Republic of the Philippines

DON HONORIO VENTURA STATE UNIVERSITY

Villa de Bacolor, Pampanga

STATICS OF RIGID BODIES

A. Course Code / Title : Statics 213 / Statics of Rigid Bodies

B. Module Number : Module16 - Centroids and Center of Gravity

C. Time Frame : 15th week - 16th week (6 hours)

D. Description:

This module looks into the definition of Centroids and Center of Gravity; its
location and formula relating to location of Centroids and center of gravity.

E. Objectives:

At the end of this module, the learner should be able to :

1. Have a better understanding about centroids and center of gravity.

2. Memorize the formula for locating the centroids and center of gravity of each geometric
shapes.

3. Develop techniques and be able to solve problems relating to Centroids and center of
gravity.

F. Contents:

 Introduction
A body is composed of an infinite number of particles of differential sizes, then each of these
particles will have a weight dW. These weights will form a parallel force system and the resultant
of this system is the total weight of the body which passes through a single point called center of
gravity G.

Center of gravity is the point of location of the resultant or total weight of the body. It is
important when considering the effect this force produces on the body

z y

WT W2
W1

x2
x1 x
y1 y2
ӯ

x
 Given: W1, W2,…WN applied at specific points.
Let: WT = total / sum of weights
x, y = position / location of WT

My : Mx :
WT x  W1 x1  W2 x2 WT y  W1 y1  W2 y2

W1 x1  W2 x2 W1 y1  W2 y2
x y
WT WT

Wxi Wyi
x y
WT WT

In terms of Area:
Axi Ayi
x y
AT AT

In terms of Length:
Lxi Lyi
x y
LT LT

 Geometric Properties of Line and Area Elements (Location of centroid)

Rectangle
Y
Yc
A  bh
1
x b
C Xc 2
h
1
y h
X 2
b

Triangle

1
A  bh
h 2
C Xc 1
y h
3
X
b

Semi - circle
Yc
r 2
A
2
4r
C Xc y
3
X

r
Quarter - circle
Y
Yc
r 4
A
4
4r
C Xc x
3
O
X 4r
r y
3

A composite body consists of a series of connected “simpler” shaped bodies, which may be
rectangular, triangular, semicircular, etc.

Procedure for analysis:

 Using a sketch, divide the body or object into a finite number of composite parts that have
simpler shapes.
 If a composite body has a hole, or a geometric shape having no material, then consider the
composite body without the hole and consider the hole as an additional composite part
having negative weight or size.
 Establish the coordinate axes on the sketch and determine the coordinates x, y of the center
of gravity or centroid of each part.
 Determine x, y by applying the center of gravity equations.
 If an object is symmetrical about an axis the centroid of the object lies on this axis

Problems:
1. Locate the centroid ӯ of the beam’s cross-sectional area.

150 mm 150 mm

50 mm

300 mm

25 mm 25 mm

Required: Location of centroid

Solution:
a. The composite figure is made up of two rectangles.
Rectangle 1 (300mm by 50mm)
Rectangle 2 (50mm by 300mm)
b. Make x - axis as the reference axis. All distances will be measured from the reference axis.
150 mm 150 mm

50 mm 1

300 mm Y1

Y2

25 mm 25 mm

c. Tabulate the computations to make it simpler to understand.

Distance, Y, measured from

Shape Area
reference x - axis
A1 = 300mm(50mm) Y1 = 300 + 1/2(50)
Rectangle 1
A1 = 15000 mm2 Y1 = 325 mm
A2 = 50mm (300mm) Y2 = 1/2 (300)
Rectangle 2
A2 = 15000 mm2 Y2 = 150 mm

d. Solve for Ῡ:
Ayi
Y
AT
A1Y1  A2Y2
Y
AT

Y
15000mm 325mm  15000mm 150mm
2 2

15000mm  15000mm 
2 2

Y  237.5mm
Ῡ = 237.5 mm, measured from x-axis (higher than Y2 but lower than Y1)

150 mm 150 mm
50 mm 1

2 XC

300 mm Y1 = 325 mm
Ῡ = 237.5 mm
Y2 = 150mm

25 mm 25 mm

Note: XC is called the centroidal X - axis

2. Locate the centroid of the shaded area shown with respect to the given axes.

Y
30 mm

30 mm

30 mm 30 mm

30 mm

Required: Location of centroid, C

Solution:
a. The composite figure is made up of: SQUARE (A1), TRIANGLE (A2) and QUARTER
CIRCLE (A3).

Y
X2

30 mm

C2

30 mm
X2
X1

C1 Y2

Y2 Y1
30 mm
C3

Y3
X

X3 30 mm

Shape Area X Y
1 1
A1  bh X1  b Y1  h
2 2
A1  60mm 60mm 
X 1  60mm  Y1  60mm 
Square 1 1
A1  3600mm 2 2 2
X 1  30mm Y1  30mm
 1 2 2
A2  bh X 2  b  30mm Y2  h  30mm
2 3 3
A2  30mm 30mm 
1
X 2  30mm   30mm Y2  30mm   30mm
Triangle 2 2
2 3 3
A2  450mm 2 X 2  50mm Y2  50mm
 4r 4r
A3  r2 X3  Y3 
4 3 3
Quarter 
Circle A3  30mm2 X3 
4(30mm)
Y3 
4(30mm)
4 3 3
A3  706.858mm 2 X 3  12.73mm Y3  12.73mm

NOTE: ALL DISTANCES (X and Y) ARE MEASURED FROM THE REFERENCE x - and y
-AXES.

b. Solve for total area of the composite figure, AT:

AT  A1  A2  A3
AT  3600  450  706.858
AT  2443.142mm 2
c. Solve for x :
A1 X 1  A2 X 2  A3 X 3
x
AT
3600mm 2 30mm   450mm 2 50mm   706.858mm 2 12.73mm 
x
2443.142mm 2
x  31.313mm
d. Solve for Ῡ:
A1Y1  A2Y2  A3Y3
y
AT
360030  45050  706.85812.73
y
2443.142
y  31.313mm

YC
Y

30 mm

30 mm
C XC

30 mm
30 mm

30 mm
Centroid C is located 31.313 mm from X-axis and 31.313mm from Y-axis.
3. Locate the centroid of shaded area shown with respect to the given axes.

60mm

60mm

60mm

60mm

Required: Location of centroid

Solution:
a. The shaded area is composed of a SQUARE (A1) and a TRIANGLE (A2).

X2 60mm

C2
60mm
Y2

C1 X

60mm

60mm

Shape Area X Y
Square A1  bh 1 1
x1  b y1  h
A1  120mm120mm  2 2
A1  14400mm 2 x1  0 y1  0
(it lies on Y-axis) (it lies on X-axis)
Triangle 1 2 2
A2  bh x2  b y2  h
2 3 3
A2  60mm 60mm 
1
x2   60mm  y2  60mm 
2 2
2 3 3
A2  1800mm 2 x2  40mm y2  40mm
(it lies on the left (it lies above the
side of Y-axis) X-axis)
b. Solve for total area, AT:
AT  A1  A2
AT  14400 1800
AT  12600mm 2

c. Solve for x :
A1 X 1  A2 X 2
x
AT
14400mm 2 0  1800mm 2  40mm 
x
12600mm 2
x  5.714mm

d. Solve for Ῡ:
A1Y1  A2Y2
y
AT
14400mm 2 0  1800mm 2 40mm 
y
12600mm 2
y  5.714mm

X2 60mm

C2
60mm
Y2

X
C1
C
60mm

60mm
4. Determine the location ӯ of the centroidal axis x  x of the beam’s cross-sectional area.
Neglect the size of the corner welds at A and B for the calculation.

5. Locate the centroid of the shaded area shown with respect to the given axes.

a.

b.
G. References:

1. Vector Mechanics for Engineers 10th Edition, Beer, F.P., Johnston, E.R.Jr,
Mazurek, D.F., Cornwell, P.J.2013

2. Engineering Mechanics Statics 13th Edition, Hibbeler, R.C.,2013

3. Engineering Mechanics Statics 14th Edition, Hibbeler, R.C.,2016

4. Engineering Mechanics Statics 3rd Edition, Pytel, A., Kiusalaas, J., 2010