CENTROIDS OF COMPOSITE

FIGURES
CENTROIDS OF COMPOSITE FIGURES
 In engineering, bodies frequently come in
combinations of geometrical shapes. When a body
having an irregular shape can be conveniently
divided into several parts whose centers of
gravity are already known or easily determined,
the principle of moments can be used to
determine the centroid of the whole body. In this
technique, each part is considered as a finite
element of the whole. This method is referred to
as the method of composite areas which
utilizes finite summation, as contrasted to
integration which is the summation of
infinitesimal elements.

Principles of Engineering Mechanics 1;

Estañero, R.A.; pp. 6-15
 CENTROIDS OF COMPOSITE FIGURES

 If a given composite area can be divided into regular

parts, and each part has its centroid known, the
moment of the total area is the sum of the moments
of its parts. Thus,
A x =  ax A y =  ay
• A similar process can be applied to lines. The
composite line may be divided into finite segments
whose centroids are known, and the following
equations may be used:
L x =  lx L y =  ly
Principles of Engineering Mechanics 1;
Estañero, R.A.; pp. 6-15
Centroids for Common Geometric Shapes
Centroids for Common Geometric Shapes
 CENTROIDS OF COMPOSITE FIGURES
Problem #1: Locate the centroid of the composite area shown
above the base.

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 Problem #1: Locate the centroid of the composite area shown above the base.

Aȳ = A1 y1 + A2 y2
𝐀𝟏
y1 = 400 mm + (100 mm / 2) = 450 mm
y2 = 400 mm / 2 = 200 mm
450mm
90000 mm2 (ȳ) = 50000 mm2 (450 mm)
+ 40000 mm2 (200 mm)
200mm 𝐀𝟐
ȳ = 338.89 mm

AT = A1 + A 2
AT = 500mm(100mm) + 400mm(100mm)

𝐀𝐓 = 𝟗𝟎, 𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐦𝐦𝟐

 CENTROIDS OF COMPOSITE FIGURES
Problem #2: Determine the coordinates of the centroid of the area
shown with respect to the given axis.
 Problem #2: Determine the coordinates of the centroid of the area shown with
respect to the given axis.
3 in A T = A1 + A 2 = 27 in2 + 14.137 in2 = 𝟒𝟏. 𝟏𝟑𝟕 𝐢𝐧𝟐
2 in
2
y1 = 3 (9 in. )= 𝟔 𝐢𝐧.
4r 4(3 in.)
𝐀𝟐 y2 = 9 in. + 3π = 9 in. + = 10.27 𝐢𝐧.
3π

1
x1 = 3 (6 in. )= 2 𝐢𝐧.

x2 = r = 3 𝐢𝐧.
10.27 in
𝐀𝟏
AT xത =A1 x1 + A2 x2
6 in

41.137 xത = 27 (2) + 14.137 (3)

𝐱ത = 2.34 𝐢𝐧.

AT ȳ =A1 y1 + A2 y2
1 41.137ȳ = 27 (6) + 14.137 (10.27)
A1 = (9 in. )(6 in. ) = 𝟐𝟕 𝐢𝐧𝟐
2
π(3 in)2 ȳ = 𝟕. 𝟒𝟕 𝐢𝐧. C : (2.34, 7.47)
πr 2
A2 = = = 𝟏𝟒. 𝟏𝟑𝟕 𝐢𝐧𝟐
2 2
 CENTROIDS OF COMPOSITE FIGURES
Problem #3: From the area shown,
• Find the area of the shaded section.
• Find the centroid of shaded section from the y-axis.
• Find the centroid of shaded section from the x-axis.
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Problem #3: From the area shown,
a. Find the area of the shaded section.
b. Find the centroid of shaded section a. Find the area of the shaded section.
from the y-axis.
c. Find the centroid of shaded section A1 = (18)(12) = 𝟐𝟏𝟔
from the x-axis. 1
A2 = 2 (6)(6) = 𝟏𝟖

πr 2 π(4)2
A3 = = = 𝟐𝟓. 𝟏𝟑
2 2
πr 2 π(6)2
A4 = = = 𝟐𝟖. 𝟐𝟕
𝐀𝟑 4 4
𝐀𝟒
A T = A1 − A 2 − A 3 − A 4
𝐀𝟏
AT = 216 − 18 −25.13 −28.27

𝐀𝟐 𝐀𝐓 = 144.6
 b. Find the centroid of shaded section from 4r 4(4)
the y-axis. y3 = 12 - 3π = 12 - = 𝟏𝟎. 𝟑𝟎
3π

15. 𝟒𝟓
x3 = 𝟒
4r 4(6)
y4 = 12 - 3π = 12 - = 𝟗. 𝟒𝟓
3π
4r 4(6)
x4 = 18 - 3π = 18 - = 15. 𝟒𝟓
3π
𝐀𝟑
AT xത = A1 x1 − A2 x2 − A3 x3 −A4 x4
𝟏𝟎. 𝟑𝟎 𝐀𝟒
𝐀𝟏 144.6ഥx = 216(9) − 18(16)
𝟗. 𝟒𝟓
− 25.13 (4) − 28.27(15.45)
𝟔 𝐀𝟐
ഥ𝐱 = 𝟕. 𝟕𝟒
𝟐

c. Find the centroid of shaded section

𝟗 from the x-axis.
16

AT ȳ = A1 y1 − A2 y2 − A3 y3 −A4 y4
y1 = 𝟔
x1 = 𝟗
144.6ȳ = 216(6) − 18(2)
− 25.13 (10.3) − 28.27(9.45)
1
y2 = 3 (6)= 𝟐
2 ȳ = 𝟓. 𝟎𝟖
x2 = 12 + 3 (6)= 𝟏𝟔
 CENTROIDS OF LINES
Problem #4: A slender homogeneous wire of uniform cross section
is bent into a shape shown. Determine the coordinates of its
centroid.
 Problem #4: A slender homogeneous wire of uniform cross section is bent
into a shape shown. Determine the coordinates of its centroid.

LT xത = L1 x1 + L2 x2 + L3 x3
26.566 xത = 6(-4) + 12.566(0)
8 cos 30
+8(4 + 2 )
𝐱ത = 𝟏. 𝟑𝟒 𝐢𝐧.
𝐲𝟏 = 𝟑 𝐢𝐧

𝐲𝟐 = 𝟐 𝐢𝐧
LT ȳ = L1 y1 + L2 y2 + L3 y3
2(4)
26.566 ȳ = 6(3) + (12.566) π
𝐱 𝟏 = 𝟒 𝐢𝐧 𝐱 𝟑 = 𝟕. 𝟒𝟔𝟒 𝐢𝐧 8 sin 30
+8( )
2
LT = L1 + L2 + L3
ȳ = 𝟐. 𝟒𝟖 𝐢𝐧.
L1 = 𝟔 𝐢𝐧.
L2 = πr = π 4 in. = 𝟏𝟐. 𝟓𝟔𝟔 𝐢𝐧.

L3 = 𝟖 𝐢𝐧.

LT = 6 in. +12.566 in. +8 in.

𝐋𝐓 = 26.566 in.