Gyanmanjari

Institute of
Technology
Department of Civil Engineering

Subject Name:
Mechanics of Solids
 Contents

1. Introduction

2. System of forces

3. Composition of forces

4. Resolution of forces

5. Resolution of more than two concurrent forces

6. Free body diagram

7. Lami’s theorem
 1. Introduction
Engineering
Mechanics

Mechanics of
Mechanics of
Deformable Fluid Mechanics
Rigid Bodies
Bodies

1.) Strength of Materials 1.) Ideal Fluid

Static Dynamics 2.) Theory of Elasticity 2.) Viscous Fluid
3.) Theory of Plasticity 3.) Incompressible Fluid

Kinematics Kinetics
 Introduction

• Applied science is the application of existing scientific knowledge to practical

applications, like technology or inventions.

• Engineering Mechanics:- Engineering mechanics is the application of mechanics to solve

problems involving common engineering elements. The goal of this Engineering Mechanics course is
to expose students to problems in mechanics as applied to possibly real-world scenarios.
Real World Problems in Engineering
Mechanics
 Divisions of Engineering Mechanics

• Engineering mechanics is subdivided in two parts: Statics and Dynamics.

• Statics:- The statics is that branch of Engineering Mechanics which deals with the
forces and their effects, while acting upon the bodies at rest.
• Dynamics:- The Dynamics is that branch of Engineering Mechanics which deals with
the forces and their effects, while acting upon the bodies in motion. It is further sub-
divided into the following two branches: (i) Kinetics and (ii.) Kinematics

(I.) Kinetics:- Kinetics is that branch of Dynamics, which deals with the bodies in motion
due to the application of forces. e.g., Kinetic Energy, K=1/2mv2
(II.) Kinematics:- Kinematics is that branch of Dynamics which deals with the bodies in
motion without taking into account the forces which are responsible for the motion.
e.g., v=u+at
 Force

• Definition:- It may be defined as an agent which produces or tends to produce,

destroy or tends to destroy the motion of a body.

• 1 kg=9.81 N

• Characteristics of a force:-

1. The magnitude of a force

2. The line of action of the force

3. The nature of the force, i.e. Push or Pull and

4. The point at which the force is acting.

 2. System of Forces
• When a mechanics problem or system has more than one force
acting, it is known as a ‘force system’ or ‘system of force’.

System of
forces

Non co-
Co-planar
planar

Non Non
Collinear Parallel Concurrent Parallel Concurrent
Concurrent concurrent
 ...continued

• Coplanar Forces:- When the lines of action of a set of forces lie in a single plane is called coplanar
force system.
• Types of Coplanar Forces are as follows:
1. Collinear Forces:- When the lines of action of all the forces of a system act along the same line, this
force system is called collinear force system.

Figure 1. Collinear Forces

2. Parallel Forces:- When the lines of action of all the forces of a system
act parallel with each other, this force system is called parallel forces.

Figure 2. Parallel Forces

 ...continued

3. Coplanar concurrent forces:- A force system in which all the

forces lie in a single plane and meet at one point, For example,
forces acting at a joint of a roof truss.

Figure 3 Coplanar Concurrent Force

4. Coplanar non concurrent forces:- These forces do not meet at a
common point; however, they lie in a single plane, for example,
forces acting on a beam.

Figure 4 Coplanar Non Concurrent Force

 ...continued

• Non Co-Planar forces:- When the line of action of all the forces do not lie in one plane, is called
Non-coplanar force system.
• Types of Non Co-Planar forces are given below:-
1. Parallel Forces
2. Concurrent Forces:- :- In this system, the forces lie in a different
planes but pass through a single point.
3. Non Concurrent Forces:- The forces which do not lie in a single plane
& do not pass through a single point are known as non-coplanar
and non-concurrent forces. Figure 1

Figure 3 Figure 2
 Resultant Forces
• If a number of forces F1, F2, F3, F4,... etc are acting simultaneously on a particle, it is
possible to find out a single force which could replace them i.e. Which would produce
same effect as produced by all the given forces. This single force, capable of
producing same effect on a body is known as resultant force and the given forces P1,
P2, P3, .... etc. are called component forces.
• R is the resultant of three concurrent forces F1, F2, F3, F4.

Figure 1 Resultant Forces

 3. Composition of Forces
• Definition:- The process of finding out resultant force of a number of given forces is called
composition of forces.

Methods of
Resultant
force

Analytical Graphical
Methods Methods

Parallelogram Resolution of Triangle law Triangle law Polygon law

law of forces forces of forces of forces of forces
 ...continued

• Parallelogram law of forces:-

• The law of parallelogram of forces states that if two vectors acting on a particle at the same
time be represented in magnitude and direction by the two adjacent sides of a parallelogram drawn
from a point their resultant vector is represented in magnitude and direction by the diagonal of the
parallelogram drawn from the same point.

R  P 2  Q 2  2 PQ cos 
Q sin 
tan  
P  Q cos 
• R= Resultant force
• θ= angle between P and Q
• α= angle between P and R

Figure 1 Parallelogram law of forces

 Examples Based on Law of parallelogram of forces

(1.) Two tensile forces 50 kN and 40 kN acting at a point with angle 600 between them.
(2.) Two tensile forces acting at an angle 1200 between them. The bigger force is 40kN.
The resultant is perpendicular to the smaller force. Find the smaller force and the
resultant force.
(3.) Refer Fig. 1, Find the forces P1 and P2.
(4.) Determine the maximum and minimum resultant of two forces having magnitude
10N and 8N respectively.
(5.) The resultant of two forces P and Q is R. If Q is doubled, the new resultant is
perpendicular to P. Show that Q=R.
 ...continued

• Triangle law of forces:

• If two forces acting at a point are represented in magnitude and direction by the two adjacent sides
of a triangle taken in order, then the closing side of the triangle taken in the reversed order
represents the resultant of the forces in magnitude and direction.

R  P 2  Q 2  2 PQ cos 
Q
  sin 1 ( sin  )
R
 Examples based on Triangle law of forces

(6.) Two tensile forces of 20 kN and 30 kN are acting at a point with an angle of 600
between them. Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant force.
(7.) A system of two forces is made of two forces of equal magnitude. Determine using
the triangle law of forces, the angle between two forces magnitude of resultant force
is equal to the magnitude of one of the force.
(8.) Find the force F2, if resultant of the two forces is 120 kN along X-axis as shown in
figure 8-a. Use triangle law of forces.
(9.) Refer Fig. 2 and find the unknown forces F1 and F2.
 ...continued

• Polygon law of forces:

• If a number of forces acting simultaneously on a particle be represented in magnitude and direction
by the sides of a polygon taken in order, their resultant may be represented in magnitude and
direction by the closing side of the polygon taken in opposite order.
•
 4. Resolution of a force

• Definition:- The process of splitting up the given force in to two or more

components, in to particular direction, without changing the effect on the body is
called resolution of a body.

Resolution of a
force

Non-
Orthogonal
Orthogonal
Components
Components

Law of
Horizontal Vertical Using triangle
parallelogram
Components Components law of forces
of forces
 Principle of Resolution

• It states – “The algebraic sum of the resolved components of a number of

forces, through a given path, is equal to their resultant resolved part in the
same direction."
 Examples based on Orthogonal/Non Orthogonal components

(10.) Refer Fig. 3, Resolve 100N force parallel and perpendicular to axis m-m.
(11.) Resolve 100N force shown in fig. 4.
Orthogonal Components and (II) Non-Orthogonal axis AA & BB.
(12.) Resolve 100N force acting on triangle lamina as shown in Fig.5 along AB and
parallel to BC.
(13.) Force acting at an angle of 600. Find the components along axes a-a & b-b as
shown in fig. 6.
(14.) Resolve 1000N force parallel and perpendicular to m-m as shown in fig. 7.
 Questions

(1.) Which one of the following statements is correct? [IAS-2000]

(a) Energy and work are scalars

(b) Force and work are vectors

(c) Energy, momentum and velocity are vectors

(d) Force, momentum and velocity are scalar.

• Answer:- Scalar Quantities: The physical quantities which are specified with the magnitude or
size alone are scalar quantities. For example, length, speed, work, mass, density, etc.
• Vector Quantities: Vector quantities refer to the physical quantities characterized by the presence
of both magnitude as well as direction. For example, displacement, force, torque, momentum,
acceleration, velocity, etc.
(2.) Consider the following statements:
1. Two couples in the same plane cane be added algebraically [IAS-2000]
2. Coplanar and concurrent forces are the ones which do neither lie in one plane nor
meet at a point
3. Non-concurrent forces are the ones which do not meet at a point.
4. A single forces may be replaced by a force and couple.
• Which of these statements are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 4 (b) 2, 3 and 4 (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 1, 3 and 4
(3.) Two forces A and B are acting at an angle θ .Their resultant ‘R’ will make an angle α
with the force A, such that cos α is equal to [IAS 1996]

A  B sin  B sin 
( A.) ( B.)
A2  B 2  2 AB cos  A 2  B 2  2 AB sin 

A  B cos  B cos 
(C.) ( D.)
A2  B 2  2 AB cos  A 2  B 2  2 AB sin 

Answer: Pythagoras Rule

(4.) lf the maximum and minimum resultant forces of two forces acting on a particle are
40 kN and 10 kN respectively, then the two forces in question would be [IAS-2000]

(a) 25kN and 15kN (b) 20kN and 20kN (c) 20 kN and 10 kN (d) 20 kN and 5kN

Answer: Law of parallelogram of forces

(5.) If two forces P and Q act at an angle θ, the resultant of these two forces would make
an angle a with P such that [IAS-1998]

Q sin  P sin 
( A.) tan   ( B.) tan  
P  Q sin  P  Q sin 

Q sin  P sin 
(C.) tan   ( D.) tan  
P  Q cos  P  P cos 

Answer: Law of parallelogram of forces

(6.) Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes below the lists:
[IAS-1995]
List I List II
A. Two parallel forces acting on 1. Kinetic energy
a body, moving with uniform velocity in
B. A moving particle 2. Couple
C. Two coplanar parallel forces equal 3. Forces in equilibrium
in magnitude and opposite in
direction acting on a body
D. Two unequal forces acting on 4. Cause acceleration
a body
Codes: A B C D A B C D
(a.) 1 3 4 2 (b.) 3 2 1 4
(c.) 3 1 2 4 (d.) 3 4 1 2
(7.) What is the thrust at the point A in lamp post shown in the figure?
[IAS 2004]
(a) 0.866 kN (b) 0.5 kN
(c) 1.388 kN (d) 1 kN

Answer: Orthogonal components

(8.) The force F such that both the bars AC
and BC (AC and BC are equal in length) as
shown in the figure are identically loaded,
is
(a) 70.7 N
(b) 100 N
(c) 141.4 N
(d) 168 N
Answer: Orthogonal components
(9.) A uniform, heavy rod AB of length L and weight W is hinged at A and tied
to a weight W1 by a string at B. The mass less string passes over a
frictionless pulley (of negligible dimension) at C as shown in the figure. If
the rod is in equilibrium at horizontal configuration, then
(a) W1 = W (b) W1 = W/2
(c) W1 = 2 W (d) W1 = W/2
Answer: Equilibrium equations
• Reaction at B=W/2
• At C, T=W1
• At B, W
 T cos 45 0
2
W
 W1 cos 45 0
2
W
W1 
2
(10.) Weight of 120 kN is being supported by a tripod whose each leg is of the length of
13m. If the vertical height of the point of attachment of the load is 12m, the force on
the tripod leg would be
(a) 37.67 kN (b) 40 kN (c) 43.3 kN (d) 46.6 kN

Answer: Equilibrium forces

(11.) Bars AB and BC, each of negligible mass, support load P as shown in the figure. In
this arrangement, [GATE 2001]
(a) bar AB is subjected to bending but bar BC is not
subjected to bending
(b) bar AB is not subjected to bending but bar BC is
subjected to bending
(c) neither bar AB nor bar BC is subjected to bending
(d) both bars AB and BC are subjected to bending
(12.) A mass of 35 kg is suspended from a weightless bar AC, which is
supported by a cable CB and a pin at A as shown in the Fig. The pin
reactions at A on the bar AB are[GATE 1997]

FBD of BC

T cos   R x
T sin   mg
mg
tan   Ry  0
Rx
125 35 * 9.81 FBD of AB

275 Rx
R x  755.37 N
 Home Work

(13.) A system of forces acting on a lamina is shown in the given figure. The
resultant of the force system will meet AB at [IAS 1995]
(a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
 Homework

(14.) Two forces act at a point. The first force has x and y components of 3N and -5 N
respectively. The resultant of these forces falls on the x-axis and has a magnitude of -
4 N. The x and y components of the second force is [IAS-1997]
(a) (-7,5) (b) (-7,-5) (c) (-7,0) (d) (+ 7, 0)

Hint: Law of parallelogram of forces & Maximum forces and minimum forces
 5. Resolution of more than two concurrent forces

• ∑H= Algebraic sum of

Horizontal forces
• ∑V= Algebraic sum of vertical
forces
• R= Resultant of forces
• θ= Angle of resultant with
horizontal

 H 2  V
2
R

tan  
V
H
 Examples based on Resolution of more than two concurrent forces

(15.) Determine the resultant of the force system shown in figure 8.

(16.) If force system shown in figure 9, is in equilibrium, find the force P and angle θ.

(17.) Find the resultant of force system as shown in figure 10.

(18.) Find the resultant of the force system shown in figure 11.

(19.) Find the resultant of the given force system. Also find the direction of resultant.
Refer figure 12.
 6. Forces in Equilibrium- Lami’s Theorem

• Lami’s Theorem
• In statics, Lami's theorem is an equation relating the magnitudes of
three coplanar, concurrent and non-collinear forces, which keeps an object in static equilibrium,
with the angles directly opposite to the corresponding forces.
• According to the theorem,
A B C
 
sin  sin  sin 
• Where A, B and C are the numerical values of three coplanar,
concurrent and non-collinear forces, which keep the object in
static equilibrium, and α, β and γ are the angles directly opposite
to the forces A, B and C respectively
 Examples based on Lami’s theorem

(1.) A sphere weighing 10 N is hanged as shown in figure 1. Find tension in the rope and
reaction of wall.
(2.) An electric lamp in street is having 50 N weight is suspended by two wires of 4m and
3m length. The horizontal distance between two fixed points are 5m from which two
wires were suspended. Find out tension in both wires.
(3.) A uniform wheel of 600mm diameter and weight 1000N rests against rectangular
obstacle 150mm high. Find the least force required which when acting through the
centre of the wheel will just turn the wheel over the corner of the block. Refer figure
2.
 ...continued

(4.) A weight W is suspended from the ceiling with the help of rope as shown in figure 3.
Find the value of weight W.
(5.) A cylindrical drum of 250mm diameter and 600N weight is to be lifted from the
ground manually against a kerb of 90 mm height as shown in figure 4 by applying
tangential force at top. Calculate the minimum horizontal force P required.
(6.) Two smooth cylinder of weight 100 N is resting in a channel as shown in figure 5.
Determine the reactions at all contact points.
 Examples

(1.) If point A is in equilibrium under the action of the applied forces, the
values of tension TAB and TAC are respectively
(a) 520 N and 300 N
(b) 300 N and 520 N
(c) 450 N and 150 N
(d) 150 N and 450 N
(2.) The road roller shown in the given figure is being moved over an obstacle
by a pull 'P'. The value of 'P' required will be the minimum when it is
(a) horizontal
(b) vertical
(c) at 45° to the horizontal
(d) perpendicular to the line CO

Answer: (d.)
(3.) A uniform beam AB (see given figure) Pinned at A is held by the cable BC
in the position shown If the tension in the cable is 200 kgf, then the weight
of the beam and the reaction of the pin at A on the beam are respectively
• (a) 300 kgf; 100 3 kgf, 30° (b) 400 kgf; 100 3 kgf, 60°
• (c) 300 kgf; 200 3 kgf, 30° (d) 400 kgf; 200 3 kgf, 60°
Chapter 2
Conclusion