V. DEMENKO.

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS 1

LECTURE 2 (PROF). Geometrical Characteristics of Cross

Sections of a Rod (part 2)

2.1. Transformation of Moments of Inertia with Parallel Transfer of Axes

Parallel-Axis Theorem

Fig. 2.1

Given: A, a, b, , , ,where and are central axes, i.e.

.
The and axes are parallel to the and axes. The distance between
the and axes is a and the distance between and axes is b.
It is required to determine the moments of inertia with respect to the and
axes.
By definition
. (2.1)

In Fig.2.1 it is seen, that

. (2.2)

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2 V. DEMENKO. MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

Substituting and from expressions (2.2) into formula (2.1), we find

(2.3)

(2.4)

(2.5)

If the and axes are the central axes, then and the
obtained expressions are greatly simplified

– parallel-axis theorem. (2.6)

The moment of inertia of a section with respect to arbitrary axis is equal

to the moment of inertia with respect to the parallel axis, which passes
through the centroid plus the product of the area of the section by the square
of the distance between the axes.
The product of inertia of a section with respect to arbitrary pair of axes
parallel to the central axes is equal to the product of inertia with respect to the
central axes plus the product of the area of the section by the respective
distances between the parallel axes.
It follows from the first two formulas of (2.6) that in a family of parallel
axes the moment of inertia with respect to the central axis is a minimum.
In determining the product of inertia by formulas (2.6) it is necessary to
take into account the signs of the values a and b. They are the coordinates of the
centroid 0 in orthogonal system.

2.2. Change of Moments of Inertia with Rotation of Co-ordinate Axes

Take a cross section of a rod. Relate it to a system of coordinates .

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 V. DEMENKO. MECHANICS OF MATERIALS 3

Isolate an element from the area A with coordinates z, y. Let us

consider that the axial moments of inertia , and the product of inertia
of the cross section are given (Fig.2.2):
It is required to determine Iy,

Iz, Iyz, i.e. the moments of inertia

with respect to axes y1, z1 rotated
through an angle  in relation to the
system y, z (  > 0 i.e. counter
clockwise rotation is chosen as
positive).
It should be observed here
Fig. 2.2 that the point O is not the centroid
of the section.
Using Fig.2.2, we find:
. (2.7)
By definition

, , . (2.8)

Then

; (2.9)

By similar way

; (2.10

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4 V. DEMENKO. MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

. (2.11)

Using moment of inertia definition and the formula and

, we may write, that

(2.12)

We note that functions (2.9, 2.10, 2.11) are periodic with a period  . The
axial moments of inertia are positive. They can be minimum or maximum but
simultaneously. The product of inertia changes its sign.

2.3. Sum of Axial Moments of Inertia

It is evident, that

(2.13)

Thus the sum of the axial moments of inertia with respect to two mutually
perpendicular axes is independent of the angle of rotation and remains constant
when the axes are rotated.
Note that
(2.14)
and

, (2.15)

where  is the distance from the origin to the element of area.

Thus
, (2.16)

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 V. DEMENKO. MECHANICS OF MATERIALS 5

where is the familiar polar moment of inertia.

2.4. Principal Axes. Principal Central Axes. Principal Moments of Inertia

Each of the quantities and changes with the angle of rotation of
the axes  but their sum remains unchanged. Consequently there exists such an
angle at which one of the moments of inertia attains its maximum value
while the other assumes a minimum value.
Differentiating the expression for ( 2.9 ) with respect to  and
equating the derivative to zero, we find

, (2.17)

For this value of the angle , one of the axial moments is a maximum
and the other is a minimum.
If tan2 > 0, then axes should be rotated counter clockwise.
For the same angle , the product of inertia vanishes:

(2.18)

Axes with respect to which the product of inertia is zero and the axial
moments take extremal values are called principal axes.
If, in addition, they are central, they are called principal central axes.
The axial moments of inertia with respect to principal axes are called the
principal moments of inertia.
The principal moments of inertia are determined by using the following
formulas:

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6 V. DEMENKO. MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

(2.19)

The upper sign corresponds to the maximum moment of inertia and the
lower to the minimum moment.
If a section has an axis of symmetry, this axis is obviously principal.
It means, that the product of inertia of the part of the section lying to one
side of the axis is equal to the product of inertia of the part lying to the other side
but is opposite in sign. Consequently and the y and z axes are the
principal axes.

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 V. DEMENKO. MECHANICS OF MATERIALS 7

VOCABULARY 2
mutually ____________________ взаимный
standard ____________________ стандаpт
appendix ____________________ пpиложение
transfer ____________________ пеpенос, пеpеход
rotate ____________________ вpащать
alpha ____________________ альфа
sine ____________________ синус
cotangent ____________________ котангенс
periodic ____________________ пеpиодический
principle ____________________ пpинцип, основное
differential ____________________ диффеpенциал
assortment ____________________ соpтамент
profile ____________________ пpофиль
transformation ____________________ пpеобpазование
rotation ____________________ вpащение, повоpот
counter-clockwise ____________________ вpащение пpотив
rotation чaсовой стрелки
cosine ____________________ косинус
tangent ____________________ тангенс, касательная
period ____________________ пеpиод
pi ____________________ пи
principal ____________________ главный основной
derivative ____________________ пpoизводная

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8 V. DEMENKO. MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

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