Chapter 1 New 1.9.15 Sem 1 2015-16

MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
ME F211
Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

CHAPTER 1
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF
MECHANICS
Mechanics deals with:
1. Forces
2. Motion
3. Deformation
Analysis of mechanical system involves:
1. Study of forces
2. Study of deformation
3. Applying laws relating the forces to deformation.
FORCES:
Concept of force:
According to Newtons third law, F1 = F2 and act along
the same line of action.

Force:
When a force acts on a body it may:

1. Bring a change in the motion of the body
2. Balance the forces already acting on the body and bring
it to a state of equilibrium
3. Change the size and shape of the body i.e. the body
may be
----- twisted
----- bent
-----stretched
------compressed
-------distorted

Characteristics and
Classification of force:
Characteristics of forces:
1. Magnitude
2. Direction or line of action
3. Sense of nature (Pull or push)
4. Point of application
Classification of forces:
1. External force
2. Internal force
3. Active force
4. Passive force
FORCE SYSTEMS:

Classification of force system
Force system
Coplanar Forces Non-Coplanar Forces
Concurrent Non-concurrent
Concurrent Non-concurrent
Like parallel Unlike parallel

Like parallel Unlike parallel
A force that can replace a set of forces, in a force system,

and cause the same external effect is called the Resultant.

Moment:
The tendency of a force is not only to move the body but also
to rotate the body.
The rotational tendency of a force is called moment
M = Force x perpendicular distance from the point to the
line of action of force. L
FA= line of action of force perpendicular to

OA . O A
Thus moment about point O
M = FxOA = FxL
F
Pivot point
Clockwise and anticlockwise moments:

Principle of moments:
When a body acted upon by several forces is in rotational
equilibrium, the sum of clockwise moments of the forces
about any point is equal to the sum of anticlockwise
moments of the forces about the same point.
M 0

Equilibrium conditions for bodies under coplanar forces: A
body can be in equilibrium if the algebraic sum of all the
external forces and their moments about any point in
their plane is zero.
F 0 X
F 0 Y
M 0
Resultant of several
concurrent forces

Inclined plane
FT
A FN
F
Normal component= FN = FCos A

Tangential component = FT = F SinA
F = FT i + FN j
Numerical Problems & Solutions
Resolve the forces shown in figure along x and y directions and find the
resultant force..
y
105 kN
15 kN
150
75 kN 0 x
40
350
60 kN
45 kN
Fx 40.359 kN
and Fy 33.453kN

For tutorial:

FREE BODY DIAGRAM:
Free Body Diagram (FBD) :
It is an isolated diagram of the body being analyzed (called

free body), in which, the body is shown freed from all its
supports and contacting bodies/surfaces. Instead of the
supports and contacting bodies/surfaces, the reactive
forces exerted by them on the free body is shown, along
with all other applied forces.

FREE BODY DIAGRAM contd
The equilibrium of the bodies which are placed on the supports can be
considered if
the supports are removed and replaced by the reactions which they exert on the
body.
When a body is completely isolated from its supports and the forces acting ON
the body are shown by vectors , it is called free body diagram.
Examples;

Problem 1
A circular roller of weight 100N and radius 10cm hangs by

a tie rod . AB = 20cm and rests against a smooth vertical
wall at C as shown. Find the reaction at C and force in
the rod.

Soln:

Problem 2
A circular roller of radius 5 cm of weight 100 N rests on a

smooth horizontal surface and is held in position by an
inclined bar AB = 10cm as shown. A horizontal force of
200N is acting at B. Find the tension in the bar AB and
the reaction at C.

Soln:

Problem 3: for tutorial
A L- shaped body ABC is hinged at A with a force F acting

at its end C. Determine the angle which this force
should make with the horizontal to keep the edge AB of
the body vertical.

Soln:

Conditions for equilibrium
applied to force systems:
1. Two force system:

2. Three force system:
Coplanar and Concurrent
R=F3 , R= resultant
F3 = Equilibriant
----- For three concurrent forces to be in equilibrium acting

on a body, the resultant of the two forces should be equal
and opposite to the third force.

Coplanar and Parallel
M A F2 AB F3 AC 0

Couple:
X= arm of the couple= perpendicular distance between

LOA of F1 and F2 , F1=F2 , M= Fx
A couple is a pair of two equal and opposite forces

acting on body in such a way that the lines of action of
the two forces are not in the same straight line.
The effect of a couple acting on a rigid body is to rotate
it without moving it as a whole , since the resultant force
is zero.
Moment of a couple = torque
The algebraic sum of the moments of the forces forming
a couple about any point in their plane is constant and
Is equal to the moment of the couple.

Examples:

M = Mo = moment of a couple

Rules
In 1. as taken from point O all the forces acting on the right

hand side of O , the upward direction of force is taken as
positive and downward force is taken as negative.
In 2. When point O is in the middle , the force acting in the
upward direction to the left hand side of O is taken
positive and the downward force acting to the right side
of O is taken negative.
In 3.From point O all the forces are to the left of O .The
upward force is taken as positive and downward force is
taken negative.
In addition to this all distances to the left of O are taken
negative and all distances to the right of O are taken
positive.
Resolution of a force into a
force and a couple

SUPPORTS:
Supports: A structure is subjected to external forces and

transfers these forces through the supports on to the
foundation. Therefore the support reactions and the external
forces together keep the structure in equilibrium.
There are different types of supports.

a) Roller Support
b) Hinged or pinned support
c) Fixed or built in support

Imp points about supports:
1. Roller supports have only translational motion so only

one vertical reaction force is present. There is no
rotation possible. This kind of support is commonly
located at the end of a long bridge.
2. In a pinned support only rotational motion is possible
and there is no translational motion as such. Ex: Pin
joints join two ends of the bar at the corners which
prevents it from moving horizontally or vertically hence
two reaction forces are present whose resultant can be
at any angle pointing towards the pin. Ex: A door resting
or supported by hinges.
3. 3.In a fixed support there is no translational or rotational
motion possible.
.However , the normal and tangential components of a
linear resultant exist as well as moment. If w is the
displacement then for a fixed support w = 0 and w =0)
Resisting moment
Example:
FX
FY
For a fixed support , the reaction forces FX and FY prevent translational motion and
there is a resisting moment which will prevent rotation.
Supports
Types of Supports Action on body
(a) Flexible cable ,belt ,chain, rope

BODY
BODY T
Force exerted by cable is

always a tension away from
the body in the direction of
cable
(b) Smooth surfaces 900
900 F
F
Contact forces are normal to

the surfaces
Supports
(c) Roller
support
A
Contact force is normal to the surface on which

the roller moves. The reaction will always be
perpendicular to the plane of the roller . Roller
support will offer only one independent reaction
component. (Whose direction is known.)

Supports
(d) pinned Support / hinged support
A Rh A

Rv
This support does not allow any translatory movement of the

rigid body. There will be two independent reaction
components at the support. The resultant reaction can be
resolved into two mutually perpendicular components. Or it
can be shown as resultant reaction inclined at an angle with
respect to a reference direction.

Supports
(e) Fixed or Built-in Support

M
RAH A
A
RAV
This type of support not only prevents the translatory movement of the rigid body,
but also the rotation of the rigid body. Hence there will be 3 independent reaction
components of forces. Hence there will be 3 unknown components of forces, two
mutually perpendicular reactive force component and a reactive moment as
shown in the figure.

Problem 5
Find the force and moment which must be applied to O to

hold the light bar in equilibrium.

Solution:

-- The forces at O are those exerted by the support on the
bar.
--There can at most be forces along two perpendicular
directions x and y and a moment vector MZ along the z
axis as shown by the couple.
-- For equilibrium:
-m

TRUSS:
Truss is a triangular shaped structure constructed

with straight members whose ends are connected
at joints referred to as Nodes .All forces (external
or reaction forces ) act only at the node and give
rise to compressive and tensile forces in the
members.
Example: Triangular bridge on either side of a railway

track.

Picture of a TRUSS: Truss bridge for a single track railway,
converted to pedestrian use and pipeline support

A truss bridge is a bridge whose load-
bearing superstructure is composed of a truss, a structure
of connected elements forming triangular units. The
connected elements (typically straight) may be stressed
from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response
to dynamic loads.

T russ problems:
For tutorial:
1.9) Two equal cylinders each weighing 900N are placed in
a box as shown. Neglect friction between cylinders and
the box. Estimate the reactions at A,B and C.

Soln:
Assume that cylinders and box are rigid and

reactions are point forces. W= 900N

B

Therefore FA =900N, FB = 1800N and FC = 900N
And also MG1 = 0, since FP and FC are radial forces.

Problem 1.11
Find the force carried in each bar of the hinged equilateral

triangle when loaded as shown. (A, B,C are pins)
Ideal condition: Bars are two force members , weightless
and therefore forces in bars are along their axes. No
friction at pins. Negligible distortion.

Problem 6
A system of parallel forces are acting on a rigid body as

shown below. Reduce this system to:
1. A single force
2. Single force and couple at A
3. Single force and couple at B.

Solution:
Given FA = 32.5 N AC= 1m, CD= 1m, BD = 1.5 m

FC = 150 N
FD = 67.5N
FB = 10 N
1.Single force = Resultant E
E= FA - FC + FD FB , E = 32.5-150+67.5-10 = -60N
Thus E = - 60N
Let x= distance of E from A towards right.
WKT:
Moment of resultant E about A= Algebraic sum of moments
of all forces about A

Lets find x:
E x = -150x1 +67.5x2 10x3.5
-60 x = -150 + 135 35 = -50
-Thus x = 0.833m
2. Single force and couple at A:
MA = -60 x 0.833 = -49.98 kNm

3. Single force and couple at B:
MB = - 60 ( (3.5- x ))
MB = - 60 ( (3.5- 0.833 ))
MB = 160.02 k Nm

Problem 7: for tutorial
Three forces F1 ,F2 and F3 are acting on a body as shown

below. The body is in equilibrium . If F1 = 250N,
F3 = 1000N, find the magnitude of the force F2 and the
distance BC , if AB = 1m.

Solution:

PERFECT FRAMES:
Introduction:
A frame may be defined as a structure made up of
several bars, riveted or welded together.
These are made up of iron angled or channel sections
and are called members of the frame or framed
structure.
Types of frames:
Perfect frames
Imperfect frames

Perfect frame: A perfect frame is that , which is made up of
members just sufficient to keep it in equilibrium when
loaded, without any change in shape.
The number of members , in a perfect frame may be
expressed by the relation: n = (2j 3) where n is the
no. of members and j is the no. of joints.
Imperfect frame: An imperfect frame is that which does not

satisfy the above equation n = 2j 3 . In other words , it
is a frame in which the no. of members are more or less
than 2j 3.

Analysis of a Frame:
Analysis of a frame consists of:

Finding the forces in the members of the frame.
Finding the reactions at the supports.
Methods for analysis:

Method of joints
Method of sections
Graphical method

Method of Joints:

Problem: for tutorial
1. Find the forces in the members of the truss shown in the

figure below.

Solution:

Remember:
The force in the member will be compressive if the

member pushes the joint to which it is connected
whereas it will be tensile if the member pulls the joint to
which it is connected.
In other words, if the arrow is towards the joint then it is
compressive and if arrow is away from the joint its
tensile.
The directions of the forces in the members can be
random.
After applying the equilibrium conditions if the magnitude
of the calculated forces in the members come out to be
positive then our chosen direction is correct but if any of
them is negative then the assumed direction will be
reverse. Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus
Problem : 1.31
Determine the forces in the six members of the truss

shown.

Solution:
Joint C FCB
FDC
w
Solve and obtain

And obtain
Therefore
Thus

To find the reactions at A and E

FRICTION
A frictionless surface (FIG A) can exert only
a normal contact force N.
When friction is present ( fig b) the surface

can exert a tangential force F as well as
normal force N
F = fs N where F= limiting force of friction
and fs = co-efficient of friction.
Frictional force is produced whenever a tangential force
is applied to a body pressed normally against the surface
of another
Body A rests on body B FBD of body A
The frictional force F tries to prevent movement of A

under the action of the forward force T.
Fs = force of static friction
fs = coefficient of static friction
Fk = force of kinetic friction
fk = coefficient of kinetic friction
1.A body of weight 70N is placed on a rough plane as

shown. To just move the body on a horizontal plane a
push of 20N inclined at 20 to the horizontal plane is
required. Find the coefficient of static friction.

Solution
Weight of the body = P= 70N

Force applied T= 20N
= 20
N-P-Tsin 20=0 , thus N = P+ TSin20
Thus N = 76.84N and fs = 20Cos 20/N, fs = o.244

Problem 2.
A body of weight 500N is pulled up an inclined plane by a

force of 350N.The inclination of the plane is 30 to the
horizontal and the force applied is parallel to the plane. Find
coefficient of static friction.

Problem 3.
Find the least value of the force T to cause motion to

impend rightwards . The coefficient of static friction is 0.2
and the pulley is frictionless.

Solution:

Problem on Truss:
For tutorial
A truss of span 7.5 m carries a point load of 1kN at joint D
as shown in the figure. Find the reactions and forces in
the members of the truss.

Solution
Let us first determine the reactions RA and RB .

Zero force members in
Trusses:
A zero force member refers to a member( a single truss segment) in a truss,
which is at rest , neither in tension nor in compression.
If a pin has an external force or moment applied to it , then all the members
attached to the pin joint are not zero force members UNLESS the external
force acts in a manner that fulfills one of the rules below:

Identify the zero force members in a truss subjected to

loading configuration as shown below:

Consider the free body diagrams for each joint in the truss:

The end

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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

When a force acts on a body it may:

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Like parallel Unlike parallel

A force that can replace a set of forces, in a force system,

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

FA= line of action of force perpendicular to

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Normal component= FN = FCos A

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Free Body Diagram (FBD) :

It is an isolated diagram of the body being analyzed (called

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

A circular roller of weight 100N and radius 10cm hangs by

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

A circular roller of radius 5 cm of weight 100 N rests on a

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

A L- shaped body ABC is hinged at A with a force F acting

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Coplanar and Concurrent

----- For three concurrent forces to be in equilibrium acting

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

X= arm of the couple= perpendicular distance between

A couple is a pair of two equal and opposite forces

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

In 1. as taken from point O all the forces acting on the right

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Supports: A structure is subjected to external forces and

There are different types of supports.

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

1. Roller supports have only translational motion so only

Types of Supports Action on body

(a) Flexible cable ,belt ,chain, rope

Force exerted by cable is

(b) Smooth surfaces 900

Contact forces are normal to

Contact force is normal to the surface on which

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

(d) pinned Support / hinged support

This support does not allow any translatory movement of the

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

(e) Fixed or Built-in Support

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Find the force and moment which must be applied to O to

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Dr. Kavita Jerath, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus

Truss is a triangular shaped structure constructed

Example: Triangular bridge on either side of a railway