MOMENT OF A COUPLE

Lessons Objectives: Students will be able to a) define a couple, and b) determine the moment of a couple.

Moment Of A Couple
A couple is defined as a pair of forces having same magnitude but opposite directions, parallel lines of action, separated by a perpendicular distance d. Since couple forces are equal but opposite, they produce a zero resultant force (i.e. F = 0). Effect of couple: produces a rotation or tendency of rotation in a specified direction. Moment produced by couple is called a couple moment and has a magnitude M = Fd.

Moment of A Couple
A couple moment M is produced by two parallel (ie. non-collinear) forces that are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction. Magnitude: M = Fd F = magnitude of one of the forces d = perpendicular distance between forces F and F

Fx = 0; Fy = 0 MA 0
+

F A d2 d F (F = F)

MA = Fd1 Fd2 = F(d1 d2) = Fd

d1

Concept of couple moment is better illustrated by the example below:

100N A 100N
M = F d
+ve CCW : MA = 100(4) = 400 N m +ve CCW : MB = 100(3) 100(1) = 400 N m +ve CCW : MC = 100(4) = 400 N m +ve CCW : MD = 100(6) + 100(2) = 400 N m

B 1m 3m 2m

Observe that MA = MB = MC = MD Moment of couple can be determined about any point. Does not need any specific point. Only depend on M = Fd Moment of a couple is a free vector, which means you can place the moment M any where on the rigid body.

The preceding example shows that:

A couple moment M is a free vector: it will create the same rotation no matter where you place the couple moment M on the body (M = MA = MB = MC = MD) Magnitude of couple moment does not depend on any specific point. M depends only on perpendicular distance between the forces (M = Fd). By contrast, for moment of a force about a point we must specify the point about which the moment is to be determined.

If two couples produce a moment with the same magnitude and same direction, then these two couples are equivalent. For example, each couple moment below has a magnitude of M = Fd = 30N(0.4m) = 40N(0.3m) = 12 N.m and rotates clockwise.

300 N 100 mm 300 N 50 mm 50 mm 150 mm

150 mm

200 N

120 N

250 mm 120 N

200 N

100 mm 30 N.m 50 mm 50 mm 150 mm

100 mm 30 N.m 50 mm 50 mm 150 mm

Figure 3.9

F1 F1

=
F1 B d1 F1 P F1

C D

Q B

C D

A Q

F2

F2

F1

3.9 Addition of Couples: Finding A Resultant Couple

Since the moment of a couple depends only on the distance between the forces, the moment of a couple is a free vector. Couple can be moved anywhere on the body and have the same external effect on the body. Moments due to couples can be added using the same rules as adding any vectors.

MR = (MP + MQ) = (MP + MS) = (P + S)(p)

Q
q

Q = P

S
p

S P

P+S

=
P+S p

Example 3.3

Given: If F = 2000 N, determine the resultant couple moment M.

C

Soln:

First, resolve each force into x-y components. Next: (a) Find moment of each couple and sum them up, OR (b) Sum the moments of all the force components about an arbitrary point (point A, or B or C).

Answer: M = 260 N.m (CW)

Example 3.3
Solution: METHOD 1
Resolve 1500-N and 2000-N force couples into x-y components. Determine the couple moments produced by 1500-N couple and 2000-N couple, respectively. Sum these couple moments to obtain resultant couple moment.

+ve CCW : M1500 = 1500 cos 30 (0.4) 1500 sin30 (0.4) = 819.6 N m M2000 4 3 = 2000 (0.2) + 2000 (0.2) = 560 N m 5 5

MR = M1500 + M2000 = 819.6 + 560 = 259.6 N m clockwise

Example 3.3
Solution: METHOD 2
Resolve 1500-N and 2000-N force couples into x-y components. Treat each force component as an individual force. Find moment of each force component about point A. Sum the moments of all force components about point A.

+ve CCW : MR = MA = 1500 cos 30 (0.6) 1500 sin30 (0.4) 4 3 + 2000 (0.2) + 2000 (0.6) 5 5 3 4 2000 (0.4) + 2000 (0) 5 5 + 1500 cos 30 (0.2) 1500 sin30 (0) = 779.4 300 + 320 + 720 480 + 0 + 259.8 0 = 259.6 N m clockwise

Example 3.3
Solution: METHOD 2
Resolve 1500-N and 2000-N force couples into x-y components. Treat each force component as an individual force. Find moment of each force component about point B. Sum the moments of all force components about point B.
+ve CCW : MR = MB = 1500 cos 30 (0) 1500 sin30 (0.4) 4 3 + 2000 (0.2) + 2000 (0) 5 5 3 4 + 2000 (0.2) + 2000 (0) 5 5 1500 sin30 (0.4) + 1500 cos30 (0) = 300 + 0 + 320 + 0 + 240 + 0 519.6 0 = 259.6 N m clockwise

Example 3.4
Given: Two force couples act on the structure. The resultant couple is zero. Magnitudes of P and F and distance d.

Find:

Method:
1) Use definition of a couple moment to determine P and F i.e. M = Fd 2) Resolve the 300-N force into x-y components. 3) Determine the net (resultant) moment. 4) Equate resultant moment to zero and solve for d. Ans: P = 500N, F = 300 N, d = 3.96 m

Example 3.4
Definition: A couple has two parallel forces of same magnitude but opposite directions. Hence: P = 500 N and F = 300 N

Given M = 0: + M = (500N)(2m) + (300N cos 30)(d) (300N sin 30)(0.2m) = 0 Solve above equation for d. d = (1000 + 60 sin 30)/(300 cos 30) = 3.96 m

Practice Problem 1
Two couples act on the frame. If d = 1.2m, determine the resultant couple moment.

Method:
First, resolve 200-N and 300-N force couples into x-y components.

To find resultant couple moment M: Find moment of each force couple and sum them up. (Method 1) Sum the moments of all force components about a point (A, B or C) (Method 2)

Answer: M = 80.15 N.m clockwise

Practice Problem 2 Two couples act on the frame. If the resultant couple moment is zero, determine the distance d between the 200-N couple forces.

Answer: d = 1.663m

Practice Problem 3 Determine the required magnitude of force F if the resultant couple moment on the frame is 200 Nm, clockwise.

Answer: 2213 N

EQUIVALENT FORCE-COUPLE SYSTEM

Lessons Objectives: Students will be able to: 1) Determine the effect of moving a force. 2) Find an equivalent force-couple system for a system of forces and couples.

3.10

Resolution of A Given Force Into A Force Acting At A Given Point And A Couple

To move a force to a new location, e.g. from point B to point A, (B and A on different lines of action) requires adding a couple moment at the new point. F
A d B

F
A M = Fd Equivalent force-couple system

F =
B A

Procedure: 1. Find the moment of the force (at B) about point A. 2. Detach the force from point B and place it at point A.

3.10

Resolution of A Given Force Into A Force Acting At A Given Point And A Couple (continue)

That means .. Any force F acting on a rigid body may be moved to any point A, provided that a couple M is added at the new point. Moment of this couple must equal to the moment of F (in its original position) about point A, MA = Fd F
A d B Force F originally acts at B

F
A M = Fd Equivalent forcecouple system

F =
B A

Sample Prob 3.4

B 30 mm A 50 mm

A 50-N force is applied to a plate as shown. Replace this force by: (a) An equivalent force-couple system acting at point A. (b) An equivalent system consisting of a 150-N force at B and another force at A. C 100 mm
30

50 N

Sample Prob 3.4 (a) Force-couple system at A. i) We move 50-N force to the designated location i.e. point A; direction must be the same as the original force. ii) Next find the couple moment MA; magnitude must be equal to moment of 50-N force (in its original position) about point A. MA = Fxy + Fyx = (50 N sin 30)(0.050m) (50 N cos 30)(0.100m) MA = 3.08 Nm = 3.08 Nm CW Answer: F = 50N
60

B
3.08 Nm

MA = 3.08 Nm CW A
30

This is an important step because it determines the direction of the couple, whether clockwise or counter clockwise.

50 N

Sample Prob 3.4 (b) 150-N force at B and a force at A.

i) Assume clockwise couple MA = 3.08 Nm consists of two 150-N parallel forces acting at B and A, respectively. MA = 3.08 Nm = (150N)(d)

150 N

B
30 mm

A
30

d = 0.02053 m d = 0.02053 m = (0.030m)(cos ) = cos-1 (0.02053/0.03) = cos-1 (0.6844) = +46.8

ii) At point A, we have two forces acting: 150-N and 50-N. Find resultant of these two forces. FAX = 50N sin 30 150N cos 46.8 = 77.67 N FAY = 50N cos 30 150N sin 46.8 = 152.65 N FA = 171.3 N = tan-1(152.65/77.67) = 63.0 Answer: FB = 150 N = 46.8 FA = 171.3 N = 63.0

150 N

50 N

Sample Prob 3.4 150-N force at B and a force at A (alternative answer)

Know that: = cos-1 (0.02053/0.03) = cos-1 (0.6844) = +46.8 150 N

ii) At point A, we have two forces acting 150-N and 50-N. Find resultant of these two forces. 150 N FAX = 50N sin 30 150N cos 46.8 = 77.67 N FAY = 50N cos 30 + 150N sin 46.8 = 66.05 N FA = 101.96N; 50 N = tan-1 (66.05/77.67) = 40.37 FB = 150 N = 46.8

A
30

Answer: FA = 101.96 N = 40.37 FB = 150 N = 46.8

Sample Prob 3.4

Summary: The equivalent systems

150 N

B
3.08 Nm
30

46.8

101.96 N

B
46.8

=
50 N

63

40.37

150 N

171.3 N

Example 3.5

C 500 mm 500 mm 400 mm

125 N

(a) FB = 125 N (b) FA = 200N

; MB = 50 N-m CCW 30 ; FB = 314.5N 18.54

Example 3.6

B
300

866 N

200 mm

100 mm

500 N (a) FC = 1000N FA = 250N

1000 N

30 and MC = (500N)(0.1m) = 50 N.m CW FCx = -866N, FCy = -750N, FC = 1145.6N, = 40.89

(b) M = 50Nm = Fd ; d = 0.2 m and F = 250 N.

Example 3.7
A 500-N force is applied at C to the bracket as shown below. Replace the 500-N force by: a) An equivalent force-couple system at B b) An equivalent system formed by two parallel forces at A and B. C 30 50mm A B 500N

100mm

100mm

3.10

Resolution of A Given Force Into A Force Acting At A Given Point And A Couple (continue)
A force F acting at A and a couple M may be combined into single resultant force F.

F F

M
B

M d= F

How?

Move the force F until its moment about A becomes equal to the moment M of the couple to be eliminated. Magnitude and direction of F are unchanged, but its new line of action will be at a distance d = M/F from point A.

EQUIVALENT SYSTEM: FORCE-COUPLE SYSTEM

When several forces and couple moments act on a body, they can be combined into a single force and couple moment having the same external effect.
Move each force and its associated couple moment to a common point O.

Then, add all forces and couple moments together. Find one resultant force-couple moment pair.

3.11 Reduction of a system of forces into one single force-couple system (point A)

F2 F1 A F3

F1

F2 A M2 F3

M1 M3

(a) R

(b) d = M/R R A

A M (c)

(d)

(F2)y

Ry

(F1)y A

(F2)x (F3)x

A M

Rx

(F1)x

(F3)y

(a)

(b)

Rx = Fx Ry = Fy MA = M

dx = M/Ry

Ry

R Ry R

Rx

dy = M/Rx

Rx

Example 1

Given: A system of forces is as shown. Find: (a) equivalent resultant force and couple moment acting at A; (b) equivalent single force location along the beam AB. Plan:

1) Sum all the (Rx) and (Ry) components of the forces to find FR. 2) Sum all the moments resulting from moving each force to A. 3) Shift the FR to a distance d such that d = MRA/FRy

Example 1
+ Fx = Rx = 25N + 35N sin 30 = +42.5 N + Fy = Ry = 20N 35N cos 30 = 50.31 N FR = (42.52 + 50.312)1/2 = 65.9 N = tan-1 (50.31/42.5) = 49.8

FR

MRA = 35N cos 30 (0.2 m) 20N (0.6m) + 25N (0.3m) = 10.56 N.m

Location of equivalent resultant force FR on beam AB at a distance d measured from the left end (point A): d = MRA/FRy = 10.56 N.m/50.31 N = 0.21 m.

Example 2

SOLUTION
+ Fx = R x = 175 N sin 30 + 125 N = 212.5 N + Fy = R y = 175 N cos 30 + 100 N = 251.6 N R = (212.5)2 + (251.6)2 = 329.3 N 1 251.6 = tan = 49.8 212.5 Location where line of action intersects beam AB : + MR = MA = 251.6 (d) = 154.8 N m = 175 cos 30 (0.6) + 100 (1.8) 125 (0.9) d = 0.630 m

Example 3.8

1000 N 100 mm 60o

F O

A
50 mm

C
200 mm

60o

50 mm

B
(a) F = 750N (b) M = Fd: d = 0.206m, F = 728.16 N

500 N

60o

Example 3.9

9 kN 4m D B 4m A 30 6 kN 6m C 3 kN
tan-1 (12/8.196) = = 55.67 Fx = 8.196 kN , Fy = 12 kN, R = 14.53 kN

(From test 1 Feb 2002)

Beer, 5e Problem 3.35

Knowing that the line of action of 600-N force passes through point C, replace the 600-N force by: a) An equivalent force-couple system at D b) An equivalent system formed by two parallel forces at B and D. A

120mm

600N C D

160mm

80mm FB = 200 N 36.9 FD = 400 N 36.9

FD = 600.0 N 36.9 MD = 28.8 Nm (CCW)

Beer, 5e Problem 3.37 Replace the 600-N force by: a) An equivalent force-couple system at C b) An equivalent system consisting of a 120-N force at B and another force at C A 30 120mm 600N C D

160mm

80mm

FD = 600.0 N 30 MD = 14.35 Nm (CW)

FB = 120 N 48.4 FD = 588 N 41.5