Republic of the Philippines

DON HONORIO VENTURA STATE UNIVERSITY

Villa de Bacolor, Pampanga

STATICS OF RIGID BODIES

A. Course Code / Title : Statics 213 / Statics of Rigid Bodies

B. Module Number : Module 10 - The Couple and Its Characteristics
C. Time Frame : 6th week (1.5 hours) - 7th week (1.5 hours)
D. Description:
This module looks into the importance of couple and its characteristics.
E. Objectives:
At the end of this module, the learner should be able to :
1. Identify a couple.
2. Have better understanding of equivalent couples.
3. Solve problems regarding couples.
F. Contents:
 Definition of a Couple
A couple is defined as two parallel forces that have the same magnitude but opposite
directions, and separated by a perpendicular distance d. Since the resultant force is zero, the
only effect of a couple is to produce an actual rotation.
The moment produced by a couple is called couple moment.

F
M=Fd
B D
A a d C b

 Characteristics of a Couple

M A Fa  F (a  d ) M D   Fb  F (b  d )
M A Fa  Fa  Fd M B  Fd M C  Fd M D   Fb  Fb  Fd
M A  Fd M D  Fd
A couple moment is a free vector, and as a result it causes the same rotational effect on a
body regardless of where the couple moment is applied to the body.

 Equivalent Couple
If couples produce a moment with the same magnitude and direction, then these two couples
are equivalent.
 40N

30 N

4m 4m

30 N
3m 3m
40 N

24 N
120 N-m

5m
24 N
4m 4m

3m 3m

 Resolution of a Force into a Force - Couple System Acting at a Given Point

Consider a force F acting on a rigid body at point B defined by the position vector d.
Suppose that for some reason we would rather have the force act at point A. We can move
force F along its line of action (principle of transmissibility), but we cannot move it to point
A, which does not lie on the original line of action without modifying the action of F on the
rigid body.
However, we can attach two forces at point A, one equal to F and the other equal to -F,
without modifying the action of the original force on the body. As a result of this
transformation, a force F is now applied at A; the other two forces form a couple of moment
MA = Fd, Thus, any force F acting on a rigid body can be moved to an arbitrary point A
provided that a couple is added whose moment is equal to the moment of F about A.

F F F
F
Fd
A d B d d B
A B A

F
Problems:
1. Determine the equivalent force couple system about point A of the 50N force acting on the
corner plate as shown.

0.50 m

B
1.0 m

30˚ 50N

Solution:
This is an example of a given single force to be transformed into its equivalent force-couple
system acting at a certain point ( in this case at point A)

a. Apply two forces at point A, which have magnitudes equal to the given force, opposite in
direction but line of action is parallel to the given force.

50N

30˚
0.50 m 50N

B
1.0 m

30˚ 50N

Note that the two marked forces in the above figure formed a counterclockwise couple.

b. Taking moment about A:

50N

30˚
0.50 m 50N

B 50 sin30
1.0 m

30˚ 50N

50 cos 30
 M A  M A
M A  50 sin 30(0.50)  50 cos 30(1.0)
M A  30.80N  m
M A  30.80N  m(counterclockwise)
M A  couple
c. Answer: the force - couple system

50N

30.80 N-m
A

0.50 m
B
1.0 m

2. For the force-couple system as shown, determine location of the equivalent single force acting
on the lever from the shaft.

400 N

200 N
120mm O 60°

200 N

Solution:
 An example of a force-couple system to be transformed into its equivalent single force
system to be applied at a certain point.

a. The two 200-N force are parallel and oppositely directed, therefore, forming a couple C =
24000 N-mm, as shown in the figure below.
 FBD of the lever:

x
400 N cos 60 
300
x  150mm

O
60° x

C = 200 N(120mm)
C = 24000 N-mm

b. From the FBD of the lever, solve for the total moment at O.
M O  24000 400(150)
M O  84000N  mm

400 N

60°
O

MO = 84000 N-mm

c. Eliminate the couple, which is equal to 84000N-mm counterclockwise, applied at O by

applying a moment which is equal to 84000 N-mm clockwise.
 To do this, apply two collinear forces, which has magnitudes equal to +400N and -
400N, so as not to alter the initial condition of the system and must produce a
counterclockwise moment equal to 84000 N-mm.
 The two collinear forces must be placed further from O so as to produce a
counterclockwise couple.
 The two marked forces in the figure formed a counterclockwise couple and must be
equal to 84000 N-mm.
 400 N

400 N
400 N

60°
O

MO = 84000 N-mm

 Solving for the distance between the couple:

84000N  mm  400N (d )
d  210mm

d. From the figure above, solving for z:

210
cos 60 
z
60° z  420mm
210mm

e. Answer:
The magnitude of the equivalent single force is 400N and has a distance of 720mm from O.

400 N

60°
O
G. References:
1. Vector Mechanics for Engineers 10th Edition, Beer, F.P., Johnston, [Link], Mazurek,
D.F., Cornwell, P.J.2013

2. Engineering Mechanics Statics 13th Edition, Hibbeler, R.C.,2013

3. Engineering Mechanics Statics 14th Edition, Hibbeler, R.C.,2016

4. Engineering Mechanics Statics 3rd Edition, Pytel, A., Kiusalaas, J., 2010