Forces and Moments: Part 6

Simplification to a single resultant force:

Imagine a system of forces and moments (Fig. a), which can be simplified to a system with just one resultant force and one resultant moment (Fig. b):

Remember that the resultant force will always be perpendicular to the resultant moment.

Now we can further reduce the system to just a resultant force at P:

• P lies on b-b axis which is perpendicular to a-a axis and line of action of FR
• P is at a distance d from O ( M_Ro=F_R.d , so d = M_Ro/ F_R )