2020-09-24

Civil Engineering Mechanics

CVG2149

LEC6
Moments of Inertia

Radius of Gyration of an Area

• Consider area A with moment of inertia
Ix. Imagine that the area is
concentrated in a thin strip parallel to
the x axis with equivalent Ix.
kx = radius of gyration with respect
to the x axis
ky = radius of gyration with respect
to the y axis

• Similarly,
Ix Iy
Ix  k x2 A kx  I y  k y2 A ky 
A A
JO
JO  kO2 A kO 
Radii of gyration: kx, ky, kO: A

kO2  k x2  k y2

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For a rectangular plate radius of gyration with

respect to its base is:

1 bh3
Ix h2 h
k   3
2
x
A bh

3
k x
3
Attention: radius of gyration is different then
coordinates of Centroid . Not to be confused !

- kx (radius of gyration) depends on second moment

- y (centroid ordinate) depends on first moment

Ix
I x  k x2 A kx 
A

Product of inertia

For certain problems moments of inertia about rotated axes are required.
We determine the product of inertia: I  xy dA xy 
I xy   xydA Can be positive negative or zero

• When the x axis, the y axis, or both are an

axis of symmetry, the product of inertia is
zero.

• Parallel axis theorem for products of inertia:

I xy  I xy  x yA

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CVG Dictionary

• Moment of inertia: I x   y 2 dA I y   x 2 dA
• Polar moment of inertia: I x  kx A I y  ky A
2 2

• Radii of gyration:
J O  kO A
2

k O2
 k x2  k y2
• Centroidal moment of inertia
• Relation between them (parallel axis th.)
I  I  Ad 2
• Product of moment of inertia J O  J C  Ad 2
• Relation between them (parallel axis th.)
I xy   xydA kO  kC  d 2
2 2

I xy  I x ' y '  x yA

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Example
SOLUTION:
• Determine the location of the centroid for
the composed section.

Use the parallel axis theorem to determine

the moment of inertia of the composed
section in regards to the axis passing
through the centroid of the composed
section.
The steel girder W360x44 was
reinforced with a plate welded at the
upper part, as shown. Determine the
moment of the combined section, in
regard to an axis parallel with the base
of the shape and passing through the
centroid C of the entire section.

SOLUTION:
• Determine location of the centroid of composite
section with respect to a coordinate system with
origin O at the centroid of the beam section.

Section A, mm 2 y , mm yA, mm 3
Plate 4351 185.5 807111
Beam Section 5730 0 0
 A  10081  yA  807111

Y  A   yA Y 
 yA  807111 mm 3
 80.1 mm
 A 10081 mm 2

Determine Moment inertia in respect with x’,

based on parallel axes theorem.

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C1
C2 = origin

d1 = 19/2 + 352/2 -YC

I C ,plate  I plate  Ad1

2

d2 = YC

C2

I C ,beam section  I beam section  Ad 2

2

I C ,plate  I plate  Ad1

2
C1
1
12
229 19 3 
 4351185 .5  80.1
d1 = 19/2 + 2

352/2 -YC
 4.84 10 7 mm 4
d2 = YC

C2
I C ,beam section  I beam section  Ad 2
2

122 10 6  5730 80.1

2

 1.58 10 8 mm4

I C  I C ,beam section  I C ,plate  1.58 108  4.84 10 7

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C3 I x  2 I x1  2 I x 3  I x 2 
 2( I x1  Ad1 )  2( I x3  Ad 3 )  ( I x2  Ad 2 )
2 2 2
d3

C2 I y  2 I y1  2 I y 3  I y 2 
 2( I y1  Ad1 )  2( I y3  Ad 3 )  ( I y2  Ad 2 )
2 2 2

d2

d1

C1

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C3
Total area (Atot):

y*A= 21.4
C2

YC = Atot/y*A

The coordinates of the centroids are

determined in regard with the chosen
C1 origin

O = origin