Republic of the Philippines

DON HONORIO VENTURA STATE UNIVERSITY

Villa de Bacolor, Pampanga

STATICS OF RIGID BODIES

A. Course Code / Title : Statics 213 / Statics of Rigid Bodies

B. Module Number : Module 17 – Moment of Inertia

C. Time Frame :

D. Description:

This module looks into the definition of Moment of Inertia and the formulas relating to moment
of inertia.

E. Objectives:

At the end of this module, the learner should be able to:

1. Have a better understanding about moment of inertia.

2. Memorize the formulas relating to moment of inertia of each geometric shapes.

3. Develop techniques and be able to solve problems relating to moment of inertia of an area.

F. Contents:

 Moment of inertia is a measure of an object’s resistance to changes to its rotation. It is the

capacity of a cross-section to resist bending.

Y Y
dA = dx dy dA = (a –x) dy

dx
dy dy
x x
y y
X X
a
dIx = y2 dA 2
dIy = x dA
dIx = y2 dA

Y
dA = y dx

y
x
X
dy
dIy = x2 dA

*choose dA to be a thin strip parallel to one of the coordinate axes, so that all points of the strip
are at the same distance from the axis.

I x   y 2 dA I y   x 2 dA
 Polar moment of inertia gives an object’s ability to resist torsion (i.e. twisting) about a given
axis due to an applied torque.

Y
Jo   r dA
2 dA

r 2  x2  y2 r
y
x X
Jo   ( x 2  y 2 )dA O
A
Jo   x dA   y dA
2 2

Jo  Iy  Ix

 Radius of Gyration is the distance from the axis of rotation to a point where the total mass of the
body is supposed to be concentrated, so that the moment of inertia about the axis may remain the
same. Gyration is the distribution of the components of an object.
Consider an area which has a moment of inertia Ix with respect to x – axis.

O X

If this area is concentrated into a thin strip parallel to the x – axis and have same moment
of inertia with respect to x- axis, the strip should be placed at a distance kx from the x – axis,
where kx is defined by the relation

A Y

𝐼𝑥 = 𝑘𝑥 2 𝐴
kx 𝐼𝑥
𝑘𝑥 = √ 𝐴
O X

Thus;

Y
𝐼𝑦
𝑘𝑦 = √ 𝐴
ky

O X

A
Problems:
1. A rectangle has a base b and height d. Determine the moment of inertia of the rectangle with respect
to its centroidal x-axis.

Required:

Moment of inertia about Xc, I X C or I X

Figure:

YC

dY
d
/2
y
d XC
d
/2

b b
/2 /2

Solution:

I X C   y 2 dA
I X C   y 2 bdy
d
I X C  b  y 2 dy
2
d

2
d
 y3  2
I XC  b 
 3 d
2

b  d   d  
3 3

I XC        
3  2   2  
b d3 d3 
I XC    
3 8 8
b  2d 3 
I XC   
3 8 
bd 3
I XC 
12

Note:
bd 3
I XC  Formula for Moment of Inertia of a rectangle about its centroidal x - axis
12
2. Determine the moment of inertia of a triangle (base, b and altitude, h) with respect to its base.
Required:
Moment of Inertia about X - axis, Ix
Figure:

h dY
X
y
X
b

Given: Base of the triangle lies on X - axis.

Solution:

𝐼𝑥 = ∫ 𝑦 2 𝑑𝐴
1
𝐼𝑥 = ∫ 𝑦 2 [2 𝑥 𝑑𝑦]
1
𝐼𝑥 = 2
∫ 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦 → 𝑒𝑞. 1

Solve for x in terms of y:

𝑥 ℎ−𝑦
𝑏
= 𝑦
𝑏(ℎ−𝑦)
𝑥= → 𝑒𝑞. 2
𝑦

Substitute eq. 2 in eq. 1:

1 𝑏(ℎ−𝑦)
𝐼𝑥 = 2
∫ 𝑦 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦
1 ℎ
𝐼𝑥 = 2
𝑏 ∫0 (ℎ𝑦 − 𝑦 2 )𝑑𝑦
ℎ
1 ℎ𝑦 2 𝑦3
𝐼𝑥 = 2
𝑏 [ 2
− 3 0
]

1 ℎ (ℎ 2 ) ℎ3
𝐼𝑥 = 𝑏 {[ − ]− [0]}
2 2 3
1 3ℎ3 −2ℎ3
𝐼𝑥 = 2
𝑏 [ 6
]
𝑏ℎ 3
𝐼𝑥 = 12
(The moment of inertia of a triangle about its base)
 Parallel-Axis Theorem for an Area (Transfer Formula)
The parallel-axis theorem can be used to find the moment of inertia of an area about any axis that
is parallel to an axis passing through the centroid and about which the moment of inertia is known.

Ix  Ix  Ad 2 Iy  Iy  Ad 2

 Moments of Inertia for Composite Areas

The moment of inertia of a composite area can be determined using the following procedure.
 Procedure for analysis
 Using a sketch, divide the area into its composite parts and indicate the perpendicular
distance from the centroid of each part to the reference axis.
 If the centroidal axis for each part does not coincide with the reference axis, the parallel-

axis theorem I  I  Ad 2 , should be used to determine the moment of inertia of the part

about the reference axis. For the calculation of I , use the table given below.
 The moment of inertia of the entire area about the reference axis is determined by
summing the results of its composite parts about this axis.
 If a composite part has an empty region (hole), its moment of inertia is found by
subtracting the moment of this region from the moment of inertia of the entire part
including the region.

 Moment of Inertia of Geometric Figures:

 Rectangle:

Y
Yc
bh3
IX 
12
C Xc hb3
h IY 
12

b
X
JC 
12

bh 2
b  h2 

 Triangle:

h bh3
IX 
C Xc 36
h
/3
X
b
 Circle:

Yc
r 4
I X  IY 
4
r r 4
JC 
C Xc 2

 Semi-circle:

Yc
I X  0.1098r 4
r 4
C Xc I X  IY 
8
X r 4
JO 
r 4

Quarter circle

Y
Yc
I X  I Y  0.05488r 4
r 4
I X  IY 
C Xc
16
r 4
O
X
JO 
r 8

Ellipse:

Y
ab3
IX 
b 4
C
X ba3
IY 
4
ab(a 2  b 2 )
a JO 
4
Problems:
1. Determine the moment of inertia of the shaded area with respect to the x-axis.

Y
12m 12m
m m
6mm

24mm
8mm
X

24mm

6mm

24mm 24mm

Required:
Ix
Solution:
a. Divide the shaded into parts. (rectangle 1, rectangle 2 and rectangle 3)

Shape Area, A Distance, d

A1  bh  24mm6mm 6mm
1
d1  24mm 
Rectangle 1 2
A1  144mm2 d1  27mm

A2  8mm48mm d2  0
Rectangle 2
A2  384mm2 (Coincides with x - axis)

A3  48mm6mm  6mm 
1
d 3  24mm 
Rectangle 3 2
A3  288mm 2
d 3  27mm

Note:
Since we are solving moment of inertia about the given x - axis, all distances must be measured from
x - axis.
Y
12mm 12mm

1 6mm

d1 = 27mm 2
24mm
8mm
X

d3 = 27mm 24mm

3 6mm

24mm 24mm
b. Solve for Ix:
Let Ix1 = Moment of inertia of rectangle 1 about x-axis
Ix2 = Moment of inertia of rectangle 2 about x-axis
Ix3 = Moment of inertia of rectangle 3 about x-axis

Ix  Ix1  Ix 2  Ix3

Ix1  I x1  A1d1
2

bh3 I X 2  I X  Ad 2
Ix1   A1d1
2

12 bh3
I X2   Ad 2
24mm6mm 
3
 144mm 2 27mm 
12
Ix1 
2

8mm48mm 
2
12
  384mm 20 
2
I X2
Ix1  432mm 4  104976mm 4 12
Ix1  105408mm 4 I X2  73728mm 4

I X 3  I X  Ad 2
bh3
I X3   Ad 2
12
48mm6mm 
3
  288mm27mm 
2
I X3
12
I X3  210816mm 4

I X  I X1  I X 2  I X 3
I X  105408 73728 210816
I X  389952mm 4

2. Determine the moment of inertia of cross-section shown about its centroidal axes.

90 mm

20 mm

70 mm
10 mm

20 mm
X

50 mm
Required:
I X C , IYC
Solution:
a. Locate Centroidal Axes, YC and XC:
Based on the given figure, Y-axis is located at the center, thus, YC coincides with Y-axis. There’s
no need to locate YC, only XC.
To locate XC, solve for Ῡ:
Divide the shaded area into parts. (rectangle 1, rectangle 2, rectangle 3)

Shape Area Y d
A1  bh d1  y1  y
y1  20  70 
1
20
Rectangle 1 A1  90mm20mm  2 d1  100mm  65.29mm
A1  1800mm 2 y1  100mm d1  34.71mm

A2  bh d 2  y  y2
A2  10mm70mm 
1
y2  20  70mm
Rectangle 2 2 d 2  65.29mm  55mm
A2  700mm 2 y2  55mm d 2  10.29mm

A3  bh d 3  y  y3
A3  50mm20mm 
y3 
1
20mm 
Rectangle 3 2 d 3  65.29mm  10mm
A3  1000mm 2 y3  10mm d 3  55.29mm

A1 y1  A2 y2  A3 y3
y
AT
1800100  70055  100010
y
1800  700  1000
y  65.29mm
b. Solve for “d”. (Please refer to the table)
d is the distance from the centroid of the shape in consideration up to the centroidal axis.

90 mm

20 mm 1
d1 =34.71mm
XC
2 d2 =10.29mm
70 mm
Y1 =100mm
10 mm d3 =55.29mm
Y2 =55mm

20 mm 3
Y3 =10mm

X
50 mm
c. Solve for I X C :

I X C  I X C1  I X C 2  I X C 3

I X C 1  I x  Ad 2
bh3
I X C1   Ad 2
12
90mm20mm 
3
  1800mm 2 34.71mm 
2
I X C1
12
I X C1  2228611.38mm 4

I X C 2  I x  Ad 2
bh3
I XC2   Ad 2
12
10mm70mm 
3
  700mm 2 10.29mm 
2
I XC2
12
I XC2  359952.20mm 4

I X C 3  I x  Ad 2
bh3
I XC3   Ad 2
12
50mm20mm 
3
  1000mm 2 55.29mm 
2
I XC3
12
I XC3  3090317.43mm 4

I X C  I X C1  I X C 2  I X C 3
I X C  2228611.38  359952.2  3090317.43
I X C  5678881.013mm 4

3. Determine the moment of inertia of the shaded area shown about x- and y-axis.

100mm 100mm 150mm

150mm

75mm

150mm
X
Required:
I X , IY
Solution:
a. The shaded area is composed of a rectangle(1), triangle(2) and a circle(3).
There’s no need to locate the centroidal axes, since the required are the moment of inertia about
the given x ans y axes.

Shape Area dX dY
A1  bh
Rectangle A1  200mm 300mm  d X1  100mm dY1  150mm
A1  60000mm 2
1
A2  bh
2
d X 2  200 
1
150 dY2 
1
300mm
A2  150mm 300mm 
Triangle 1 3 3
2 d X2  250mm dY2  100mm
A2  22500mm 2

A3  r 2
A3   75mm  d X 3  100mm dY3  150mm
2
Circle
A3  5625  17671.46mm 2

Note:
Distances dX and dY were measured from the centroid of each area up to the axis where you will
take the moment of inertia. In this case, the given X and Y axes.

b. Solve for Ix:

I X  I X1  I X 2  I X 3

I X 1  I X  Ad 2 I X 2  I X  Ad 2
bh3 bh3
I X1   Ad 2 I X2   Ad 2
12 36
200300 150300
3 3
  60000150   22500100
2 2
I X1 I X2
12 36
I X1  1.80x109 mm 4 I X2  337.5 x106 mm 4

I X 3  I X  Ad 2
r 4
I X3   Ad 2
4
 754
I X3   17671.46150
2

4
I X3  422.46 x106 mm 4
I X  I X1  I X 2  I X 3
I X  1.80x109  337.5 x106  422.46 x106
I X  1715.04x106 mm 4

c. Solve for IY:

IY  IY1  IY2  IY3

I Y1  I Y  Ad 2 I Y2  I Y  Ad 2
hb3 hb3
I Y1   Ad 2 I Y2   Ad 2
12 36
300200 300150
3 3
I Y1   60000100 I Y2   22500250
2 2

12 36
I Y1  800x106 mm 4 I Y2  1.434x109 mm 4

I Y3  I Y  Ad 2
r 4
I Y3   Ad 2
4
 754
I Y3   17671.46100
2

4
I Y3  201.57 x106 mm 4

I Y  I Y1  I Y2  I Y3
I Y  800x106  1.434x109  201.57 x106
I Y  2032.43x106 mm 4

4. Locate the centroid ӯ of the cross section shown and determine the moment of inertia about
the x’-axis.

5. Determine the moment of inertia of the shaded area shown about the x-axis.
G. References:

1. Vector Mechanics for Engineers 10th Edition, Beer, F.P., Johnston, E.R.Jr, Mazurek, D.F., Cornwell,
P.J.2013

2. Engineering Mechanics Statics 13th Edition, Hibbeler, R.C.,2013

3. Engineering Mechanics Statics 14th Edition, Hibbeler, R.C.,2016

4. Engineering Mechanics Statics 3rd Edition, Pytel, A., Kiusalaas, J., 2010