VECTOR MECHANICS FOR ENGINEERS:

STATICS

Moments of Inertia: Parallel Axis

Theorem

This lecture is based on the instructor-resources supplied by McGraw-Hill

Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Parallel Axis Theorem
• Consider moment of inertia I of an area A
with respect to the axis AA’

I y dA 2

• The axis BB’ passes through the area

centroid and is called a centroidal axis.

BB’ is called a I y 2 dA y   d 2 dA

centroidal axis
I around BB’ is y 2 dA  2d y dA  d 2 dA
the smallest and
IT I  Ad 2
is called  14  r 4   Ir 2 
 rI2  Ad 2 parallel axis theorem
 54  r 4 Distance between AA’ and BB’

I Around AA’ Surface area of the shape

I Around BB’ 2
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Parallel Axis Theorem

2
I  I  Ad
Distance between AA’ and BB’

I Around AA’ Surface area of the shape

I Around BB’ 3
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Parallel Axis Theorem: Example # 1

is the moment of inertia of a circle with respect to its centroidal axis

IT is the moment of inertia of a circle with respect to its tangent
Note: IT >
Given = π r4/4  Find IT

IT I  Ad 2  14  r 4   r 2  r 2
 54  r 4

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Parallel Axis Theorem: Example # 1

Given = π r4/4  Find IT

IT I  Ad 2  14  r 4   r 2  r 2
 54  r 4

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Parallel Axis Theorem: Example # 2

IBB’ is the moment of inertia of a triangle with respect to its centroidal axis
IAA’ is the moment of inertia of a triangle with respect to its base
Note: IAA’ > IBB’

Given IAA’ = bh3/12 Find IBB’

I AA I BB  Ad 2
2
I BB I AA  Ad 2 121 bh 3  1
2
bh13 h 
 36
1
bh 3

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics

Given IAA’ = bh3/12 Find IBB’

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics

Moments of Inertia of Composite Areas

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics

Sample Problem 9.5

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Determine the moment of inertia of the shaded area with respect to the x-
axis.

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Compute the moments of inertia of the bounding rectangle and half-circle with respect to the x-axis.

3
I x  13 bh 3
 13 240120138.2 10 mm 6 4

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Semi Circle
Moment of inertia with respect to AA’, A A’
4
I AA  18 r 4  18  90 25.76106 mm4 x’
Moment of inertia with respect to x’
I x I AIAAA’
 -
AaA
2 2
a = 
25.76E6
25.76 106
- 
3
(12.72E3)(38.2)
12.72 10 2 x
= 7.206 E6 mm
4
4
7.2010 mm
4r 4 90 
Moment of inertia with respect to the x-axis, a  38.2 mm
3 3
 
I x I x  Ab 2 7.20 106  12.72 103 81.8
2
b 120 - a 81.8 mm
92.3106 mm4 A  12 r 2  12  90 2
12.72 103 mm2

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics

Semi Circle
Moment of inertia with respect to AA’, A A’
4
I AA  18 r 4  18  90 25.76106 mm4 x’
Moment of inertia with respect to x’
I x I AIAAA’
 -
AaA
2 2
a = 
25.76E6
25.76 106
- 
3
(12.72E3)(38.2)
12.72 10 2 x
= 7.206 E6 mm
4
4
7.2010 mm

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics

The moment of inertia of the shaded area is obtained by subtracting the moment of
inertia of the half-circle from the moment of inertia of the rectangle.

Ix  138.2 106 mm4  92.3 106 mm4

6 4
I x 45.9 10 mm
Two important things to remember:
1. The moments of inertia have to reference to the same axis
2. The parallel axis theorem may be applied more than once
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