SOLUTION OF EME-102; CENTROID

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

CENTROIDS OF LINES

CENTROID OF A STRAIGHT LINE

If we take a straight line of length (L), then its midpoint will be at a distance (L/2) from either end of the line. Let us denote the centroid as the point G(X_g,Y_g).

Suppose we have a straight line AB of length (L) that makes an angle θ with X axis. Let the coordinate of point A is (X_o,Y_o). Let the centroid be at G(X_g,Y_g), then

X_g = X_o + (Lcos θ)/2
Y_g = Y_o + (Lsin θ)/2

                                                                                                                                                             

     Again, suppose the coordinate of B is given instead of point A. Let it is given as B(Xi,Yi). Then, it will be                                                       

Xg = X₁ - (Lcos θ)/2
Yg = Y₁ - (Lsin θ)/2

For Horizontal lines θ = 0° and for Vertical lines θ = 90°

CENTROID OF A CURVED LINE

The steps to derive the centroid of a quarter circular arc of radius R. 

 

Centroid of a curved line can be derived with the help of calculus.

i) Draw the figure in a X-Y coordinate system. Let the curved line has been represented by a function θ

ii) Take an arbitrary point P(X,Y) on the curve. Join the line OP, where O is the origin of the coordinate system. Let OP has a length L and makes an angle (θ) with X axis. Therefore, we can write

                  

                                   X = Rcosθ ----- (a)
                             Y = Rsinθ ----- (b)

iii) Let another point Q, such that PQ = dL where dL is very very small. Let the angle subtended by (dL) be (dθ). So we can write

                                   dL = Rdθ ------ (c)

                             X_g = (1/L) ∫(XdL)
                                  = (1/L) ∫ Rcosθ.Rdθ
                                  = (1/L).R²  ∫ sinθ.dθ ------- (d)

                             Y_g = (1/L) ∫ YdL
                                  = (1/L) ∫ Rsinθ.Rdθ
                                  = (1/L).R²  ∫ sinθ.dθ -------- (e)

CENTROID OF A QUARTER CIRCULAR ARC OF RADIUS R

Suppose we have a quarter circular arc in a co-ordinate system as shown in the figure. Total length of the arc AB = (πR)/2 . We take an arbitrarily small length of the arc CD and denote it as dL.

So,

           dL = Rdθ  ------ (iii)    [ as s=Rθ ]

where R = Radius of the quarter circular arc.

Let the co-ordinate of the point D be D(x,y) where

   
               X = Rcosθ -----(iv) and

            Y = Rsinθ -----(v)

Hence   X_g = (1/L)∫x.dL  ;  here  L = (πR)/2  ;        

                                           X = Rcosθ      

                                          dL = Rdθ

    

             X_g = (2/πR)   ₀∫^π/2Rcosθ.Rdθ 

     =    (2/πR) R²  ₀∫^π/2cosθ.dθ

 =      2R/π
   

   Y_g = (2/πR)   ₀∫^π/2Rsinθ.Rdθ 

     

 =      (2/πR) R²  ₀∫^π/2sinθ.dθ

 =      2R/π

Hence, for a quarter circular arc of radius R will be G(2R/π,2R/π)                                                                

                                                                                      

CENTROID OF A COMPOSITE LINE

In the figure, a composite line A-B-C-D is made of three straight lines AB, BC, CD as shown in the figure.So, a composite line is consisted of several straight or curved lines.


Let a composite line is made of n number of lines, which may straight or curved lines.

STEP-ONE:

Draw the composite line and break it into n number of parts. Let the lengths of these lines are L_1, L_2,  L_{3 ........} L_n. Let the centroids of these lines are G₁(X₁,Y₁),G₂(X₂,Y₂), G₃(X₃,Y₃) ........ G_n(X_n,Y_n).

Calculate length (L_i), and coordinates (X_i,Y_i) for each and every parts.

 

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

X_g = (∑L_iX_i)/(∑L_i) 

    => (L₁X₁ + L₂X₂ + L₃X₃)/(L₁ + L₂ + L₃)
   

Y_g = (∑L_iY_i)/(∑L_i)

    => (L₁Y₁ + L₂Y₂ + L₃Y₃)/(L₁ + L₂ + L₃)