Lesson 3

Resultants of Con-Current Force Systems

In this part of the manual, applications of the basic concepts and definitions learned in Lesson 2
will be discussed. The illustrative problems discussed here hopes to bring out a more comprehensive
meaning of the definitions previously taken.

Main Objective:

Enhance students to problem solving through applications.

Specific Goals:

1. Identify what method is easy to apply.

2. Develop skills in drafting by if graphical method is applied.

3. Enhance mathematical computation learned previous years of studies.

Resultant of a System of Forces means to take the sum or add up the force vectors to come up with a
single force that would have the same effect as the individual forces on the system taken together.
 Determination of the resultant of a system of forces can be done through (a) Graphical method
and (b) Analytical method. If graphical method all force vector arrows must be drawn to scale and
directions properly.

Resultant Force by Parallelogram Method is done by forming a series of parallelogram simultaneously

until all forces are considered or taken. That is two force vectors are added to get a resultant which is
then added to a third force vector, etc., until all the vectors have been added together to come up with
an overall resultant.

Consider the system of three concurrent forces F, P, and Q shown in Fig. 3.1 application of
parallelogram method of vector addition is used, with first forming a parallelogram from F and P to yield
to resultant R1 which is the diagonal drawn from the tails of F and P. The obtained resultant R1, which
replaced F and P as a single force is then added to Q by forming the next parallelogram. Hence the
diagonal projected form the tails of R1 and Q then combines F, P and Q to an overall resultant R.

Y
F F R1
P P R
θx
X X
O O

Q Q

(a) (b)
Fig. 3.1 Resultant Determined Graphically by Parallelogram Method

Resultant Force by Polygon Method is done by connecting the vector forces tip-to-tail in any order and
form a close polygon with the closing side as the resultant.
 This is a more direct solution of arriving at a resultant of system of forces. With the definition of
a free vector and the triangle law, consider the same forces F, P and Q above. First the free vector of P
was moved and its tail connected to the tip of force F, then the free vector of Q was moved and its tail
connected to the tip of P. For the overall resultant, the tail of the first vector, F in this illustration is
connected to the tip of the last vector which is Q. Notice that in this graphical method of finding the
overall resultant R1 need not be drawn.

Y
Free vector of P P
Q
Y Free Vector of Q
F R1
F
P R
θx
X X
O O

(a) Q (b)

Fig. 3.2 Resultant Determined Graphically by Polygon Method

For the two graphical solutions of obtaining the resultant of a system of forces, the magnitude
of the resultant is the measure of the length of its vector arrow while the direction is the measure of its
rotation or angle from the positive x-axis.

Triangle Method of Solving for the Resultant is done by connecting vector forces tip-to-tail in any order
and form a close polygon with the resultant as closing side then dividing the polygon with series of
triangles. This is one analytical way of determining resultant where Law of Sine and Law of Cosine are
applied.
 Again consider the forces F, P and Q in Fig. 3.1, with angles 1, 2 and 3 drawn for the respective
forces. Once a close polygon is derived by connecting the vectors tip-to-tail as in Fig. 3.2b, the polygon is
divided into two triangles. (For n number of forces the number of triangles that must be formed is equal
n ― 2).The triangle with two known forces F and P, with their subtended angle σ is first analyzed to get
R1, the first resultant. The angle σ can be obtained from angle 1 and 2 considering the horizontal line
projected from their point of intersection, i.e. σ = 180o – 1 + 2. Applying Law of Cosine will solve the
magnitude of R1, i.e. R1 = √ F2 + P2 – 2FP Cos σ and the angles α and δ can be obtained by Law of Sine
i.e. R1/Sin σ = F/Sin α = P/Sin δ. With R1, α, and δ known, consider next triangle formed by this resultant
and the next force connected to it, in this case Q. The angle formed by R1 and Q is ρ and is equal to 180o
– (α + 2 + 3). The magnitude of the final resultant then can be obtained by the Law of Cosine, i.e. R = √
R12 + Q2 – 2R1Q Cos ρ. The direction θx by this resultant as seen from Fig. 3.3b is θx = 1– (β + δ ), where β
can be obtained from Law of Sin, i.e. R/Sin ρ = Q/Sin β.

Y
2
3
P α ρ
Q
Y 2
F 1 σ R1 φ
F
1 P β R
δ 1
2 θx
X X
O O
3

(a) (b)
Fig. 3.3 Resultant Determined by Triangle Method

Component Method of Determining the Resultant is the most effective way of finding the resultant of
any force systems wherein each of the forces is resolved into their rectangular components, usually
taken as the x- and y- axes.

Consider again the set of forces F, P and Q of the previous methods of finding the resultant.
Also, consider the polygon formed by both the Polygon Method and the Triangle Method. With the
components of the forces drawn as shown in Fig. 3.4b,
 Rx = ∑x-components Rx = ∑x-components R = √ Rx2 + Ry2
Rx = F x + P x + Qx Ry = Fy + Py + (-Qy) Tan θx = Ry/Rx
or or
Ry = Fy + Py – Qy θx = Tan-1 Ry/Rx

Y
Y Fy Qy
Py Py
Px Fy P θx
Ry X
F Fx Px Qx
(a) Fx QyQ Qx (b) Rx
1 P
2 R
X
Fig. 3.4 Resultant Determined by Components Method vs Polygon Method
O
3 O

Illustrative Problems

1. Find the resultant of the concurrent force system shown in Fig. 3.5.

300 kN

y
o
30
100 kN
1
O 2 X
o
45o 30

400 kN
200 kN

Fig. 3.5
Solution:
a) By Triangle Method
Connect the force vectors tip-to-tail and form a close polygon with resultant R as the
closing side and divide it with series of triangles as follows (Fig. 3.5a)

100 kN 1ω 30o
δ
φ2
R1
ρ 400 kN
R

α
α R1

β 45o
300 kN ε
30o 200 kN
Fig. 3.5a

Consider the triangle with two known sides and solve for the angle formed between them, i.e.
200 kN and 300 kN, & ε,

α R1

β 45o
300 kN ε=75o
30o 200 kN

Fig. 3.5b

ε = 30o + 45o = 75o

Solve for R1 and interior angles of Cosine law and Sine law respectively, that is

R1 = √3002 + 2002 – 2(300)(200)Cos 75o = 314.55 kN

R1/Sin 75o = 200 kN/Sin α = 300 kN/Sin β

Sin α = 200 kN(Sin 75o)/R1

= 200 kN(Sin 75o)/314.55 kN

= 0.614163

α = sin-1 0.614163 = 37.89o

Sin β = 300 kN(Sin 75o)/R1

= 300 kN(Sin 75o)/314.55 kN

= 0.921245
β = Sin-1 0.922859 = 67.11o

Consider the next triangle with R 1, R2 & 400 kN load, and angles δ, ρ, σ and solve for angle
σ from the geometry of the figure
σ = 180o – (β + 45o + 60o) = 180o – (67.11o + 105o) = 7.89o

30o
δ
R2
ρ 400 kN

σ 60o
Fig. 3.5c R1= 314.55kN
o
β=67.11o 45
Solve for R2 by cosine law
200 kN
2 2 o
R2 = √400 + 314.55 – 2(400)(314.55)Cos 7.89 = 98.41 kN

Solve for δ & ρ, by the law of sine, that is

R2/Sin 7.89o = 400 kN/Sin ρ = 314.55 kN/Sin δ,

 Hence

Sin δ = 314.55 kN(Sin 7.89o)/R2

= 314.55 kN(Sin 7.89o)/98.41 kN

=0.438764

δ = Sin-1 0.438764 = 26.02o

Sin ρ = 400 kN(Sin 7.89o)/R2

= 400 kN(Sin 7.89o)/98.41 kN

= 0.557958

ρ = Sin-1 0.557958 = 146.09o

Consider the last triangle with resultant R & angles ω & φ and solve for ω from the geometry of
the figure,

100 kN 30o
1ω δ
φ2
Fig.3.5d R2=98.41 kN
R
400 kN

ω = 180o – (δ + 30o + 26.57o) = 180o – (26.02o + 56.57o) = 97.41o

Where: Tan-1 (1/2) = 26.57o
Solve for R and interior angles of last triangle by cosine law and sine law respectively, that is

R = √R22 + 1002 – 2(R2)(100)Cos 97.41o

R = √98.412 + 1002 – 2(98.41)(100)Cos 97.41o

R = 149.07 kN

R/Sin ω = R2/ Sin Ф

Sin φ = R2(Sin ω)/R
= 98.41 kN(sin 97.41o)/149.07 kN
 = 0.654646
Ф = Sin-1 0.654646 = 40.89o

θx = Ф – 26.57o
= 40.89o – 26.57o
θx = 14.32o

b) By Components Method

F=300 kN
Fy
y Py
o
Fx 30
P=100 kN
Px
Fig. 3.5e 1
O 2 X
Tx o
45o 30
Qx
Ty
Q=400 kN
T=200 kN
Qy

By definition R = √Rx2 + Ry2 , and θx = Tan-1 Ry/Rx

where: Rx = ∑ x- components
Ry = ∑ y - components

Assign a letter to each of the forces, say P = 100 kN, F = 300 kN, T = 200 kN and Q = 400 kN and
project the rectangular components of each force anywhere from their line of action (see
illustration). From the definition of components of any force F,
 Fx = F(Cos θx) while Fy = F(Sin θx)

make a table of the force with their corresponding value of components and take their summation

Force (kN) X-Component (kN) Y-component (kN)

P = 100 100 (2/√5) = +89.44 100 (1/√5) = +44.72

F = 300 300 ( Sin 30o) = -150 300 (Cos 30o) = +259.81

T = 200 200(Cos 45o) = -141.42 200(Sin 45o) = -141.42

Q = 400 400(Cos 30o) = +200 400(Sin 30o) = 150

∑ Rx = +144.43 Ry = -37.28

Compute value of resultant R from,

R = √Rx2 + Ry2

R = √144.432 + (-37.28)2

R = 149.16 kN

Finally for the direction of resultant R

θx = tan-1 Ry/Rx

= tan-1 -37.28/144.43

θx = 14.47o, from the +x-axis clockwise

 2. The block shown in Fig. 3.6a is acted upon by its own weight W = 200 kN, a horizontal force
Q = 600 kN, and the pressure P exerted by the inclined plane. The resultant R of these forces is
up and parallel to the inclined thereby sliding the block up it. Determine P and R.

W = 200 kN WyY R = Rx
Qy 30o W = Wx
200 kN X
Px
Q=600 kN Q=600 kN

P 30o Qx
Py 15o P
o
30
30o o
30o Β=45o
(a) 15 (b)
Fig. 3.6

Solution:

In Fig. 3.6(b) an x- and y- axes was drawn parallel and perpendicular to the inclined. This axes is
rotated 30o with the horizontal, hence, this axes shows that forces Q and W were at an angle of 30 o with
the x- and y- axes respectively while the resultant R (arbitrarily drawn) coincides with the x- axis
meaning R must be equal to Rx or the summation of x- components. That is, with components of the
forces resolved on the x- axis,
R = Rx = ∑X
 R = Rx = Qx + (-Px) + (-Wx)
R = Rx = Q(Cos 30o) – P(Sin 15o) – 200(Sin 30o)
R = Rx = 600 kN(Cos 30o) – P(Sin 15o) – 200 kN(Sin 30o)
R = Rx = 419.61 kN – P(Sin 15o) (1)

Since R = Rx, then Ry must be equal to zero, that is,

Ry = ∑Y = 0
Ry = Py + (-Qy) + (-Wy) = 0
Py – Q(Sin 30o) – W(Cos 30o) = 0
Py – 600 kN(Sin 30o) – 200 kN(Cos 30o) = 0
Py = 473.20 kN
With the value of Py = 473.20 kN obtained and by definition of components,
Py = P(Cos 15o) = 473.20 kN
From which the value of force P is obtained as,
P = Py/ Cos 15o
P = 473.20 kN/ Cos 15o
P = 489.90 kN
Going back with equation (1) with P = 489.90 kN, value of resultant R is,
R = Rx = 419.61 kN – P(Sin 15o)
= 419.61 kN – 489.90 kN (Sin 15 o)
= 419.61 kN – 126.79kN
R = 292. 81 kN
 Exercises 2

1. Determine the resultant of the concurrent forces shown in Fig. E-2.1 by a) Graphical method and
b) by Components.
Y
P = 1 kN
20o
P = 2 kN

F = 3 kN X
30o
3 Q = 4 kN
T = 6 kN
4

Fig. E-2.1

2. The resultant of the concurrent forces shown in Fig. E-2.2 is 3000 N pointing up along the Y axis.
Compute the values of F and θ required to give this resultant. Verify also the direction of the line
of action of F as drawn.

Y
F

θ
Q = 5000 N X
30o
Fig. E-2.2