Force, Equilibrium, Stress

Iain A MacLeod

1 Newton’s Laws of Motion ..................................................................................... 2

2 Equilibrium ............................................................................................................ 2
2.1 Basics ............................................................................................................. 2
2.2 Force as a vector ............................................................................................ 3
3 Types of force ........................................................................................................ 4
3.1 Momentum force ............................................................................................ 4
3.2 Inertia force .................................................................................................... 4
3.3 Rocket thrust .................................................................................................. 4
3.4 Spring force ................................................................................................... 5
3.5 Gravity force .................................................................................................. 5
3.6 Other types of force ....................................................................................... 7
4 Force Units ............................................................................................................. 7
5 Free body diagrams and internal force actions ...................................................... 8
5.1 Definitions...................................................................................................... 8
5.2 Example of free body diagrams ..................................................................... 8
5.3 Process for creating a free body diagram ....................................................... 9
6 Applying the principle of equilibrium along a line ................................................ 9
7 Forces in a plane .................................................................................................... 9
7.1 Resolution of forces ..................................................................................... 10
7.2 Equilibrium of forces in a plane................................................................... 10
7.3 Resultants and equilibrants .......................................................................... 11
8 Equilibrium in 3 dimensions ................................................................................ 12
8.1 Resolution of forces in 3 dimensions ........................................................... 12
8.2 Applying equilibrium in 3 dimensions ........................................................ 12
9 Moments .............................................................................................................. 12
9.1 Definitions.................................................................................................... 13
9.2 Calculating the lever arm for a moment ...................................................... 13
9.3 Force as a line vector ................................................................................... 13
9.4 Sign conventions for moments..................................................................... 14
9.5 Moment equilibrium .................................................................................... 14
9.6 Resolution of moments ................................................................................ 15
9.7 Equilibrium for moments which are not defined about the reference axes . 15
10 Particular forms of the condition for equilibrium ............................................ 16
10.1 In-plane actions ............................................................................................ 16
10.2 Out of plane actions ..................................................................................... 16
10.3 Actions in 3 dimensions ............................................................................... 16
11 Stress ................................................................................................................ 17
11.1 Basic Definitions .......................................................................................... 17
11.2 Uniaxial stress .............................................................................................. 19

1
1 Newton’s Laws of Motion

We all understand the effect of forces; all physical objects are continuously subject to
the action of forces But the physics of force tends not to be clearly explained in
textbooks.
The normal starting point is Newton’s Laws of Motion. A direct
translation of these from the Latin of Newton’s Principia is1:
1. Every body perseveres in its state of being at rest or of
moving uniformly straight forward, except insofar as it is
compelled to change its state by force impressed.
2. The rate of change of momentum of a body is proportional to
the resultant force acting on the body and in the same
direction.
3. All forces occur in pairs and these two forces are equal in
magnitude and opposite in direction. Isaac Newton

Law 1 states that a force is needed to change the motion of a body.

Law 2 states a proportional relationship between a force and the rate of change of
momentum.
Law 3 can be interpreted as a statement of the principle of equilibrium.

Laws 1 and 2 relate to bodies in motion and address only one type of force i.e. that
due to change in momentum. There are several other types of force as discussed in
Section ??

2 Equilibrium

2.1 Basics
Equilibrium is one of the most important principle in structural mechanics so when
we talk about it, it is important to know what is meant. Unfortunately the use of the
term ‘equilibrium’ is by no means precise.
A mathematical statement of Newton’s Second Law of Motion is that for any body:
d(MV)/dt = ΣFi (1)
where M is the mass of the body, V is the velocity and ΣFi is the sum of the forces on
the body. V and Fi are vectors which act along a common line. MV is the momentum
of the body.
Assuming the mass to be constant, Equation (1) is more commonly written as:
MdV/dt = Ma = ΣFi (2)
where a = dV/dt is the acceleration of the body,
The physicists’ approach is to say that the equilibrium condition is when there is no
change in momentum such that from Equation (1) :
ΣFi = 0.0 (3)
Equation (3) is a statement of static equilibrium.
Equation (2) suggests that Ma is not a force. Physicists treat it as a ‘fictitious force’
(apparently this distinction is important when taking account of relativity). However
the engineers’ approach is to treat Ma as an inertia force and write expression (2) as:

2
 ΣFr = ΣFa (4)
where Fr is a restraining force pulling back on the body and Fa is an active force
which pushes it forwards. The inertia force is a restraining force
For example the commonly used equation for the dynamic motion of a system
consisting of a mass M restrained by a spring of stiffness K and also restrained by a
viscous damper (i.e. with damping proportional to velocity) with damping constant C
(Figure 1) is written as:
2 2
Md u/dx + C du/dx + Ku = P(t) (5)
where u is the displacement in the x direction, du/dx is the velocity in the x direction,
d2u/dx2 is the acceleration in the x direction and P(t) is a ‘forcing function’ which is a
time dependent active load on the mass. Typical forcing functions could be due to out
of balance machinery forces. blast loading, etc.

Spring
Stiffness - K
u

Mass - M P(t)
x,u

Viscous damper - C

Figure 1 Mass and spring with viscous damping

Equation (5) is an example of Equation (4) and engineers call it an equilibrium

equation. Physicists say this is wrong - the condition of equilibrium is when there is
no acceleration i.e. is characterised by Equation (3).
As far as use is concerned Equations (2) and (4) are equivalent. In (2) all the terms
except Ma are collected on one side as ΣFi and in (4) all the restraining terms are on
one side of the equation and the forcing terms are on the other.
So the nub of the problem of how to define ‘equilibrium’ lies in the distinction
between Equations (2) and (4). In non-technical contexts use of ‘equilibrium’ is
towards Equation (2). If one falls over and starts to accelerate towards the ground one
says that one has ‘lost equilibrium’.

2.2 Force as a vector

Force is a vector quantity which can be resolved into several equivalent forces as
discussed in Section?? Instead of using Equation (4) where the forces are separated
into resisting and exciting components, it is also common to write the equation of
equilibrium as
 Fi  0.0 (6)
i.e. as the vector sum of all the forces acting on the body. For example, using this
approach Equation (5) would be written as: P(t) + Md2u/dx2 + C du/dx + Ku = 0.0
and the values used for the restraining forces would be negative.

Validation for the equilibrium condition.

3
Using equation (4), equilibrium is a universal condition which holds in all situations.
Even when you are out of balance Equation (4) is valid to a high degree of accuracy
for velocities that are not close to the speed of light. Its validity depends on (a)
whether all the relevant types of force have been included and (b) whether these terms
have been accurately modelled For example, in modelling a real system using
Equation (5):
 there will be friction forces which are not included in the equation
 there will be some degree of error in the measurement of mass, stiffness, damping
coefficient and forcing function.

3 Types of force
3.1 Momentum force
The term momentum force is used here to denote the force needed to change the
motion of a body according to Newton’s second Law i.e.
d (MV )
i.e. Fmomentum  (7)
dt

3.2 Inertia force

An inertia force Fi occurs when a body of constant mass is accelerated i.e. when
Equation (2) is relevant i.e.
Fin = M dV/dt = Ma (8)
The inertia force is the property of mass which tends to resist any change in its
motion. It is therefore a resistance force.

3.3 Rocket thrust

A force due to rocket thrust occurs when mass (in the form of gas) is ejected from a
rocket. Using Equation (2) and assuming that the velocity of the ejected gas is
constant - Vg:
Ft = Vg dMg/dt (9)
where: dMg/dt is the rate of flow of the mass of the gas at the rocket nozzle. This
force acts on the rocket and is therefore an excitation force.

Example
Figure 2 shows a rocket in space.
Firing of the rocket ejects gas at high
velocity relative to the rocket
causing the rocket velocity Vr to
increase.
The rocket has mass Mr and the mass
flow of the gas is dMg/dt = m kg/sec

Acting on the rocket is a rocket

thrust (Equation 9):
Ft = Vg dMg/dt = Vg m (10)

4
This is resisted by an inertia force:
Fin = Mr dVr/dt = Mr ar (11)
where ar is the forward acceleration of the rocket.
The equilibrium equation based on (4) is therefore:
Fin = Ft i.e. Mrar = Vg m (12)
Validation
There are no drag forces to resist propulsion in space but the effect of loss of mass on
the inertia force is neglected for Equation (10).

3.4 Spring force

Figure 3(a) shows a strut which is jacked against the side walls of an excavation. The
jack force causes an axial force in the strut and a reaction at the walls . In this
situation the value of the force is independent of acceleration or mass.
When a force is applied to a body there is always deformation. As the jack load is
applied, the walls move apart and the length of the strut decreases. Strain energy is
stored in the strut, in the jack and in the supports. The forces involved are static
spring forces derived from strain energy.

Jack
Spring - stiffness K
Force from strut
on wall


Reaction
Strut taking Fsp
axial force r

(b) Spring force

(a) Foundation with walls jacked apart

Figure 3 Spring forces

A relationship for a linear spring force (Figure 3(b)) - Fsp is:
Fsp = K  (13)
where K is the spring stiffness and  is the movement of the spring.

3.5 Gravity force

Between any two masses there is a force field which can be treated a single attractive
force - Fgravity - acting in a line between the centres of gravity of the masses. Isaac
Newton devised the Law of Gravity for this interaction:
Fgravity = (G M1 M2)/D2 (14)
where G is the universal gravitational constant and D is the distance between the
centres of gravity of the masses - Figure 4(a).
For an object at the surface of the earth of mass Mo, the gravity force will be:
Fg = (GME Mo)/RE2 (15)

5
where Fg is the gravity force exerted by the earth on the mass Mo, ME is the mass of
the earth and RE is the radius of the earth.
Substituting G = 6.67428 x 1011 m3/kg/sec2, ME = 5.9736 x 1024 kg and
RE = 6378.135 km (at Equator) gives:
Fg = Mo X 9.806 = Mo g kg m/sec2 (16)
where g = 9.806 is the gravity constant for a mass at the surface of the earth (the
standard value is g = 9.8066 and g = 9.81 is normally used in engineering
calculations.)
Centre of
gravity of mass

Earth - mass ME
M1
Fgravity M2
Mo

D RE

(a) 2 Masses distance D apart (b) Mass 2 at surface of the earth

Figure 4 Gravity forces

g is often referred to as the ‘acceleration due to gravity’ but this refers to the special
case of an object in free fall at the surface of the earth with no other force actions on it
(i.e. no frictional drag) - see section which follows.

Object in free fall

Figure 5 shows an object with mass M in free Fin = M a
fall (no frictional drag) near the surface of the
earth. An inertial force Fin = Ma acts upwards
Mass M
and a gravity force Fg = Mg acts downwards.
The equation of equilibrium is then:
Fin = Fg i.e. Ma = Mg (17) Fg = Mg
Surface
hence a = g of earth
This is why g is called the ‘acceleration due to
gravity’. It is not a good name because
Equation (17) is only valid if the mass is
falling within a vacuum. It is easier to Figure 5 Mass in free fall
understand gravity force if g is treated as a
constant that has the same dimensions as acceleration (LT-2).
Concrete block
mass - Mb
Static gravity force
Figure 6 shows a block of concrete supported
Fb
on the ground. A gravity force: g
Fg = Mb g (18)
Fr
where Mb is the mass of the block and g is the
gravity constant. The gravity force acts
Figure 6 Supported Block
downwards. This causes the support to

6
deform. A spring force reaction - Fr - acts upwards due to strain energy in the
ground. The equilibrium condition is:
Fr = Fb (19)

Validation
Three parameters contribute to the value of g using Equation (15) G, ME and RE. Of
these the radius of the earth RE has the greatest uncertainty. The earth is not exactly
round - the radius is greater at the equator than at the poles and, of course, the radius
depends on altitude (i.e. the height above (or below) sea level. Table 1 gives
examples of the effect of some assumptions in the calculation of g.
Table 1 Error in values of g
Assumption Error relative to
equator value (%)
Use 9.80 rather than 9.81 0.1
RE at poles (= 6356.75 km) rather than at equator 0.33
RE at top of Mount Everest 0.1

3.6 Other types of force

Other types of force include friction force, damping force, centrifugal force. etc.
The standard for defining force is its inertial form, force = mass x acceleration with
units MLT-2. It would be possible to use a definition based on other force types, for
example based on the deflection of a standard spring. Force would then have units of
Length. It was common in the UK in the past to use a pound force unit being the
gravity force exerted by a mass of one pound at the surface of the earth. Using this
definition force has the units of mass.

4 Force Units
The standard for defining force is its inertial form, force = mass x acceleration with
units - MLT-2. The standard unit is the Newton which is the force required to cause
a mass of 1 kg to accelerate by 1.0 m/sec2. The SI symbol for Newtons is ‘N’.
The standard for defining force could be universal gravity i.e. a unit of force - a ‘U’ -
would be the gravity force exerted between two masses each of 1.0 kg at a distance
apart of 1.0 m. The Universal Gravity relationship would be:
Fgravity = (M1 M2)/D2
i.e. a gravitational constant would not be needed and the units of force would be
M2/L2.
.
Force = 1.0U

M1 = 1.0 kg M2 = 1.0 kg

D = 1.0 m

7
5 Free body diagrams and internal force actions

5.1 Definitions
A free body is a system or part of a system which is considered to be ‘cut’ (or
separated) from its surroundings. At the cuts, force actions are applied to represent
those which are present in the system. A free body diagram is a diagram which
shows all the force actions on a free body.
The principle of equilibrium applies to a body and to any part of the body. Therefore
the principle can be applied to a free body. The use of free body diagrams for
considering equilibrium is a fundamental strategy in the use of structural mechanics.
Structures are considered to have applied loads (external actions) and internal
actions. Typical applied loads are: gravity forces, force due to wind, force due to
explosions (blast loading), etc. Internal force actions are the resultants of stresses
within the system. They are identified when free body diagrams are created.
However the distinction between applied and internal force actions is not precise.
The loads applied to a free body may be due to internal actions from the surrounding
structure as discussed in Section It is best to think of internal force actions as a pair
of equal and opposite action at a cut to create a free body - see Section 5.2

5.2 Example of free body diagrams

Figure 7(a) shows a person standing on bathroom scales. Figure 7(b) shows a model
of the situation where the scales are represented as a spring the lower end of which is
restrained from moving vertically. The person has mass 70 kg and therefore imposes
a downward applied load of Fg = Mg = 70 x 9.81 = 687 N (Equation 16).

Fsp - Weight
of person
687 N

Mass of person Reaction from

Gravity force
70 kg floor 687 N
687 N

Spring to
(d) Free body Fsp
represent
diagram of spring
the scales Rsp
Rsp -
Reaction from
spring 687 N
(a) Person on (b) Model of
scales (c) Free body (e) internal actions
system
diagram of person at top of spring

Figure 7 Free body diagrams for person on scales

Figure 7(c) is a free body diagram of the person. A gravity force of 687 N which
represents the weight of the person acts downwards and for equilibrium there is an
upward reaction Rsp from the spring.
Figure 7(d) shows a free body diagram for the spring. The load from the person acts
downwards on the top of the spring and there is an upward reaction from the floor at
the base of the spring.

8
Figure 7(e) shows the internal force actions between the top of the spring and the feet
of the person. A pair of equal and opposite vertical forces acts. The upward value -
Rsp - is the action of the spring on the feet of the person and may be considered to be
an applied load when analysing the effect of forces on the person (e.g. when using the
free body diagram of Figure 7(c)) .
The downward value - Fsp - is the action of the feet of the person on the spring and
may be considered to be an applied load when analysing the spring on its own (e.g.
when using the free body diagram of Figure 7(d)) .
Thus whether a force action is considered to be external or internal depends on the
context.

5.3 Process for creating a free body diagram

The following actions should be taken:
1. Extract a 'free body' part of the structure for which equilibrium is to be applied.
2. At the 'cuts' which were made to create the free body apply force actions which
exist there in the real system
3. Draw the free body diagram which shows the applied loading and the force
actions at the cuts i.e. all the force actions which act on the body.

6 Applying the principle of equilibrium along a line

Collinear forces act along a common line.
Figure 8 shows a body with three collinear Fe = -2.0
forces acting on it. x
Two approaches to writing the equilibrium Fd = 10.0 Ff = -8.0
equation for such a situation are: Figure 8 Forces along a line
1. Set the vector sum of the forces to zero .
For the set of forces of Figure 8 the condition of equilibrium is:
Fd + Fe + Ff = 0.0 (20)
i.e. 10.0 + -2.0 + - 8.0 = 0.0
If the line is considered to be in the x direction then the general statement of
the equilibrium condition along the line is:
Fxi = 0.0 (21)
Where Fxi is a force in the x direction

2. Sum of forces in one direction = Sum of forces in opposite direction. For the
forces on the body of Figure 8 this would result in the expression:
Fd + Ff = Fe (22)
i.e. 10.0 = 2.0 + 8.0
7 Forces in a plane

9
7.1 Resolution of forces
Figure
y

Vy V Fy F

 
 x 

Vx Fx
(a) Vector components (b) Resolution of forces

Figure 9 Transformation of vectors

Figure 9(a) shows a vector V with components Vx and Vy in the x and y directions
respectively. The co-ordinate axes are cartesian (i.e at right angles to each other) and
the relationships between V and its components is:
Vx = V cos and Vy = V cos (23)
cos and cos are the direction cosines of V with respect to the x and y axes.
Figure 9(b) shows a force F with components in the x and y directions. The
relationships between F and its components are:
Fx = F cos and Fy = F cos
or in matrix notation:
Fx  cos 
   F (24)
Fy  cos 
That forces can be represented by components in the same way as a vector is a matter
of observation. The transformation of Equations (24) is known as resolution of forces.
The use of Equations (24) is a main strategy for defining equilibrium conditions in
two dimensions. Since cos(90 -  ) = sin instead of using cos it is common to
use sin , i.e. (24) is normally written as:
Fx = F cos and Fy = F sin (25)
A result of treating force as a vector is that if it is not parallel to a co-ordinate axis
then it can be replaced by components in these directions. This is used, for example,
when dealing with diagonally braced trusses.

7.2 Equilibrium of forces in a plane

Figure 10(a) shows a body with three applied forces:
 8.0 is in the negative x direction
 6.0 in the negative y direction
 10.0 at an angle  = 36.87o to the x axes. (This is the angle for a 3-4-5 triangle
such that cos = 0.8 and sin = 0.6)

The process for applying equilibrium to this system is:

10
1. Resolve all forces into the x and y directions using Equations (24). The 10.0
force has components (Figure 10(b)):
x direction 10.0 cos = 10.0*0.8 = 8.0
y direction 10.0 sin = 10.0*0.6 = 6.0
2. Apply the condition of equilibrium to the forces in the x and y directions
separately
i.e. Fxi = 0.0 = -8.0 + 8.0
Fyi = 0.0 = -6.0 + 6.0

This demonstrates that the equilibrium condition is satisfied for the system of Figure
10.
y 6.0

10.0

 = 36.87 
o

8.0 8.0
x 8.0

6.0 6.0
(a) Force system at a point (b) Diagonal force resolved

Figure 10 Equilibrium of forces at a point in a plane

7.3 Resultants and equilibrants

Figure 11(a) shows a pair of forces represented as vectors Fa and Fb. Vector theory
shows that the diagonal of the parallelogram OC (which represents the force F)
formed as in Figure 11(a) is the equivalent of the two vectors Fa and Fb. (This is a
more general case of resolution of forces than that of Figure 9.
The diagonal force F is the resultant of Fa and Fb.
The resultant of a set of forces is the single force which has the same effect as the set.
Fa C
A
F
 F is the resultant of Fa and Fb
A
O Fa C
Fb B

(b) Parallelogram of forces showing resultant

O
Fb B

-F is the eqilibrant of Fa and Fb

-F
D
(b) Equilibrant
Figure 11 Resultant and equilibrant
Figure 11(b) is the same diagram as 11(a) but with the line OD drawn to the same
length but in the opposite direction from OC. (OD looks longer than OC but this is an
optical illusion). The line OD representing the force -F in scale and direction,
represents the equilibrant of Fa and Fb.
The equilibrant of a set of forces is the single force which balances the set. It is has
the same magnitude and acts along the same line as the resultant but in the opposite
direction.

11
8 Equilibrium in 3 dimensions
8.1 Resolution of forces in 3 dimensions
The component of a force F resolved into Cartesian axes is given by Fcos where ' '’
is the angle between the direction of the force and the direction of the axis.
This holds in three dimensions (Figure 12)):
Fx  cos  x 
   
Fy  cos  y  F (26)
F  cos  
 z  z

cosi is the direction cosine of Fi for resolution of a force in 3 dimensions. x, for
example, is the true angle angle between the line of F and the x axis.

Calculating the  angles

The  angles can be calculated as follows (Figure 12):
Establish a point A which is distance L from the origin of y
the coordinates - O. The distance OA should represent A
the force F in magnitude and direction. From A draw a F
line perpendicular to the xz plane to intersect this plane
at B. From B draw lines parallel to the x and z axes to L x
intersect these axes at points D and C respectively. C

The direction cosines are then given by:

O
cos x = OC/L B
cos z = OD/L/L
D
cosy = BA/L
where L2 = OC2 + OD2 + BA2 z

The projection from A can alternatively be made to Figure 12 Calculation of

planes xy or yz. direction cosines

8.2 Applying equilibrium in 3 dimensions

The process for applying equilibrium in 3 dimensions at point in space is the same as
for 2 dimensions but with an extra axis:
1. Resolve all forces which are not parallel to a coordinate axis into the coordinate
axes using (26).
2. Apply the condition of equilibrium (Equation 21) in the 3 coordinate directions
separately.

9 Moments

12
9.1 Definitions
The term force normally denotes a direct force which acts along a line. The forces
considered in Sections 1 to 8 are direct forces.
A moment is a turning effect caused by a direct force acting about an axis.
Line of action of force F
F

La
F La

Position
of axis
F

(a) Lever arm La (b) Couple

Figure 13 Definition of a moment

The value of a moment is:

M = F La (27)
where:
 F is a direct force
 La is the lever arm - the perpendicular distance from the axis about which the
moment is to be calculated to the line of action of the force - Figure 13(a)
A couple is a pair of equal and opposite forces acting over a lever arm distance La -
Figure 13(b). The value of the moment - M - is the same in both cases as defined by
Equation (27).
Note that there is no resultant direct force with the couple. If a pure moment is
applied to a body it must be in the form of a couple.
A moment has dimensions typically Newton metres - N m.
A force action is either a direct force or a moment. The term 'force actions' denotes a
set of direct forces and/or moments.

9.2 Calculating the lever arm for a moment

A process to calculate the lever arm for a force in a plane about an axis which is at
right angle to the plane is:
1. In the plane, draw a line which represents the vector of force. Extend it as far as is
necessary for Step 3 - Figure 13(a)
2. Identify the point on the plane to represent the axis about which the moment is to
be calculated.
3. From the point draw a line at right angles to the line of action the force
4. The distance from the point to the line of action is the lever arm

9.3 Force as a line vector

In general a vector has magnitude, direction and position but for equilibrium
calculations a force are treated as line vector. For a line vector the position of the
force along which it acts is not important to the process. This is why the line of action
of the force can be extended to calculate the value of the lever arm

13
Treating force as a line vector also allows forces along a line to be summed for
equilibrium even if they do not all act at the same point on the line - see for example
Figure 8.

9.4 Sign conventions for moments

Coordinate axes The standard convention for Cartesian coordinate axes (i.e. axes at
right angles to each other) is to use the right hand rule. Hold the thumb and first two
fingers of the right hand at right angles to each other. Point the thumb in the direction
of the x axis, the forefinger in the direction of the y axis. The middle finger now
points in the direction of the z axis - Figure 14(a)

y (forefinger)

x (thumb)
z (middle
finger)

(a) Right hand rule for orientation of axes (b) Right hand screw rule
for moments
Figure 14 Sign Conventions
Moments The standard convention for moments is the right hand screw rule. Point
the thumb of the right hand in the positive direction of an axis with the hand partially
closed - 14(b). The fingers point in the positive direction of moment. Another way
to define the same convention is to say that positive moment is clockwise looking
down the axis in the positive direction.

9.5 Moment equilibrium

Figure 15 shows a see-saw. If a child sits
Fulcrum on one end and an adult on the other then
P1 = 400 N the adult end will go down. To balance
P2 = 600 N
the system the adult moves towards the
fulcrum (i.e the support for the see-saw
about which it rotates) as in Figure 15.
a = 3.0 m b = 2.0 m If the gravity force of the child is 400N
(corresponding to a weight of about 40 kg)
Figure 15 Equilibrium of a see-saw and the corresponding force of the adult is
600 N then the moment of the child about
the fulcrum is:
M1 = P1 a = 400*3.0 = 1200 Nm
where a is the lever arm of P1 about the fulcrum.
The moment of the adult about the fulcrum is:
M2 = P2 b = 600*2.0 = 1200 Nm
where b is the lever arm for P2 about the fulcrum

For equilibrium, these are equal and opposite. The see-saw is in balance.

14
Using the sign convention positive clockwise, the formal condition of moment
equilibrium about the fulcrum is:
M1 + M2 = 0.0 i.e. -1200 +1200 = 0.0

The general statement of moment equilibrium is:

The sum of the moments of all forces about any axis is zero
i.e. Mi = 0.0 (28)
where Mi is the moment of force i about the axis. For example Mx is the moment of
a force about the x axis. This naming convention is not universal. For example in
traditional plate bending theory Mx is the moment acting on the x plane2.

Note that the condition is valid for any axis of the system being considered but
applying the condition again to the same system to a second axis which is parallel to
the first provides no additional information.

9.6 Resolution of moments

Moments can be resolved into component directions as for direct forces. Figure 16
shows the axis of a force F which acts at
y
Lx right angles to the plane of the diagram.
Axis of force F
It acts away from the viewer of the
diagram. Reference Cartesian axes x y
are shown with a third axis n in the xy
L plane at an angle  to the x axis.
Ly F has lever arms:
 L about the n axis.
n  Lx about the y axis
 Ly about the x axis
 x

Figure 16 Resolution of a moment

Noting that: Ly = Lcos and Lx = Lsin

and using the right hand screw rule (Section 9.4), the moments of F about the n, x and
y axes are:
 Mn = FL about the n axis
 Mx = FLy = FLcos = Mncos about the x axis
 My = -FLx = -FLsin = -Mnsin about the y axis

Therefore the components of Mn are:

M x   cos 
   FL (29)
M y   sin  
The trick in transforming moments to a different set of axes is to draw a diagram like
Figure 16 showing the moment as a force acting on the end of an arm and work out
the lengths of the lever arm for moments about the relevant axes.

9.7 Equilibrium for moments which are not defined about the reference axes
The process for applying equilibrium for moments which are not defined about the
reference axes is:

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1. Resolve all moments so that they all defined about the reference axes using
coordinate axes using Equation (29).
2. Apply the condition of moment equilibrium (Equation 28) for moments about the
reference axes separately.

10 Particular forms of the condition for equilibrium

10.1 In-plane actions
In a plane (e.g the xy plane) there are three independent force actions - two direct
forces Fx and Fy and a moment Mz - Figure 17(a). Therefore there are three
independent conditions of equilibrium for a body in a (xy) plane, i.e.
Fxi = 0.0, Fyi = 0.0 Mzi = 0.0 (30)
where Fxi is a force in the x direction, Fyi is a force in the y direction and Mzi is
moment about the z axis.

10.2 Out of plane actions

In a plate bending situation there are three independent force actions - a direct force
Fz at right angles to the plane of the plate and two out of plane moments Mz and My -
Figure 17(b) Therefore there are three independent conditions of equilibrium for a
plate in bending:
Fzi = 0.0, Mxi = 0.0, Myi = 0.0 (31)
where Fzi is a force in the z direction, Mxi is a moment about the x axis, and Myi is
moment about the y axis.

10.3 Actions in 3 dimensions

In three dimensions there are 6 independent force actions - three direct forces and
three moments - Figure 17(c). Therefore there are six independent conditions of
equilibrium for a body defined in 3 dimensions:
Fxi = 0.0, Fyi = 0.0, Fzi = 0.0
Mxi = 0.0 Myi = 0.0,Mzi = 0.0 (32)

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 z Fz

Mz

x
Fy y
Fx My Mx

(a) Forceactions
(a) Force actionsin in a plane
a plane (b) Force actions out of a plane

Fz

Mz

Fx My
Fy
Mx

(c) Force actions in a 3 dimensions

Figure 17 Force action sets

11 Stress

11.1 Basic Definitions

Stress is force intensity - force/unit area on a surface
A normal force - N - acts at right angles to the surface on which it is considered to
act - Figure 18(a).
A shear force - N - acts parallel to the surface on which it is considered to act -
Figure 18(b).
The corresponding stresses are:
 Normal stress (also called direct stress) resulting from normal force - often
denoted by the symbol  - Figure 18(a). Direct stress is normal force per unit
area.
i.e.  = dN/dA (33)
where dA is differential area.
 Shear stress resulting from shear force - often denoted by the symbol  - Figure
18(b). Shear stress is shear force per unit area.
i.e.  = dS/dA (34)

Stress is an internal force intensity i.e. one has to consider a ‘cut’ to interpret it.
Pressure is another form of force intensity which acts between surfaces which are in
contact or within a fluid.

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Normal force N dN Area dA

(a) Normal force and normal stress

Area dA

dS
Shear Force S

(a) Shear force and shear stress

Figure 18 Definitions of normal and shear forces and stresses

b a
thickness - t

N N x
b (a) Bar in tension
a b

x (b) Uniform stress on Section a-a

a

N (c) Force on Section a-a

b 
Ncos
 xbt cos
 (d) Forces on Section b-b due x
N xbtsin
b
Nsin

n (e) Stress on Section b-b

nt

nbt/cos
ntbt/cos (f) Forces on Section b-b due n and nt

Figure 19 Uniaxial normal stress in a bar

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11.2 Uniaxial stress
In this section the distribution of stresses in the state of uniaxial tension is
demonstrated.
Figure 19(a) shows a bar of rectangular cross section in uniaxial tension.
 Axial means that the resultant of the normal force is at the centre of area, and at
right angles to, the section being considered. In this situation the standard
assumption is that the stress over the area of the bar is assumed to be constant.
 Tension means that the resultant force is acting away from the section.
 Uniaxial means that there is no normal force/stress at right angles to the section
being considered

The bar has width b, thickness t and has an applied axial load N causing a normal
stress - x - at the section a-a - Figure 19(b).
The relationship between the force and the stress assuming the stress to be constant is:
x = N/bt (35)
Therefore the force in the bar (Figure 19(c)) is
N = xbt (36)
At a section - bb - oriented at an angle  to the plane (Figure 19(d)) on which x acts,
there will be a normal stress n and a shear stress n (Figure 19(e)) with values:
n = xcos2 (37)
n = xcos sin (38)

normal stress factor - cos^2

1.2
1
0.8 shear stress factor - cossin
Factor
on x 0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 50 90
 (degrees)

Figure 20 Variation of direct and shear stress on an inclined cross-section

Figure 20 shows the variation of direct stress and shear stress as a function of the
angle of the inclined section b-b. Note that:
 The normal stress varies from x at  = 0.0 to zero at  = 90o
 The shear stress is zero at  = 0.0 and at  = 90o and has a maximum value of x/2
at  = 45o

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Derivation of Equations (37) and (17.38)
Resolving N into components normal to, and parallel to, the inclined plane gives
Figure 19(d):
Force normal to the inclined plane - Ncos = xbt cos (39)
Force parallel to the plane - Nsin = xbt sin (40)
The direct stress on Section b-b is defined as n and the shear stress is nt - Figure
19(e).
The area of the inclined plane is bt/cos - (Figure 19(e)
Therefore the normal stress on the inclined plane is force/area i.e.:
n = load/area = xbtcos/(bt/cos) = xcos2
Similarly:
n = xbtsin/(bt/cos) = xcos sin

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References and bibliography
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton's_laws_of_motion
2. Timoshenko S P and Woinowsky-Krieger Theory of plates and shells McGraw-
Hill
3. Megson T H G Structural and Stress Analysis 2nd Ed ISBN: 978-07506-6221-5
Elsevier 2005

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