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3 Couple and equivalent systems of forces

Couple, scalar
Lets consider two equal, opposite, non-collinear forces. Their
sum is equal to zero, hence they have no tendency to produce
linear motion. However, their moment is not equal to zero.
Thus, they will have tendency to rotate the body.
Definition: Couple is a moment produced by two equal,
opposite, non-collinear forces.
Note: the line of action of the two
forces is parallel.

Notation: - without a subscript

Units: or .
Computation: Scalar (mostly 2D)

Moment about :

Note: Important there is no reference to !

Moment about :

Note: as can be seen from the equivalence of the couples with

regards to different points of application, couple is a free vector
with no importance of point of application
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Sign: usual convention for moments (counter clockwise is

positive).
Couple, Vector
Computation:
Vector Algebra (2D or 3D)

Moment about :

Direction: perpendicular to and ,

Sense: Right hand rule or screwdriver rule.

Magnitude:

Note: is a free (no reference to O!) vector between two

arbitrary, conveniently selected points on two lines of action.
Some properties of a couple
1. Couples can be added using vector algebra, like moments
2. For the same and , force direction doesnt matter:
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3. The above is true for couples contained in the same or in

parallel planes. As long as the moment of a couple is the
same, the couples are equivalent.
4. Couple moment (rotational tendency) can be increased by
increasing force magnitude or arm d:

Addition of couples: distributive (similar to moments). Can

be shown using Varignons theorem.
Couple, Computation in Problems
2D - scalar ( )

- components (2 couples formed by and )

- vector ( )

3D - almost exclusively vector

Couple, Example 1
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Example 2

Example 3
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Example 4
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Force-Couple System, Single Force

A single force applied to a rigid body creates a tendency for a
linear motion and a rotational motion, with respect to an
arbitrary point B.
Lets shift its line of action so it passes through the point B. The
tendency for creation of linear motion will not change.
However, we will need a couple to maintain tendency for a
rotational motion.
This can be done by adding two opposite and collinear forces
with the line of action parallel to and passing through B:

Note: All 3 systems are equivalent they lead to the same

result.
The combination of a force and a couple is called a force-couple
system.
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Force-Couple System, 3D
Similarly, force-couple can be computed for 3D body:

where original force applied at is equivalent to the force

and a couple at point .

Here is a free vector (not attached to ) and is a

position vector from to any point on a line of action of , i.e.
not restricted to .

Applications of Force-Couple Systems

Force to force-couple equivalency is very important in statics,
since it allows us to shift the line of action of a force and :
1) To analyze the effect of action of a force with respect to an
arbitrary (critical) point of interest within a structure
2) To (sometimes) simplify calculations
3) To compute resultants of systems of forces at particular
points
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System of Forces-Couples
A system of forces-couples is equivalent to a force-couple
system at an arbitrary point , where resultant force acting
at is:

and a resultant couple is the sum of all couples plus the sum
of moments of the original forces about :

Where the first additive in the last sum is a sum of all couples
and the second one is a sum of all moments about .
Force-Couple Systems, Example 1
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Example 2

Example 3
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Example 4
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Elimination of a Couple
The process used to shift the line of action of a force can be
reversed: line of action can be shifted, so that a force-couple
system is reduced to just a force.

The distance . so that the force at the new location

should create the moment about the old location .

Since any system of forces and couples in 2D can be reduced to

a force and a couple resultants, by shifting the line of action of
the resultant force one can eliminate the resultant couple.
2D Resultants
Direction and Magnitude of a resultant force can be found by
the vectorial addition of forces (tail-to-head). If force was a free
vector, thatd be all.
However, force is a sliding vector, hence the line of action also
matters.
Direction, Magnitude, and Line of Action can be found by one
the two basic methods.
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Shifting the Line of Action of a Force

2D Resultants, Example 1
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Example 2

Sequential Two-Force Addition

To add two forces apply Principle of Transmissibility (i) and
Parallelogram Law of Vector Addition (ii).
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Notes:
Sequence of forces doesnt
matter.
Seldom used for more than 3
forces.

Two-Force Addition via Force-Couple equivalency

Use of force-couple equivalency with respect to an arbitrary
reference point.
1) Shift lines of action to and introduce
couples for equivalency.
2) Calculate resultant force and
couple

3) Replace resultant force-couple system by

a single force (eliminate couple by
shifting line of action of ).

Note: Can do that as long as . When you cant

eliminate couple.
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Similar operation can be performed in 3D. However, only

component of perpendicular to can be eliminated by
shifting . Remaining system of parallel and is called
wrench (see page 130 in the book). System of parallel 3D
forces can be, however, be reduced to a single resultant force,
.

Force Addition, Example 1

Example 2
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Example 3

Example 4
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