravitational forces
acting on all the
various mass
elements are
equivalent to a single
gravitational force
acting through a
single point called the
center of gravity (CG)
Center of Gravity, cont
The torque due to the gravitational force on
an object of mass M is the force Mg acting at
the center of gravity of the object
If g is uniform over the object, then the
center of gravity of the object coincides with
its center of mass
If the object is homogeneous and
symmetrical, the center of gravity coincides
with its geometric center
Problem-Solving Strategy –
Equilibrium Problems
Draw a diagram of the system
Isolate the object being analyzed
Draw a free-body diagram
Show and label all external forces acting on
the object
Indicate the locations of all the forces
For systems with multiple objects, draw a
separate free-body diagram for each object
Problem-Solving Strategy –
Equilibrium Problems, 2
Establish a convenient coordinate
system
Find the components of the forces along
the two axes
Apply the first condition for equilibrium
(F=0)
Be careful of signs
Problem-Solving Strategy –
Equilibrium Problems, 3
Choose a convenient axis for calculating
the net torque on the object
Remember the choice of the axis is
arbitrary
Choose an origin that simplifies the
calculations as much as possible
A force that acts along a line passing
through the origin produces a zero torque
Problem-Solving Strategy –
Equilibrium Problems, 4
Apply the second condition for
equilibrium ( = 0)
The two conditions of equilibrium will
give a system of equations
Solve the equations simultaneously
If the solution gives a negative for a force,
it is in the opposite direction than what you
drew in the free body diagram
Weighted Hand Example
Model the forearm
as a rigid bar
The weight of the
forearm is ignored
There are no forces
in the x-direction
Apply the first
condition for
equilibrium (Fy = 0)
Weighted Hand Example, cont
Apply the second
condition for equilibrium
using the joint O as the
axis of rotation ( =0)
Generate the
equilibrium conditions
from the free-body
diagram
Solve for the unknown
forces (F and R)
Horizontal Beam Example
The beam is uniform
So the center of gravity
is at the geometric center
of the beam
The person is standing
on the beam
What are the tension in
the cable and the force
exerted by the wall on
the beam?
Horizontal Beam Example, 2
Draw a free-body
diagram
Use the pivot in the
problem (at the
wall) as the pivot
This will generally be
easiest
Note there are three
unknowns (T, R, )
Horizontal Beam Example, 3
The forces can be
resolved into
components in the
free-body diagram
Apply the two
conditions of
equilibrium to obtain
three equations
Solve for the
unknowns
Ladder Example
The ladder is
uniform
So the weight of the
ladder acts through
its geometric center
(its center of gravity)
There is static
friction between the
ladder and the
ground
Ladder Example, 2
Draw a free-body
diagram for the ladder
The frictional force is ƒ
= µn
Let O be the axis of
rotation
Apply the equations for
the two conditions of
equilibrium
Solve the equations
Ladder Example, Extended
Add a person of mass
M at a distance d
from the base of the
ladder
The higher the person
climbs, the larger the
angle at the base
needs to be
Eventually, the ladder
may slip
Elasticity
So far we have assumed that objects
remain rigid when external forces act
on them
Except springs
Actually, objects are deformable
It is possible to change the size and/or
shape of the object by applying external
forces
Internal forces resist the deformation
Definitions Associated With
Deformation
Stress
Is proportional to the force causing the
deformation
It is the external force acting on the object
per unit area
Strain
Is the result of a stress
Is a measure of the degree of deformation
Elastic Modulus
The elastic modulus is the constant of
proportionality between the stress and
the strain
For sufficiently small stresses, the stress is
directly proportional to the stress
It depends on the material being deformed
It also depends on the nature of the
deformation
Elastic Modulus, cont
The elastic modulus in general relates
what is done to a solid object to how
that object responds
stress
elastic mod ulus
strain
Various types of deformation have
unique elastic moduli
Three Types of Moduli
Young’s Modulus
Measures the resistance of a solid to a
change in its length
Shear Modulus
Measures the resistance to motion of the
planes within a solid parallel to each other
Bulk Modulus
Measures the resistance of solids or liquids
to changes in their volume
Young’s Modulus
The bar is stretched
by an amount L
under the action of
the force F
The tensile stress is
the ratio of the
external force to the
cross-sectional area A
Young’s Modulus, cont
The tension strain is the ratio of the
change in length to the original length
Young’s modulus, Y, is the ratio of
those two ratios:
tensile stress F
Y A
tensile strain L
Li
Units are N / m2
Stress vs. Strain Curve
Experiments show
that for certain
stresses, the stress
is directly
proportional to the
strain
This is the elastic
behavior part of the
curve
Stress vs. Strain Curve, cont
The elastic limit is the maximum stress
that can be applied to the substance
before it becomes permanently deformed
When the stress exceeds the elastic limit,
the substance will be permanently defined
The curve is no longer a straight line
With additional stress, the material
ultimately breaks
Shear Modulus
Another type of
deformation occurs
when a force acts
parallel to one of its
faces while the
opposite face is held
fixed by another
force
This is called a
shear stress
Shear Modulus, cont
For small deformations, no change in volume
occurs with this deformation
A good first approximation
The shear stress is F / A
F is the tangential force
A is the area of the face being sheared
The shear strain is x / h
x is the horizontal distance the sheared face
moves
h is the height of the object
Shear Modulus, final
The shear modulus is the ratio of the
shear stress to the shear strain
shear stress F
S A
shear strain x
h
Units are N / m2
Bulk Modulus
Another type of
deformation occurs
when a force of uniform
magnitude is applied
perpendicularly over the
entire surface of the
object
The object will undergo
a change in volume, but
not in shape
Bulk Modulus, cont
The volume stress is defined as the
ratio of the magnitude of the total
force, F, exerted on the surface to the
area, A, of the surface
This is also called the pressure
The volume strain is the ratio of the
change in volume to the original volume
Bulk Modulus, final
The bulk modulus is the ratio of the
volume stress to the volume strain
volume stress F
B A P
volume strain V V
Vi Vi
The negative indicates that an increase
in pressure will result in a decrease in
volume
Compressibility
The compressibility is the inverse of the
bulk modulus
It often used instead of the bulk
modulus
Moduli and Types of Materials
Both solids and liquids have a bulk
modulus
Liquids cannot sustain a shearing stress
or a tensile stress
If a shearing force or a tensile force is
applied to a liquid, the liquid will flow in
response
Moduli Values
Prestressed Concrete
If the stress on a solid object exceeds a certain value, the
object fractures
The slab can be strengthened by the use of steel rods to
reinforce the concrete
The concrete is stronger under compression than under
tension
Prestressed Concrete, cont
A significant increase in shear strength is
achieved if the reinforced concrete is prestressed
As the concrete is being poured, the steel rods
are held under tension by external forces
These external forces are released after the
concrete cures
This results in a permanent tension in the steel
and hence a compressive stress on the concrete
This permits the concrete to support a much
heavier load
