Ch.

5 Distributed forces
• Earlier in this class, forces are considered
“ concentrated” (each force is assumed to act at a
single point).
• In reality, forces are actually distributed over a
finite areas.
Categories of problems
Line distribution: suspended cable
• a force is distributed along a line
• Intensity w: force per unit length, N/m

Area distribution: pressure of water

• Intensity: force per unit area (pressure);
N/m2, Pa

Volume distribution: body force

• Intensity: force per unit volume (specific
weight = ρ ⋅ g ), N/m3
5/2 Center of mass
• Center of mass (gravity): mass or weight of a whole body is
considered to be concentrated at this point
• For each body, there is a unique center of gravity, G.
• Center of gravity can be found as shown in the figure.
 Determining the center of gravity (1)
Weight of a whole body is considered to
z
be concentrated at the center of gravity
dW G
W
z z
y Sum of the moments Moment of the
x of small components = whole weight
x
y
y
∫ xdW = x ∫ dW = xW
x Center of Gravity

x=
∫ xdW
, y=
∫ ydW
, z=
∫ zdW
W W W
Determining the center of gravity (2)
z Because W = mg and dW = gdm,
dm G
x=
∫ xdm
, y=
∫ ydm
, z=
∫ zdm

r m m m
r y
Combined into one Eq.
r
r
r=
∫ rdm
x m

• The point ( x , y , z ) is called the “center of mass”

• When the gravity field is uniform and parallel, the center
of mass is the same as the center of gravity
 5/3 Centroids
From
x=
∫ xdW
, y=
∫ ydW
, z=
∫ zdW
W W W
if the density ( ρ ) of the body is
uniform,
x=
∫ xdm ∫ x ρ dV ∫ xdV
= =
m ρV V

x=
∫ xdV
, y=
∫ ydV
, z=
∫ zdV
V V V

• The point ( x , y , z ) is called the “centroid”

• Centroid of a body depends on its geometric shape only.
• When density is uniform, centroid is the same as the center of mass
Centroids of lines and areas
From x=
∫ xdV
, y=
∫ ydV
, z=
∫ zdV
V V V

Centroids of lines
dV = AdL and V = AL

x=
∫ xdL
, y=
∫ ydL
, z=
∫ zdL
L L L

Centroids of areas
dV = tdA and V = tA

x=
∫ xdA
, y=
∫ ydA
, z=
∫ zdA
A A A
Centroid of some plane figures
5/4 Composite bodies
m1, m2, m3, G1, G2 and G3 G of the whole body can also
are known calculated using principle of
moment

(m1 + m2 + m3 ) X = m1 x1 + m2 x2 + m3 x3

or X=
∑ mx
∑m

• For an irregular body, divides it into parts and approximate each

part with a regular body
• Parts with negative volume/area may be used to simplify the
calculation
5/5 Theorems of Pappus
Use to find area of surface (or volume) generated by revolving a
plane curve (or an area) about a non-intersecting axis in the plane
of a curve (or an area)

A = 2π ∫ ydL = 2πyL V = 2π ∫ ydA = 2πyA

A = θyL V = θyA
Sample 1
Locate the centroid of the area under the curve x = ky3 from x = 0
to x = a.
Sample 2
Determine the x-coordinate of the centroid of the solid spherical
segment.
Sample 3
The thickness of the triangular plate varies linearly with y from a
value t0 along its base y = 0 to 2t0 at y = h. Determine the y-
coordinate of the center of mass of the plate.
Sample 4
Locate the centroid of the shaded area.
Sample 5
Calculate the volume V of the solid generated by revolving the
60-mm right triangular area through 180° about the z-axis. If this
body were constructed of steel, what would be its mass m?
(ρ steel = 7830 kg/m3)
Sample 6
The two circular arcs AB and BC are revolved about the vertical
axis to obtain the surface of revolution shown. Compute the area
A of the outside of this surface.
5/9 Fluid statics
Fluid pressure
• Fluids at rest cannot support shear forces
Pressure force is always perpendicular to the surface.

p1 dy dz = p3 ds dz sin θ
p2 dx dz = p3 ds dz cos θ
Since ds =dy/sin θ = dz/cos θ,

p1 = p2 = p3

Pressure at any given point in a fluid is the same in all directions

 Fluid pressure
In all fluids at rest the pressure is a function of the vertical dimension

p dA + ρg dA dh – (p+dp) dA = 0

dp = ρg dh

When ρ is constant,

p = po + ρgh

po = pressure on the surface of the fluid (h = 0)

When po = atmospheric pressure (101.3 kPa),

ρgh = increment above atmospheric pressure (gage pressure)
Fluid pressure on submerged surfaces
1. Rectangular surfaces
For systems open to the atmosphere,
• po acts over all surface, zero resultant
• consider only gage pressure

Resultant R = ∫ dR = ∫ pdA
y2

R = ∫ ρghbdy = ∫ ( ρgby cos θ )dy

y1

⎛ h1 + h2 ⎞
R = ρg ⎜ ⎟bL = ρgh A
⎝ 2 ⎠
⎛ p1 + p2 ⎞
L R=⎜ ⎟bL = pav A
⎝ 2 ⎠
Rectangular surfaces (2)
Alternative method to find resultant R

Resultant R = ∫ dR = ∫ pdA

R = ∫ pbdy = b ∫ pdy

L
Area of trapezoid 1265 (A')

⎛ p + p2 ⎞ Volume of prism
R=⎜ 1 ⎟bL = pav A (trapezoid 1265,
⎝ 2 ⎠
depth b)
⎛ h1 + h2 ⎞
R = ρg ⎜ ⎟bL = ρgh A
⎝ 2 ⎠
Location of the resultant
Apply principle of moment
Y R = ∫ ypdA = b ∫ ypdy = b ∫ ydA′
A' = Area of trapezoid 1265

L ( )
Y b ∫ dA′ = b ∫ ydA′

Y =
∫ ydA′ Centroid of
∫ dA′ trapezoid 1265

Alternative Trapezoid = Triangle + Rectangle

Principle of moment

Y ( R1 + R2 ) = y1 R1 + y2 R2
Fluid pressure on cylindrical surfaces

1. Integration method (R is vector, and can not be integrated directly)

Rx = b ∫ ( pdL) x = b ∫ pdy R y = b ∫ ( pdL) y = b ∫ pdx

2. Use equilibrium of the fluid

• Calculate Px and Py Resultant R
• Calculate the weight W (area ABC) Equi. eq.
Fluid pressure on flat surfaces

Principle of moment
Resultant R = ∫ pdA = ρg ∫ hdA = ρgh A
∫ hdA = h A
or R = ∫ pdA = ∫ ( ρghx)dy

Center of pressure RY = ∫ ydR Y =

∫ ( ypx)dy

∫ ( px)dy
Buoyancy (1)
Fluid

dF

Since this fluid portion is in equilibrium,

F = ∫ dF = (mg ) fluid F = ρ fluid gV

The force of buoyancy is equal to the

weight of fluid displaced
Similarly, for an object immersed in fluid
Buoyancy (2)
Fluid

dF

Fluid portion is in equilibrium with 2 forces that are

1. Resultant F of distributed force
2. Mass of fluid portion Two force member

The force of buoyancy (F) must pass through

the center of mass of the fluid portion
 Buoyancy (3)

If B = Centroid of displaced volume causing the buoyancy force F

G = Center of gravity of the ship with weight W

Two Possibilities
(b) ⇒ Moment will cause the ship to move back to the
original position.
(c) ⇒ Moment will cause the ship to turn over.
Sample 7
A rectangular plate, shown in vertical section AB, is 4 m high and
6 m wide (normal to the plane of the paper) and blocks the end of
a fresh-water channel 3 m deep. The plate is hinged about a
horizontal axis along its upper edge through A and is restrained
from opening by the fixed ridge B which bears horizontally
against the lower edge of the plate. Find the force B exerted on the
plate by the ridge.
Sample 8
The air space in the closed fresh-water tank is maintained at a
pressure of 5.5 kPa (above atmospheric). Determine the resultant
force R exerted by the air and water on the end of the tank.
Sample 9
Determine completely the resultant force R exerted on the
cylindrical dam surface by the water. The density of fresh water is
1.000 Mg/m3, and the dam has a length b, normal to the paper, of
30 m.
Sample 10
A buoy in the form of a uniform 8-m pole 0.2 m in diameter has a
mass of 200 kg and is secured at its lower end to the bottom of a
fresh-water lake with 5 m of cable. If the depth of the water is 10
m, calculate the angle θ made by the pole with the horizontal.
Sample 11
The hydraulic cylinder operates the toggle which closes the
vertical gate against the pressure of fresh water on the opposite
side. The gate is rectangular with a horizontal width of 2 m
perpendicular to the paper. For a depth h = 3 m of water, calculate
the required oil pressure p which acts on the 150-mm-diameter
piston of the hydraulic cylinder.
Sample 12
A deep-submersible diving chamber designed in the form of a
spherical shell 1500 mm in diameter is ballasted with lead so that
its weight slightly exceeds its buoyancy. Atmospheric pressure is
maintained within the sphere during an ocean dive to a depth of 3
km. The thickness of the shell is 25 mm. For this depth calculate
the compressive stress σ which acts on a diametral section of the
shell, as indicated in the right-hand view.
Sample 13
The upstream side of an arched dam has the form of a vertical
cylindrical surface of 240-m radius and subtends an angle of 60°.
If the fresh water is 90 m deep, determine the total force R exerted
by the water on the dam face.
Sample 14
A block of wood in the form of a waterproofed 400-mm cube is
floating in a tank of salt water with a 150-mm layer of oil floating
on the water. Assume that the cube floats in the attitude shown,
and calculate the height h of the block above the surface of the oil.
The densities of oil, salt water, and wood are 900, 1030, and 800
kg/m3, respectively.