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Mee 203 - 20232024 - 4

Mechanics

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14 views7 pages

Mee 203 - 20232024 - 4

Mechanics

Uploaded by

kunleade2255
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CENTROID

When considering the effect of forces on a body, it is very important to determine the
resultant or total weight of the body and its location. We will be considering how to
determine the center of gravity of an irregularly shaped body and the geometric center or
centroid of a body.

Centre of gravity is that point through which the resultant of the distributed gravity force
passes regardless of the orientation of the body in space. It is the point through which
resultant of force of gravity (weight) of the body acts. Centroid is the point which defines the
geometric center of an object. Lines, areas and volume all have centroids we will however be
considering the centroids of areas. Centroid of an area lies on the axis of symmetry if it exits.
Centre of gravity is applied to bodies with mass and weight and centroid is applied to plane
areas.

In determining the location of center of gravity, let us consider the rod shown in figure (a)
below with a segment having weight dW which is located at an arbitrary position ̃. Knowing
that the weight of the rod is the sum of the weights of all its particles

The resultant force acting on the rod is therefore given by


∑ : ∫

The location of the center of gravity measured from the y axis as shown in figure (b) above is
determined by equating the moment of W about the y axis to the sum of the moments of the
weights of all its particles about this axis. Therefore,

( ) ∑ ̅ ∫̃

∫̃
̅

This can be applied to a two dimensional figure such as a plate, the moment balance about the
x and y axes is required to determine the location ( ̅ ̅) of point G which can also be
generalized for three dimensional body

∫ 𝑥̃𝑑𝑊 ∫ 𝑦̃𝑑𝑊 ∫ 𝑧̃𝑑𝑊


𝑥̅ , 𝑦̅ ,∫̃ 𝑧̅
∫ 𝑑𝑊 ∫ 𝑑𝑊 ∫ 𝑑𝑊
̅
∫
Center of Mass of a Body: the center of mass of a body can also be located by substituting
dW in the equations above with dW = gdm. Since g is constant, we have
∫̃ ∫̃ ∫̃
̅ , ̅ , ̅
∫ ∫ ∫

Centroid of Volume: if a body consist of an homogenous material with contant density (ρ).
The differential element of volume dV has a mass dm = ρdV. We can locate the geometric
center of the body as

∫̃ ∫̃ ∫̃
̅ , ̅ , ̅
∫ ∫ ∫

Centroids of Areas
The centroid of area is represented by the coordinates ( ̅ ̅) measured from a reference axes
x and y

If an area lies in the x-y plane and is bounded by the curve y = f(x). Its centroid can be
evaluated from the equation below by performing a single integration.

∫̌ ∫̌
̅ and ̅
∫ ∫

If we use a rectangular strip for the differential element. For example, a horizontal strip as
below

𝒅𝑨 𝒙𝒅𝒚

Its centroid is located at 𝒙 𝒙 𝟐 and 𝒚 𝒚

Also taking a vertical strip as shown below


𝑨 𝒚𝒅𝒙

Its centroid is located at 𝒙 𝒙 and 𝒚 𝒚 𝟐

Symmetric Areas
When an area has an axis of symmetry, the centroid of the area will lie on the axis of the
symmetry. When the area has more than one axes of symmetry, the centroid will lie at the
intersection of these axes of symmetry.

Example
1. Determine the distance ̅ measured from the x axis to the centroid of the area of the
triangle shown

2. Locate the centroid ( ̅ ̅)

3. Determine the centroid ( ̅ ̅)


Practice Problems

1. Determine the centroid ( ̅ ̅) of the shaded area.

2. Locate the centroid ̅ of the parabolic area shown below

3. Determine the centroid ( ̅ ̅) of the shaded area

4. Determine the centroid ( ̅ ̅) of the shaded area


5. Determine the x- and y-coordinates of the centroid of the shaded area.

Centroid of Composite Area


The centroid of composite area can be found using the relations
∑ ∑
̅ ∑
and ̅ ∑
Where
x,y = centroids of each composite part of the area
∑ ( )
̅ ̅ = centroid of the total area
Centroids of some common shapes are given below
Example
1. For the plane area shown determine the location of the center of gravity

2. Determine the x- and y-coordinates of the centroid of the shaded area.


Practice Problems
1. Determine the y-coordinate of the centroid of the shaded area.

2. Determine the coordinates of the centroid of the shaded area.

3. Locate the centroid y of the beam’s cross-sectional area.

4. Determine the location y of the centroidal axis x-x of the beam’s cross-sectional area.
Neglect the size of the corner welds at A and B for the calculation.

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