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Mathematically, two systems of forces are equivalent if they can be reduced to
the same force-couple system.
Each system must produce same push or pull in the rigid body , i.e, should
have the same resultant vector R
Each system must produce same turning action about any point in the rigid
body, i.e., should have the same resultant couple vector M
R
Engineers Mechanics- Equivalent Force-Couple System
Equivalent Systems: Significance
Translation of a force at A to a parallel position at O
Force vector F can not be simply moved to O without modifying its
action on the body.
Attaching equal and opposite force vectors at O produces no net
effect on the body.
Engineers Mechanics- Equivalent Force-Couple System
The force may be replaced by an equivalent force vector and
couple moment vector, i.e, a force-couple system.
( ) F r M
O

=
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System of Forces: Reduction to a Force and Couple
A system of forces may be replaced by a collection of force-couple systems
acting at a given point O
The force and couple vectors may be combined into a
resultant force vector and a resultant couple vector,
( )

+ = = C F r M F R
R
O

The force-couple system at O may be moved to O
with the addition of the moment of R about O ,
R s M M
R
O
R
O

+ =
'
Engineers Mechanics- Equivalent Force-Couple System
body rigid the in present any if moment couple applied add , ,
Further Reduction of a Force System to a wrench
Engineers Mechanics- Equivalent Force-Couple System
The pushing-turning action associated with
The tightening of a screw illustrates
collinear lines of action of the force and
couple vector that constitute a wrench
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Further Reduction of a System of Forces
If the resultant force and couple at O are mutually
perpendicular, they can be replaced by a single force acting
along a new line of action.
The resultant force-couple system for a system of forces
will be mutually perpendicular if:
1) the forces are coplanar, or
2) the forces are parallel.
Engineers Mechanics- Equivalent Force-Couple System
coplanar
parallel
Reduction of a Coplanar Force System to a Single Force
System can be reduced to a single force
by moving the line of action of until
its moment about O becomes
R
O
M

In terms of rectangular coordinates,

R
O x y
M yR xR =
Engineers Mechanics- Equivalent Force-Couple System
System of coplanar forces is reduced to a
force-couple system that is
mutually perpendicular.
R
O
M R

and
( )

= = F r M F R
R
O

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Example of a Coplanar Force System
Engineers Mechanics- Equivalent Force-Couple System
3 tugboats moving USS John F. Kennedy
Example of a Coplanar Force System
Four tugboats are used to bring a ship to its pier.
Each tugboat exerts 100kN push in the direction
shown. Determinethepoint onhull (body) wherea
single, more powerful tugboat should push to
produce the same effect as the original four
tugboats. Also determine the total push and its
directiontobeexertedbythesingletugboat.

o
Solution Key:
Find the resultant force
and moment about O
Find the line of action
of resultant force
Find its intersection
with the (hull) body of
the ship
Engineers Mechanics- Equivalent Force-Couple System
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R =( -100j ) +( 0.8i - 0.6 j ) 100 +( -100j ) +( 0.6i +0.8j ) 100
=T
1
+T
2
+T
3
+T
4

=100 ( 1.4i 1.8j ) kN
Example of a Coplanar Force System
M
o
R
= r
i
x F
i

= [ ( -100 x 24 ) +( -100 x 0.6 x 144 - 100 x 0.8 x 24 ) +( -100 x 224 )
+( 100 x 0.8 x184 +100 x 0.6 x 24 ) ]
=- 19200k kNm
SOLUTION
Y
X
O
Engineers Mechanics- Equivalent Force-Couple System
Prob.1 Example of a Coplanar Force System
Equationof hull:
y = (24/64)x & y = 24.

X
O
Y
Try with y =(24/64)x
x =19200/(180+140*24/64)
=82.58 m >64 m
x-intercept y-intercept
y = 24
(64, 24)
Y
X
Y
X
(0, 137.14)
(106.67, 0)
o
o
88
o
Engineers Mechanics- Equivalent Force-Couple System
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Reduction of a Parallel Force System to a Single Force
Engineers Mechanics- Equivalent Force-Couple System
X
Y
Z
X
Y
Z
X
Y
Z
O
G
In other words:
Use
appropriate
signs
A concrete foundation mat in the shape
of a regular hexagon with 3-m sides
supports four column loads as shown.
Determine the magnitude and the point
of application of the resultant four
loads.
Equivalent Force Systems

SOLUTION KEY
o Determinethemagnitudeof the
equivalentforcebyjust addingthe
loads.
o Dothesamefor z axis, get x
co-ordinate.
o Equatethemomentabout thexaxis
for theindividual forceswiththatof
theequivalentforce, get z co-ordinate.
Example of a Coplanar Force System
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:
A C D E
E + + + = F F F F F R
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 80kN 40kN 100kN 60kN = R j j j j
( ) 280kN = j 280kN
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) :
x A A C C D D E E G
M F z F z F z F z R z E + + + =
( ) ( ) | | ( )
G
Z kN 280 60 sin m 3 kN 60 = +
( )( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 80kN 0 40kN 3msin60 60kN 0 ( + +

0.185577 m
G
Z =
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) :
z A A C C D D E E G
M F x F x F x F x R x E + + + =
( ) ( ) ( )( ) ( ) 80kN 3m cos60 1.5m 40kN 1.5m 60kN 1.5m ( + +



( ) ( ) ( ) 100kN 3m cos60 1.5m 280kN
G
x
(

+ + =
Example of a Coplanar Force System
Engineers Mechanics- Equivalent Force-Couple System
A machine component is subjected to
the forces shown, each of which is
parallel to one of the coordinate axes.
Replace these forces with an equivalent
force-couple system at A.
Engineers Mechanics- Equivalent Force-Couple System
Example of a 3D Force System
SOLUTION KEY
o Approach 1-
Use Vector Mechanics to take
moment of each force about point
A
o Approach 2
Since each force is parallel to one
of the coordinate axes, take
moment contribution of each force
about threeaxesthat areparallel to
z,y,zbut passing throughA
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:
B C D A
E + + = F F F F R
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 240N 125N 300N 150N
A
= + R j k i k
( ) ( ) ( ) 300 N 240 N 25N
A
= + R i j k
/ / /
:
B A B C A C D A D A
E + + = r F r F r F M
0 0.12m 0 0.06m 0.03m 0.075m 0.06m 0.08m 0.75m
0 240N 125N 300 N 0 0 0 0 150N
A
M = + +

i j k i j k i j k
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 15N m 22.5N m 9N m 12N m 9 N m ( ( ( = + + +

i j k i j
( ) ( ) ( ) 3N m 13.5N m 9 N m
A
= + + M i j k
Example of a 3D Force System
Engineers Mechanics- Equivalent Force-Couple System