Q: Determine the principal moments of inertia for the angle section

oriented as shown below.

Geometric Centroid of the Composite Figure

Referring to the figure 1, (scaled on 1:1)

We split the figure into two rectangles, labeled as (1) and (2); next we find the centroid of the composite
figure as follows.

b denotes dimension along x-axis while subscript number denotes the sub-shape.

d denotes dimension along y-axis while subscript number denotes the sub-shape.

A denotes area while subscript number denotes the sub-shape.

Given Data:
Figure 1
b1 3.5 "
d1 0.5 "
A1 b1d1 3.5 0.5 1.75in 2
b1 3.5
x1 1.75 "
2 2
d
y1 5.5 1 5.75 "
2
Figure 2
b2 0.5 "
d2 6 "
A2 3in 2
b2 0.5
x2 3.5 3.5 3.75 "
2 2
d 6
y2 2 3 "
2 2
Geometric Centroid
A x A2 x2 1.75 1.75 3 3.75
x 1 1
A1 A2 1.75 3
x 3.01 "
A1 y1 A2 y2 1.75 5.75 3 3
y
A1 A2 1.75 3
y 4.01 "

Hence Centroid is located at ( , ) = (3.01", 1.99")

y y

4.00"
3.50"

1
1.75 1.26"

x
3.01
2
3.75

x
0.50"

Figure 1
Moment of Inertia about Centroid
Now we find Ix and Iy of the composite figure using parallel axis theorem.

I x I x1 I x 2
b1d13 3.5 0.53 2
I x1 A1 (x x1 ) 2 1.75 3.01 1.75
12 12
I x1 0.0364 1.75 1.26 2.81 in 4
2

I x1 2.81 in 4

b2 d 23 0.5 63
I x2 A2 (| x x 2 |)2 3 | 3.01 3.75 |2
12 12
I x1 9 3 0.742 10.64 in 4
I x1 10.64 in 4

Now,
I x I x1 I x 2 2.81 10.64 13.45 in 4
I x 13.45 in 4

I y I y1 I y 2
Now,
d1b13 2
I y1 A1 y y1
12
0.5 3.53
1.75 1.742
12
I y1 7.08 in 4

d 2b23 2
I y2 A2 y y2
12
6 0.53
3 1.012
12
I y 2 3.12 in 4

Now,
I y I y1 I y 2
I y 7.08 3.12 10.2 in 4
I y 10.2 in 4

Now we find the Product Moment of Inertia

Product of Inertia Ixy
Rectangle 1
I xy I xy Ad x d y
0 1.75 ( x1 x) ( y1 y)
0 1.75 1.75 3.01 5.75 4.01
I xy 3.84 in 4

Rectangle 2
I xy I xy Ad x d y
0 3 ( x2 x) ( y2 y)
0 3 3.75 3.01 3 4.01
I xy 2.24 in 4

Product of Inertia
I xy 3.84 2.24
I xy 6.08 in 4

Now we have all the prerequisites for Principal Moment of Inertia.

Principal Moment of Inertia

We have,

I x 13.45 in 4
I y 10.2 in 4
I xy 6.08 in 4

Now,

We find the angles of inclinatino of x, y

2 I xy 2 6.08
tan 2 p 3.5452
(I x I y ) 13.45 10.02
2 p tan 1 3.5452 74.248
p 37.124, 52.876

Now we find the principal moment of inertia as follows

2
Ix I y Ix I y 2
I max I xy
min 2 2
 2
13.45 10.2 13.45 10.2 2
I max 6.08
min 2 2
2
11.825 1.625 36.9664
11.825 6.293
Which give us,

I max 18.118 in 4

I min 5.532 in 4

In order to find the correct orientation, we use general equation.

Ix I y Ix I y
I x cos 2 I xy sin 2
2 2

13.45 10.2 13.45 10.2

I x cos 2 37.124 6.08 sin 2 37.124
2 2
11.825 1.625 0.271474 6.08 0.96244
18.11778 18.118 in 4

Which dictates that the angle of inclination of Imax is 37.124 while angle of inclination of Imin is -52.876

The oriented figure is shown on next page.

Figure 2