MEMB 123

MECHANICS 1: STATICS
SEM 2 2013/2014

Lecture 18
Chapter 5
Equilibrium of a rigid body
DR.GRACE PUA
OFFICE: BN-3-012
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, UNITEN

Chapter Outline:
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7

Conditions for rigid body equilibrium

Equilibrium in two dimensions
Free body diagrams
Equations of equilibrium
Two- and three-force members
Equilibrium in three dimensions
Free body diagrams
Equations of equilibrium
Constraints for a rigid body

Statically Indeterminate Reactions

A COMPLETELY CONSTRAINED rigid body has the same
number of unknown reactions as number of equilibrium
equations and cannot move under the loading conditions. The
reactions are defined as STATICALLY DETERMINATE.
STATICALLY INDETERMINATE reactions appear on a rigid
body when there are more Unknown reactions than the number
of equilibrium equations.
The reactions that cannot be solved are defined as
STATICALLY INDETERMINATE.
The degree of indeterminacy is the number of additional
equations that would be needed to solve, i.e. one more = 1st
degree, 2 more = 2nd degreeetc.

Redundant Constraints
More support than needed for equilibrium.
Statically indeterminate: More unknown loadings than
Equations of Equilibrium.

Redundant Constraints: When a body has more supports than

necessary to hold it in equilibrium, it becomes statically
indeterminate.
A problem that is statically indeterminate has more unknowns
than equations of equilibrium.

Improper Constraints / Partial Constraint

When the support condition provide the same or less unknown
reactions as the Equations of Equilibrium but allow the
structure to MOVE (NOT Equilibrium), the structure is
considered as Partially Constrained.
This occurs when the reactions must be either CONCURRENT
or PARALLEL.

 The condition of at most as many unknown reactions as

equilibrium equations is necessary for static determinacy,
but isnt sufficient. The support must completely
CONSTRAIN the structure.
We need to avoid partial or improper constraint in the
design of structures. However, some structures with these
types of constraints may not collapse. They may move or
they may require advanced analysis to find reaction
forces.

Rigid Body in Equilibrium

1. Two force member
Equilibrium of a body subjected to two forces on two points requires
that those forces be EQUAL and OPPOSITE and act in the same line of
action.
Example:
2. Three force member
Equilibrium of a body subjected to three forces on three points requires
that the line of action of the forces be CONCURRENT(INTERSECT)
or PARALLEL and that the resultant equal to zero.
Example:

Procedure for Analysis

Free Body Diagram
Draw an outlined shape of the body
Show all the forces and couple moments acting on the body
Show all the unknown components having a positive sense
Indicate the dimensions of the body necessary for computing
the moments of forces

Equations of Equilibrium
Apply the six scalar equations of equilibrium or vector
equations
Any set of non-orthogonal axes may be chosen for this
purpose
Equations of Equilibrium
Choose the direction of an axis for moment summation such
that it insects the lines of action of as many unknown forces
as possible

Example
The beam has 2 pin supports and is loaded by a 2 kN force.

Solution
Draw the free body diagram of the beam.
There are 4 unknown reactions Ax, Ay, Bx, By and we
can write only independent equilibrium equations.
Therefore, the beam is statically indeterminate.

Thank you for your attentions!