ENGINEERING MECHANICS STATIC

RESULTANTS AND EQUILIBRIUM:

3-1 RESULTANTS:
The properties of force, moment, and couple were developed in the
previous four articles. Now we are ready to describe the resultant action
of a group or system of forces.
The most common type of force system occurs when the forces all
act in a single plane, say, the x-y plane as illustrated by the system of
three forces F1, F2, and F3 in shown in fig. below. We obtain the
magnitude and direction of the resultant force R by forming the force
polygon shown in part b of the figure, where the forces are added headto- tail in any sequence. Thus for any system of coplanar forces we may
write
 = 
 = 1

 = 


= 1



Asst. lecturer Sarmed A. Salih

 = ( )2 + 


Eq 7

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ENGINEERING MECHANICS STATIC

Algebraic method
We can use algebra to obtain the resultant force and its line of action as
follows:
1. Choose a convenient reference point and move all forces to that point. This
process is depicted for a three-force system in the fig. a, and b shown below,
where M1, M2, and M3 are the couple resulting from the transfer of forces F1,
F2, and F3 from their respective original lines of action to lines of action
through point O.
2. Add all forces at O to form the resultant force R, and add all couples to form
the resultant couple Mo. we now have the single force-couple system, as
shown in fig. c.
3. In fig. d, find the line of action of R by requiring R to have a moment of Mo
about point O. Note that the force systems of figs. Equal to Rd in fig. d.

Asst. lecturer Sarmed A. Salih

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ENGINEERING MECHANICS STATIC

Principle of Moments
This process is summarized in equation form by

R F
M M
M Rd
O

Fd 

Eq 8

The first two of Eqs. Reduce a given system of forces to a forcecouple system at an arbitrarily chosen but convenient point O. the last
equation specifies the distance d from point O to the line of action of R,
and states that the moment of the resultant force about any point O
equals the sum of the moments of the original forces of the system about
the same point.

EX 9
Determine the resultant of the four forces and one couple which act
on the plate shown.

Asst. lecturer Sarmed A. Salih

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ENGINEERING MECHANICS STATIC

SOL
Point O is selected as a convenient reference point for the force-couple
system.
Rx = )x
Rx = 40 + 80 cos 30 - 60 cos 45 = 66.9 N
Ry = )y
Ry = 50 + 80 sin 30 + 60 sin 45 = 132.4 N

2
X

 RY

T tan R
1

66.9  132.4
2

= 148.3 N Ans.

132.4
T tan 66.9 = 63.2
1

Ans.

Mo = )G
Mo = 140 50(5) + 60 cos 45(4) 60 sin 45 (7)
Mo = -237 N.m
Mo = Rd
d = 1.6m

Asst. lecturer Sarmed A. Salih

237 = 148.3 d
Ans.

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ENGINEERING MECHANICS STATIC

EX10
If the resultant of the twe forces and couple M psses through point
O, determine M.
SOL
MO = 400(0.15 cos 30) + 320(0.3)
MO = 51.96 + 96 = 147.96 N.m CW
M + MO = 0
M = -147.96 = 147.96 N.m CCW

H.w

1. Determine the resultant R of the three fension forces acting on the

H\HEROW)LQGWKHPDJQLWXGHRI5DQGWKHDQJOHZKLFK5PDNHV
with the positive x-axis.
[J. L. Merim (2-73)]

$QV5 N1 26.1

Asst. lecturer Sarmed A. Salih

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ENGINEERING MECHANICS STATIC

2. The flanged steel cantilever beam with riveted bracket is subjected to the
couple and two forces shown. And their effect on the design of the
attachment at A must be determined. Replace the two forces and couple by
an equivalent couple M and resultant force R at A.
[J. L. Merim (2-81)]

Ans.
5 N1 
MA = 2.22 kN.m CCW

3. Two integral pulleys are subjected to the belt tensions shown. If the resultant
R of these forces passes through the center O, determine T and the
PDJQLWXGHRI5DQGWKHFRXQWHUFORFNZLVHDQJOHLWPDNHVZLWKWKH[-axis.
[J. L. Merim (2-84)]

Ans.
5 1 

4. Problem 3.3 p 56
5. Problem 3.4 p 56

Asst. lecturer Sarmed A. Salih

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