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Resultant of Parallel Force Systems

The document discusses the resultant of parallel force systems, explaining how to calculate the magnitude and position of the resultant force using specific formulas. It includes illustrative problems that demonstrate the application of these principles in various scenarios, such as determining forces acting on a bar and a truss. The document also references key engineering texts for further study.

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Rhona Jude Villareal
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22 views5 pages

Resultant of Parallel Force Systems

The document discusses the resultant of parallel force systems, explaining how to calculate the magnitude and position of the resultant force using specific formulas. It includes illustrative problems that demonstrate the application of these principles in various scenarios, such as determining forces acting on a bar and a truss. The document also references key engineering texts for further study.

Uploaded by

Rhona Jude Villareal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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3

3.5 Resultant of Parallel Force Systems

A parallel force system is one in which the line of action of all the forces are
parallel.

Consider the system of parallel forces shown in the figure, it can be observed
that none of the forces have an x-component and the y-component of each force is
its own magnitude. Consequently, from the resultant of concurrent force system;

𝑅 = √(𝛴𝑋)2 + (𝛴𝑌)2

but if forces are parallel, 𝛴𝑋 = 0 and 𝛴𝑌 = 𝛴𝐹


0
𝑅= √(𝛴𝑋)2 + (𝛴𝑌)2 = √(𝛴𝑌)2 which reduces to

𝑹 = 𝜮𝑭 (magnitude of the resultant of parallel forces)

Obviously, the line of action of 𝑅 is parallel to the forces comprising the system.

To determine the position of 𝑅, we select some convenient point O as a


moment center and employ the principle that the moment of a resultant equals the
moment sum of its forces. Denoting the moment sum of the force system by 𝛴𝑀𝑂
and the moment arm of 𝑅 by 𝑑, we then have

𝑹 . 𝒅 = 𝜮𝑴𝑶 (position of resultant from a reference point)

The position (𝑑) of 𝑅 with respect to point O is determined from the


fact that the resultant must produce the same moment effect as the original
system.

College of Engineering and Architecture|Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges


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Illustrative Problems:
1. Determine the resultant of the parallel force systems acting on the bar AB.
The forces and positions are given.

Solution:
To find for the magnitude of the resultant of the given parallel force system,
we use the formula:
↑𝑅 = 𝛴𝐹 (assuming upward forces positive)
↑𝑅 = −600 + 700 − 500 − 850
↑𝑅 = −𝟏𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝑵

Therefore, 𝑹 = 𝟏𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝑵 (𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅) -magnitude and direction of resultant

To find for the position of the resultant from a reference point, say from point
A, we use the formula:
𝑹 . 𝒅𝑨 = 𝜮𝑴𝑨
Solve for the ↻ 𝛴𝑀𝐴 of the forces (point A being the point of moment)
↻ 𝛴𝑀𝐴 (assuming clockwise moment at A positive)
↻ 𝛴𝑀𝐴 = (600)(1.5) − (700)(3) + (500)(4) + (850)(7)
= 900 − 2100 + 2000 + 5950

Therefore, 𝜮𝑴𝑨 = 𝟔𝟕𝟓𝟎 𝑵. 𝒎 (𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑨)

Substitute the value to the formula;

𝑹 . 𝒅𝑨 = 𝜮𝑴𝑨
(𝟏𝟐𝟓𝟎)𝒅𝑨 = 𝟔𝟕𝟓𝟎

Therefore, 𝒅𝑨 = 𝟓. 𝟒 𝒎 (to the right of point A)


Note: If it is desired to find the position of the resultant from any other
reference point, just take the moment of the forces at the chosen point.

College of Engineering and Architecture|Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges


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2. Locate the magnitude and position of the resultant of the loads acting on the
truss shown.

Solution:

To find for the magnitude and position of the resultant, use the formula:
↑𝑅 = 𝛴𝐹 (assuming upward forces positive)
↑𝑅 = −890 − 1335 − 1780 − 1335 − 890 − 8900
↑𝑅 = −𝟏𝟓, 𝟏𝟑𝟎 𝑵
Therefore, 𝑹 = 𝟏𝟓, 𝟏𝟑𝟎 𝑵 (𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅)

To determine the position of the resultant from a desired reference, say point
A, we use the formula:
𝑹. 𝒅𝑨 = 𝜮𝑴𝑨

Solve for the ↻ 𝛴𝑀𝐴 of the forces (point A being the point of moment)
↻ 𝛴𝑀𝐴 = (890)(0) + (1335)(𝑥1 ) + (1780)(4.5) + (1335)(𝑥2 )
+ (890)(9) + (8900)(3)

From the figure,


𝐿
cos 30𝑂 = 3
𝑳 = 𝟐. 𝟔𝒎

Solve for 𝑥1 and 𝑥2


𝑥
cos 30𝑂 = 𝐿1
𝑥1 = 𝐿𝑐𝑜𝑠30𝑂
𝑥1 = 2.6 cos 30𝑂
𝒙𝟏 = 𝟐. 𝟐𝟓 𝒎

and 𝑥2 = 3 + 3 + 0.75
𝒙𝟐 = 𝟔. 𝟕𝟓 𝒎

Substitute the values of 𝑥1 and 𝑥2 to the equation of moment


↻ 𝛴𝑀𝐴 = (890)(0) + (1335)(2.25) + (1780)(4.5) + (1335)(6.75)
+ (890)(9) + (8900)(3)

𝜮𝑴𝑨 = 𝟓𝟒, 𝟕𝟑𝟓 𝑵. 𝒎 (𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑨)


College of Engineering and Architecture|Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges
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To solve for 𝑑𝐴 use the formula;

𝑹 . 𝒅𝑨 = 𝜮𝑴𝑨
(𝟏𝟓, 𝟏𝟑𝟎)𝒅𝑨 = 𝟓𝟒, 𝟕𝟑𝟓
Therefore, 𝒅𝑨 = 3.6176 𝒎 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐴

Another Solution:
By inspection, because of the symmetry of both the truss and the forces, the
forces can be summarized as follows: 𝟔𝟐𝟑𝟎 𝑵

𝐹 = 890 + 1335 + 1780 + 1335 + 890 = 6230 𝑁

↻ 𝛴𝑀𝐴 = 6230 (4.5) + 8900 (3)


𝜮𝑴𝑨 = 𝟓𝟒, 𝟕𝟑𝟓 𝑵. 𝒎 (clockwise)
𝑅 . 𝑑𝐴 = 𝛴𝑀𝐴
(15,130)𝑑𝐴 = 54,735
𝒅𝑨 = 3.6176 m 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐴

3. Find the values of P and F so that the four forces shown produce an upward
resultant of 300 lb acting at 4 ft from the left end of the bar.

Solution:
From the formula of the magnitude of the resultant:
↑ 𝑅 = 𝛴𝐹 (assuming upward forces positive)
↑ 𝑅 = −100 + 𝑃 − 𝐹 + 200
But 𝑅 = 300 𝑙𝑏 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑢𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑
300 = 100 + 𝑃 − 𝐹
𝐹 = 𝑃 − 200 ------------------------------ eq. 1

From the formula of the position of the resultant


𝑅 . 𝑑𝐴 = ↻ 𝛴𝑀𝐴 (assuming clockwise positive)
𝑅 . 𝑑𝐴 = (𝐹 )(5) − (𝑃)(2) − (200)(7)
But 𝑅 = 300 𝑙𝑏 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝐴 = 4 𝑓𝑡 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡 (𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝐴)
(−300)(4) = 5𝐹 − 2𝑃 − (200)(7)
−1200 = 5𝐹 − 2𝑃 − 1400 --------------------eq. 2

Substitute eq.1 in eq.2

−1200 = 5 (𝑃 − 200) − 2𝑃 − 1400

College of Engineering and Architecture|Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges


3 5𝑃 − 2𝑃 = 1200
𝑷 = 𝟒𝟎𝟎 𝒍𝒃 then solve force F from eq.2
𝑭 = 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝒍𝒃

4. The beam AB supports a load which varies from an intensity of 220 N/m to
890 N/m. Calculate the magnitude and the position of the resultant. Hint:
Replace the given loading by a uniformly distributed load of 220 N/m plus a
triangular load varying from zero at A to 670 N/m at B.

Solution:
Taking the hint in the problem, to find the resultant, divide the trapezoidal
load into rectangular load (uniformly distributed) and triangular load (uniformly
varying).

𝑅 = 𝐹1 + 𝐹2
where:

𝐹1 = 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑


𝐹2 = 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑

𝑁
𝐹1 = (220 ) (6𝑚) = 1,320 𝑁
𝑚
1 𝑁
𝐹2 = (670 ) (6𝑚) = 2,010 𝑁
2 𝑚
𝑅 = 𝛴𝐹 = 𝐹1 + 𝐹2 = 1,320 + 2,010
𝑹 = 𝟑, 𝟑𝟑𝟎 𝑵 (𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅)

Position of the resultant from point A


𝑅 . 𝑑𝐴 = ↻ 𝛴𝑀𝐴
1 2
𝑅 . 𝑑𝐴 = (𝐹1 ) (2 𝑥 𝐿) + (𝐹2 ) (3 𝑥 𝐿)
(3,330)𝑑𝐴 = (1,320)(3) + (2,010)(4)
𝒅𝑨 = 𝟑. 𝟔𝟎𝟑𝟔 𝒎 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝑨

References:
➢ Beer, F. P., Johnston, E. R., Mazurek, D. F., Cornwell, P. J., Self, B. P. (2018).
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics and Dynamics. United Kingdom:
McGraw-Hill Education
➢ Goodno, B. J., Gere, J. (2018). Statics and Mechanics of Materials. United
States: Cengage Learning
➢ Singer, F. L. (1975). Engineering Mechanics. United Kingdom: Harper & Row

College of Engineering and Architecture|Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges

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