Equivalent force systems

1
 Resolution of a Force into a Force at O
and a Couple

  
M O  r  F
• Force vector F can not be simply moved to O without modifying
its action on the body.
• Attaching equal and opposite force vectors at O produces no net
effect on the body.
• The three forces may be replaced by an equivalent force vector and
couple vector, i.e, a force-couple system. 2
 Resolution of a Force Into a Force at O
and a Couple

• Moving F from A to a different point O’ requires the addition of a

different couple
 vector
 MO’
M O '  r  F

• The moments
 of Fabout O and O’ are related,
     
M O '  r ' F  r  s   F  r  F  s  F
  
 MO  sF

• Moving the force-couple system from O to O’ requires the addition

3
of the moment of the force at O about O’.
System of Forces: Reduction to a Force and
Couple

• A system of forces may be replaced by a collection of force-

couple systems acting at a given point O
• The force and couple vectors may be combined into a resultant force
vector and a resultant couple vector,
    
R   F M R
O   r  F 
• The force-couple system at O may be moved to
O’ with the addition of the moment of R about
R R  
O’ , M O '  M O  s  R
• Two systems of forces are equivalent if they can be
reduced to the same force-couple system. 4
 Equivalent Force Systems
• Couples Mj and forces Fi act on the
body.
• The net forces and moments about
the origin O are as shown.
• Two force systems are equivalent if
they have the same resultant force O
and moments.
• Equivalent about one point O
guarantees equivalence everywhere

5
Further Reduction of a System of Forces

• Only if the resultant force and couple at O are

mutually perpendicular, they can be replaced by a
single force acting along a new line of action.

• The resultant force-couple system for a system

of forces will be mutually perpendicular if:

1) the forces are concurrent, or

2) the forces are coplanar, or

3) the forces are parallel. 6

Further Reduction of a System of Forces
• System of coplanar forces is
reduced to a force-couple system
that is mutually perpendicular.
 R
R and M O

• System can be reduced to a

single force by moving the line

of action of R until its moment
R
about O becomes M O

• In terms of rectangular
coordinates, moment about O

due to the resultant force
R
R
acting at (x,y) will be M O when
xR y  yRx  M OR 7
Further Reduction of a System of Forces

• System of parallel forces is reduced to a force-couple system

  R  R  R
that is mutually perpendicular. R and M O  M x  M z

• System can be reduced to a single force by moving R to a new
R
point of application at which its moment about O becomes M O

• In terms of rectangular coordinates, moment about

R
O due to

the resultant force R acting at (x,0,z) will be M O when
r  R  M OR xR  M zR
    
 
x i  z k  Rj  M x i  M z k
R R
 zR  M xR 8
 Special Force Systems
• Coplanar force system
The simplest resultant of a Coplanar
force system is a single force along
a specified Line of action, a single
couple or the null vector

• Parallel force system

The simplest resultant of a parallel
force system is a single force through
a specified point, a single couple or
the null vector

9
 Problem 9
Four tugboats are used to bring an ocean liner to its pier. Each
tugboat exerts 100kN push in the direction shown. Determine
the point on hull where a single, more powerful tugboat should
push to produce the same effect as the original four tugboats.
Also determine the total push and its direction to be exerted by
the single tugboat.

10
 Problem 9 – Solution
• First resolve all forces
into rectangular
coordinates
4

• Find equivalent force

11
 Problem 9 – Solution
• Now consider moment
of forces about A
(assuming
counterclockwise is 4

positive)

M AR  100kN 40m 
 80kN 24m   60kN 80m 
 100kN 160m 
 80kN 120m   60kN 24m 
 M AR  7680kNm
12
 Problem 9 – Solution

M AR  7680kNm

R  228.03kN

• Equivalent force from single more powerful tugboat

will act towards down and right and its moment
about A should be -7680 kNm.
xRy  yRx  M AR

13
 Problem 9 – Solution

M AR  7680kNm

R  228.03kN

• As the resulting moment of forces of 4 tugboats about A is negative (clockwise),

we can assume that the force will act on the surface on the right of point A. Also
because these tugboats push, the big boat will act from above. Hence for point of
action, m

xR y  yRx  M AR
x 180kN   24m140kN   7680kNm
7680kNm - 24m140kN 
x  24m
180kN 14
 Problem 9 – Solution
24m

R  228.03kN

• A single tugboat exerting 228.03 kN pushing force at (24,24) along

the direction (9/√130 -7/√130 ) will produce the same effect.
15
 Problem 10
A concrete foundation mat in the shape of a regular hexagon
with 3-m sides supports four column loads as shown.
Determine the magnitude and the point of application of the
resultant four loads.

16
Problem 10 - Solution
• We first reduce the given
system of forces to a force
couple system at the origin O
of the coordinate system.
• This force couple system will
include a resultant force and a
resultant moment such that
 
R   F
  
M R
O    r  F  17
 Problem 10 - Solution

• The position vectors of the forces are calculated and tabulated

as follows:
   
Force at r (m) F (KN) r  F

(KN-m)
 
A  3i  80 j 240 k
3  3 3    
C i  k  40 j 60 3i  60 k
2  2  
D 3i  100 j  300 k
3  3 3    
E i  k  60 j  90 3i  90 k
2 2
    
R   280 j M RO  30 3i  210 k

18
 Problem 10 - Solution
 
R   280 kN j

 
M zR   210kNm k
 
 
M xR   30 3 kNm i

• System can be reduced to a single force by moving 

the line of

action of R until its moment about O becomes M OR
• If the position

vector of the point in the x-z plane
 R  atwhich the

moment of R becomes M O is given by r  xi  zk
    
 
xi  zk   280 j   30 3i  210k
 
x
 210
 280
 0.75m
 
 280 z i  280 x k  30 3i  210k
 30 3 19
z   0.186m
280
 Problem 10 - Solution
 
R   280 kN j

0 . 186 m

0 . 75 m

Therefore the resultant of four loads acting on the given

foundation is 280 kN (downwards) acting at a coordinate of
(0.75m, 0m, -0.186m)

20
 Reduction of system of forces to a Wrench
A wrench is a force - couple system in which the force and couple
vectors are parallel.

FR = Resultant force

Cll= Resultant couple

parallel to FR

C┴ = Resultant couple
perpendicular to FR

The perpendicular part of the resultant moment can be replaced by

sliding the resultant force along the line perpendicular to the plane of the
resultant force and resultant couple. What remains after this operation is
a wrench which has a moment equal to the component of the resultant
21
couple parallel to the force http://emweb.unl.edu/negahban/em223/note9/note9.htm
 Wrench (Contd..)
C
• Pitch: p 
FR
FR  M R
C 
FR
FR  M R
p
F 
R
2

• The line of action of Resultant force is known as axis of wrench.

• To define the axis of wrench intersecting the plane, the following can be
used

C  C   M R
pFR  r  FR  M R 22
 Problem 11

Compute the resultant force system of the applied loads at position B.

Also find the simplest resultant in the plane BCDE. 23
24
25
27
 Extra Problem from Past Quiz
 
Knowing that F0  70 N and M 0  140 Nm, replace the force couple system shown below,
acting at the origin of the coordinate system, by a system of two forces chosen in such a way that
one force acts at point B (located on the y - axis) and the other force acts at point C (located on the
x - axis) and lies in the horizontal xz plane.


B
A

 MO
FO 3m
O x
C
2m
2m

6m

z
 Extra Problem from Past Quiz - Solution
The given force couple system can be represented as follows :

F0  70 N rˆA
 y
M 0  140 Nm rˆA
B  A
where rˆA is a unit vector along OA  MO
    FO
r
rˆA  A 
6m i  3m  j  2m k O
3m
x
rA 6m 2  3m2  2m 2 2m
C
2m

6 3  2 
 rˆA  i  j  k 6m
7 7 7 z
   
F0  60 N i  30 N  j  20 N k
   
M 0  120 Nm i  60 Nm  j  40 Nm k
 Extra Problem from Past Quiz - Solution
   
F0  60 N i  30 N  j  20 N k
   
M 0  120 Nm i  60 Nm  j  40 Nm k y
B  A
Let the force couple system be represented by  MO
the following two forces: FO
3m

x
  
O
C
FB  FBx i  FBy j  FBz k 2m
2m
  
FC  FCx i  FCz k 6m

   z
FB  FC  F0
     
 FBx  FCx i  FBy j  FBz  FCz k  60 N i  30 N  j  20 N k
 FBx  FCx  60 N
 FBy  30 N
 FBz  FCz  20 N
    
rB  FB  rC  FC  M 0
 Extra Problem from Past Quiz - Solution
   
F0  60 N i  30 N  j  20 N k
   
M 0  120 Nm i  60 Nm  j  40 Nm k
y
B  A
Let the force couple system be represented by  MO
the following two forces: FO
3m
 
x
 
O
C
FB  FBx i  FBy j  FBz k 2m

2m
 
FC  FCx i  FCz k 6m
z
FBy  30 N FBx  FCx  60 N
 
F  F  20 N Assume rC  xi
     Bz Cz
rB  FB  rC  FC  M 0
         
   
2 j  FBx i  FBy j  FBz k  xi  FCx i  FCz k  120 Nm i  60 Nm  j  40 Nm k
     
 2 FBz i   xFCz  j   2 FBx k  120 Nm i  60 Nm  j  40 Nm k
 FBz  60 N  FCz  40 N    
FB   20 N i  30 N  j  60 N k
 FBx  20 N  FCx  80 N   
FC  80 N i   40 N k
Extra Problem - 11
A cantilever beam shown in the figure is fixed at A. The beam is subjected to a
distributed load, a couple and a force P. For resultant force at A to be zero,
determine:
a. The magnitude of the force P (in kN)
b. Distance (in m) of the force P from support A

SOLUTION:

a) Magnitude of the force P (in kN)

w L–P=0
P = wL = 2 3 = 6 kN

b) Distance x (in m) of the force P from support A

w L L/2 – P x+M=0

x= + = + = 4.5m
32
 Distributed force systems
• So far, we dealt with forces applied at discrete
points—“Point Forces”.

• Scalars and vectors may be continuously

distributed throughout a finite volume - these
are called scalar and vector fields

33
 Distributed force systems
• Body force distribution: Forces that act per unit
volume of the body. These forces are not due to contact
of the body with any other body. Examples: gravity,
force due to magnetic field, etc.

• Surface force distribution: Forces that act per unit area

of the surface of a body. These are caused due to
contact. Example: Fluid pressure acting on an immersed
body.

• Line loads: Forces distributed over a line. Example:

Continuous load on a beam.
34
Uniformly distributed pressure

• Pressure on the area B x L is same at each point and equal

q= W/(BxL) kN/m2
• The equivalent force is W kN = q x B x L 35
Uniformly Distributed line load

36
Non Uniformly distributed pressure

The equivalent force is P = q( x, y )dxdy with proper limits

x
 q ( x, y ) xdxdy
y
 q ( x, y ) ydxdy

 q( x, y)dxdy  q( x, y)dxdy 37
Non Uniformly distributed load on a beam

The equivalent force is F =  q( x)dx

0

The point of application of F at a distance of x from O such that

L

 q( x) xdx
x 0
L

 q( x)dx
0
38
 Problem 12
• Find the simplest resultant for the forces acting
on the simply supported beam

39
 Problem 12 - Solution

A C B

• Equivalent force for 10N/m distributed over AC

• The point of application of F1

• Eq. force of distributed force over CB

40
 Problem 12 - Solution
3m
F1 100N F2
9.5m

A C B
A 300 Nm
B

• Equivalent force F2

• The point of application of F2

• Distance of F2 from A =
41
 Problem 12 - Solution
3m
F1  100 N F2 R A  280 N
9.5m
M A  1320 Nm

A 300 Nm A B
B
• Transfer all forces to A
• Moment of F1 about A

• Moment of F2 about A

• Moment of 100N about A

• Resultant force at A

• Resultant moment at A
42
 Problem 12 - Solution
RA  280 N
Point of application of simplest force
M A  1320 Nm

A B

280N
4.714m

A B

43
 Extra Problem 1
The equivalent resultant force acting on the beam is
zero and the resultant couple moment is 8 kN-m
clockwise.
(a). Determine the length b of the triangular load.
(b). Determine the position a of the triangular load on the beam.

44
 Water Pressure

Area A

Unit weight of water = γ

Weight of Column of water = γ Z A

 Z A
Pressure on the area = =γ Z
A
Pressure is uniformly distributed over the area A

Water Pressure is same in all directions 45

 Water pressure (contd..)

• Water pressure
varies linearly with
depth

• Water pressure acts

normal to any
surface

46
 Equivalent force of water pressure

Consider unit (1 m) length in the normal direction

At depth Z , pressure = γZ
For an elemental component dZ, considering the unit length in the normal direction,
the corresponding area is dZ x1and the elemental force dP is dP = γZdZ
H

Then the total force of water, P is calculated as P =  dZ

0
= ½ γ H2

To compute the point of application of the equivalent force P, the moments of the
elemental forces about point B are summed up and equated to the moment of P about
the same point 47
 Equivalent force of water pressure
• Moment of the elemental forces about B is = (H-Z) γZdZ
H
H 3
And the total moment is   ( H  ) ZdZ  (1)
0
6

The moment of P about B is

P. Z = ½ γ H2 Z (2)

Equating 1 and 2

½ γ H2 = H3
Z
6
H
Z
3 48
Force on a Submerged Inclined Plane Surface
Assume atmoshperic condition on the dF  PdA   hdA   ghdA
other side of the surface
Free surface
  gy sin q dA
Integrate over the entire surface
q x F  dF   g sin q ydA
h y
R  
x Define centroid of the area yC
dF
1
yC   ydA, so that
A
FR   gAyC sin q   gAhC
In order to find equilavent system,
need to make sure that the moment
of the resultant force must equal to
y the moment of the distributed force.
49
 O Force on Submerged Inclined Plane Surface
x
FR
y’ Taking Mmoment about the x-axis: y'FR   yPdA
A

y '  g sin q yC A    gy 2 sin q dA   g sin q  y 2 dA

A A

Recognize that  y 2 dA  I xx (area moment of inertia about O)

A

y I xx
O Therefore, y'=
Ay C
Also, from parallel axis theorem, we can relate I xx to I xx
ˆˆ ,

moment of inertia about the centroid of the area (can be

found in table)
I xx
I xx = I xx
ˆˆ  Ay C , therefore, y'=y C 
2 ˆˆ

AyC
I xy I xy
ˆˆ
Similarly, x'=  xC 
Ay C AyC 50
y
 Parallel Axis Theorem
•Consider moment of inertia I of an area A with
respect to the axis AA’

yc

II xx y 2 dA
y 2 dA

•The axis BB’ passes through the area centroid

and is called a centroidal axis.


I xx  y 2 2
y
dA 
dA  

 y  
 yd 
 2
yc  dA
2
dA
  y  2ydA d 2 dA
 yycdAydA
 2d 2
 2 dA  
yc2 dA

I xxI  II xx Ad
 Ay 2
2 c parallel axis theorem

51
 Problem 13
An automatic valve consists of a 225 x 225 mm square plate of uniform
thickness weighing 200 N (total). The valve is pivoted about a
horizontal axis through A located at a distance 100 mm above the
lower edge. Determine the depth of water d for which the valve will
open.

52
 Problem 13 - Solution

y

The valve will open when the depth of water ‘d’ is such that the resultant
force due to the hydrostatic pressure on the plate is acting at a
height of 100 mm (= h) or more above the lower edge of the valve.
y  d  h

53
 Problem 13 - Solution

y  d  h
I xx
 yc  d  h y
yc A
s4
12  d  s  d  h
 s 2 2
 d  .s
 2
s2 s
 h
 s 2
12 d  
 2
 s s2
d   
 2 s 
12.  h 
2 
s
d 
s2

225mm

225mm 2
d  450mm
2 s  2  225mm 
12.  h  12.  100mm  54
2   2 
 Alternate Solution
By centroid of d  2  (d  s) s
h 
trapezoid d   (d  s ) 3
d  2(d  s ) s
h 
d  (d  s) 3
3d  2 s s
h 
2d  s 3
s  2s  3h 
d   
2  s  2h 

225  2  225  3  100 

d    450mm
2  225  2  100 
55
 Problem 14
Find the simplest resultant of the hydrostatic pressure on the arch
dam

56
 Problem 14 - Solution
Consider an elementary area (rdθ)h at y
rdθ
an angle θ from X-axis and having a
dF
height h as shown in the figure. h
rdθ

Let the pressure force acting on the dθ

elemental area be dF as shown. It acts θ

x
normal to the surface at that point.
 1 2  acting at a height h/3 above the
dF   h rdq  r 
2  base of the dam.

r is the radial vector pointing from the centre radially outwards to

the point of action of dF
57
 Problem 14 - Solution
The total force on the dam is obtained y
rdθ
by integrating the pressure force on
dF
the element (rdθ)h over the surface h
rdθ

area of the dam. dθ

  q  / 2  1 2  
θ
F   d F    h  rd q  r  x
q 0  2 
  1 2 q   / 2  
F    h r   d q cos q i  sin q  j 
 2  q 0
  1 2  
F    h r  i  j 
 2 
58
 Problem 14 - Solution
  1 2  
F    h r  i  j  y
 2 
 1 2  h 2 r
F
F   h r  2  40m
2  2 F

Putting  = 9810 N/m3, h = 40m, 13.33m

450
r = 60m, the resultant pressure force
x

F 
 
9810 N/mm 3 40 m  60 m
2
 6 .66  10 8 N
2
Therefore the resultant pressure force will be 6.66 x 108 N acting
radially on the dam at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the x-
axis at a height 13.33m above the base of the dam. 59
 Problem 15
The gate at the end of a 1-m-
wide freshwater channel is
fabricated from three
rectangular plates, each
weighing 125 kg, as shown in
Figure. The gate is hinged at A
and rest against a roller support
at D. Knowing that d = 0.75 m,
determine the reactions at A and
D. Density of water is 1000
kg/m3. Use g = 9.81 m/s2.

60
 Solution Problem 15

.
× . × . .
Where .
Now
. ;
. .45N;
And,
. ;
61
 Solution Problem 15
Now from the free-body diagram:

Then,

.
.

Therefore A = 3930 N
62
Solution Problem 15

63
Solution Problem 15

64
 Problem 15
The gate at the end of a 1-m-
wide freshwater channel is
fabricated from three
rectangular plates, each
weighing 125 kg, as shown in
Figure. The gate is hinged at A
and rest against a roller support
at D. Knowing that d = 0.75 m,
determine the reactions at A and
D. Density of water is 1000
kg/m3. Use g = 9.81 m/s2.

65
 Solution Problem 15

.
× . × . .
Where .
Now
. ;
. .45N;
And,
. ;
66
 Solution Problem 15
Now from the free-body diagram:

Then,

.
.

Therefore A = 3930 N
67
 Extra Problem -1
The quarter circular
uniform gate AB has a
width of 6 m. The gate
controls the flow of
water over the edge B.
The gate has total
weight of 6800 kg and
is hinged about its
upper edge A. Find P
required to keep the
gate closed.

68
 Extra Problem 1 - Solution
The force P will keep the gate closed if resultant moment of the
forces acting on the gate about point A is equal to 0.
The forces acting on the gate are as follows:
RA
1) Hinge reaction at A
2) Force P at point B
3) Self weight of gate,
W = 6800 kg x 9.81 m/s2 = 66.7 kN
with line of action at distance 2r/ from A.
where r = radius of gate = 9m 2r

4) Uplift pressure force of water on gate. W
Y
Consider an elementary area (b.rdθ) at an
angle θ from X-axis. b is width of gate
Let the pressure force acting on the elemental rdθ
dF
area be dF as shown. It acts normal to the
surface at that point. r is radial vector
 
dθ
dF   r  r sin q b.rdq r  θ
69 X
 Extra Problem 1 - Solution
Uplift pressure force acting on the elemental area RA
 
dF   r  r sin q brdq r  A
  
dF  br 1  sin q cos qi  sin qj dq
2 rdθ
dF
Moment due to uplift pressure force acting on
theelemental area
dθ
 θ
dM FA  rFA  dF
   B P X
rFA  r cos qi  r 1  sin q  j 2r

W

Moment due to uplift pressure force acting on the entire gate

     
 
M FA   dM FA   r cos qi  r 1  sin q  j  br 1  sin q cos qi  sin qj dq
2

   
 
 br  cos qi  1  sin q  j  1  sin q cos qi  sin qj dq
3


cosq sin q 1  sin q   cosq 1  sin q  
q  / 2
 br  k dq
3 2

q 0
 br 3
M FA  70
2
 Extra Problem 1 - Solution
Resultant moment of forces acting on the gate Y
about A A
   
M A  M FA  M WA  M PA rdθ
dF
br 3  2r  
 k W k  P.rk
2  dθ
θ
Resultant moment of forces acting on the gate
about A should be 0. 2r W
B P X
 

 br 3 2r
M A   W  P.r k  0
 2  
br 2 2W
P 
2 
Putting b = 6m, r = 9m, W = 66.7 x 103 N,  = 9810 N/m3

P
9810 N/m 6m 9m 
3 2


2 66.7 103 N 
2 
P  2.34  106 N 71
 Extra Problem -2
The gate AB is a 250 kg
rectangular plate with hinged
base A. The base width of the
gate is 4 m. The gate is used to
close the discharge channel at
the bottom of an oil reservoir.
As a result of condensation in
the tank, fresh water collects at
the bottom of the channel.
Calculate the force P (in kN) to
be applied at B to close the gate
against the hydrostatic forces of
the water and oil. Consider
densities of fresh water and oil
to be 1000 kg/m3 and 850 kg/m3
respectively. Take g = 10 m/s2.
72
Extra Problem 2 - Solution

)=

73
Extra Problem 2 - Solution

74
Extra Problem 2 - Solution

75
 Extra Problem 2 - Solution

1
P  (4  4)  10  (4  4  3  0.85  2)  562.67 kN
6 76
 Extra Problem -2
The gate AB is a 250 kg
rectangular plate with hinged
base A. The base width of the
gate is 4 m. The gate is used to
close the discharge channel at
the bottom of an oil reservoir.
As a result of condensation in
the tank, fresh water collects at
the bottom of the channel.
Calculate the force P (in kN) to
be applied at B to close the gate
against the hydrostatic forces of
the water and oil. Consider
densities of fresh water and oil
to be 1000 kg/m3 and 850 kg/m3
respectively. Take g = 10 m/s2.
77
Extra Problem 2 - Solution

)=

78
Extra Problem 2 - Solution

79
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4bCkuJ2bm4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI5klge2GlM

80