I.

Course Outline
Chapter I. Introduction
Chapter II. Force Systems
a. Coplanar
b. Non-Coplanar
Chapter III. Equilibrium of Force Systems
Chapter IV. Analysis of Structures
Chapter V. Friction
Chapter VI. Force Systems in Space
Chapter VII. Centroid and Centers of Gravity
Chapter VIII. Moment of Inertia

 Mechanics is a physical science that relates the state of rest

or motion of a body subjected to external forces.
Areas (as to civil engineering study):
Rigid-body Mechanics
Deformable-body Mechanics
Fluid Mechanics
Soil Mechanics

 Rigid-body Mechanics idealizes objects or any body

as non-deforming; that is, no external force causes it to
change in shape or form.
Two areas fall under rigid-body mechanics: statics and
dynamics. Statics explores the interaction of forces of
bodies at rest; comparatively, dynamics deals with bodies
under accelerated motion.

Statics

Dynamics

What is Force?
Characteristics of a Force:
1. Magnitude
2. Direction
3. Line of Action

Principle of Transmissibility

States that the conditions of equilibrium or conditions of

motion of a rigid body will remain unchanged if a force acting
at a give point of the rigid body is replaced by a force of the
same magnitude and same direction, but acting at a different
point, provided that the two forces have the same line of
action.
In other words you can resolve
a force into its components
anywhere along its line of action.

Components of a Force (Coplanar)

The axis where the force is to be resolved into should be normal
each other.
y-axis

Fy

=30
Fx

x-axis

Example 1: Compute for the components of each of the

forces shown in the figure:
y-axis
T=722 lb
P=200 lb
3
2
=60
x-axis
2
1
F=448 lb

Example 2: The triangular block shown in the figure is

subjected to the loads P= 1600lbs and F = 600lbs. If
AB=8in and BC=6in, resolve each load into normal and
tangential components to AC.
A
P=1600lb
C

B
F=600lb

Multiplication Factor

Prefix

Symbol

x109

Giga

x106

Mega

x103

Kilo

x10-3

Milli

x10-6

Micro

x10-9

Nano

x10-12

Pico

 Kinds of Loads
Loads are forms of how forces occur in practice
According to geometry
1. Point Load
100N 50 lbs
10kg
2. Uniform Load

10N/m

3. Triangular Load

20lb/ft

4. Trapezoidal Load

30N/m

10N/m

 Kinds of Loads
Loads are forms of how forces occur in practice
According to Characterization
1. Dead Load
-dead weights of members and other fixed structures
2. Live Load
-weights which are inconsistently present or moving
3. Wind Load
- load that varies with altitude
4. Seismic Load
- load that varies with distance from active faults and tectonic
activity