INTRODUCTION :-

A rigid body made up of small number of particles, exerting its own weight.
The weights of these particles are acting toward the centre of the earth. As the
size of the body is small as compared to earth, the distance between different
particles of a body and the centre of the earth surface is assumed to be same and
these weights are considered parallel to one another.

This is nothing but a system of like parallel forces. A point in a body at

which the resultant of all these forces acts is called the Centre of Gravity of the
rigid body. This point is generally denoted by 'G'.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CENTRE OF GRAVITY AND

CENTROID :-
The plane geometrical figure (or weightless lamina) such as triangle, rectangle,
circle, parallelogram, etc. have only area but no volume. The centre of area of
such figures is known as Centroid. ''The points through which the entire area of
a plane is supposed to be act, for all positions of the lamina is called Centroid or
centre of area of a body." Solid bodies such as cone, cylinder, sphere, etc. have
only volume but not area. The centre of volume such figures is called Centre of
Gravity.

NOTE :- Though the terms centre of gravity and centroid are taken to mean the
same thing, the term Centre of Gravity is generally used in connection with
solids, whereas the term centroid is generally used in connection with areas.

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CENTROID BASIC GEOMETRICAL FIGURES:

Rectangle Area and Centroid

A= bd
x¯=12b
y¯=12d

Triangle Area and Centroid

A=12bh
y¯=13h

Semicircle Area and Centroid

A=12πr2
x¯=0
y¯=4r3π

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 Semicircular Arc Length and Centroid

L=12πr2
x¯=2rπ
y¯=0

Quarter Circle Area and Centroid

A=14πr2
x¯=4r3π
y¯=4r3π

Sector of a Circle Area and Centroid

A=r2θradA=r2θrad
x¯=2rsinθ3θrad
y¯=0

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Circular Arc Length and Centroid

L=2rθradL=2rθrad
x¯=rsinθθradx¯=rsin⁡θθrad
y¯=0y¯=0

Ellipse Area and Centroid

A=πab
x¯=0
y¯=0

Half Ellipse Area and Centroid

A=12πab
x¯=0
y¯=4b3π

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Quarter Ellipse Area and Centroid

A=14πab
x¯=4a3π
y¯=4b3πy¯=4b3π

Parabolic Segment Area and Centroid

A=23bhA=23bh
x¯=38bx¯=38b
y¯=25hy¯=25h

Spandrel Area and Centroid

A=1n+1bhA=1n+1bh
x¯=1n+2bx¯=1n+2b
y¯=n+14n+2hy¯=n+14n+2h

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CENTROID OF COMPOSITE PLANE FIGURES (Moment of
Area about an axis) :-

A composite figure is a combination of two or more basic geometric figures such as triangle,
rectangle, circle, semi-circle, etc.

The point of centroid (G) is located by two co-ordinates x and y which measured from two
axis of reference.

Generally, the left line of the figure (for calculating x) and the lowest line of figure (for
calculating y) are taken as axes of reference.

Let the composite area 'A' be divided

into small elementary areas a1, a2,
a3,......,an of known geometric shapes. As
shown in figure

A = a1 + a2 + a3 + ... + an

Let x̄ and ȳ be the co-ordinates of

the centroid with respect to reference
axes OA and OB respectively. Let x1, x2,
x3,… , xn and y1, y2, y3, … , yn be the
respective distance centroid of the areas
a1, a2, a3,......,an with respect to same axes
of reference.

The centroid of composite figures can be found out by using Varignon’s theorem of
moment. “The algebraic some of moment of individual areas about any axis of reference is
equal to the moment of composite area about the same axis”.

Taking areas of all areas about OA

A x̄ = a1 x1 + a2 x2 + a3 x3 + ... + an xn

a1 x1 + a2 x2 + a3 x3 + ...+ an xn
∴ x̄ =
A

∴ a1 x1 + a2 x2 + a3 x3 + ...+ an xn
x̄ =
a1 + a2 + a3 + ...+ an
…(1)

Similarly, taking moment of all areas about OB

A ȳ = a1 y1 + a2 y2 + a3 y3 + ... + an yn

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 a1 y + a2 y + a3 y + ...+ an y
1 2 3 n

∴ ȳ =
A
∴ a1 y + a2 y + a3 y + ...+ an y
1 2 3 n

ȳ =
a1 + a2 + a3 + ...+ an
…(2)

Using relation (1) and (2), the centroid of composite plane figures can be find out.

CENTROID OF COMPOSITE AREAS WITH CUT-OUT SECTION:

The centroid of composite areas with cut-out sections is found out by considering the
main area as a complete one and then by taking the area of cut-out section is negative. When
any area is cut-out or removed from the composite area, the remaining area is called
remainder .

Now, substituting a2 as negative in the general equation for the centroid, we get

a1 x1 + a2 x2 a1 y + a2 y
1 2

x̄ = and ȳ =
a1 − a2 a1 − a2
Where,

a1 = area of composite body

a2 = area removed

(x1, y1) = co-ordinates of centroid of area a1

(x2, y2) = co-ordinates of centroid of area a2

(x̄ ȳ) = co-ordinates of centroid of remainder

SECTION WIDELY USED IN ENGINEERING

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PROCEDURE OF LOCATING CENTROID OF COMPOSITE PLANE FIGURES

Step 1: Divide the composite figures into basic figures such as rectangle, triangle,
circle, semi-circle, etc. and take the entire figure in the first quadrant. Name the areas (1),
(2), (3), … etc. and mark their individual centroids G1, G2, G3 … etc.

Step 2: Choose the reference axis such that the entire figure is placed in the first
quadrant. Generally axis passing through extreme left position and bottom are selected as
reference axes. (The axes selected should be as closed to the area as possible)

Step 3: Calculate the area of basic plane figures a1, a2, a3, … etc. and calculate the
total area A.A = a1 + a2 + a3 + ….

Step 4: Draw the line of symmetry (if it exists). If there is any line of symmetry, the
centroid lies on this line.

Note:

i) If there is a vertical line of symmetry, the value of x̄ can be

directly written and only ȳ is to be calculated, by using standard
formula.
ii) If there is horizontal line of symmetry, the value of ȳ can be
directly written and only x̄ is to be calculated, by using standard
formula
iii) Vertical line of symmetry is generally denoted by YY and
horizontal line of symmetry is generally denoted by XX.

Step 5: Calculate x1, x2, x3, etc. i.e. distance of centroid of area from the horizontal
reference axis (Y-axis).

Step 6: Calculate y1, y2, y3, …etc. distance of centroid of areas from horizontal
reference axis (X-axis).

Step 7: Calculate the x̄ i.e. distance of centroid of composite figure from Y-axis.

By taking moments of area about vertical Y-axis.

A x̄ = a1 x1 + a2 x2 + a3 x3 + ...

∴
a1 x1 + a2 x2 + a3 x3 + ...
x̄ = A

Step 7: Calculate the ȳ i.e. distance of centroid of composite figure from X-axis.

By taking moment of areas about horizontal reference axis (X-axis).

A ȳ = a1 y1 + a2 y2 + a3 y3 + ...

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∴
a1 y1 + a2 y2 + a3 y3 + ...+ an yn
ȳ=
a1 + a2 + a3 + ...+ an

Where A = a1 + a2 + a3 + ... = Total area of composite figure.

Note:

If any area is removed from the figure such as hole, it is taken as negative and its
moment (i.e. moment of area) is also taken as negative.

Step 9: Shoe the position of the centroid G (x̄, ȳ) on the sketch.

SOLVED EXAMPES
Example 1: Find centroid of ISA 90 × 60 × 8 (L- section)

Solution : Refer the following figure, Let X and Y be the angle of reference.

a1=90 x 8 =720, a2=52 x 8=416

A=720+416=1136

8 52
X1= = 4, x2 =8+ =34
2 2
90 8
Y1 = =45, y2 = = 4
2 2
a1 x1 + a2 x2 720 × 4 + 416 ×34
x̄ = = =14.38
A 1136
a1 y1 + a2 y2 720 ×45+416 ×4
ȳ= = =29.98
A 1136

G( x̄ , ȳ) = (14.98 , 29.98)

Answer:

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REFERENCE
Books
1) Applied Mechanics I-Scheme (MSBTE)

Sites
1) Www.google.com
2) Www.wikipedia.com
3) Www.youtube.com
4) Www.Quora.com
5) www.tutorvista.com

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