Module No. A1.

FUNDAMENTALS OF
RIGID BODIES
STRUCTURAL THEORY 1

ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO

Department of Engineering & Architecture

STRUCTURAL THEORY1/ Module 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF RIGID BODIES 1

ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
This module or any portion thereof may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or distributed in
any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the College or the Author.

STRUCTURAL THEORY1/ Module 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF RIGID BODIES 2

ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
 COURSE OUTLINE

Course Information
1. Course title : Statics of Rigid Bodies
2. Program : Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering,
Electrical Engineering, Electronics Communication Engineering
3. Course Code : Statics
4. Credit Units : 3 units ; lec: 2 units ; lab: 1 unit
5. Prerequisite : Physics for Engineers, Calculus 2

Instructor Information
1. Name: Engr. Janet S. Crisostomo
Master in Engineering major in Structural Engineering, PLM, Manila Batch 2015
Dean, Department of Engineering & Architecture (DEA), BHC
Program Head, CE Department, BHC

Course Purpose and Description

The Course deals with the Basic Principles of Rigid bodies. This computes the reactions
of the body due to the applied loads. It also describes and predicts the conditions of rigid
bodies at rest under the action of different forces.

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ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
Intended Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students are expected to be able :

1. To explain the Basic Principles of Rigid Bodies.

2. To apply knowledge of Plane trigonometry, Solid Geometry, Physics for Engineers in
solving complex Civil Engineering problems related to Statics of Rigid Bodies.
3. To perform calculations related to Forces acting on Rigid bodies at rest.
4. To describe and predict the conditions of rigid bodies at rest under the action of different
forces.

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ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
Module A: FUNDAMENTALS OF RIGID BODIES

MODULE DESCRIPTION:
Module 1 deals with the Basic Principles of Statics. This discusses the classifications of Forces.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After studying this module, you should be able to:
1. Explain the Basic Principles of Statics.
2. Compute Components and Resultant of forces.
3. Compute Moments of a force.

A1.0 FUNDAMENTALS OF STATICS

ENGINEERING MECHANICS – is the science which describes and predicts the

conditions of rest or motion of bodies under the action of forces.

BRANCHES OF MECHANICS OF RIGID BODIES:

1. STATICS – deals with the forces acting on rigid bodies at rest.
2. DYNAMICS – deals with the motion of rigid bodies and with the forces that produce
or change their motion.

ENGINEERING MECHANICS

RIGID BODIES DEFORMABLE BODIES

STATICS DYNAMICS
Diagram 1.01

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ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
A1.1 FORCES
FORCE – is the action exerted by one body upon another.

TYPES OF FORCES:
1. APPLIED FORCES – push or pull
2. NON- APPLIED FORCES – gravitational pull of the earth on all physical bodies.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A FORCE
1. MAGNITUDE – consists of numeral and unit. (20 lb, 30 lb)
2. DIRECTION – position of the line of action. (downward, rightward, up to the right at
angle of)
3. POINT OF APPLICATION – is the point of contact between the two bodies.
4. SENSE - is indicated by the way it acts along its line of action, denoted by an arrow
head.
Sense may be compression if arrowhead is towards the point of application, or Tension if
away from the point of application.

20 lb
30 lb
θ

UNIT OF FORCE:
1 newton = 1 kg – m/s2 1 ton = 2000 lb (short)
1 kilonewton (kN) = 1000 newton (N) 1 ton = 2240 lb (long)
1 kilopound (kip) = 1000 pounds (lb) 1 ton = 2204.62 lb (metric)

mass – scalar qty – no direction

weight – vector qty – with direction
W = mg where: g = 9.81 m/s2 ; g = 32.2 ft/s2
Example: W = mg = 10 kg (9.81 m/s2) = 98.1 N (vertically downward)

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ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
 COMPONENTS OF A FORCE (Rectangular Component)
A Force may be replaced by two or more components that will produce the same effect as
the force they replace.

Y Y
F F
FY FY c a
θ b
x x
FX FX

Horizontal Component:
𝐹𝑋 𝐹𝑋 𝑏
= 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃 =
𝐹 𝐹 𝑐
𝒃
𝑭𝑿 = 𝑭 𝑪𝒐𝒔 𝜽 → 𝑒𝑞𝑛. 1.11 𝑭𝑿 = 𝑭 ( ) → 𝑒𝑞𝑛. 1.13
𝒄

Vertical Component:
𝐹𝑌 𝐹𝑌 𝑎
= 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝜃 =
𝐹 𝐹 𝑐
𝒂
𝑭𝒀 = 𝑭 𝑺𝒊𝒏 𝜽 → 𝑒𝑞𝑛. 1.12 𝑭𝒀 = 𝑭 ( ) → 𝑒𝑞𝑛. 1.14
𝒄

where:
Fx - horizontal or x – component of a force
Fy - vertical or y – component of a force

TRANSMISSION OF ANGLE
A particular angle θ can be transmitted to another two legs, if these two legs are both
parallel or both perpendicular to two legs of that particular angle

θ
θ
θ

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ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
 RESULTANT OF FORCE SYSTEMS
Resultant – is the sum of all forces.

METHODS IN SOLVING THE RESULTANT OF FORCE SYSTEM

A. PARALLELOGRAM METHOD:
States that two forces acting on a particle maybe replaced by a single force called
Resultant, obtained by drawing the diagonal of the parallelogram which has sides equal
to the given forces.

F1
Cosine Law: θ
β
F2
𝑅2 = 𝐹12 + 𝐹12 − 2 𝐹1 𝐹2 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃 → 𝑒𝑞𝑛. 15

B. GRAPHICAL METHOD:

- Drawing a scaled polygon by connecting tail of one force to head of another.

F1
F1
β
F2
ϴ ϴ
F3
R
β
F3

F2

C. ANALYTICAL METHOD:
Magnitude of the Resultant:
𝑅 = √(∑𝐹𝑋 )2 + (∑𝐹𝑌 )2 → 𝑒𝑞𝑛. 1.16

R
∑Fx = Fx → - Fx ← ∑FY
↑
ϴX
∑ Fy = Fy - Fy
∑FX
Direction of the Resultant:
∑ 𝐹𝑦
𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃𝑥 = | | → 𝑒𝑞𝑛. 1.17
∑ 𝐹𝑥

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ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
 TYPES OF FORCE SYSTEM Y
1. Coplanar Concurrent Force System
2. Coplanar Parallel Force System X
3. Coplanar Non-Concurrent Force System
Y
4. Non-Coplanar Concurrent Force System
5. Non-Coplanar Parallel Force System
X
6. Non-Coplanar Non-Concurrent Force System
Z

Coplanar – all forces of a system lie in one plane (2 dimensional)

Concurrent—action lines of all forces of a system intersect at a common point.
Collinear – all forces in a parallel system act along a single line of action.

ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS:

1. Determine the Resultant of the Coplanar concurrent forces as shown in figure 1.

12 lb

30ᵒ
50 lb
28ᵒ

3 2
4
5

24 lb
60 lb

fig. 1
Required: Resultant

Formula:
𝑅 = √(∑𝐹𝑋 )2 + (∑𝐹𝑌 )2

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ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
 Solution:
a. Resolve each forces into its two components

12 lb

30ᵒ
50 lb
28ᵒ
3 2
4 5

24 lb
60 lb

fig. 1

𝑐1 = √(4)2 + (3)2 = 5 ; 𝑐2 = √(5)2 + (2)2 = √29

Components of Forces:
12x = 12 lb (Sin 30) = 6 lb (→)
12y = 12 lb (Cos 30) = 10.392 lb (↑)
50x = 50 lb (cos 28) = 44.147 lb (←)
50y = 50 lb (sin 28) = 23.474 lb (↑)
24x = 24 lb (3/5) = 14.4 lb (←)
24y = 24 lb (4/5) = 19.2 lb (↓)
60x = 60 lb (2/29) = 22.283 lb (→)
60y = 60 lb (5/29) = 55.709 lb (↓)

b. Resultant of components:
∑Fx = Fx → - Fx ←
∑Fx = 6 lb - 44.147 lb - 14.4 lb + 22.283 lb = -30.264 lb (←)

∑ Fy = Fy↑ - Fy
∑ Fy = 10.392 lb + 23.474 lb - 19.2 lb - 55.709 lb = -41.043 lb (↓)

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ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
 Magnitude of the Resultant
𝑅 = √(∑𝐹𝑋 )2 + (∑𝐹𝑌 )2

𝑅 = √(−30.264)2 + (−41.043)2 = 𝟓𝟎. 𝟗𝟗𝟒 𝒍𝒃

Direction of the resultant:

∑ 𝐹𝑦 41.043 𝑙𝑏
𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃𝑥 = = ; 𝜽𝒙 = 𝟓𝟑. 𝟓𝟗𝟔°
∑ 𝐹𝑥 30.264 𝑙𝑏

𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑠 50.994 𝑙𝑏 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡 𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 53.596 ᵒ

∑FX (←)

ϴX

∑FY (↓)
R

EXERCISES A1.1:

1. Determine the Resultant of the four forces acting on the body as shown in figure A.
303.5 lb down to the right at 68.86ᵒ
2. The body shown in figure B is acted upon by the forces. Determine the Resultant.

300 lb 14 kN
224 lb 10ᵒ
2
1 36 kN
30ᵒ
5 25ᵒ
60ᵒ
12
30 kN
22 lb
200 lb
390 lb
fig. B
fig. A

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ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
A1.2 FORCES IN SPACE
Three dimensional – Non Coplanar Concurrent Force System.

Y
FY
F

FX
X
FZ
Z

where:
Fx - force component along x axis
Fy - force component along y axis
Fz - force component along z axis

Sign Convention:
P(x, y, z)
(+ y) is upward d
y
(+ x) is to the right
x z
(+ z) is forward

FORCE COMPONENTS:

𝐹𝑥 𝐹𝑦 𝐹𝑧 𝑭
= = = = 𝑭𝒎 → 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑟
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 𝒅

𝑥 𝑦 𝑧
𝐹𝑋 = 𝐹 ( ) ; 𝐹𝑌 = 𝐹 ( ) ; 𝐹𝑧 = 𝐹 ( ) → 𝑒𝑞𝑛. 1.21
𝑑 𝑑 𝑑

DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO END POINTS OF FORCE:

𝑑 = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 → 𝑒𝑞𝑛. 1.22

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ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
 DIRECTION ANGLE OF FORCE:
𝐹𝑋 𝐹𝑌 𝐹𝑍 𝐹
= = = =𝐹
𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃𝑋 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃𝑌 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃𝑍 𝐶𝑜𝑠 0

* ignore sign of forces in solving θ

where:
d - force directed distance
x – distance component along x – axis θx - angle between Fx and F

y – distance component along y – axis θy - angle between Fy and F

z – distance component along z - axis θz - angle between Fz and F

𝑇𝑜 𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘: 𝐶𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃𝑋 + 𝐶𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃𝑌 + 𝐶𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃𝑍 = 1

Ex. Find the components of force F = 280 N with directed distance along x, y, z axes (6, 2, 3).

RESULTANT OF FORCES IN SPACE

𝑅 = √(∑𝐹𝑋 )2 + (∑𝐹𝑌 )2 + (∑𝐹𝑍 )2 → 𝑒𝑞𝑛. 1.23

∑FY
R
SUM OF FORCES ALONG THE AXES: ϴY
∑ Fx = Fx → - Fx ← ϴZ ϴX ∑FX
↑ ↓
∑ Fy = Fy - Fy
∑FZ
∑ FZ = FZ ↙ - FZ ↗
→ 𝑒𝑞𝑛. 1.24
DIRECTION ANGLE OF FORCE:

∑𝐹𝑋 ∑𝐹𝑌 ∑𝐹𝑍 𝑅

= = = =𝑅 → 𝑒𝑞𝑛. 1.25
𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃𝑋 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃𝑌 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃𝑍 𝐶𝑜𝑠 0

∑𝐹𝑋 ∑𝐹𝑌 ∑𝐹𝑍

𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃𝑋 = ; 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃𝑌 = ; 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃𝑍 =
𝑅 𝑅 𝑅

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ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS:

1. Find the resultant of the concurrent force system which consist of the forces T = 300 lb
towards A, P = 200 lb towards B and F = 500 lb towards C. All forces are directed from
D toward A, B and C. A (5, -10, 0), B (-5, -10, -3), C (-5, -8, 4) all units are in ft.

-5
5

T
F P -10
4 -3
C (-5, -8, 4)
B (-5, -10, -3) A (5, -10, 0)

Solution:
a. Directed distance of Forces from D.

𝑑 = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2

𝑑𝐴 = √(−5) 2 + (−10) 2 + (0) 2 = √125 𝑓𝑡

𝑑𝐵 = √(−5) 2 + (−10) 2 + (−3) 2 = √134 𝑓𝑡

𝑑𝐶 = √(−5) 2 + (−8) 2 + (4) 2 = √105 𝑓𝑡

b. Force component
𝑥 5
𝑇𝑋 = 𝑇 ( ) = 300 𝑙𝑏 ( ) = 134.164 𝑙𝑏
𝑑𝐴 √125
𝑦 −10
𝑇𝑌 = 𝑇 ( ) = 300 𝑙𝑏 ( ) = −268.328 𝑙𝑏
𝑑𝐴 √125
𝑧 0
𝑇𝑧 = 𝑇 ( ) = 300 𝑙𝑏 ( )=0
𝑑𝐴 √125

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ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
 𝑥 −5
𝑃𝑋 = 𝑃 ( ) = 200 𝑙𝑏 ( ) = −86.387 𝑙𝑏
𝑑𝐵 √134
𝑦 −10
𝑃𝑌 = 𝑃 ( ) = 200 𝑙𝑏 ( ) = −172.774 𝑙𝑏
𝑑𝐵 √134
𝑧 −3
𝑃𝑧 = 𝑃 ( ) = 200 𝑙𝑏 ( ) = −51.832 𝑙𝑏
𝑑𝐵 √134

Other force component can be tabulated

c. Resultant
𝑅 = √(∑𝐹𝑋 )2 + (∑𝐹𝑌 )2 + (∑𝐹𝑍 )2

∑ Fx = Fx → - Fx ←
∑ Fy = Fy↑ - Fy↓
∑ FZ = FZ ↙ - FZ ↗

Tabulate for easier computations:

Desig Force x y z d Fx Fy Fz
nation lb ft ft ft ft lb lb lb
T 300 5 -10 0 √𝟏𝟐𝟓 134.164 -268.328 0
P 200 -5 -10 -3 √𝟏𝟑𝟒 -86.387 -172.774 -51.832
F 500 -5 -8 4 √𝟏𝟎𝟓 -243.975 -390.360 195.180
∑ -196.198 -831.462 143.348

Magnitude of the Resultant:

𝑅 = √(−196.198)2 + (−831.462)2 + (143.349)2

𝑅 = 𝟖𝟔𝟔. 𝟐𝟒𝟎 𝒍𝒃 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑, 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑

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ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
 Direction of the Resultant:
∑𝐹𝑋 −196.198 𝑙𝑏
𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃𝑋 = = | | ; 𝜃𝑋 = 76.91°
𝑅 866.240 𝑙𝑏

∑𝐹𝑌 −831.462 𝑙𝑏
𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃𝑌 = = | | ; 𝜃𝑌 = 16.29°
𝑅 866.240 𝑙𝑏

∑𝐹𝑍 143.349 𝑙𝑏
𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃𝑍 = = | | ; 𝜃𝑍 = 80.47°
𝑅 866.240 𝑙𝑏

2. In figure a vertical boom AE is supported by guywires from A, B, C, and D. If the tensile

load in AD = 252 lb. Find the forces in AC and AB so that the resultant force on A will
be vertical

A
Figure 1.2-a
AB
AC
AD B
12’
9’

D (6, -12, 4) 4’
3’ 6’
C(-4, -12, 3)
C
4’
B(0, -12, -9)
D

Given: AD = 252 lb, Resultant is vertical at A

Required:
Forces in AC and AB

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ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
 Solution:
a. Determine the force directed distance towards A, B and C
Consider point A as the origin.
Point C is located 4 ft to the left of A, 12 ft below A and 3 ft forward from A.
Then point C is at (-4, -12, 3)

AB
AC B (0, -12, -9)
AD
9’
4’
3’ 6’

C (-4, -12, 3) 4’
D (6, -12, 4)

b. Directed distance of Forces from D.

𝑑 = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2

𝑑𝐵 = √(0) 2 + (−12) 2 + (−9) 2 = 15 𝑓𝑡

𝑑𝐶 = √(−4) 2 + (−12) 2 + (3) 2 = 13 𝑓𝑡

𝑑𝐷 = √(6) 2 + (−12) 2 + (4) 2 = 14 𝑓𝑡

c. Force component
𝑥 0 𝑓𝑡
𝐴𝐵𝑋 = 𝐴𝐵 ( ) = 𝐴𝐵 ( )= 0
𝑑 15 𝑓𝑡
𝑦 −12 𝑓𝑡 4
𝐴𝐵𝑌 = 𝐴𝐵 ( ) = 𝐴𝐵 ( ) = − 𝐴𝐵
𝑑 15 𝑓𝑡 5
𝑧 −9 𝑓𝑡 3
𝐴𝐵𝑍 = 𝐴𝐵 ( ) = 𝐴𝐵 ( ) = − 𝐴𝐵
𝑑 15 𝑓𝑡 5

Other force component can be tabulated

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ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
 d. Resultant
If Resultant is vertical:
𝑅 = ∑𝐹𝑌 ; ∑𝐹𝑋 = 0 ; ∑𝐹𝑍 = 0

Tabulate for easier computations:

Desig Force x y z d Fx Fy Fz
nation lb ft ft ft ft lb lb lb
AB 0 -12 -9 15 0 -4/5 AB -3/5 AB
AC -4 -12 3 13 -4/13 AC -12/13 AC 3/13 AC
AD 252 6 -12 4 14 108 -216 72

∑ Fx = Fx → - Fx ← = 0
4
0= − 𝐴𝐶 + 108 𝑙𝑏 ; 𝑨𝑪 = 𝟑𝟓𝟏 𝒍𝒃
13
∑ FZ = FZ ↙ - FZ ↗ =0
3 3
0= − 𝐴𝐵 + 𝐴𝐶 + 72 𝑙𝑏
5 13
3 3
0 = − 𝐴𝐵 + (351 𝑙𝑏) + 72 𝑙𝑏 ; 𝑨𝑩 = 𝟐𝟓𝟓 𝒍𝒃
5 13

∑ Fy = Fy↑ - Fy↓ = R
4 12
𝑅= − 𝐴𝐵 − 𝐴𝐶 − 216 𝑙𝑏
5 13
4 12
𝑅 = − (255 𝑙𝑏) − (351 𝑙𝑏) − 216 𝑙𝑏
5 13
𝑹 = −𝟕𝟒𝟒 𝒍𝒃 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑

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ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
EXERCISES A1.2:

1. Solve the Resultant of the forces using the following data:

F1 = 25 kN (3, -5, -4) all in meters
F2 = 30 kN (3, -5, 4)
F3 = 18 kN (-3, -5, 0) 56.195 kN ; 75.49ᵒ ; 14.8ᵒ ; 87.12ᵒ

2. Find the resultant of the forces acting on cables as shown below.

T1 = 34 kN
O
T2 = 40 kN
T3 = 47.5 kN T1
T3
A 10m
T2
8m
C
5m
4m
6m
B

99.182 kN ; 81.58ᵒ ; 8.59ᵒ ; 88.32ᵒ

STRUCTURAL THEORY1/ Module 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF RIGID BODIES 19

ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
A1.3 MOMENT OF A FORCE

MOMENT OF A FORCE – is its tendency to produce rotation of the body upon which it
acts about some axis.

𝑀=𝐹𝑥𝑑 → 𝑒𝑞𝑛. 1.31

Moment arm/lever arm (perpendicular distance from line
of force to centre moment)
Force

Example:
d1 F

d2
Lever arm
F
F

Loosening bolt using wrench Applying force to the pedal to

rotate the crank

Centre of Moments – is a point of intersection of the axis of rotation with the plane of the
force and its moment arm.

Units of Moments:
Moment = Force x distance
Kn-m = kn x m
N-m = N xm
Ft-lb = lb x ft
Kips-ft = kips x ft

• The Moment of a Force about an axis passing thru its line of action is zero.

STRUCTURAL THEORY1/ Module 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF RIGID BODIES 20

ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
 The Principle of Moments (Varignon’s Theorem)
- States that the moment of a force about any axis is equal to the sum of the moments of
its components about that axis.

𝐹𝑦
𝑀𝑜𝐹 = 𝑀𝑜𝐹𝑥 + 𝑀𝑜
FX
𝐹 (𝑐 ) = 𝐹𝑥 (𝑎) + 𝐹𝑦 (𝑏) a
𝑎 𝑏
c c b
𝐹 (𝑐 ) = 𝐹 ( 𝑐 ) ( 𝑎 ) + 𝐹 ( 𝑐 ) (𝑏 ) a
𝐹 FY F
𝐹 (𝑐 ) = (𝑎 2 + 𝑏 2 ) 0
𝑐 b
2 2 2
𝑐 = 𝑎 + 𝑏
𝑐2 = 𝑐2

The Principle of Transmissibility

- States that the point of application of force may be transmitted to any other point along
its line of action without changing the effect of the external force reactions.

P
F D
1
B F

T
A C E G H

Exercise:
Compute the Moment of all Forces at point A,B,C and D.
1 division = 1 m

30 kN
36 kN
20 kN D

C 25 kN
A B

STRUCTURAL THEORY1/ Module 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF RIGID BODIES 21

ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
A1.4 TYPES OF LOAD/FORCES:
A. CONCENTRATED LOAD – is one that acts over so small a distance that can be
assumed to act at a point.
F

cement
Janet c.

B. COUPLES – a force which consists of two equal, opposite and parallel forces having
separate lines of action. Its effect is the tendency to rotate the body.

MC = F (d/2) + F (d/2) F
MC = F (d) F

MC = F x d

Ex. Hands on steering wheel of an automobile; Thumb and forefinger in turning a nut

F F
F

CHARACTERISTICS OF A COUPLE:
1. The Resultant force of a couple is zero.
2. The moment of a couple is the product of one of the forces and the perpendicular
distance between their lines of action.
3. The moment of a couple is constant and independent of any centre moment.
4. A couple can be balanced only by an equal and opposite in the same or in a parallel
plane.

STRUCTURAL THEORY1/ Module 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF RIGID BODIES 22

ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
 C. DISTRIBUTED LOAD – acts over a considerable length of the beam.

cement w
cement cement
cement cement cement
cement cement cement cement
Janet c.

A Distributed Load must be replaced by its equivalent concentrated Resultant, which

always acts thru the centre of gravity of the load or thru the centroid of the load area.

Uniformly Distributed load: Varying/ Triangular Load:

w w

L
L

R = wL
R = ½wL
½ᵌ⅓⅔wL

½L ½L ⅔L ⅓L

Trapezoidal Load: Spandrel Load:

W1
𝑤𝐿
W2 𝑅=
𝑛+1
L 𝑥ҧ
𝑛
R 𝑦 = 𝑘𝑥 w
R1 = ½ (w1 – w2)L
R2 = w1L
L
w1 – w2
w2
𝐿
𝑥ҧ =
𝑛+2
R = R1 + R2

STRUCTURAL THEORY1/ Module 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF RIGID BODIES 23

ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC
EXERCISES A1.4:

Find the magnitude of the Resultant and its location from left end of the ff. loads:

32 kN/m
1.)

8.0 m

12 N/m

2.)
6.0 m

24 k/ft
10 k/ft
3.)
9 ft

28 lb/ft
y = kx3
4.)

5.0 ft

STRUCTURAL THEORY1/ Module 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF RIGID BODIES 24

ENG’R. JANET S. CRISOSTOMO/ BHC