COUPLE

• Two parallel, non collinear (separated by certain

distance) forces that are equal in magnitude and F
opposite in direction form ‘couple’.
d

• The algebraic summation of the two forces

forming couple is zero
F
• Hence, couple does not produce any translation
and produces only rotation M=Fxd
RESOLUTION OF A FORCE INTO A FORCE-COUPLE SYSTEM

• Replace the force F acting at the point A to the point B

B A

• Apply two equal and opposite forces of same magnitude & direction as
Force F at point B, so that external effect is unchanged

F F

B A

d
F
RESOLUTION OF A FORCE INTO A FORCE-COUPLE SYSTEM

F F F

B A B
= A
d M=Fxd
F
• Of these three forces, two forces i.e., one at A and the other
oppositely directed at B form a couple.
Moment of this couple, M = F × d.

• Third force at B is acting in the same direction as that at A.

• Thus, the force F acting at a point such as A in a rigid body can be moved to
any other given point B, by adding a couple M. The moment of the couple is
equal to moment of the force in its original position about B.
TYPES OF LOADS ON BEAMS

W kN
1. Concentrated Loads – This is the load acting for
very small length of the beam. (also known as
point load, Total load W is acting at one point )

w kN/m
2. Uniformly distributed load – This is the load
acting for a considerable length of the beam
with same intensity of w kN/m throughout its
L
spread.
Total intensity, W = w × L
W = (w x L) kN
(acts at L/2 from one end of the spread)
L/2

L
TYPES OF LOADS ON BEAMS

3. Uniformly varying load – This load acts for a

considerable length of the beam with intensity
varying linearly from ‘0’ at one end to w kN/m to the
other representing a triangular distribution.

w kN/m
Total intensity of load = area of triangular spread of
L
the load
W = 1/2× w × L
(acts at 2×L/3 from ‘Zero’ load end) W=½×L×w

1/3 ×L
2/3 ×L

L
Example 1

An equilateral triangle of sides 200mm is acted upon by 4 forces as shown in the

figure. Determine magnitude and direction of the resultant and its position from
point ‘D’.

50kN 50 sin 60
50kN

50 sin 60
60kN 50 cos 60 60kN

60 cos30

30º 60º 30kN

30º 60º 30kN
D
200mm
80kN
80kN
200mm
Example 1

Resultant & its inclination:

50 sin 60
50kN
Resolving forces
+ ΣFx = Rx = +30 + 60 cos30º – 50 cos60º 60 sin30
50 cos 60 60kN
= +56.96kN.
+ ΣFy = Ry = -80 + 60 sin30º + 50 sin60º 60 cos30
= -6.69kN. 60º 30kN
30º
R=
Inclination w.r.to horizontal = θR 200mm

= tan-1(Ry/Rx) 80kN

= tan-1(6.69/56.96) = 6.7º
Example 1

b) Position w.r.to D:
Moment of the component forces about D:
+ MD = - 60 × 100 + 80 × 100 = 2000kNmm.
=R× d
where ‘d’ = perpendicular distance from point D to the line
of action of R. 50kN
50 sin 60
or, 2000= Rxd
∴ d =2000/57.35 = 34.87mm 50 cos 60 60kN

60 cos30

30º 60º 30kN

200mm D
80kN
Example 2

Find the resultant and its position w.r.to ‘O’ of the non-concurrent
system of forces shown in the figure.

F1=2500N
F5=2000N F2=500N

1 Ө4 Ө2
1 1m
Ө5 F3=1000N

O
1m
F4=1500N
Example 2

A) To find the resultant – F1=2500N

F5=2000N F2=500N

Ө2 = tan-1(1/2) = 26.56° 1 Ө4 Ө2

Ө4 = tan-1(3/2) = 56.31° 1 1m
Ө5
Ө5 = tan-1(1/1) = 45° F3=1000N
+ ΣFx = Rx = F2 cosӨ2 +F3 O
1m
-F4 cosӨ4-F5 cos Ө5 F4=1500N
= 500 × cos26.56 + 1000 –
1500 × cos56.31-2000 × cos45
= -799.03N = 799.03N←
+↑ΣFy = Ry= F1+F2 sin Ө2-F4 sin Ө4+F5 sin Ө5
= 2500+500 sin26.56-1500 sin56.31+2000 sin45 =2889.70N ↑
Example 2

Ry
∴ Resultant R = R

 y
R
= 2998.14N
ӨR = tan  R  = tan-1(2889.7/799.03) = 74.54°
-1 ӨR
 x
Rx
B) Position of Resultant w.r.to ‘O’:
By Varignon’s theorem, Moment of the resultant about ‘O’
= Algebraic sum of the moments of its components
about ‘O’.
+ Mo =R×d = +2500×2 + 500×sin26.56×5 – 500×
cos26.56×3 - 1000×1- 1500× cos56.31×0
–1500×sin56.3×1+2000× cos45×1-2000×sin45×0
= 2998.14 × d
d = 1.43 m from O.
(Example 3)
Determine the resultant of three forces acting on a dam section shown in the figure
and locate its intersection with the base. Check whether the resultant passes
through the middle one-third of the base.

120 kN
50 kN 30 kN
2m
3m 1m
60º

A B
6m
Example

120 kN
50 kN 30 kN
2m 30º
3m
1m
60º
A B
6m
+ ∑Fx = Rx = 50 – 30 × cos30 = 24.02 kN

+ ∑Fy = Ry = -120 – 30 × sin 30= -135 kN

Resultant, R=
R x + R y = 24.02 2 + 135 2 = 137.12 kN
2 2
Example

θR= tan-1(Ry/Rx) = tan-1(135/24.12) = 79. 91º

Location of the resultant w.r.t. B:
MB= 30×1 + 120 × (6-2) - 50 × 3 = Ry × X
360 = 135× X
Therefore, X = 360/135 = 2.67m from B.
From A, X = 6 –2.67= 3. 33 m.
Middle 1/3rd distance is between 2m and 4m.
2m<3. 33<4m
Hence, the resultant passes
through the middle 50 kN 30 kN
1/3rd of the base. 3m
2m 30º
1m

A B
6m
EXERCISE PROBLEMS
1. Resultant of force system

Q1. A body of negligible weight, subjected to two forces F1=

1200N, and F2=400N acting along the vertical, and the
horizontal respectively, is shown in figure. Find the component
of each force parallel, and perpendicular to the plane.

F1 = 1200 N
Y
F2 = 400 N

3
4

Ans : F1X = -720 N, F1Y = -960N, F2X = 320N, F2Y = -240N

EXERCISE PROBLEMS
1. Resultant of force system

2. Determine the X and Y components of each of the forces shown in

FIG.2.
F2 = 390 N Y
12
X
5
40º 30º

F1 = 300 N
F3 =400 N
FIG. 2
(Ans : F1X = 259.81 N, F1Y= -150 N, F2X= -150N, F2Y= 360 N,
F3X = -306.42 N, F3Y= -257.12N )
EXERCISE PROBLEMS
1. Resultant of force system

3. Obtain the resultant of the concurrent coplanar forces shown in FIG.3

600N
800N
40º
20º

30º

200N
FIG. 3

(Ans: R = 522.67 N, θ = 68.43º)

EXERCISE PROBLEMS
1. Resultant of force system

4. A disabled ship is pulled by means of two tug boats as shown in FIG.

4. If the resultant of the two forces T1 and T2 exerted by the ropes
is a 300 N force acting parallel to the X – direction, find :
(a) Force exerted by each of the tug boats knowing α = 30º.
(b) The value of α such that the force of tugboat 2 is minimum,
while that of 1 acts in the same direction.
Find the corresponding force to be exerted by tugboat 2.
T2
α R = 300 N
X - direction
20º
FIG. 4 T1
( Ans: a. T1= 195.81 N, T2 = 133.94 N
b. α = 70º, T1 = 281.91 N, T2(min) = 102.61 N )
EXERCISE PROBLEMS
1. Resultant of force system

5. An automobile which is disabled is pulled by two ropes as

shown in Fig. 5. Find the force P and resultant R, such that R is
directed as shown in the figure.

P
20º
R
40º

Q = 5 kN
Fig. 5

(Ans: P = 9.4 kN , R = 12.66 kN)

EXERCISE PROBLEMS
1. Resultant of force system

6. A collar, which may slide on a vertical rod, is subjected to three forces

as shown in Fig.6. The direction of the force F may be varied .
Determine the direction of the force F, so that resultant of the three forces is
horizontal, knowing that the magnitude of F is equal to
(a) 2400 N, (b)1400N
1200 N

60º 800 N

θ Fig.6
F
COLLAR
ROD
( Ans: a. θ = 41.81º ; b. The resultant cannot be horizontal.)
EXERCISE PROBLEMS
1. Resultant of force system

7. Determine the angle α and the magnitude of the force Q such that
the resultant of the three forces on the pole is vertically downwards
and of magnitude 12 kN. Refer Fig. 7.

8kN
5kN
α
30º
Q

(Ans: α = 10.7 º, Q = 9.479 kN )

Fig. 7
EXERCISE PROBLEMS
1. Resultant of force system

8. Determine the resultant of the parallel coplanar

force system shown in figure. Assume the diameter
d= 600mm

600 N 60º o 1000 N

30º
2000 N 10º 60º
400 N
EXERCISE PROBLEMS
1. Resultant of force system

9. Four forces of magnitudes 10N, 20N, 30N and 40N

acting respectively along the four sides of a square
ABCD as shown in the figure. Determine the
magnitude, direction and position of resultant w.r.t. A.

20N
D
30N C

A 10N
a B

40N

(Ans:R=28.28N, θ=45º, x=1.77a)

EXERCISE PROBLEMS
1. Resultant of force system

10. Four parallel vertical forces of magnitudes 100N ( )

150N( ) ,25N( ) and 200N ( ) acting at 0m, 0.9m, 2.1m
and 2.85m respectively from the left end of a horizontal
bar. Determine the magnitude of resultant
and also the distance of the resultant from the left
end.
EXERCISE PROBLEMS
1. Resultant of force system

11. Reduce the given forces into a single force and a

couple at A.

70.7 kN
200 kN
45º 30º

1.5m

A
1m 30º
100 N
80 N

(Ans:F=320kN, θ=14.48º, M=284.8kNm)

EXERCISE PROBLEMS
1. Resultant of force system

12. Determine the resultant w.r.t. point A.

150 Nm

150 N

1.5m 3m 1.5m

100 N 500 N

(Ans: R = 450 kN, X = 7.5 kNm)