Center of mass, also known as center of gravity, may be located using the following process:

• Create the structural model and run analysis.

• Use "Display > Show Tables" command to export, into Excel, the following tables:
  
  

  • Model Definition > Connectivity Data > Joint Coordinates > Table: Joint Coordinates

  • Analysis Results > Joint Output > Joint Masses > Table: Assembled Joint Masses

• In Excel, calculate the location of the center of mass (com) for each coordinate direction. Use a weighted average in which assembled joint mass is the weight. For example, the x-coordinate of center of mass (x_com) may be calculated as follows:
  
  
  

  Open

  

  
  where:
  
  
  

  • x = x coordinate of individual joints

  • m = mass of individual joints

See Also

• Center-of-gravity determination tutorial

Metadata

• Name: Locate center of mass

• Description: Procedure for locating the center of mass for a structural system.

• Program: SAP2000

• Program Version: 12+

• Model ID: na