Chapter 6

Cross-Sectional Properties of Structural Members

• The shape and proportion of a beam cross-

section is critical in keeping bending and shear
stresses within allowable limits.

• Columns with improperly configured cross-

sections may be highly susceptible to buckling
under relatively moderate loads.

• In structural design it will be necessary to

calculate two cross-sectional properties crucial
to the design of beams and columns.

• The two properties are the Centroid and the

Moment of Inertia.

Statics and Strength of Materials for Architecture and Building Construction, 4 th

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 6.1 Center of Gravity and Centroids

• Center of Gravity (CG) or center of mass refers

to the theoretical center of a three dimensional
object.

• Centroid usually refers to the centers of lines,

areas, and volumes.

• The centroid of cross-sectional areas (of beams

and columns) will be used later as the reference
origin for computing other section properties.

• The method of locating the center of gravity of

a mass or an area is based on the method of
determining the resultants of parallel force
systems.

• Centroids are obtained by taking moments Cross-sectional area of an L-shaped beam

about the x and y axes relative to a reference
point/axis.

• The moment of an area about an axis equals the

algebraic sum of the moments of its component
areas about the same axis.

Statics and Strength of Materials for Architecture and Building Construction, 4 th

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 Center of Gravity and Centroids - (cont’d)

• The equations necessary for calculating the

centroidal axes of an area are:

• The moment of an area (or the first moment of an

area) is defined as the product of the area multiplied by
the perpendicular distance from the moment axis to the
centroid of the area.

• In finding the centroid of a complex area (i.e., a

composite area), the complex area is first divided into
simpler geometric shapes (such as rectangles, Cross-sectional area of an L-shaped beam
triangles, circles, etc) with known centroids.

• A reference origin is chosen (usually the lower left

corner) to establish the reference x and y axes.

• Then moments of area are summed about the

reference x and y axes, respectively.
Statics and Strength of Materials for Architecture and Building Construction, 4 th
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 Centroid of Simple Geometric Shapes

Statics and Strength of Materials for Architecture and Building Construction, 4 th

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 Example Problem 6.1 - Centroids

• A 6" thick concrete wall panel is precast to the dimensions as

shown. Using the lower left corner as the reference origin,
determine the center of gravity (centroid) of the panel.

• The concrete panel can be divided into three components, a

triangle and two rectangles.

• Choose the lower left corner as the reference origin

(negative sign can be avoided in the x and y distance
measurements).

• It is useful to create a table to keep track of the values

needed to calculate the location of the centroid.

Statics and Strength of Materials for Architecture and Building Construction, 4 th

© ©2012, 2007, 2002, 1999 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc.
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Barry Onouye
 Example Problem 6.1 - (cont’d)

• Determine component distances x and y

measured from the reference origin to each
component’s respective centroid.

• Record the values in a table that contains all of

the values necessary to determine the centroidal
x and y distances for the composite area.

Statics and Strength of Materials for Architecture and Building Construction, 4 th

© ©2012, 2007, 2002, 1999 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc.
edition
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 · All Rights Reserved
Barry Onouye
 Example Problem 6.1 - (cont’d)

Statics and Strength of Materials for Architecture and Building Construction, 4 th

© ©2012, 2007, 2002, 1999 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc.
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Barry Onouye
 Example Problem 6.1 - (cont’d)

• Sum the Area, , and columns.

• Solve the respective centroid equations for:

Statics and Strength of Materials for Architecture and Building Construction, 4 th

© ©2012, 2007, 2002, 1999 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc.
edition
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Barry Onouye
 Example Problem 6.2 - Negative Area Method

• Example Problem 6.1 will be solved employing

an alternate method referred to as the Negative
Area Method.

• In this method, fictitious components I and II

are added to the wall panel to create a simple
rectangular shape.

• The overall panel now measures 13’ x 18’.

• Areas I and II will be treated as negative areas

and subtracted from the gross rectangular area.

• Here, signs must be carefully considered in the

algebraic summations done for the total area
and the first moment of the areas.

• Again, a table will be used to simplify the

recording of the values needed for the centroid
calculations.

Statics and Strength of Materials for Architecture and Building Construction, 4 th

© ©2012, 2007, 2002, 1999 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc.
edition
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 · All Rights Reserved
Barry Onouye
 Example Problem 6.2 - Negative Area Method (cont’d)

Statics and Strength of Materials for Architecture and Building Construction, 4 th

© ©2012, 2007, 2002, 1999 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc.
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Barry Onouye
 6.2 Moment of Inertia
• The Moment of Inertia, or Second-Moment, is a
mathematical expression of stiffness and resistance
used in the study of the structural adequacy of
beams and columns.

• It measures the effect of the cross-sectional shape

of a beam on the beam’s resistance to bending
stress and deflection.

• The term Moment of Inertia, is not truly accurate

since plane areas have no thickness and, therefore,
no mass or inertia.
Relatively small deflection

• The Moment of Inertia, or I-value, is a shape factor

that quantifies the relative location of material in a
cross-section in terms of effectiveness.

• Higher values of Moment of Inertia (I), will result

in lower stresses and deflections for beams and a
lesser tendency for buckling in a column.

• Moment of Inertia is a measure of Cross-Sectional

Stiffness, whereas the Modulus of Elasticity E is a
measure of Material Stiffness. •Very large deflection
Statics and Strength of Materials for Architecture and Building Construction, 4 th
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 Moment of Inertia - (cont’d)

• The dimensional unit for Moment of Inertia I is inches to

the fourth power (in.4) or millimeters to the fourth power
(mm4).

• If we consider two prismatic beams made of the same

material, but of different cross-sections, the beam whose
cross-sectional area had the greater Moment of Inertia
would have the greater resistance to bending.

• Orientation of a cross-section with respect to its bending

axis is crucial in obtaining a large moment of inertia.

• A 2” by 6” rectangular cross-section is used as a joist and

as a plank.

• Like many structural elements, the rectangle has a strong Joist Plank
axis (orientation) and a weak axis.

Statics and Strength of Materials for Architecture and Building Construction, 4 th

© ©2012, 2007, 2002, 1999 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc.
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Barry Onouye
 Moment of Inertia of Simple Geometric Shapes

Statics and Strength of Materials for Architecture and Building Construction, 4 th

© ©2012, 2007, 2002, 1999 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc.
edition
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 · All Rights Reserved
Barry Onouye