MOMENT OF A COUPLE

Objectives:
Students will be able to:
a) Define moment of a couple
b) Distinguish between moment of a couple and
moment of a force about a point.
c) Determine moment of a couple.
Repeat: Methods for determining moment
of a force about a point

1. Moment definition, M = Fd
2. Varignon’s Theorem
Moment Of A Couple : Important Points
• A couple is defined as two parallel forces of equal magnitude
but opposite direction; and are separated by a perpendicular
distance d. For couple, resultant force is zero (ΣF = 0).

• Moment produced by couple forces is called a couple moment

and has a magnitude M = Fd (Slide 4).

• Effect of couple moment: pure rotation in a specified direction.

• A couple moment is a free vector, and as a result it causes the

same rotational effect on a body no matter where the couple
moment is applied to the body (Slide 5, Slide 6).

• Moment of the two couple forces can be determined about

any point (Slide 5).

• A resultant couple moment is simply the vector sum of all the

couple moments in the system (Slide 10).
Moment of A Couple
A couple moment M is produced by two parallel (ie. non-collinear)
forces that are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.

Magnitude: M = Fd
F = magnitude of one of the forces
d = perpendicular distance between forces F and F’

ΣFx = 0; ΣFy = 0
ΣMA ≠ 0 F

A F’ (F = F’)
+ ΣMA = Fd1 – Fd2 d2
= F(d1 – d2) d
= Fd

d1
 Concept of couple moment is better illustrated by the example
below:

M  F  d  (100)(4)  400 N  m clockwise

ve CCW : M A  100(4)  400 N  m
100N ve CCW : MB  100(3)  100(1)  400 N  m
ve CCW : MC  100(4)  400 N  m
A
100N ve CCW : MD  100(6) 100(2)  400 N  m

B C   Observe that MA = MB = MC = MD = M

1m  Moment of couple can be determined

about any point. No need any specific
3m D point. Only depend on M = Fd
 Moment of a couple is a free vector, which
2m means you can place moment M anywhere
on the rigid body.
The preceding example (Slide 5) shows that:

 A couple moment M is a free vector: it produces the same

rotation no matter where you place the couple moment M on
the body (M = MA = MB = MC = MD)

 Magnitude of couple moment does not depend on any specific

point.

 By contrast, for moment of a force about a point, we must

specify the point about which the moment is to be determined.
Equivalent Couples
 If two couples produce a moment with the same magnitude
and same direction, then these two couples are equivalent.
 For example, each couple moment below has a magnitude of
M = Fd = 30N(0.4m) = 40N(0.3m) = 12 Nm clockwise.
 Equivalent Couples
Consider the three couples shown below. Each of the couples below
will cause the plate to rotate CCW and has magnitude of 30 N·m.

300 N

100 mm 250 mm
200 N 120 N 120 N
300 N
50 mm

50 mm 150 mm 150
mm 200 N

Figure 3.9
100 mm 100 mm
30 N.m 30 N.m
50 mm 50 mm

50 mm 150 mm 50 mm 150 mm
Figure 3.9 shows an equivalent system.
Prove: Use parallelogram law for addition of two forces and
principle of transmissibility F1

F1

C A
=
B D
F1’
d1

P F1’
F1

F2’
Q A
= C =
D F2
B Q’

F1’
P’
3.9 Addition of Couples: Finding A Resultant Couple

Moments due to couples can be added using the same rules

as adding any vectors.

MR = (MP + MQ) = (MP + MS) = (P + S)(p)

Q
q Q’ S’ P+S
= S =
p P P p
P’ P’
p P’+S’
 Example 3.3

If F = 2000 N, find the resultant couple

moment M.
C Solution:
(a)Find moment for each couple and add
them up, OR
(b) Sum the moments of the forces about
any arbitrary point (point A, or B or C).

Answer: M = 260 N.m (CW)

 Example 3.3

Solution: Find couple moment

 Determine couple moment of 1500-N force pair and 2000-N force pair.
(Apply Varignon’s theorem)
 Add them to obtain resultant couple moment MR.

ve CCW :
M1500  1500cos 30o(0.4)  1500sin30o(0.4)  819.6 N  m
M2000  2000 (0.2)  2000(0.2)  560 N  m
4
5
3
5

 MR  M1500  M2000  819.6  560

 259.6 N  m
 260 N  m clockwise


 Example 3.3

Solution: Find couple moment

 Determine couple moment of 1500-N force pair and of 2000-N force
pair. (Apply moment definition M = Fd)
 Add them to obtain resultant couple MR.

ve CCW :
M1500  Fd  (1500)(d1500 )
d1500  (0.4 2 m)(cos15o)  0.5464m
M1500  (1500)(0.5464)  819.6 N  m CW

M2000  (2000)(d2000 )
 d2000  (0.2 2 m)(cos 8.13o)  0.2800m
M2000  (2000)(0.28)  560 N  m CCW

MR  M1500  M2000  819.6  560

  259.6 N  m
15° = 45° − 30°
8.13° = 45° − 36.87°  260 N  m clockwise
 Example 3.3

Solution: Moment of force about a point

 Find moment of each force about point A and sum them up.

ve CCW : MR   M A
F2
 M1  M2  M3  M 4
  1500cos 30o(0.6m)  1500sin30o(0.4m)

F1
 2000(0.6m)  2000 (0.2m)
3
5
4
5

 2000(0.4m)  2000 (0m)

3
5
4
5

 1500cos 30o(0.2m)  1500sin30o(0m)

F4 F3
  779.4  300  320  720  480  0  259.8  0
  259.6 N  m

 260 N m clockwise


 Example 3.3

Solution: Moment of force about a point

 Find moment of each force about point B and sum them up.

ve CCW : MR   MB

F2  M1  M2  M3  M 4
 1500cos 30o(0)  1500sin30o(0.4m)

F1
 2000(0)  2000 (0.2m)
3
5
4
5

 2000(0.2m)  2000 (0)

F3 3 4
5 5

F4  1500 cos 30o(0.4m)  1500 sin 30o(0)

  300  0  320  0  240  0  519.6  0
  259.6 N  m
 260 N m clockwise


 Example 3.4

Two force couples act on the structure. The

resultant couple is zero. Find magnitudes
of P and F and distance d.
Answer: P = 500N, F = 300 N, d = 3.96 m

SOLUTION:
By definition, a couple consists of two parallel forces of same magnitude but
opposite directions. So, P = 500 N and F = 300 N

Given ΣM = 0:
+ M = − (500)(2m)+(300 cos30º)(d) − (300 sin 30º)(0.2m) = 0
= − 1000 + 259.8d − 30 = 0
1030
d = = 3.96 m
259.8
 Practice Problem 1

Two couples act on the frame. If d = 1.2m, determine the resultant

couple moment.

Method:
 First, resolve 200-N and 300-N force
pairs into x-y components.

C To find resultant couple MR:

 Find moment of each force couple and

sum them up. OR

 Sum moments of all forces about a

point (either A, B or C)
Answer: M = 80.15 N.m clockwise
 Practice Problem 2

Two couples act on the frame. If the resultant couple moment is

zero, determine the distance d between the 200-N couple forces.

Answer: d = 1.663m
 Practice Problem 3

Determine the magnitude of F so that the resultant couple

moment on the frame is 200 N m clockwise.

Answer: F = 2213 N
EQUIVALENT SYSTEM: FORCE-COUPLE SYSTEM
Objectives:
Students will be able to:
• Evaluate effect of moving a force.
• Find an equivalent force-couple system for a system
of forces and couple moments.
EQUIVALENT FORCE-COUPLE SYSTEM

Consider a case where we have a force F but we

want to move it to a new point; or we have a
moment M but we want to replace it with forces.
3.10 Resolve a given force into a force acting at a
specific point and a couple moment

To move a force to a new point, e.g. from point B to point A,

(A and B on different lines of action) requires adding a couple
moment M at the new point.

F F
F
A F
A A
d = = M = Fd
B B
F’ Equivalent force-couple
system

Procedure:
1. First, find moment of the force (at B) about point A, MA = Fd.
2. Remove force F from point B and place it at the new point.
3. Add couple moment M at point A (magnitude of M = MA).
3.10 Resolve a given force into a force acting at a
specific point and a couple moment (cont.)

Any force F acting on a rigid body may be moved to a new point,

provided that a couple M is added at the new point. Magnitude of
couple M must equal to the moment of F (at its original position)
about point A, MA = Fd

F F
F
A F
A A
d = = M = Fd
B B
F’
Force F is Equivalent force-
F + F’ = 0 couple system
originally at B
Note that F&F’
forms a couple
3.10 Resolve a given force into a force acting at a
specific point and a couple moment (cont.)

A force F acting at A and a couple M may be further simplified into

a single resultant force F as shown below:

F M
A A
d
= F
M
B

How? 
 Move force F until its moment about A (MA) is equal to the moment M
of the couple to be eliminated.
 Magnitude and direction of F are unchanged, but its new line of action
will be at a distance d = M/F from point A.
 Beer 5th ed.
Sample Problem 3.4

A 50-N force is applied to a plate as shown.

Replace this force by:
(a)An equivalent force-couple system acting
at point A.
(b)An equivalent system consisting of a 150-N
force at B and another force at A.

(b)An equivalent system formed by two parallel

forces at A and B.
 Beer 5th ed.
Sample Problem 3.4

(a) Equivalent force-couple system at A.

i) Move 50-N force to point A (magnitude and direction the same as the
original force).

ii) Add a couple moment M to point A (magnitude of M is equal to moment of

50-N force at its original position about point A).

MA = Fxy + Fyx
= (50N sin30°)(0.050m) − (50N cos 30°)(0.100m)
∴ MA = −3.08 Nm = 3.08 Nm CW

Answer: F = 50N 60° M = 3.08 Nm CW

This is a crucial step because it

determines the magnitude and
direction of the couple moment.
 Beer 5th ed.
Sample Problem 3.4

(b) Equivalent system consisting of 150-N force at B and a force at A.

i) Assume couple M = −3.08 Nm consists of two 150-N

parallel forces acting at B and A, respectively.
MA = −3.08 Nm = −(150N)(d)
d = 0.02053 m
d = 0.02053 m = (0.030m)(cos θ)
θ = cos-1 (0.02053/0.03) = cos-1 (0.6844) = +46.8°

ii) At point A, we have two forces acting: 150-N and 50-N.

Find resultant of these two forces.
FAX = 50N sin 30° – 150N cos 46.8° = −77.67 N
FAY = −50N cos 30° – 150N sin 46.8° = −152.65
N
FA = 171.3 N
θ = tan-1(−152.65/−77.67) = 63.0°
Answer:
FB = 150 N θ = 46.8°
FA = 171.3 N θ = 63.0°
 Beer 5th ed.
Sample Problem 3.4

(b) 150-N force at B and a force at A (alternative answer)

Note angle θ has two values:

θ = cos-1 (0.02053/0.03) = cos-1 (0.6844) = +46.8°

ii) At point A, we have two forces acting 150-N and 50-N.

Find resultant of these two forces.
FAX = 50N sin 30° – 150N cos 46.8° = −77.67 N
FAY = −50N cos 30° + 150N sin 46.8° = 66.05 N
FA = 101.96N;
θ = tan-1 (66.05/−77.67) = 40.37°

FB = 150 N θ = 46.8°

Answer: FA = 101.96 N θ = 40.37°

FB = 150 N θ = 46.8°
 Beer 5th ed.
Sample Problem 3.4

(c) Two parallel forces, one at B and one at A.

i) Also refer to result from (a) : M = 3.08 N-m clockwise

Q’ B
θ° i) Represent this couple by forces Q and Q’ parallel to
50-N force, acting at A and B, respectively.
θ
30 mm
i) First find the perpendicular distance between Q and
d Q
θ°A Q’ and then find magnitude Q
30 d = 30 mm sin 30° = 15 mm = 0.015 mm
°
50 N |MA| = Q (0.015 mm) = 3.08 Nm
Q = 205.3 N

i) At point B, FB = 205.3 N 60°

At point A, FA = 205.3 − 50 = 155.3 N 60°
 Beer 5th ed.
Sample Problem 3.4

Summary: The equivalent systems

= = =

(a) (b) (c)

 Example 3.5

A 125-N force is applied at C to the bracket as shown below.

Replace the 125-N force by:
a.An equivalent force-couple system at B
b.An equivalent system consisting of a 200-N force at A and
another force at B.
C
500 mm 125 N
500 mm

400 mm

A B

(a) FB = 125 N ; MB = 50 N-m CCW

(b) FA = 200N 30° ; FB = 314.5N 18.54°
 Example 3.6

A 1000-N force acting at a rod AB as shown. Replace this force by:

(a) An equivalent force-couple system at C.
(b) An equivalent system formed by two forces; one force at A
perpendicular to AB and another force at C.

A C B

300
200 100 1000 N
mm mm

(a) FC = 1000N 30° and MC = (500N)(0.1m) = 50 N.m CW

(b) M = 50Nm = Fd ; d = 0.2 m and F = 250 N.

FA = 250N FCx = 866N, FCy = -750N, FC = 1145.6N, q = 40.89°
 Beer, 5th ed
Problem 3.35

Knowing that the line of action of 600-N force passes through

point C, replace the 600-N force by:
a)An equivalent force-couple system at D
b)An equivalent system formed by two parallel forces
at B and D.

FD = 600.0 N 36.9° FB = 200 N 36.9°

MD = 28.8 Nm (CCW) FD = 400 N 36.9°
 Beer, 5th ed
Problem 3.37

Replace the 600-N force by:

a)An equivalent force-couple system at C
b)An equivalent system consisting of a 120-N force at B and another
force at C

FD = 600.0 N 30° FB = 120 N 48.4°

MD = 14.35 Nm (CW) FD = 588 N 41.5°
EQUIVALENT SYSTEM: FORCE-COUPLE SYSTEM

When several forces and couple moments act on a

body, they can be combined into a single force and
couple moment having the same external effect.

A system is equivalent if the external effects it creates

on a body are the same as those caused by original
force and couple moment system.
3.11 Reducing a system of coplanar forces into one
force and one couple.

Procedure:
1.Move each force and its associated couple moment to a common
point A.
2.Then, add all forces and couple moments together.
3.Find one resultant force-couple moment pair.
4.Move resultant R until its moment about A becomes equal to M,
thus eliminating the need for couple M. Distance from A to the line
of action of R is d = M/R

Figure 3.14
OR: Using rectangular component for each force

R X  Fx
R Y  Fy
M A  M
If the system is to be reduced to a single force, the following
method may be used:

Component forces of R (Rx and Ry) are moved to a point B located

on the line of action Rx; the displacement from A to B is defined by
dx = M/Ry. Moment Rx about A is zero, but moment Ry about A is
now equal to M. Couple M is eliminated.

= =
=
dy = −M/Rx
Continue….

OR, the forces Rx and Ry could be moved to point C, located on

the line of action Rx; the displacement from A to C is defined by
dy = −M/Rx. Moment Ry about A is zero, but moment Rx about A
is now equal to M. Couple M is eliminated.

= =
=
dy = −M/Rx
 Example 1

Given: A system of forces is as shown.

Find: (a) equivalent resultant force and
couple moment acting at A;
(b) equivalent single force
location along the beam AB.

Plan:

1) Sum all the (Rx) and (Ry) components of the forces to find R
2) Sum all the moments resulting from moving each force to A.
3) Shift the FR to a distance d such that d = MRA/FRy
 Example 1

Solution:
(a)   Fx  R x  25  35 sin30o  42.5N 
  Fy  R y  20  35 cos 30o  50.31N 
R  R 2x  R 2y  65.9N
 42.5 
q  tan 
1

50.31  49.8 o

 

 M R , A  (35 cos 30 )(0.2m)  20(0.6m)  25(0.3m)

  10.56 N  m (clockwise)

(b) Location of equivalent resultant force R on beam AB at a

distance d measured from the left end (point A):
d = MRA/FRy = 10.56 N.m/50.31 N = 0.21 m.
 Example 2

Replace the force system acting on the frame by an equivalent resultant

force and specify where the resultant’s line of action intersects the
member AB, measured from point A.

SOLUTION
  Fx  R x  175 N sin 30  125 N  212.5 N
  Fy  R y  175 N cos 30  100 N  251.6 N
R  (212.5) 2  (251.6) 2  329.3 N
 251.6 
q  tan 1    49.8


 212.5 

Location where line of action intersects beam AB :

 M R  M A  251.6 (d)
 175 cos 30 (0.6)  100 (1.8)  125 (0.9)
d  0.630 m
 Example 3.8

a) A bracket shown in Figure S.1 is subjected to three forces. If moment about O

of three forces is 150 Nm (CW), determine force F.
a) Determine the magnitude and direction of a force acting at B that will create a
150 Nm clockwise moment about O.

(a) F = 750N
(b) M = Fd: d = 0.206m, F = 728.16 N
 Example 3.9

A truss shown is subjected to three forces. Determine the resultant

of the three forces and the intersection point between line of action
of the resultant force with member DBA, measured from A.

9 kN
4m 4m
D B A
30°
6 kN
6m 3 kN
C

tan-1 (12/8.196) = q = 55.67°

ΣFx = 8.196 kN , ΣFy = 12 kN, R = 14.53 kN
E
(From Ujian 1 Feb 2002)