ME 101: Engineering Mechanics

Rajib Kumar Bhattacharjya

Department of Civil Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati

M Block : Room No 005 : Tel: 2428

www.iitg.ernet.in/rkbc

Area Moments of Inertia

Parallel Axis Theorem
Consider moment of inertia I of an area A
with respect to the axis AA
I = y 2 dA

The axis BB passes through the area centroid

and is called a centroidal axis.
I = y 2 dA = ( y + d )2 dA

Parallel Axis theorem:

MI @ any axis =
MI @ centroidal axis + Ad2
The two axes should be
parallel to each other.

= y 2 dA + 2d y dA + d 2 dA

Second term = 0 since centroid lies on BB

(ydA = ycA, and yc = 0

I = I + Ad 2

Parallel Axis theorem

Area Moments of Inertia

Parallel Axis Theorem
Moment of inertia IT of a circular area with
respect to a tangent to the circle,

( )

I T = I + Ad 2 = 14 r 4 + r 2 r 2
= 54 r 4

Moment of inertia of a triangle with respect to a

centroidal axis,
I AA = I BB + Ad 2

( )2

1 bh 3 1 bh 1 h
I BB = I AA Ad 2 = 12
2
3
1 bh 3
= 36

The moment of inertia of a composite area A about a given axis is obtained by adding the
moments of inertia of the component areas A1, A2, A3, ... , with respect to the same axis.

Area Moments of Inertia: Standard MIs

Moment of inertia about
-axis
Moment of inertia about -axis
Moment of inertia about
 -axis
Moment of inertia about   -axis

Answer
1
 = 
3
1

= 
3
1
 =

12
1


=
12

Moment of inertia about -axis passing through C  =

1
   + 
12

Moment of inertia about
-axis

Moment of inertia about
-axis

1
 =

12


1
=

36

Moment of inertia about

 -axis

1 
 = 
4

1 
Moment of inertia about -axis passing through O  = 
2

Moment of inertia about

 -axis

1 
 = 
= 
8

1 
Moment of inertia about -axis passing through O  = 
4

Moment of inertia about

 -axis

1
 = 
=
 
16

1 
Moment of inertia about -axis passing through O  = 
8

Moment of inertia about
-axis

1
 = 
4

Moment of inertia about -axis

1

=  
4

1
Moment of inertia about -axis passing through O  =   +  
4

Area Moments of Inertia

Example:
Determine the moment of inertia of the shaded area with respect to the x axis.

SOLUTION:
Compute the moments of inertia of the
bounding rectangle and half-circle with
respect to the x axis.
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.

Area Moments of Inertia

Example: Solution
SOLUTION:
Compute the moments of inertia of the bounding
rectangle and half-circle with respect to the x axis.
Rectangle:

I x = 13 bh 3 =
4r (4 )(90)
a=
=
= 38.2 mm
3
3
b = 120 - a = 81.8 mm
A = 12 r 2 = 12 (90 )

= 12.72 10 3 mm 2

1
3

(240)(120)3 = 138.2 10 6 mm 4

Half-circle:
moment of inertia with respect to AA,
I AA = 18 r 4 = 18 (90)4 = 25.76 106 mm4

Moment of inertia with respect to x,

) (

I x = I AA Aa 2 = 25.76 10 6 12.72 10 3 (38.2)

= 7.20 10 6 mm 4
moment of inertia with respect to x,

I x = I x + Ab 2 = 7.20 10 6 + 12.72 10 3 (81.8)

= 92.3 10 6 mm 4

Area Moments of Inertia

Example: Solution
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

I x = 45.9 106 mm 4

138.2 106 mm4

92.3 106 mm4

Consider area (1)

1
1
 =  = 80 60 = 5.76 10 ""
3
3

Consider area (2)



1  

=
=
30
4 4
16


30
4

 = 0.0445 10 + 30
4
$ = 0.1590 10

= 0.1590 10 ""


12.73

= 0.0445 10 ""

60 12.73 = 1.624 10 ""

Consider area (3)

 =

1
1
 =
40 30 = 0.09 10 ""
12
12

 = 5.76 10 1.624 10 0.09 10 = &. '( )'* ++&

1
, = 60 80  30
4

1
40 30 = 3490""
2

- =


=
,

4.05 10
= .&. ''++
3490

Determine the moment of inertia and the radius of gyration of

the area shown in the fig.
1
1

1 
/ 
 24  6  432 ""
12
12
2 

1
1
/ 
 8  48  73728 ""
12
12

1
1

3 
/ 
 48  6  864 ""
12
12
1  1  ,  432  24  6  24  3

 105408 ""

3  3  ,  864  48  6  24  3

 210816 ""

  105408  73728  210816  390  10 ""

- 



,

390  10
 0). 1 ++
816

Area Moments of Inertia

Products of Inertia: for problems involving unsymmetrical cross-sections
and in calculation of MI about rotated axes. It may be +ve, -ve, or zero
Product of Inertia of area A w.r.t. x-y axes:
I xy = xy dA
x and y are the coordinates of the element of area dA=xy
When the x axis, the y axis, or both are an
axis of symmetry, the product of inertia is
zero.
Parallel axis theorem for products of inertia:
I xy = I xy + x yA
- Ixy

+ Ixy

Quadrants
+ Ixy

- Ixy

Area Moments of Inertia

Rotation of Axes
Product of inertia is useful in calculating MI @ inclined axes.

Determination of axes about which the MI is a maximum and a minimum
I x ' = y ' 2 dA = ( y cos x sin ) dA
2

I y ' = x' 2 dA = (x cos + y sin ) dA

2

I x ' y ' = x' y 'dA = (x cos + y sin )( y cos x sin )dA

1 cos 2
1 + cos 2
cos 2 =
2
2
2
sin cos = 1 / 2 sin 2 cos sin 2 = cos 2
sin 2 =

I x = y 2 dA I y = x 2 dA
I xy = xy dA

Moments and product of inertia

w.r.t. new axes x and y ?
Note: x = x cos + y sin
y = y cos x sin

I x =

Ix + I y

I y =
I xy ' =

2
Ix + I y
2
Ix Iy
2

Ix Iy
2
Ix Iy
2

cos 2 I xy sin 2
cos 2 + I xy sin 2

sin 2 + I xy cos 2

Area Moments of Inertia

Rotation of Axes

I x =

Ix + Iy
2
Ix + I y

Ix Iy
2
Ix Iy

cos 2 I xy sin 2

cos 2 + I xy sin 2

2
2
Ix I y
I xy ' =
sin 2 + I xy cos 2
2

I y =

Adding first two eqns:

Ix + Iy = Ix + Iy = Iz
The Polar MI @ O
Angle which makes Ix and Iy either max or
min can be found by setting the derivative
of either Ix or Iy w.r.t. equal to zero:
dI x'
= I y I x sin 2 2 I xy cos 2 = 0
d
Denoting this critical angle by
2 I xy
tan 2 =
Iy Ix

two values of 2 which differ by since tan2 = tan(2+)

two solutions for will differ by /2

one value of will define the axis of maximum MI and the other defines the
axis of minimum MI

These two rectangular axes are called the principal axes of inertia

Area Moments of Inertia

Rotation of Axes

tan 2 =

2 I xy
Iy Ix

sin 2 = cos 2

2 I xy
Iy Ix

Substituting in the third eqn for critical value

of 2: Ixy = 0

I x =

Ix + Iy
2
Ix + I y

Ix Iy
2
Ix Iy

cos 2 I xy sin 2

cos 2 + I xy sin 2

2
2
Ix I y
I xy ' =
sin 2 + I xy cos 2
2

I y =

Product of Inertia Ixy is zero for the

Principal Axes of inertia
Substituting sin2 and cos2 in first two eqns
for Principal Moments of Inertia:

Ix + Iy

1
2
2
Ix + I y 1
I min =

2
2
I xy @ = 0
I max =

(I x I y )2 + 4I xy2
(I x I y )2 + 4I xy2

 =

 + 
 

+
23425 
46725
2
2


=



 + 
 

=
23425 
46725
2
2

 

46725 + 
23425
2

Squaring both the equation and adding

 + 


2


89 :8; 


+ 

+ 

+ 

 

=
23425 
46725
2
89 <8; 

=
+

 + 


2


89 <8; 


234  25 2

467 25 + 2

 

=
2

89 <8;


89 <8;


+ 

 

+
46725 + 
23425
2



2342546725 + 
467 25



2342546725 + 
467 25

 + 


2

+ 

 

=
2

 + 

= =>?
2

Defining
 =>?

+ 

= @

+ 

And

@=

 

+ 

Which is a equation of circle with center =>? , 0 and radius @



25
=>?

Area Moments of Inertia

Mohrs Circle of Inertia: Following relations can be represented
graphically by a diagram called Mohrs Circle
For given values of Ix, Iy, & Ixy, corresponding values of Ix, Iy, & Ixy may be
determined from the diagram for any desired angle .
I x =

Ix + Iy
2
Ix + Iy

Ix Iy
2
Ix Iy

cos 2 I xy sin 2 tan 2 =

2 I xy
Iy Ix

Ixy

cos 2 + I xy sin 2

2
2
Ix Iy
I xy ' =
sin 2 + I xy cos 2
2
Ix + Iy 1
2
+
I x I y 2 + 4 I xy
I max =
2
2
Ix + Iy 1
2
I min =

I x I y 2 + 4 I xy
2
2
I xy @ = 0
I y =

(I x I ave )2 + I x2y = R 2
I ave =

Ix + Iy
2

Ix Iy
2
+ I xy
R =
2

At the points A and B, Ixy = 0 and Ix is

a maximum and minimum, respectively.
I max,min = I ave R

Area Moments of Inertia

Mohrs Circle of Inertia: Construction

I x =

tan 2 =

2 I xy
Iy Ix

Ix + Iy
2
Ix + Iy

Ix Iy
2
Ix Iy

cos 2 I xy sin 2

cos 2 + I xy sin 2

2
2
Ix Iy
I xy ' =
sin 2 + I xy cos 2
2

I y =

Ix + Iy

1
2
2
Ix + Iy 1
I min =

2
2
I xy @ = 0
I max =

(I x I y )2 + 4I xy2
(I x I y )2 + 4I xy2

Choose horz axis
MI

Choose vert axis
PI
Point A known {Ix, Ixy}
Point B known {Iy, -Ixy}
Circle with dia AB
Angle for Area

Angle 2 to horz (same
sense)
Imax, Imin
Angle x to x =

Angle OA to OC = 2

Same sense
Point C
Ix, Ixy
Point D
Iy

Area Moments of Inertia

Example: Product of Inertia
SOLUTION:
Determine the product of inertia using
direct integration with the parallel axis
theorem on vertical differential area strips
Apply the parallel axis theorem to
evaluate the product of inertia with respect
to the centroidal axes.

Determine the product of inertia of

the right triangle (a) with respect
to the x and y axes and
(b) with respect to centroidal axes
parallel to the x and y axes.

Area Moments of Inertia

Examples

SOLUTION:
Determine the product of inertia using direct integration
with the parallel axis theorem on vertical differential
area strips
x
x
y = h1 dA = y dx = h1 dx
b
b
x
xel = x
yel = 12 y = 12 h1
b
Integrating dIx from x = 0 to x = b,
b

I xy = dI xy = xel yel dA = x
0

x 2 x3 x 4
x x 2 x3

=h
+
dx = h + 2
2 b 2b 2
0

4 3b 8b 0
2

x
h 1 dx
b

()
1
2

I xy =

1 b 2h 2
24

Area Moments of Inertia

Examples

SOLUTION
Apply the parallel axis theorem to evaluate the
product of inertia with respect to the centroidal axes.
x = 13 b

y = 13 h

With the results from part a,

I xy = I xy + x yA
I xy =

1 b 2h 2
24

( )(13 h)(12 bh)

13 b

1 b 2h2
I xy = 72

Area Moments of Inertia

Example: Mohrs Circle of Inertia
SOLUTION:
Plot the points (Ix , Ixy) and (Iy ,-Ixy).
Construct Mohrs circle based on the
circle diameter between the points.

The moments and product of inertia

with respect to the x and y axes are Ix =
7.24x106 mm4, Iy = 2.61x106 mm4, and
Ixy = -2.54x106 mm4.
Using Mohrs circle, determine (a) the
principal axes about O, (b) the values of
the principal moments about O, and (c)
the values of the moments and product
of inertia about the x and y axes

Based on the circle, determine the

orientation of the principal axes and the
principal moments of inertia.
Based on the circle, evaluate the
moments and product of inertia with
respect to the xy axes.

Area Moments of Inertia

Example: Mohrs Circle of Inertia
SOLUTION:
Plot the points (Ix , Ixy) and (Iy ,-Ixy). Construct Mohrs
circle based on the circle diameter between the points.

OC = I ave = 12 I x + I y = 4.925 106 mm 4

CD = 12 I x I y = 2.315 106 mm 4
R=

I x = 7.24 106 mm4

I xy = 2.54 10 mm

= 3.437 106 mm4

Based on the circle, determine the orientation of the

principal axes and the principal moments of inertia.

I y = 2.61 106 mm4

6

(CD )2 + (DX )2

tan 2 m =

DX
= 1.097 2 m = 47.6
CD

m = 23.8

Area Moments of Inertia

Example: Mohrs Circle of Inertia

OC = I ave = 4.925 106 mm 4

R = 3.437 106 mm4

Based on the circle, evaluate the moments and product

of inertia with respect to the xy axes.
The points X and Y corresponding to the x and y axes
are obtained by rotating CX and CY counterclockwise
through an angle = 2(60o) = 120o. The angle that CX
forms with the horz is = 120o - 47.6o = 72.4o.
I x ' = OF = OC + CX cos = I ave + R cos 72.4o

I x = 5.96 106 mm 4
I y ' = OG = OC CY cos = I ave R cos 72.4o
I y = 3.89 106 mm4

I xy ' = FX = CY sin = R sin 72.4o

I xy = 3.28 106 mm 4

Determine the product of the inertia of the shaded area shown below about the x-y axes.

Solution:
Parallel axis theorem: Ixy = xy +dx dy A
Both areas (1) and (2) are symmetric @ their
centroidal
Axis
xy = 0 for both area.
Therefore, for Area (1): Ixy1 = dx1 dy1 A1
Ixy1 = 201407070 = 13.72106 mm 4
Similarly, for Area (2): Ixy2 = dx2 dy2 A2
Ixy2 = 602013030 = 4.68106 mm 4
Total Ixy = Ixy1 + Ixy2 = 18.40106 mm 4

Ix < Iy , Ixy (+)

Ix >Iy ,

Ixy (+)

Ix > Iy ,

Ixy (-)

Ix < Iy ,

Ixy (-)

Area Moments of Inertia

Mass Moments of Inertia (I): Important in Rigid Body Dynamics
-

I is a measure of distribution of mass of a rigid body w.r.t. the

axis in question (constant property for that axis).
- Units are (mass)(length)2
kg.m2
Consider a three dimensional body of mass m
Mass moment of inertia of this body about axis O-O:

I = r2 dm
Integration is over the entire body.
r = perpendicular distance of the mass element dm
from the axis O-O

Area Moments of Inertia

Moments of Inertia of Thin Plates
For a thin plate of uniform thickness t and homogeneous
material of density , the mass moment of inertia with
respect to axis AA contained in the plate is
I AA = r 2 dm = t r 2 dA
= t I AA,area

Similarly, for perpendicular axis BB

which is also contained in the plate,
I BB = t I BB,area

For the axis CC which is perpendicular to the plate,

I CC = t J C ,area = t (I AA,area + I BB,area )
= I AA + I BB

Area Moments of Inertia

Moments of Inertia of Thin Plates
For the principal centroidal axes on a rectangular plate,

(121 a3b) = 121 ma 2

1 ab 3 ) = 1 mb 2
I BB = t I BB,area = t (12
12
1 m (a 2 + b 2 )
I CC = I AA,mass + I BB,mass = 12
I AA = t I AA,area = t

For centroidal axes on a circular plate,

I AA = I BB = t I AA,area = t 14 r 4 = 14 mr 2

Area Moments of Inertia

Moments of Inertia of a 3D Body by Integration
Moment of inertia of a homogeneous body
is obtained from double or triple
integrations of the form
I = r 2 dV

For bodies with two planes of symmetry,

the moment of inertia may be obtained
from a single integration by choosing thin
slabs perpendicular to the planes of
symmetry for dm.
The moment of inertia with respect to a
particular axis for a composite body may
be obtained by adding the moments of
inertia with respect to the same axis of the
components.

Q. No. Determine the moment of inertia of a slender rod of

length L and mass m with respect to an axis which is
perpendicular to the rod and passes through one end of the rod.
Solution

Q. No. For the homogeneous rectangular prism shown,

determine the moment of inertia with respect to z axis
Solution

Area Moments of Inertia

MI of some common geometric shapes

Q. Determine the angle which locates the principal axes of inertia through point O for the
rectangular area (Figure 5). Construct the Mohrs circle of inertia and specify the
corresponding values of Imax and Imin.

y
2b
x

B
E 

(2)




B

Iy = 2()  
F
Ixy = 2 ()()  

Ix =

With this data, plot the Mohrs circle, and using trigonometry
calculate the angle 2
2 =tan-1(b4/b4) = 45o
Therefore, =22.5o (clockwise w.r.t. x)

From Mohrs Circle:

Imax =
Imin =

G 
 + 

G 



2  3.08
2  0.252

Q. No. Determine the moments and product of inertia of the area of the square with respect to the x'- y' axes.
Ix =

B


 =
F

B 
 ;

Ixy = 0 + (   ) =

Iy =

B 


B 



With = 30o, using the equation of moment of inertia about any inclined axes
 + 
 

+
H34 25 
I67 25
2
2
 + 
 

H34 25 + 
I67 25


2
2
 

=
I67 25 + 
H34 25


2
we get,
 =

Ix' =

FJ

+0

Iy' =

FJ

+0+

Ixy' = 0

B 
 I67


60 = (

B 
 I67

B
B
+ (   ) =

60 = ( +
B


)
E

= 0.1168


)
E

= 0.5498

( E  ) = 0.1250

Alternatively, Mohrs Circle may be

used to determine the three
quantities.