Valliammai Engineering College

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Content beyond the Syllabus - ME 6505 Dynamics of Machines
SEM: V
Static force analyzing and advanced couple forces.
The steps of solving a mechanism under static loading is reviewed first, then D'Alembert
principle and inertia forces are introduced, which converts the dynamic problem into kinetostatic
problem, where the superposition method and the graphical approach can be utilized.
Methods of Linkage Force Analysis
Superposition Method. Two approaches can be used
o Graphical layout
o Hand calculation
Matrix Method: computer solution (simultaneous solution of system of equations)
Static Force Analysis Superposition - Graphical Method
In the graphical approach it is useful to recognize the following static force system to determine
the directions (line of action but not the sense) of the internal forces.
Two Force Member: a rigid body acted upon by two forces is in static equilibrium only
if the two forces are collinear, equal in magnitude, and opposite in direction.
Three Force Member: a rigid body acted upon by three forces is in static equilibrium
only if the three forces are concurrent at some point and their sum is zero.
A rigid body acted upon by a couple is in static equilibrium only if acted upon by another
coplanar couple, which is equal in magnitude, and opposite in direction.
Following are the Steps for graphically solving static force problem in mechanisms
1. Graphical position analysis: draw the space diagram (mechanism configuration) at the required
position using a suitable scale.

2. On the space diagram draw the external forces/moments acting on the mechanism in their
corresponding locations.
3. Draw the free body diagram for each subsystem:
a. Introduce cuts at joints or links' sections, draw an exploded drawing of the mechanism (break
the mechanism into a suitable number of subsystems-links/group of links),
b. Draw the external forces on the links and internal constraining forces at the introduced cuts.
4. Identify the type of static force system for each subsystem and apply the conditions of
equilibrium to get information about the unknown internal forces.
5. Analyze links sequentially by drawing the force polygon for each subsystem/link
a. Start with the link which can be analyzed immediately (subject to known external force)
b. Use the results from the previous step to construct remaining force polygons by

examining forces transmitted between subsystems.

Content

PO

PSO

Static
force
analyzing
and
advanced couple
forces

PO1,
PO2,
PO12

PSO1,
PSO2

Justification
Static force analyzing and advanced couple forces
will results in better understanding of the forces in
automobiles. Various automobile design events
were carried out as a part of understanding the
advanced couple forces.