Chapter 5 : Moments of Inertia Topic 5.

0 :Leaning Outcome Leave blank

Learning Outcome
Upon completion of this chapter, the student should be able to understand and apply
the following topics:

5.1 Moments of Inertia of an Area

5.1.1 Parallel-Axis Theorem

5.1.2 Polar Moment of Inertia

5.1.3 Radius of Gyration

5.1.4 Composite Areas

5.2 Moments of Inertia of a Mass

5.2.1 Thin Plates

5.2.2 Parallel-axis Theorem and Radius of Gyration

Chapter 5 : Moments of Inertia Topic 5.1 : Moments of Inertia of an Area Leave blank

5.1 Moments of Inertia of an Area


•Consider distributed forces ∆Fwhose magnitudes are
proportional to the elemental areas ∆A on which they act and
also vary linearly with the distance of ∆Aa given axis.
from
•Example: Consider a beam subjected to pure bending.
Internal forces vary linearly with distance from the neutral axis
which passes through the section centroid.


∆F = ky∆A
R = k ∫ y dA = 0 ∫ y dA = Q x = first moment
M = k ∫ y 2 dA ∫ y dA = second moment
2

•Example: Consider the net hydrostatic force on a submerged

circular gate.

∆F = p∆A = γy∆A
R = γ ∫ y dA
M x = γ ∫ y 2 dA
Chapter 5 : Moments of Inertia Topic 5.1 : Moments of Inertia of an Area Leave blank

5.1 Moments of Inertia of an Area

•Second moments or moments of inertia of an area with
respect to the x and y axes,

I x = ∫ y 2 dA I y = ∫ x 2 dA

•Evaluation of the integrals is simplified by choosing dΑ to

be a thin strip parallel to one of the coordinate axes.

•For a rectangular area,

h
I x = ∫ y dA = ∫ y 2bdy = 13 bh 3
2

0
1
I y = hb3
3
Chapter 5 : Moments of Inertia Topic 5.1 : Moments of Inertia of an Area Leave blank

5.1.1 Parallel-Axis Theorem

•Consider moment of inertia I of an area A with respect to the

axis AA’

I = ∫ y 2 dA

•The axis BB’ passes through the area centroid and is called a
centroidal axis.

I = ∫ y 2 dA = ∫ ( y ′ + d )2 dA
= ∫ y ′ 2 dA + 2d ∫ y ′dA + d 2 ∫ dA

I = I + Ad 2 parallel axis theorem

Chapter 5 : Moments of Inertia Topic 5.1 : Moments of Inertia of an Area Leave blank

5.1.1 Parallel-Axis Theorem

•Moment of inertia IT of a circular area with respect to a tangent

to the circle,

( )
I T = I + Ad 2 = 14 π r 4 + π r 2 r 2

= 54 π r 4

•Moment of inertia of a triangle with respect to a centroidal axis,

I AA′ = I BB′ + Ad 2

I BB′ = I AA′ − Ad 2 = 12
1 bh 3 − 1 bh 1 h
2 3
( )2
= 36
1 bh 3
Chapter 5 : Moments of Inertia Topic 5.1 : Moments of Inertia of an Area Leave blank

5.1.2 Polar Moment of Inertia

•The polar moment of inertia is an important parameter in

problems involving torsion of cylindrical shafts and rotations of
slabs.

J 0 = ∫ r 2 dA

•The polar moment of inertia is related to the rectangular

moments of inertia,

( )
J 0 = ∫ r 2 dA = ∫ x 2 + y 2 dA = ∫ x 2 dA + ∫ y 2 dA
= Iy + Ix
Chapter 5 : Moments of Inertia Topic 5.1 : Moments of Inertia of an Area Leave blank

5.1.3 Radius of Gyration

•Consider area A with moment of inertia Ix. Imagine that

the area is concentrated in a thin strip parallel to the x axis
with equivalent Ix.
Ix
I x = k x2 A kx =
A
kx = radius of gyration with respect to the x axis

•Similarly,

Iy
I y = k y2 A ky =
A
JO
J O = kO2 A kO =
A

kO2 = k x2 + k y2
Chapter 5 : Moments of Inertia Topic 5.1 : Moments of Inertia of an Area Leave blank

5.1.4 Moments of Inertia of Composite Areas

• The moment of inertia of a composite area A about a given axis is obtained by adding the moments
of inertia of the component areas A1, A2, A3, ... , with respect to the same axis.
Chapter 5 : Moments of Inertia Topic 5.1 : Moments of Inertia of an Area Leave blank

Example 1

SOLUTION:
• Compute the moments of inertia of the bounding
rectangle and half-circle with respect to the x axis.

• The moment of inertia of the shaded area is

obtained by subtracting the moment of inertia of the
half-circle from the moment of inertia of the
rectangle.
Determine the moment of inertia
of the shaded area with respect
to the x axis.
Chapter 5 : Moments of Inertia Topic 5.1 : Moments of Inertia of an Area Leave blank

Continue … SOLUTION:

• Compute the moments of inertia of the bounding

rectangle and half-circle with respect to the x axis.
• Rectangle:
I x = 13 bh3 = 13 (240)(120 ) = 138.2 × 106 mm 4
• Half-circle:
moment of inertia with respect to AA’,

I AA′ = 81 πr 4 = 18 π (90 )4 = 25.76 × 106 mm 4

moment of inertia with respect to x’,

( )(
I x′ = I AA′ − Aa 2 = 25.76 × 106 12.72 × 103 )
4r (4 )(90 ) = 7.20 × 106 mm 4
a= = = 38.2 mm
3π 3π moment of inertia with respect to x,
b = 120 - a = 81.8 mm
( )
I x = I x′ + Ab 2 = 7.20 × 106 + 12.72 × 103 (81.8)2
A= 1 πr 2 = 1π (90)
2
2 2 = 92.3 × 106 mm 4
= 12.72 × 10 mm 2 3
Chapter 5 : Moments of Inertia Topic 5.1 : Moments of Inertia of an Area Leave blank

Continue …

• The moment of inertia of the shaded area is obtained by subtracting the moment of inertia
of the half-circle from the moment of inertia of the rectangle.

I AA′ = 81 πr 4 = 18 π (90 )4 = 25.76 × 106 mm 4

Ix = 138.2 × 106 mm 4 − 92.3 × 106 mm 4

I x = 45.9 × 106 mm 4
Chapter 5 : Moments of Inertia Topic 5.2: Moments of Inertia of a Mass Leave blank

5.2.1 Moments of Inertia of Mass

• Angular acceleration about the axis AA’ of the small
mass ∆m due to the application of a couple is
proportional to r2∆m.

r2∆m = moment of inertia of the

mass ∆m with respect to
the axis AA’
• For a body of mass m the resistance to rotation about the
axis AA’ is

I = r12 ∆m + r22 ∆m + r32 ∆m + 

= ∫ r 2 dm = mass moment of inertia
• The radius of gyration for a concentrated mass with
equivalent mass moment of inertia is

I
I = k 2m k=
m
Chapter 5 : Moments of Inertia Topic 5.2 : Moments of Inertia of a Mass Leave blank

5.2.1 Moments of Inertia of Mass

•Moment of inertia with respect to the y coordinate axis is

(
I y = ∫ r 2 dm = ∫ z 2 + x 2 dm )
•Similarly, for the moment of inertia with respect to the x
and z axes,

( )
I x = ∫ y 2 + z 2 dm
I z = ∫ (x 2 + y 2 )dm

•In SI units,

(
I = ∫ r 2 dm = kg ⋅ m 2 )
Chapter 5 : Moments of Inertia Topic 5.2 : Moments of Inertia of a Mass Leave blank

5.2.1 Moments of Inertia of Mass for Thin Plates

•For a thin plate of uniform thickness t and homogeneous
material of density ρ, the mass moment of inertia with
respect to axis AA’ contained in the plate is

I AA′ = ∫ r 2 dm = ρt ∫ r 2 dA
= ρ t I AA′,area
•Similarly, for perpendicular axis BB’ which is also
contained in the plate,

I BB′ = ρ t I BB′,area

•For the axis CC’ which is perpendicular to the plate,

I CC ′ = ρ t J C ,area = ρ t (I AA′,area + I BB′,area )

= I AA′ + I BB′
Chapter 5 : Moments of Inertia Topic 5.2 : Moments of Inertia of a Mass Leave blank

Rectangular Plate 5.2.1 Moments of Inertia of Mass for Thin Plates

•For the principal centroidal axes on a rectangular plate,

I AA′ = ρ t I AA′,area = ρ t(121 a 3b) = 121 ma 2

I BB′ = ρ t I BB′,area = ρ t (12
1 ab 3 ) = 1 mb 2

1 m(a 2 + b 2 )
12
I CC ′ = I AA′,mass + I BB′,mass = 12

•For centroidal axes on a circular plate,

Circular Plate
( )
I AA′ = I BB′ = ρ t I AA′,area = ρ t 14 π r 4 = 14 mr 2

I CC ′ = I AA′ + I BB′ = 12 mr 2
Chapter 5 : Moments of Inertia Topic 5.2 : Moments of Inertia for a Mass Leave blank

5.2.2 Parallel Axis Theorem for a Mass

•For the rectangular axes with origin at O and parallel
centroidal axes,

( ) [ ]
I x = ∫ y 2 + z 2 dm = ∫ ( y ′ + y )2 + ( z ′ + z )2 dm
= ∫ (y ′ 2 + z ′ 2 )dm + 2 y ∫ y ′dm + 2 z ∫ z ′dm + (y 2 + z 2 )∫ dm

I x = I x ′ + m (y 2 + z 2 )

I y = I y′ + m(z 2 + x 2 )
I z = I z′ + m(x 2 + y 2 )

•Generalizing for any axis AA’ and a parallel centroidal axis,

I = I + md 2

Parallel Axis Theorem

Chapter 5 : Moments of Inertia Topic : References Leave blank

Acknowledgement

The contents and figures used this chapter are duplicated and edited from the following
references.

References

Ferdinand P. Beer & Russell Johnston Jr., Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics, 8th ed. in
SI units, McGraw-Hill, 2007.

J. L. Meriam & L.G. Kraige, Engineering Mechanics, Statics, 6th ed. SI ver., J. Wiley & Sons,
2007.

R. C. Hibbeler, Engineering Mechanics, Statics, 12th ed. in SI units, Prentice Hall, 2010.