SECOND MOMENTS OF AREA

Example 1 Find the second moment of area of a rectangle b width and d depth
about its centroid G.

d /2 b
I xx = ∫ dA. y
2

−d / 2
d /2
dy
= ∫y
2
.bdy d/2
−d / 2 y
G
Since dA = b.dy
d /2
 by 3   bd 3   bd 3 
I xx =  =   −  − 
 3  − d / 2  24   24 
bd 3
I=
12

Example 2 Find the second moment of area of a rectangle ‘b’ width and ‘d’
depth about its base.
d
b
I = ∫ y 2 dA
0
d
dy
= ∫ by 2 dy
0 G
d d
 by 3  y
 
 3 0

bd 3
∴ I=
3

This result could be obtained by the theorem

I xx = I G + Ay 2

where Ixx is the second moment of area about xx

IG is the second moment of area about a line through the centroid

and parallel to xx.

A is the area

y is the distance of the centroid from xx

Thus I xx = I G + Ay 2
2
bd 3 d 
= + bd ×  
12 2
bd 3
=
3

Example 3

An I - section
There are two methods
I = I ABCD − 2I EFGH
0.1 × 0.13 0.047 × 0.08 3
= −2×
12 12
−6
= 4.323 × 10 m 4

Alternatively
I = 2 × I ABEL + I FHKJ
 0.1 × 0.013 2 0.006 × 0.08 3
=2× + ( 0.1 × 0.01) × ( 0.045)  +
 12  12
= 4.323 × 10 − 6 m 4
Clearly the first method is quicker

A B
10mm
E F K L

6mm
100mm

G H J I
10mm
C D
100mm
Example 4

Circular section
I = ∫ y 2 dA b
dA = b. dy
dA = 2r cosθ × dy dy
dA = 2r cos θ dθ
2 2
y
π
2 θ
I= ∫ 2r 4
cos2 θ sin 2 θ dθ
−π 2

sin 2θ = 2 cosθ sin θ

π
2
r4
So I= ∫ 2
sin 2 2θ dθ
−π 2

1 − cos 4θ = 2 sin 2 2θ
π
2
r4
So I= ∫ (1 − cos 4θ ) dθ
−π 2
4
π
r4  sin 4θ  2
I= θ −
4 4  − π
2

r 4  π π  πr 4
= + =
4  2 2  4
d
or since r =
2

πd 4
I=
64
Example 5 In the case of this irregular section we must first find G. The simplest
way is to take moments of area about the base. Divide the area into
three sections.

100mm
3 10mm

8mm
80mm 2
G

y = 41.4mm
20mm 1

120mm

Area Area x 10-6 m2 y Ay × 10 −6

1 20 x 120= 2400 10 24
2 8 x 80= 640 60 38.4
3 10 x 100= 1000 105 105

∑ A = 4040 × 10 m −6 2
∑ Ay = 167.4 × 10 −6
m3

∴ y=
∑ Ay = 167.4 = 0.0414m
∑ A 4040
= 41.4mm

We can evaluate I by taking I G + Ay 2 for all three sections. y is now taken from G.

Area Area x 10-6 m2 y mm Ay 2 × 10 −6 m 4 I G × 10 −6 m 4

1 2400 -30 2.16 0.08
2 640 20 0.256 0.341
3 1000 65 4.225 0.0083

∑ Ay 2
= 6.641 × 10 −6 m 4 ∑I G = 0.4293 × 10 −6 m 4

I = 7.07 × 10 − 6 m 4
Now do the following examples:

1. Determine the second moment of area of a ‘T’ section

100 mm x 100 m x 10mm.
100mm
10mm

100mm

10mm

2. An ‘I’ section has two flanges 25 mm x 200 mm and a web

15 mm x 300 mm.
Determine Ixx and Iyy for this section.

3. A channel section is as illustrated.

Determine Ixx and Iyy

20mm
5mm

5mm

40mm

5mm

4. Determine the second moment of area of a

Hollow pipe 75 mm O. D. and 65 mm I. D.
Calculate the diameter of a solid pipe
Having the same second moment of area.
5. Determine the centroid and second moment
of area of the section shown.

30mm

50mm

60mm
6. Determine the second moment of area of a hollow rectangular section
100 mm x 80 mm with 60 mm diameter bore.

Example

A rectangular section beam has a depth of 100mm, width 24 mm, and is subjected to a
bending moment of 25 kN-m. Calculate (a) the maximum stress in the beam and (b)
the radius of curvature of the neutral surface.

E = 206 GN/m2.