INTRODUCTION TO MECHANICAL

ENGINEERING (MEC106)

INTRODUCTION TO MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

03/26/2024 COURSE INSTRUCTOR :: Dr. PIYUSH GULATI 1
What do you mean by Equilibrium of a particle?
• When the resultant of all forces acting on a particle is zero, the particle is in
equilibrium.
A particle which remains at rest or in uniform motion with respect to its
frame of reference is said to be in equilibrium in that frame

• Particle acted upon by two • Particle acted upon by three or more forces:
forces: - graphical solution yields a closed polygon
- equal magnitude - algebraic solution
- same line of action  
- opposite sense R  F  0
 Fx  0  Fy  0
03/26/2024 2
 Law of Transmissibility

• The state of rest or motion of the rigid body is

unaltered if a force acting on the body is
replaced by another force of the same
magnitude and direction but acting anywhere
on the body along the line of action of the
replaced force.

INTRODUCTION TO MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

03/26/2024 COURSE INSTRUCTOR :: Dr. PIYUSH GULATI 3
Lami’s Theorem :
If a body is in equilibrium under the action of only three
forces, each force is proportional to the sine of the angle
between the other two forces.
= =

Note: Lami’s theorem can only

be used when a body is in
Equilibrium under the action of
three forces, these forces must
be concurrent.
INTRODUCTION TO MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
03/26/2024 COURSE INSTRUCTOR :: Dr. PIYUSH GULATI 4
Q. Find the forces developed in the wires,
supporting an electric fixture as shown.

03/26/2024 5
Q. A barge is pulled by two tugboats. If the
resultant of the forces exerted by the tugboats is
a 25 kN directed along the axis of the barge,
determine the tension in each of the ropes for a
= 45o

03/26/2024 6
In a ship-unloading operation,
a 8000-N automobile is
supported by a cable. A rope
is tied to the cable and pulled
to center the automobile
over its intended position.
What is the tension in the
rope?

03/26/2024 7
 Equilibrium of connected bodies

• When two or more bodies are in contact with

one another, the system of forces appear as
through it is non-concurrent force system.

• However, when each body is considered

separately, in many situations it turns out to
be a set of concurrent force system.

03/26/2024 8
Q. A system of connected flexible cables shown
in figure is supporting two vertical forces 200N
and 250N at points B and D. Determine the
forces in various segments of the cable.

03/26/2024 9
Q. A system of connected flexible cables shown in figure is
supporting two vertical forces 200N and 250N at points B and D.
Determine the forces in various segments of the cable.
Sol.
Step 1: Draw the FBD of Point
B and D.

03/26/2024 10
Apply Lami’s Theorem to the system of forces at point D. we get
= =
T1 = 224.1 N T2 = 183 N
Now consider the system of forces acting at B. (∑Fh =0) and (∑Fv
=0)

03/26/2024 11
Q. A wire rope is fixed at two points A and D as shown in figure.
Weights 20 KN and 30 KN are attached to it at B and C
respectively. The weights rest with portions AB and C inclined at
30° and 50° respectively, to the vertical as shown in the figure.
Find the tension in segments AB, BC and CD of the wire.
Determine the inclination of the segment CD to vertical.

03/26/2024 12
Sol. Draw the F.B.D Diagram of Point B and C.

03/26/2024 13
Q. Two identical cylinders, each weighing 500 N are
placed in a trough as shown in figure (a). Determine the
reactions developed at contact points A, B, C and D.
Assume all points of contact are smooth.

03/26/2024 14
Q. Cylinder 1 of diameter 200 mm and cylinder 2 of diameter
300 mm placed in a trough as shown in figure a).if cylinder 1
weights 800 N and cylinder 2 weighs 1200 N, determine the
reactions developed at contact surfaces A,B,C and D. Assume all
contact surfaces are smooth.

03/26/2024 15
 COUPLE
• Two parallel, noncollinear forces that are equal in magnitude and
opposite in direction are known as a couple.

A force has two effects on a rigid body:

translation due to the force itself and rotation
due to the moment of the force.

A couple, on the other hand, is a purely

rotational effect—it has a moment but no
resultant force.

Couples play an important role in the analysis

of force systems
EXAMPLES
 Moment of a couple about a point
• The moment of a couple about a point is
the sum of the moments of the two forces
that form the couple.
• When calculating the moment of a couple
about a point, either the scalar method
(force times perpendicular distance) or the
vector method (r × F) may be used.
• The moment of a couple is the same about
every point.
• In other words, the moment of a couple is
a free vector.
• Being free vectors, the requirement that
the couples to be added must have a
common point of application does not
apply.
Replacing a force with a force and a couple

(a) Initial force F acting at point A;

(b) Attaching equal and opposite forces at O;
(c) Force F acting at point O and a couple.
 PROCEDURE FOR REDUCTION OF FORCES
AND COUPLES
• Move each force to point O.
– The force F can be moved to O if we introduce the couple of transfer C = r × F
T

• Add forces to get the resultant

– R=F1 + F2 + F3 +· · · =SF
• The couples of transfer can also be added, their sum being the resultant
couple-vector CR
– CR =r1 × F1 + r2 × F2 + r3 × F3 +· · · =SMO
• If the forces of the original system lie in a plane—say, the xy-plane—the
following three scalar equations are necessary to determine the force-
couple system.

Rx =SFx Ry =SFy CR =SM O

REDUCTION OF FORCE SYSTEM

Only concurrent
forces can be
added

Only moments
acting about
same point/axis
can be added

Couples are free

vector
 RESULTANT OF FORCE SYSTEM
• The resultant of a force system is defined to be the simplest system that
can replace the original system without changing its external effect on a
rigid body.
• The word simplest is used in the sense that one force is simpler than two
forces, one couple is simpler than two couples, a force is simpler than a
force and a couple, and so on.
• The resultant of a force system is generally a force-couple system R and CR.
• If R and CR are mutually perpendicular, they can be further reduced to a
single force. It follows that the resultant of a force system must be one of
the following:*
– A resultant force R (if CR =0 or if R and CR are perpendicular)
– A resultant couple-vector CR (if R=0)
– A resultant force-couple system (if R and CR are not mutually perpendicular)
RESULTANT OF FORCE SYSTEM
 PRACTICE PROBLEM

• The coplanar force system in Fig. consists of three forces and one couple.
Determine the equivalent force-couple system with the force acting at
point O.
 PRACTICE PROBLEM

• Determine the resultant of the coplanar force system shown in Fig.

that acts on the arm of an excavator.
 PRACTICE PROBLEMS

• Find moment of forces for the following problems:

 PRACTICE PROBLEM

• Determine the couple C that will hold the bar AB in equilibrium in the
position shown. Neglect the weight of the bar and the diameter of the
small pulley at B.