Statics of Rigid Bodies
Unit II. Resultants of Force Systems
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Resultant of a force system is a force or a couple that will have the same
effect to the body, both in translation and rotation, if all the forces are removed and
replaced by the resultant.
Target Learning Outcomes (based on CMO):
LO1 – Describe the concepts of forces and moments of forces.
LO2 – Apply principles of static equilibrium from the knowledge of resultants of forces
and moments.
Lesson 1: Resultant of Coplanar Force
Systems
Coplanar force systems have
Learning Outcomes: all the forces acting in one plane.
They may be concurrent, parallel, non
At the end of the lesson, you are – concurrent or non – parallel.
expected to:
1. identify the resultant of coplanar
force systems; and
2. determine the resultant of force
systems as coplanar.
The equation involving the resultant of force system are the following:
1. 𝑹𝒙 = 𝜮𝑭𝒙 = 𝑭𝒙𝟏 + 𝑭𝒙𝟐 + 𝑭𝒙𝟑 +. . .
The x-component of the resultant is equal to the summation of forces in the x-
direction.
2. 𝑹𝒚 = 𝜮𝑭𝒚 = 𝑭𝒚𝟏 + 𝑭𝒚𝟐 + 𝑭𝒚𝟑 +. . .
The y-component of the resultant is equal to the summation of forces in
the y-direction.
3. 𝑹𝒛 = 𝜮𝑭𝒛 = 𝑭𝒛𝟏 + 𝑭𝒛𝟐 + 𝑭𝒛𝟑 +. . .
The z-component of the resultant is equal to the summation of forces in
the z-direction.
Note that according to the type of force system, one or two or three of the equations above will be used
in finding the resultant.([Link])
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Statics of Rigid Bodies
First, the resultants of force systems would determine through
components of a force. Forces acting at some angle from the coordinate axes
can be resolved into mutually perpendicular forces called components. The
components of a force parallel to the x-axis is x – component, parallel to y-
axis is y – components.
Free vector of Fx
Free vector of Fy
We can solve this through the use of force triangle:
Using trigonometric
F
Fy functions:
θx
Fx 𝐹𝑦
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑥 = ; 𝐹𝑦 = 𝐹 sin 𝜃𝑥
𝐹
𝐹𝑥
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑥 = ; 𝐹𝑥 = 𝐹 cos 𝜃𝑥
𝐹
𝐹 = √(𝐹𝑥)2 + (𝐹𝑦)2
𝐹𝑦
tan 𝜃𝑥 = 𝐹𝑥
Table below shows the signs and direction of resultant F with respect to origin O.
Sign Sign Direction of F with Diagram
of Fx of Fy respect to origin O
+ + up to right
+ - down to right
- + up to left
- - down to left
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Statics of Rigid Bodies
Example:
1. Determine the x and y components of each of the forces shown below.
F = 390 kN
12 13
5
x
40° 30°
P = 300 kN
T = 400 kN
Solution:
For force F:
5
𝐹𝑥 = −390 ( ) = −150 𝑘𝑁
13
12
𝐹𝑦 = 390 ( ) = 360 𝑘𝑁
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For force T:
𝑇𝑥 = −400 cos 40° = −306.42 𝑘𝑁
𝑇𝑦 = −400 sin 40° = −257.12 𝑘𝑁
For force P:
𝑃𝑥 = 300 cos 30° = 259.81 𝑘𝑁
𝑃𝑦 = −300 sin 30° = −150 𝑘𝑁
For the resultant of three or more coplanar concurrent force systems formulas can be
found:
𝐑 𝐱 = ∑ 𝐅𝐱
𝐑 𝐲 = ∑ 𝐅𝐲
𝟐 𝟐
𝐑 = √(∑ 𝐅𝐱 ) + (∑ 𝐅𝐲 )
∑ 𝐅𝐲
𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝛉𝒙 =
∑ 𝐅𝐱
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Statics of Rigid Bodies
Example
2. Determine the resultant of the concurrent forces shown below.
400 kN 300 kN
60° 45°
x
30°
200 kN
Solution:
∑ 𝐹𝑦
tan 𝜃𝑥 =
∑ 𝐹𝑥
458.54
tan 𝜃𝑥 =
161.07
𝜽𝒙 = 𝟕𝟎. 𝟔𝟓°
𝑅𝑥 = ∑ 𝐹𝑥
∑ 𝐹𝑥 = 300 cos 45° − 400 cos 60° − 200 cos 30° = −𝟏𝟔𝟏. 𝟎𝟕 𝒌𝑵
𝑅𝑦 = ∑ 𝐹𝑦
∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 300 sin 45° + 400 sin 60° − 200 sin 30° = 𝟒𝟓𝟖. 𝟓𝟒 𝒌𝑵
𝟐 𝟐
𝐑 = √(∑ 𝐅𝐱 ) + (∑ 𝐅𝐲 )
𝑅 = √(−161.07)2 + (458.54)2
𝑹 = 𝟒𝟖𝟔 𝒌𝑵
For the resultant of non – concurrent coplanar force systems formulas can be found:
𝐑 𝐱 = ∑ 𝑿; 𝐑𝐲 = ∑ 𝐘 𝐑 ∗ 𝐝 = ∑𝑴
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Statics of Rigid Bodies
Example:
3. Compute the resultant of the forces shown. Locate its intersection with the x
and y axes.
y 141.4 N
60°
300 N
240 N
1
260 N
1m 3 5
30° 1
1m 2
x
O
y
141.4 sin 45°
300 sin 60°
141.4 cos 45° 300 cos
260 (5/13)
240 cos 30°
260
240 sin 30°
x
O
Solution:
12
∑ 𝑋 = 300𝑠𝑖𝑛60° + 260( ) + 141.4𝑐𝑜𝑠45° − 240𝑠𝑖𝑛30° = 𝟒𝟕𝟗. 𝟖𝟎 𝑵
13
5
∑ 𝑌 = 141.4𝑠𝑖𝑛45° + 240𝑐𝑜𝑠30° + 260 ( ) − 300𝑐𝑜𝑠60° = 𝟐𝟓𝟕. 𝟖𝟑 𝑵
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𝟐 𝟐
𝐑 = √(∑ 𝑿) + (∑ 𝐘)
𝑅 = √(479.80)2 + (257.83)2
𝑹 = 𝟓𝟒𝟒. 𝟔𝟗 𝑵
∑𝑌 257.83
tan 𝜃𝑥 = =
∑𝑋 479.80
𝜽𝒙 = 𝟐𝟖. 𝟐𝟓°
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Statics of Rigid Bodies
For the resultant of parallel coplanar force systems formulas can be found:
∑𝐹 = 𝑅 𝑅 ∗ 𝑑 = ∑ 𝑀𝑜
𝑅 = 𝐹1 + 𝐹2 + 𝐹3 + ⋯ 𝑅 ∗ 𝑑 = 𝐹1 𝑑1 + 𝐹2 𝑑2 + 𝐹3 𝑑3 + ⋯
d3
d2 F3
F2
d1 R
F1
Example
4. A parallel force system acts on the lever shown in the figure. Determine the
magnitude and position of the resultant.
30 kN 60 kN 20 kN 40 kN
2m 3m 2m 4m
A
Solution:
𝐑 = ∑𝑭
𝑅 = 20 − 30 − 60 − 40
𝑹 = −𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝒌𝑵 𝒐𝒓 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝒌𝑵 ↓
𝑅𝑑 = ∑ 𝑀𝐴
−110𝑑 = −30(2) − 60(5) + 20(7) − 40(11)
𝒅 = 𝟔𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑨
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Statics of Rigid Bodies
Lesson 2: The Couple and its Characteristics
Couple is a system of
Learning Outcomes:
forces whose magnitude of the
At the end of the lesson, you are resultant is zero and yet has
expected to: a moment sum. Geometrically,
a. identify the characteristics of a couple is composed of two equal
force system of a couple; and forces that are parallel to each
b. calculate moment of a couple. other and acting in opposite
direction.
The
magnitude of the couple is given by C = F * d, where F are
the two forces and d is the moment arm, or the perpendicular
distance between the forces.
The net external effect of a couple is that the net force
equals zero and the magnitude of the net moment equals
F·d.
Since the moment of a couple depends only on the distance
between the forces, the moment of a couple is a free
vector. It can be moved anywhere on the body and have
the same external effect on the body.
Moments due to couples can be added together using the
same rules as adding any vectors.
Equivalent Couples
• Two couples are equivalent if they produce the same moment
• Forces of
equal couples
lie on the
same plane
or plane
parallel to
one another.
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Statics of Rigid Bodies
Resultant Couple Moment
Couple moments are free vectors and may be applied to any point P and
added vectorially.
For resultant moment of two couples at point P, 𝑴𝑹 = 𝑴𝟏 + 𝑴𝟐
For more than 2 moments, 𝑴𝑹 = ∑ ( 𝒓 𝑭 )
Example:
1. A vertical shaft AB is 5 ft long and bolted to a rigid support at its lower end A. At its
upper end B is attached a horizontal bar BC which is 2 ft long. At the end of C is
applied a force P = 180 lb. Force P is perpendicular to the plane containing points A,
B, and C. Determine the twisting effect of P on the shaft AB and the bending effect at
point A.
Solution:
Twisting effect
𝐓 = 𝟐𝐏 = 𝟐(𝟏𝟖𝟎)
𝑻 = 𝟑𝟔𝟎 𝒍𝒃. 𝒇𝒕.
Bending effect
𝐌 = 𝟓𝐏 = 𝟓(𝟏𝟖𝟎)
𝑴 = 𝟗𝟎𝟎 𝒍𝒃. 𝒇𝒕.
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Statics of Rigid Bodies
2. Two couples act on the beam with the geometry shown in the figure
below. Find the magnitude of F so that the resultant couple moment is
1.5 kN.m.
Solution:
The net moment:
↶ + ∑ 𝑴 = −𝐅(𝟎. 𝟗𝟎) + 𝟐(𝟎. 𝟑𝟎) = −𝟎. 𝟗𝐅 + 𝟎. 𝟔𝟎
−𝟏. 𝟓 𝒌𝑵. 𝒎. = −𝟎. 𝟗𝟎𝑭 + 𝟎. 𝟔𝟎
Solving for the unknown force:
𝑭 = 𝟐. 𝟑𝟑 𝒌𝑵
Lesson 3: Resultant of Spatial Force Systems
Learning Outcomes: Spatial concurrent forces (forces in
3-dimensional space) meet at a
At the end of the lesson, you are common point but do not lie in a single
expected to determine the resultant of plane. The resultant can be found as
spatial concurrent force system. follows:
R x = ∑ 𝐹𝑥
R 𝐲 = ∑ 𝐹𝒚
R z = ∑ 𝐹𝑧
𝟐
𝐑 = √(𝑹𝒙 )𝟐 + (𝑹𝒚 ) + (𝑹𝒛 )𝟐
Direction cosines
𝑅𝑥
cos 𝜃𝑥 = 𝑅
𝑅𝑦
cos 𝜃𝑦 = 𝑅
𝑅𝑧
cos 𝜃𝑧 = 𝑅
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Statics of Rigid Bodies
Example:
1. A force of 500 N forms angles of 60°, 45°, and 120° respectively, with the x, y,
and z axes. Find the components Fx, Fy, and Fz of the force.
Solution:
Substitute F = 500N, 𝜃𝑥 = 60°, 𝜃𝑦 = 45°,𝜃𝑧 = 120°
𝐹𝑥 = 500(cos 60°) = 250𝑁
𝐹𝑦 = 500(cos 45°) = 354𝑁
𝐹𝑧 = 500(cos 120°) = −250𝑁
𝑭 = 𝟐𝟓𝟎𝒊 + 𝟑𝟓𝟒𝒋 − 𝟐𝟓𝟎𝒌
2. Find the resultant vector of vectors A and B shown in the figure below.
Solution:
𝑅𝑥 = ∑ 𝐹𝑥
𝑅𝑥 = 44(cos 50°) − 17(sin 70°) = 12.31 𝑚/ sec 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
𝑅𝑦 = ∑ 𝐹𝑦
𝑅𝑦 = −44(sin 50°) − 17(cos 70°) = −39.52 𝑚/ sec(𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑)
𝑅 = √𝑅𝑥 2 + 𝑅𝑦 2 = √12.312 + 39.522
𝑹 = 𝟒𝟏. 𝟑𝟗 𝒎/𝒔𝒆𝒄
𝑅𝑦 39.52
tan 𝜃𝑥 = =
𝑅𝑥 12.31
𝜽𝒙 = 𝟕𝟐. 𝟕𝟎°
Therefore, the resultant vector R = 41.39 m/sec
downward to the right of
𝜃𝑥 = 72.70°
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Statics of Rigid Bodies
Assessment 2
Name: ________________________________ Course, Year & Section: ________
Student Number: _____________________
Instruction: Read and understand the following questions or problems. Do not write
anything in the learning material. You may use a separate sheet of A4 bond paper for
your answers/solutions.
1. The horizontal and vertical components of several forces are:
a. PH = - 200kN, Pv = 100 kN
b. FH = 300kN, Fv = -200kN
c. TH = -50kN, Tv = -90kN
Determine each forces and inclination with the x – axis.
2. Determine the values of the angle 𝛼 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜃 so that the forces shown will be in
equilibrium.
20N
𝛼
40N
𝜃
30N
3. Find the resultant of the concurrent force system shown.
200kN
30° 400kN
x
60° 60°
300kN 300kN
4. Compute the resultant of the three forces shown. Locate its intersection with the x
and y axes.
y
390k
13 5
30° 12
300k 1m
1m
x
O
722k
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Statics of Rigid Bodies
5. A couple consists of two vertical forces of 260 kN each. One force acts up through A
and the other acts down through D. Transform the couple into an equivalent couple
having horizontal forces acting through E and F.
0.05m A
D 0.10m
B
E
0.08m
C
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Statics of Rigid Bodies
References
Beer, Ferdinand P. [Link]. 2012. Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics, Tenth
Edition SI Units. McGrawHill
Hibbeler, R.C. 2013. Engineering Mechanics: Statics, Thirteenth Edition.
Pearson Prentice Hall, New Jersey
Hughes, J.H. & Martin, K. F. 1977. Basic Engineering Mechanics. Macmillan
Publishers
Kassimali, Aslam. 2020. Structural Analysis, Sixth Edition SI Edition. Cengage
Learning. USA
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