GLOBAL

EDITION

Engineering Mechanics
STATICS
Fifteenth Edition in SI Units

R. C. Hibbeler
SI Prefixes

Multiple Exponential Form Prefix SI Symbol

1 000 000 000 109 giga G
1 000 000 106 mega M
1 000 103 kilo k

Submultiple
0.001 10-3 milli m
0.000 001 10-6
micro μ
0.000 000 001 10-9 nano n

Conversion Factors (SI) to (FPS)

Unit of Unit of
Quantity Measurement (SI) Equals Measurement (FPS)
Force N 0.2248 lb
Mass kg 0.06852 slug
Length m 3.281 ft
 200 CHAPTER 4 F O R C E S Y S T E M R E S U LTA N T S

4–141. If FA = 7 kN and FB = 5 kN, represent the force 4–145. Three parallel bolting forces act on the circular plate.
system by a resultant force, and specify its location on the Determine the resultant force, and specify its location (x, z)
x–y plane. on the plate. FA = 900 N, FB = 450 N, and FC = 1.80 kN.
4–142. Determine the magnitudes of FA and FB so that the 4–146. The three parallel bolting forces act on the circular
resultant force passes through point O. plate. If the force at A has a magnitude of FA = 900 N,
determine the magnitudes of FB and FC so that the resultant
force FR of the system has a line of action that coincides
with the y axis. Hint: This requires ΣMx = 0 and ΣMz = 0.
z
FB
6 kN
150 mm z
750 mm
100 mm 8 kN
FA 700 mm
O
650 mm
100 mm C FC
600 mm y
x 150 mm 0.45 m
458
308
x
A y
B FA
FB
Probs. 4–141/142

4 Probs. 4–145/146
4–143. If FA = 40 kN and FB = 35 kN, determine the
magnitude of the resultant force and specify the location of
its point of application (x, y) on the slab.
4–147. The tube supports the four parallel forces.
*4–144. If the resultant force is required to act at the Determine the magnitudes of forces FC and FD acting
center of the slab, determine the magnitude of the column at C and D so that the equivalent resultant force of the force
loadings FA and FB and the magnitude of the resultant force. system acts through the midpoint O of the tube.

z
z FD

600 N
30 kN
D
0.75 m 90 kN FC
FB 2.5 m A
20 kN
2.5 m 500 N
0.75 m 400 mm O C
0.75 m FA
y
400 mm 200 mm
x 3m x z
B 200 mm y
3m
0.75 m

Probs. 4–143/144 Prob. 4–147

 PROBLEMS 201

*4–148. The pipe assembly is subjected to the action of a 4–150. Replace the three forces acting on the plate by a
wrench at B and a couple at A. Determine the magnitude F wrench. Specify the magnitude of the force and couple
of the couple forces so that the system can be simplified to a moment for the wrench and the point P(x, y) where the
wrench acting at point C. wrench intersects the plate.

2Fi
A FB  { 300k} N
z
FC  {200j} N
0.3 m
0.3 m Fi 0.5 m C
0.8 m
C
y
{60k} N 0.7 m D
0.6 m B y
0.25 m x
P
x x
B 5m
0.25 m 3m y
{240i} N {260k} N
A
Prob. 4–148 FA  {400i} N

Prob. 4–150

4–149. The pipe assembly is subjected to the action of a 4–151. Replace the three forces acting on the plate by a
wrench at B and a couple at A. Simplify this system to a wrench. Specify the magnitude of the force and couple
resultant wrench and specify the location of the wrench moment for the wrench and the point P(y, z) where its line
along the axis of pipe CD, measured from point C. Set of action intersects the plate.
F = 40 N.

2Fi 4m
A
z
C
0.3 m
0.3 m Fi 0.5 m FC 5 {150j} N
0.8 m y
C P
y
{60k} N 0.7 m D 6m
0.6 m 0.25 m A z

x B x B
0.25 m
{240i} N {260k} N FA 5 {250k} N FB 5 {2400i} N y

Prob. 4–149 Prob. 4–151

 202 CHAPTER 4 F O R C E S Y S T E M R E S U LTA N T S

p
4.9 REDUCTION OF A SIMPLE
x DISTRIBUTED LOADING
FR Sometimes, a body may be subjected to a loading that is distributed
p 5 p(x)
over its surface. For example, wind on the face of a sign, water within a
b tank, or the weight of sand on the floor of a storage container all exert
C
distributed loadings. The pressure caused by these loadings at each point
on the surface represents the intensity of the loading. It is measured
L x using pascals, Pa, (or N>m2) in SI units.

(a)
Loading Along a Single Axis. The most common type of
w distributed pressure loading is represented along a single axis.* For
dF 5 dA example, consider the beam (or plate) in Fig. 4–48a that has a constant
w 5 w(x)
width and is subjected to a pressure loading that varies only along the
x axis. This loading can be described by the function p = p(x) N>m2.
Since it contains only one variable, x, we can represent it as a coplanar
x
O dx distributed load. To do so, we must multiply it by the width b m of the
x beam, so that w(x) = p(x)b N>m, Fig. 4–48b. Using the methods of
L
Sec. 4.8, we can replace this coplanar parallel force system with a single
(b) equivalent resultant force FR, Fig. 4–48c.

w
4 Magnitude of Resultant Force. The magnitude of FR is
FR equivalent to the sum of all the forces in the system, FR = ΣF. In
this case integration must be used since there is an infinite number of
C A parallel forces dF acting on the beam, Fig. 4–48b. Each dF is acting on
x an element of length dx, and since w(x) is a force per unit length, then
O
x dF = w1x2 dx = dA. For the entire length L,
L
(c)

LL LA
Fig. 4–48 + T FR = ΣF; FR = w1x2 dx = dA = A (4–19)

Therefore, the magnitude of the resultant force is equal to the area A under
the loading diagram, Fig. 4–48c.

The pile of bricks creates a uniform

distributed loading on the board.
*The more general case of a surface loading acting on a body is considered in Sec. 9.5.
 4.9 REDUCTION OF A SIMPLE DISTRIBUTED LOADING 203

Location of Resultant Force. The location x of FR can be p

determined by equating the moments of the force resultant and the x
parallel force distribution about point O. Since dF produces a moment
of x dF = x [w1x2 dx] about O, Fig. 4–48b, then for the entire length L, FR
p 5 p(x)
Fig. 4–48c,
b
C
a + 1MR 2 O = ΣMO;
LL
-xFR = - xw1x2 dx
L x
Solving for x, using Eq. 4–19, we have

(a)

LL LA
xw1x2 dx x dA w
x = = (4–20) dF 5 dA

LL LA
w 5 w(x)
w1x2 dx dA

x
O dx
This coordinate x locates the geometric center or centroid of the area x
under the distributed loading. In other words, the line of action of the L
resultant force passes through the centroid C (geometric center) of the area (b)
under the loading diagram, Fig. 4–48c.
When the distributed-loading diagram is in the shape of a rectangle,
triangle, or some other simple geometric form, then the centroid location w
4
for such common shapes does not have to be determined from the above FR
equation. Rather it can be obtained directly from the tabulation given on
the inside back cover.
Once x is determined, FR by symmetry passes through point 1x, 02 on
C A
x
the surface of the beam in Fig. 4–48a. And so in three dimensions the O
resultant force has a magnitude equal to the volume under the loading x
L
curve p = p1x2 and a line of action which passes through the centroid
(geometric center) of this volume. (c)

Fig. 4–48 (Repeated)

IMPORTANT P O I N T S
• Coplanar distributed loadings are defined by using a loading
function w = w1x2 that indicates the intensity of the loading
along the length of a member. This intensity is measured in N>m.
• The external effects caused by a coplanar distributed load acting
on a member can be represented by a resultant force.
• This resultant is equivalent to the area under the loading
diagram, and has a line of action that passes through the centroid
or geometric center of this area. Refer to the companion website for Lecture
Summary and Quiz videos.
 204 CHAPTER 4 F O R C E S Y S T E M R E S U LTA N T S

EXAMPLE 4.21

Determine the magnitude and location of the equivalent resultant

force acting on the shaft in Fig. 4–49a.
w w
240 N>m
w 5 (60 x2)N>m
FR 5 160 N
dA 5 w dx

C
x x
O O

x dx x 5 1.5 m
2m

(a) (b)

Fig. 4–49
SOLUTION
Since w = w1x2 is given, this problem will be solved by integration.
The differential element has an area dA = w dx = 60x 2 dx. Applying
Eq. 4–19,

4 + T FR = ΣF;

x3 2 2 m
2m
23 03
60x 2 dx = 60 a b = 60a - b
LA L0
FR = dA =
3 0 3 3
= 160 N Ans.

The location x of FR measured from O, Fig. 4–49b, is determined from

Eq. 4–20.

x4 2 2 m
2m
≤ 60 ¢ - ≤
24 04
x160x 2 2 dx
LA L0
x dA 60¢
4 0 4 4
x = = = =

LA
160 N 160 N 160 N
dA

= 1.5 m Ans.

NOTE: These results can be checked by using the table on the inside
back cover, where it is shown that the formula for an exparabolic area
of length a, height b, and shape shown in Fig. 4–49a, is

2 m1240 N>m2
= 160 N and x = a = 12 m2 = 1.5 m
ab 3 3
A = =
3 3 4 4
 4.9 REDUCTION OF A SIMPLE DISTRIBUTED LOADING 205

EXAMPLE 4.22

A distributed loading of p = 1800x2 Pa acts over the top surface of

the beam shown in Fig. 4–50a. Determine the magnitude and location
of the equivalent resultant force.

7200 Pa
p 5 800x Pa
x

y
x
9m

0.2 m

(a)

SOLUTION
Since the loading intensity is uniform along the width of the beam
(the y axis), the loading can be viewed in two dimensions as shown
in Fig. 4–50b. Here
w = 1800x N>m2 210.2 m2 w 4
w 5 160x N>m 1440 N>m

= 1160x2 N>m
x
At x = 9 m, w = 1440 N>m. Although we may again apply Eqs. 4–19
and 4–20 as in the previous example, it is simpler to use the table on x
the inside back cover. 9m
The magnitude of the resultant force is equivalent to the area of the
triangle. (b)
FR = 21 19 m211440 N>m2 = 6480 N = 6.48 kN Ans.
FR 5 6.48 kN
The line of action of FR passes through the centroid C of this triangle.
x56m 3m
Hence,
x = 9 m - 13 19 m2 = 6 m Ans. C

The results are shown in Fig. 4–50c.

NOTE: We may also view the resultant FR as acting through the centroid
of the volume of the loading diagram p = p1x2 in Fig. 4–50a. Then (c)
FR intersects the x–y plane at the point (6 m, 0). Furthermore, the
magnitude of FR is equal to the volume under this loading diagram; i.e.,

FR = V = 12 17200 N>m2 219 m210.2 m2 = 6.48 kN

Fig. 4–50
Ans.