MEE 431: ADVANCE STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Moment of Inertia (MOI)
Moment of Inertia (MOI) - Introduction
The moment of a force (also called the first moment of force) about any point is the
product of the force and the perpendicular distance (F.d) between them. If this first
moment is again multiplied by the perpendicular distance between them, the
product so obtained is called the second moment of force or moment of moment of
the force ([Link]). If instead of force, the area of the figure or mass of the body is
considered, it is called the second moment of area or second moment of mass.
They are also termed broadly as moments of inertia (M.O.I.) When examined by
itself, there is no physical significance for moment of inertia. It is just a
mathematical expression usually denoted by I. When ‘mass moment of inertia’ is
used in conjunction with rotation of rigid bodies, it can be regarded as the measure
of resistance of the body to rotation. Similarly the ‘area moment of inertia’, when
used in conjunction with the deflection or deformation of members in bending, can
be regarded as the measure of resistance to bending.
• The moment of inertia forms the basis of dynamics of rigid bodies and strength of materials.
Moment of Inertia (Second Moment o f an Area)
Moment of inertia of any plane area ‘A’ is the second moment of all the small areas ‘dA’ comprising the area ‘A’
about any axis in the plane of area A. Referring to Fig. 3.28,
Theorem of Parallel Axes (or Transfer Formula)
The theorem of parallel axes states: “The moment of inertia of a lamina about any axis in the
plane of the lamina equals the sum of moment of inertia about a parallel centroidal axis in the
plane of lamina and the product of the area of the lamina and square of the distance between the
two axes.” In Fig. 3.35 is shown a lamina of area A. Let LM be the axis in the plane of lamina
about which the moment of inertia of the lamina is required to be found out. Let XX be the
centroidal axis in the plane of the lamina and parallel to the axis LM. Let ‘h’ be the distance
between the two axes XX and LM.
It may be assumed that the
lamina consists of an infinite
number of small elemental
components parallel to the axis
XX. Consider one such elemental
component at a distance y from
the axis XX. The distance of the
elemental component from the
axis LM will be (h ± y)
accordingly as the elemental
component and the axis LM are
on the opposite sides of XX or on
the same side of XX. Moment of
inertia of the elemental
component about the axis LM =
dA (h ± y)2
Moment of inertia of the
whole lamina about the axis LM
Theorem of Perpendicular Axes
Radius of Gyration (radius of inertia)
Moment of inertia of laminae of different shapes
e.t.c
Example 3.7. Find
the moment of inertia
about the centroidal
axes XX and YY of the
section shown in Fig.
3.45.