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Lecture 10

The document discusses couple moments, which are produced by two parallel forces with equal magnitudes but opposite directions. It defines couple moments and their properties, including that the moment depends only on the perpendicular distance between the forces and the force magnitude. Formulas are given for calculating the scalar and vector forms of couple moments. Several examples of calculating couple moments from given force configurations are also worked through.

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Abraham Omomhenle

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Lecture 10

Uploaded by

Abraham Omomhenle

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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

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4.

6 Moment of a Couple
Couple
A couple is defined as a pair of two parallel forces that
have the same magnitudes, but opposite directions
separated by perpendicular distance d

The resultant force in a couple = 0

Its only effect is to produce a rotation or tendency to rotate in a

specified direction
Couple Moment
The moment produced by a couple is called a couple moment.
Couple moment = sum of moments of both couple
forces about any arbitrary point

The couple moment about O is

M = (rB× F) + ( rA× – F )
= (rB× F) – ( rA× F )
= (rB – rA) × F
= r×F
Thus, couple moment depends only upon the position vector r
directed between the forces and not the position vector rA and rB
directed from the arbitrary point O to the forces.
A couple moment is a free vector.
Scalar Formulation
The magnitude of a couple moment M is given by

M =Fd

where F = the magnitude of one of the forces.

d = perpendicular between the 2 forces.

The direction & sense of the couple moment

M are determined by the right hand rule.
When the right fingers are curled with the
sense of rotation caused by the couple forces,
the thumb indicates the direction of M.

M will act perpendicular to the plane

containing the forces.
Vector Formulation
The couple moment M can be expressed
by the vector cross product as

M = r× F

The moment of the two couple forces can be determined about

any point.

The couple moment M can be determined by taking the moment

of both forces about a point lying on the line of action of one of
the forces.
Equivalent Couples

Two couples are equivalent if they produce a moment with the

same magnitude & direction.

Forces of equal couples lie on the same plane or plane

parallel to one another
Resultant Couple Moment
Couple moments are free vectors and may be applied to
any point P and added vectorially

For resultant moment of two couples,

MR = M1 + M2

For more than 2 couple moments, the resultant couple

moment is
MR = ∑(r X F)
For example,

+ MR= Σ M:
MR = – F1 d1 + F2 d2 – F3 d3
= (– 200 N)(0.4m) + (450 N) (0.3 m) – (300 N) (0.5 m)
= – 95 N·m
= 95 N·m
Example 4.11
Given :

The gear is subjected to a couple

as shown.

Find :
Determine the magnitude and direction of the couple
moment acting on the gear.
Solution
Method I
• By definition, the magnitude of the couple moment M is given by
M =Fd
where F = the magnitude of one of the forces
d = perpendicular distance between the 2 forces

• Since
d = 0.2 sin 60o – 0.2 sin 30o
= 0.0732 m 0.2 m

• Therefore,
M = (600 N) (0.0732 m)
= 43.9 N·m
Method II
• Resolve each force into its components
• The couple moment can be determined
by summing the moments of these
force components about any point.

Taking the moments about O

+ M = Σ MO:
M = (600 cos 30o N)(0.2m) – (600 sin 30o N) (0.2 m)
= 43.9 N·m

Taking the moments about A

+ M = Σ MA:
M = (600 cos 30o N)(0.2m) – (600 sin 30o N) (0.2 m)
= 43.9 N·m
Example 4.12
Given :
Segment AB of the pipe is
directed 30°below the x-y
plane.

Find :

Determine the couple moment acting on the pipe.

Solution
Method I (Vector Analysis)
The moment of the 2 couple forces can be found about any point.
(a) Taking moments about point O
M = rA× FA + rB × FB
• Since
rA = { 0.8j} m
rB = {0.6 cos 30o i + 0.8j –0.6 sin 30o k} m
= {0.5196 i + 0.8j –0.3 k} m
FA = {– 250 k} N, FB = { 250 k} N
• Therefore,
M = (0.8j)× (– 250 k)
+ (0.5196 i + 0.8j –0.3 k) × (250 k)
= {– 130j } N·m
(b) Taking moments about point A

M = rAB× FA
• Since
rAB = {0.6 cos 30o i – 0.6 sin 30o k} m

= {0.5196 i – 0.3 k} m

• Therefore,
M = (0.5196 i – 0.3 k) × (250 k)
= {– 130j } N·m
Method II (Scalar Analysis)
Taking moments about either point A or point B
• The magnitude of the couple moment is
M =Fd
= (250N ) (0.6 cos 30o m)

= 130 N·m

• Apply the right hand rule,

M acts in the –j direction

M = {– 130j } N·m
Example 4.13
Given :
Two couples acting on the pipe
column as shown.

Find :
Replace the two couples by a resultant couple moment.
Solution
Find M1
• The magnitude of the couple moment due
to the forces at A & B is
M1=Fd
= (150 N (0.4 m)
= 60 N·m

• By the right hand rule, M1 acts in the +i direction.

Hence,
M1 = {60i } N·m
Find M2
• The couple moment due to the forces at C & D is obtained
by taking the moment about point D
M2 = rDC× FC
= (0.3i)× [125(4/5)j – 125(3/5)k]
= (0.3i)× [100j – 75k ]
= 30 (i×j) – 22.5 (i×k)
= {22.5j + 30k } N·m
Resultant couple moment MR

MR = M1 + M2
= {60i + 22.5j + 30k } N·m