SOLUTION OF EME-102; EQUILIBRIUM OF FORCES

EQUILIBRIUM OF FORCES IN 2D

A light string ABCDE whose extremity A is fixed, has weights W₁ & W₂ attached to it at B & C. It passes round a small smooth pulley at D carrying a weight of 300 N at the free end E as shown in figure. If in the equilibrium position, BC is horizontal and AB & CD make 150° and 120° with BC, find (i) Tensions in the strings and (ii) magnitudes of W₁ & W₂

Although ABCDE is a single string/rope but still the tensions in the string/rope will be different at different segments like in the segment AB the tensions will be T₁ , but in BC segment it will be different as the weight is attached at a fixed point (point B) on the string, hence it will be T₂ here and in CD it will be T₃  there. As at point D the string is not attached rather passes over a smooth pulley hence the tension in DE and CD will be same ie. T₃  again.

. 

To solve for equilibrium of forces in 2D, follow these steps:

1. Draw a free body diagram: Draw a diagram of the object in question and identify all the forces acting on it. This will help you visualize the problem and identify any unknown forces or angles.

2. Break forces into components: Resolve all forces into their x- and y-components. This is done by using trigonometry to determine the horizontal and vertical components of each force.

3. Apply Newton's second law: For the object to be in equilibrium, the sum of the forces in the x-direction and the sum of the forces in the y-direction must be equal to zero. This gives you two equations to solve simultaneously.

4. Solve the equations: Solve the equations for the unknown forces or angles by using algebraic methods. This will give you the values of the unknown forces or angles required for the object to be in equilibrium.

5. Check for consistency: Check that the forces and angles you have calculated are consistent with the problem and the free body diagram. For example, make sure that the direction of the forces makes sense and that the angles are reasonable.

6. Interpret the results: Interpret the results and explain what they mean in the context of the problem. This might involve calculating the tension in a rope, the force required to lift an object, or the angle required for an object to remain stationary.

CENTROID OF AN AREA

 

CENTROID OF AN AREA

Engineering Mechanics EME-102

Geometrical Center of an area (A) is often termed as Centroid or Center of an Area.

Suppose we have an area A in a certain X-Y coordinate system, we divide the area into n parts and named them as A₁, A₂, A₃, .... A_n,. Let the coordinates of those tiny elemental areas are as (X₁,Y₁), (X₂,Y₂), (X₃,Y₃) ..... (X_n,Y_n).

As area can be represented by a vector, hence, Area A can be treated as the resultant of the tiny elemental vectors A₁, A₂, A₃, .... A_n... Let the direction of the resultant vector passes through the point G(X_g,Y_g) on the plane of the area. The point G(X_g,Y_g) is called the CENTROID of the area A. (The direction of any area is along the perpendicular to the area drawn at the centroid of the area).

Like other vectors, an area has a moment about an axis and be represented by the product of the radial distance between the area and the axis and the area itself. So if an elementary area A₁ has a coordinate (X₁,Y₁) it means the area is at a distance X₁ from the Y axis and Y₁ from the X axis. Therefore the moment produced by A1 about Y axis is X₁A₁ and about X axis is Y₁A₁.

 Therefore the summation of all the moments produced by each and every elemental area about Y axis will be ∑A_iX_i and about X axis will be ∑A_iY_i.

Again, the resultant area A passes through the point G(X_g,Y_g). Therefore the moment produced by the area A about Y axis will be AX_g and about X axis will be AY_g.

Like other vectors, it will obey the Moment Theorem which states the total moment produced by individual vectors will be exactly equal to the moment produced by the resultant vector about a certain axis.

Therefore,
AX_g = A₁X₁ + A₂X₂ + A₃X₃ + ...... + A_nX_n

and
AY_g = A₁Y₁ + A₂Y₂ + A₃Y₃ + ...... + A_nY_n

           

                 For an area, a centroid G(X_g,Y_g) can be defined using calculus by the equations,

X_g = (1/A)∫x.dA   ------ (i)

Where dA = elemental area and A= total area.

Y_g = (1/A)∫y.dA   ------ (ii)

HOW TO DERIVE THE VALUES OF X_g and Y_g FOR BASIC GEOMETRIC FIGURE:

STEPS TO FIND X_g


i) Draw the figure in a Coordinate System.

ii) Draw a thin strip of area of thickness (dx) parallel to Y axis and at a distance (x) from Y axis.

iii) Find the height of the strip. Either the height will be constant or the height is a function of (x), that can be calculated from the equation of the figure.

iv) Calculate the elemental area of the strip, and named as dA. Hence, dA = hdx

v) integrate the expression ∫xdA, but dA = hdx. Therefore, we shall integrate  ∫hxdx over the total area.

vi) X_g = (∫ xdA)/A = (∫ hxdx)/A ; where A = total area = ∫dA = ∫hdx


STEPS TO FIND Yg

i) Draw the figure in a Coordinate System.

ii) Draw a thin strip of area of thickness (dy) parallel to X axis and at a distance (y) from X axis.

iii) Find the length (b) of the strip. Either the length will be constant or the length is a function of (y), that can be calculated from the equation of the figure.

iv) Calculate the elemental area of the strip, and named as dA. Hence, dA = bdy

v) integrate the expression ∫ydA, but dA = bdy. Therefore, we shall integrate ∫bydy over the total area.

vi) Y_g = (∫ ydA)/A = (∫bydy)/A





CENTROID OF A COMPOSITE AREA:




HOW TO FIND THE CENTROID OF A COMPOSITE AREA

(a composite area consists of several straight or curved lines.)

(i) Draw the figure in a coordinate system. Draw the dimensions too. Every dimensions will be measured with respect to origin of the coordinate system

(ii) Divide the composite area into several parts of basic geometric areas. Lebel them as part-1, part-2, part-3, .......part-n. Let the corresponding areas are A₁, A₂, A₃, .... A_n. Let the centroids are G₁(X₁,Y₁), G₂(X₂,Y₂), G₃(X₃,Y₃), ...... G_n(X_n,Y_n).

(iii) Let the centroid of the composite area be G(Xg,Yg). Hence,
Xg = (A₁X₁ + A₂X₂ +A₃X₃)/(A₁ + A₂ + A₃)

Yg = (A₁Y₁ + A₂Y₂ +A₃Y₃)/(A₁ + A₂ + A₃)

(a) Suppose we have certain area of magnitude (A) in a coordinate system. The centroid of the area will be at its mid-point. A centroid is denoted by G.
 
                       In the figure we have a complex geometrical area composed of three basic geometrical areas. A rectangle, a semi circle and a isosceles triangle. Let us denote the centroids as G₁, G₂, G₃ for the given areas in the figure.

We shall have to find the Centroid of the entire area composed of  A₁, A₂, A₃. 

At first, the composite line is divided into three parts.

Part -1 : The semi-circle : Let the centroid of the area A₁ be G₁(X₁,Y₁)

Area, A₁ = (π/2)x(25)² mm² = 981.74 mm²                  
          X₁ = { 25 -  (4x25)/(3xπ)} mm = 14.39 mm
          Y₁ = 25 mm

Part -2 : The Rectangle : Let the centroid of the A₂ be G₂(X₂,Y₂)

Area, A₂ = 100 x 50  mm² = 5000 mm²                 
          X₂ = 25 + (100/2) = 75 mm
          Y₂ = 25 mm
Part -3 : The Triangle : Let the centroid of the area Area, A₃ be G₃(X₃,Y₃)

Area, A₃ = (1/2) x 50 x 50 mm² = 1250 mm²                 
          X₃ = 25 + 50 + 25 = 100 mm
          Y₃ = 50 + (50/3) =  66.67 mm



If the centroid of the composite line be G  (X_g,Y_g)

X_g = (∑A_iX_i)/(∑A_i) 

    = (A₁X₁ + A₂X₂ +A₃X₃)/(A₁ + A₂ + A₃)
    = (981.74 x 14.39 + 5000 x 75 + 1250 x 100)/( 981.74 + 5000 + 1250)
    = 71.09
     

Y_g = (∑A_iY_i)/(∑A_i) 

    = (A₁Y₁ + A₂Y₂ +A₃Y₃)/(A₁ + A₂ + A₃)
    = (981.74 x 25 + 5000 x 25 + 1250 x 66.67)/ ( 981.74 + 5000 + 1250)
    = 32.20

CENTROID OF COMPLEX GEOMETRIC FIGURES:

So in this articles, we are going to discuss the concepts of centroid for one dimensional as well as two dimensional objects. 

Let's first discuss about 1D and 2D objects, one by one, an 1D object is a line, practically a metallic rod will be considered as a linear, 1D object. Where as any thin plate of negligible thickness can be considered a 2D body. Suppose we have a thin metallic rectangular plate. If it is considered as a 2D rectangular area of b X h.

The concept of centroid has been developed on the basis of resultant of several areas. We know that an area can be represented as the cross product of two vectors, hence it is also an vector. Suppose we have an area A, in a cartesian 2D coordinate system. We just divide the area into n parts, and represent them as a₁, a₂, a₃, ..... a_n.

Let the elemental areas are at a distance x₁, x₂, x₃, ..... x_n, from Y axis and y₁, y₂, y₃, ...y_n from X axis.

The total moments produced about Y axis will be equal to the summation of all the individual moments produced by n elemental areas. 

Now moment is a vector quantity and we know vectors of same kind can be added together, therefore, all the n moment vectors can be added to get a single value of Resultant Moment. 

We also know this resultant moment's position vector. Let the resultant moment passes through a point G. The point through which resultant moment passes through is called Center of the Area or Centroid.

How can we find out the point G, whose coordinates are (X_g,Y_g)?

As moment of an area also obeys VARIGNON'S THEOREM OF MOMENT, then sum of all the moments produced by individual elemental areas will exactly be equal to the moment produced by the total area, i.e. the resultant of all those elemental areas. Now if all the areas are added to have the resultant area which will pass through the centroid G such that it produces a moment of X_gA about Y axis and Y_gA about X axis.

But Varignon's theorem states us that, for a vector system, resultant vector produces the moment about a point, is exactly equal to the sum of all the moments produced by all elemental areas about the same point and in the same plane. Hence, we can write now that,

Sum(a₁x₁+ a₂x₂+ + +a_nx_n) = AX_g
we can use summation sign ∑ to represent these equations,
∑a_ix_i = (∑a_i)X_g
=> X_g = (∑a_ix_i)/((∑a_i)

Sum(a₁y₁+ a₂y₂+ + +a_ny_n) = AY_g
∑a_iy_i = (∑a_i)Y_g
=> Y_g = (∑a_iy_i)/((∑a_i)

Algorithm to find out the Centroid G(X_g, Y_g) of a Complex Geometric Figure.

Step1:
Take a complex 2D figure like an Area or Lamina.

Step2:
Try to identify the basic figures whose algebraic combination produces our problem figure, whose centroid we shall find out.

Step3:
Choose a coordinate system, and make it as our frame of reference. All the distances and coordinate must be define with respect to our frame of reference.

Step4:
Compute the area (a_i), coordinates of their own centroid G_i (x_i, y_i) for each and every elemental areas. While measuring the centroids, all the measurements will be based on according to our chosen Axes.

Step5:
If any particular area has to subtracted to get the complex figure, the area will be negative, where as any area addition will be positive area.

Step6:
If the Centroid of the complex figure be G(X_g,Y_g)then,

=> X_g = (∑a_ix_i)/((∑a_i)

=> Y_g = (∑a_iy_i)/((∑a_i)

Here G₁ is the centroid of the part one where G₂ is the centroid of the circular area that has to be removed where as G₃ is the centroid of the triangular area that has to be removed also.

If we are asked to find moment of inertia of an area, which is nothing but the "second moment of area" then we shall have to find the centroidal moment of inertia first. Then we shall transfer the Moment of Inertia to another axis ie we shall apply parallel axis theorem to transfer moment of inertia from one axis (here centroidal axis) to another parallel axis.