Week 14

Integration

Engineering Applications

Applications of Integration

Some common applications of integration are:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Volume of a solid of revolution

Centroid of a plane area
Centre of gravity of a solid of revolution
Arclength and surface area
Mean values
Root mean square values

Page 2

Applications of Integration
1. Volume of a Solid of a Revolution

Imagine rotating the plane area A under the graph of

the function f ( x), x [a, b] through a complete
revolution about the x axis, as in Figure 14.1.

Figure 14.1

Page 3

Applications of Integration
1. Volume of a Solid of a Revolution (continue)

The result would be to generate a solid having the xaxis as axis of symmetry as shown in Figure 14.2(a).

This is called a solid of revolution.

Figure 14.2(a)
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Applications of Integration
1. Volume of a Solid of a Revolution (continue)

To determine the volume of this solid, we subdivide

the rotating area into n vertical strips.
When a vertical strip within the subinterval [ xr 1 , xr ]
is rotated through a revolution about the x-axis, it will
generate a thin disc of radius f(xr*) (xr-1< xr*< xr)
and thickness xr-1 as shown in Figure 14.2(b).

Figure 14.2(b)

Page 5

Applications of Integration
1. Volume of a Solid of a Revolution (continue)

The volume of each disc is given by

Vr [ f ( xr *)] xr 1
2

Thus, the volume of the solid can be approximated by

n

r 1

r 1

V Vr [ f ( xr *)]2 xr 1

This approximation is closer to the exact volume as

the number of strips is increased. Thus, limiting case
as n and x0, x=max xr gives the
volume as,
n

V lim [ f ( xr *)]2 xr 1 [ f ( x)]2 dx

n
x 0

r 1

(14.1)
Page 6

Applications of Integration
2. Centroid of a Plane Area

Consider the plane region of Figure 14.3 bounded

between the graphs of the two continuous functions
f(x) and g(x) on the interval x [a, b] with g(x)f(x)
on the interval:

Figure 14.3
Page 7

Applications of Integration
2. Centroid of a Plane Area (continue)

The area A of this region is clearly given by:

A = area under graph f(x) area under graph g(x)
b

f ( x)dx g ( x)dx
That is,

A [ f ( x) g ( x)]dx
a

(14.2)

Page 8

Applications of Integration
2. Centroid of a Plane Area (continue)

The centroid of the area is given by coordinates

( x , y ) where,

1 b
x x[ f ( x) g ( x)]dx
A a
1 b
2
2
y
[
f
(
x
)]

[
g
(
x
)]
dx

2A a

(14.3)
(14.4)

and area A is given by equation (14.2).

Page 9

Applications of Integration
2. Centroid of a Plane Area (continue)

In the particular case when g(x) is the x-axis, the

centroid of the plane area is bounded by f ( x )( x [ a, b])
and the coordinates of the centroid is given by

1 b
x xf ( x)dx,
A a

1 b
2
y
[
f
(
x
)]
dx (14.5)

2A a

Page 10

Applications of Integration
3. Centre of Gravity of a Solid of Revolution

We can obtain the coordinates ( X , Y ) of the centre

of gravity of the solid of revolution generated by
f ( x)( x [a, b]) as in Figure 14.1.
By symmetry, it lies on the x-axis, so that

Y 0
X

x[ f ( x)]2 dx

(14.6)

where volume V is given by equation (14.1).

Page 11

Applications of Integration
Example 14.1:
The area enclosed between the curve y ( x 2) and the
ordinates x = 2 and x = 5 is rotated through 2 radians
about the x-axis. Calculate
(a) The rotating area and the coordinated of its centroid
(b) The volume of the solid of revolution generated and the
coordinates of its centre of gravity.

Page 12

Applications of Integration
Solution 14.1:
(a) The rotating area is the shaded region shown in Figure
14.4.
From Equation 14.2,
b

A [ f ( x) g ( x)]dx
a

where f ( x) ( x 2)
Figure 14.4

, g ( x) 0,

a 2, b 5

Thus, A ( x 2)1/ 2 dx
2

( x 2) 3 / 2 2 3 square units
3
2
Page 13

Applications of Integration
Solution 14.1:
(a) To find the coordinates of the centroid, note that g(x) is
actually the x-axis. Thus, using formula 14.5:

1 b
1 5
x xf ( x)dx x( x 2)1/ 2 dx
A 2
A a

Thus,

1 5
( x 2)3 / 2 2( x 2)1/ 2 dx
A 2
5
1 2
4

( x 2) 5 / 2 ( x 2) 3 / 2
A 5
3
2
1 2
4

(3)5 / 2 (3)3 / 2
A 5
3

1 38

3
known A =23
A 5
19
x
Page 14
5

Applications of Integration
Solution 14.1:
(a) Similarly,
1 b
1 5
2
1/ 2 2
y
[
f
(
x
)]
dx

[(
x

2
)
] dx

a
2A
2A 2
1 5

( x 2)dx

2
2A
5

1 1
2

(
x

2
)

2 A 2
2

Thus,

1 9

2A 2
3 3
y
8

known A =23

Hence, the coordinates of the centroid are 19 , 3 3

5

8 Page 15

Applications of Integration
Solution 14.1:
(b) The volume V of the solid of revolution is calculated from
equation 14.1:
b

2
5

V [ f ( x)]2 dx [( x 2)1/ 2 ]2 dx

( x 2)dx
2

( x 2) 2
2
2
9
cubic units
2
Page 16

Applications of Integration
Solution 14.1:
(b) The coordinates of its centre of gravity is given by
equation 14.6.
Since the solid is symmetrical on the x-axis, Y 0

x( x 2) dx

V
V
5

1/ 2 2

x( x 2)dx
x 2 2 xdx

x
V3
2
18
9

Known V
V
2
3

X 4

Thus, coordinates of centre of gravity is (4, 0).

Page 17

Applications of Integration
4. Arclength and Surface Area

In many practical problems, we are required to

work out the length of a curve or the surface area
generated by rotating a curve.

The formula for the length s of a curve with formula

y = f(x) between 2 points corresponding to x =a
and x = b is given by the equation:

dy
1 dx
dx

(14.7)

Page 18

Applications of Integration
4. Arclength and Surface Area

The surface area S generated by s when it is

rotated through 2 radians about the x-axis is
given by
2

dy
S 2y 1 dx
a
dx
b

(14.8)

Page 19

Applications of Integration
Example 14.2:
A parabolic reflector (Figure 14.5) is formed by rotating
the part of the curve y x between x = 0 and x = 1
about the x-axis. What is the surface area of the reflector?

Figure 14.5:
A parabolic reflector
Page 20

Applications of Integration
Solution 14.2:

Given y x

1/ 2

differentiating gives, dy 1 x 1/ 2 1
dx 2
2 x

From equation (14.8) the surface area is given by

2

1
1
dy
S 2y 1 dx 2 x 1 dx
0
0
4x
dx
1
1
2 x 1 dx
0
4x
1

4x 1
dx
4x
Page 21

Applications of Integration
Solution 14.2 (continue):
2

1
4x 1
dy
S 2y 1 dx 2 x
dx
0
0
4x
dx
1
4x 1
2 x
dx
0
2 x
1
4x 1
2 x
dx
0
2 x
1
4 x 1dx
1

1 2

(4 x 1) 3 / 2
4 3
0
1
(53 / 2 1) square units
6
Page 22

Applications of Integration
Example 14.3:
The curve described by the cable of the suspension
bridge shown in Figure 14.6 is given by
hx 2 2h
y 2
xh
l
l
Where x is the distance measured from one end of the
bridge. What is the length of the cable?

Figure 14.6:
Suspension bridge

Page 23

Applications of Integration
Solution 14.3:
Given, equation of the curve is
hx 2 2h
y 2
xh
l
l
x2 2x
h 2
1
l
l

x
h 1
l

dy 2h x
Differentiating gives

1
dx l l

Page 24

Applications of Integration
Solution 14.3 (continue):
From equation (14.1), the length s of the cable is
s

2l

2l

2h x

1 ( 1) dx
l l

4h 2 x 2
1 2 1 dx
l l

2h x
To simplify the integral, let t 1
l l

l 2 2h / l
2
Thus, s
(
1

t
)dt

2h 2 h / l
l 2 2h / l
s
(1 t 2 )dt (from symmetry)
h 0

Page 25

Applications of Integration
Solution 14.3 (continue):
Recall from Week 13 notes, the integral obtained can be
further simplified using substitution of t sinh u , giving
l2
s
h

sinh1 2 h / l

l 2 sinh1 2 h / l
cosh 2u 1du
cosh u du h 0
sinh1 ( 2 h / l )
2
l 1

sinh 2u u
h 2
0
l2
sinh1 ( 2 h / l )
sinh u cosh u u 0
h

l 2 2 h 4h 2
1 2h
1 2 sinh

h l
l
l

l2
2h
2
2
l 4h sinh 1
2h
l
2

Page 26

Applications of Integration
5. Mean values

In many engineering applications we often need to

know the mean value of a continuously varying
quantity.

When dealing with a sequence of values, the mean

value can be computed simply by adding the values
together and then divide by the number of values
taken.

When dealing with a continuously varying quantity,

we cannot do the same directly.

Page 27

Applications of Integration
5. Mean values (continue)

In continuous varying quantity problems, we can

compute the mean value by using integration.
Consider a function f(x)
with graphical
representation as in
Figure 14.7:

Figure 14.7

Page 28

Applications of Integration
5. Mean values (continue)

The sum of the shaded areas above the line y =

(mean value) is equal to the sum of the shaded
areas below it, so that the area of the rectangle
ABCD is the same as the area between the curve
and the x-axis.
The mean value is given by

1 b
m.v.( f ( x))
f ( x)dx

ba a
(14.9)
Figure 14.7

Page 29

Applications of Integration
Example 14.4:
Find the mean value of function

f(t) t

between the interval of t = 1 and t = 3.

Page 30

Applications of Integration
Solution 14.4:
Using equation (14.9), the mean value is given by,
1 b
m.v
f ( x )dx

a
ba
1 3 2
m.v
t dt

1
3 1
3
3

1 t
m.v
2 3 1

1 3 3 13 13
m.v

2 3
3 3

Page 31

Applications of Integration
6. Root Mean Square values

In some context, the computation of the mean

value of a function is not useful.

For example, the mean of an alternating current is

zero but that does not imply it is not dangerous!

In such situations, we use root mean square

(r.m.s) of the function f(x).

Page 32

Applications of Integration
6. Root Mean Square values (continue)

Literally, this is the square root of the mean value

of [f(x)]2, written as

1 b
2
r.m.s.( f ( x))

f ( x) dx

ba a
2

(14.10)

Common applications of r.m.s. values are in

electrical engineering.

Page 33

Applications of Integration
Example 14.5:
An electric current i is given by the expressions

i I sin
where I is a constant. Find the root mean square value of
the current over the interval 0 2 .

Page 34

Applications of Integration
Solution 14.5:
Using equation (14.10), the r.m.s. value of the given
current is,
1 b
2
r.m.s.( f ( x))

f
(
x
)
dx

a
ba
2
1
2
2
2
r.m.s.i
I
sin
d

0
2 0
I 2 2 1

(1 cos 2 )d

0
2
2
2
2
I
1
I2
1 2

sin
2

4
2
4
2
0
2

Thus, r.m.s current, r.m.s.i

I2
I

2
2

Page 35

Thank You!