statyka

Statyka, or statics in English, is a branch of mechanics that studies bodies at rest or moving with constant velocity so that they are in mechanical equilibrium. It is a foundational field for civil and mechanical engineering as well as architecture, and it typically treats rigid bodies while neglecting significant deformations.

For a body in equilibrium, the vector sum of all external forces must be zero and the sum of moments (torques) about any point must also be zero. These conditions enable the analysis of how loads, supports, and internal reactions balance each other. In planar statics, problems are reduced to two dimensions, while spatial statics extends to three dimensions.

Common methods in statics include free-body diagrams, force resolution, and moment calculations. Engineers often use the method of joints and the method of sections to solve truss problems, and the analysis of frames may employ approaches such as slope-deflection or moment distribution. The concept of lever arms, centers of gravity, and stress-free assumptions about rigid bodies are frequently employed to simplify solutions.

Structures are classified as statically determinate if the equilibrium equations suffice to find all unknown reactions and internal forces; otherwise they are statically indeterminate and may require compatibility conditions or material deformation considerations. Statics feeds directly into the design and safety assessment of buildings, bridges, machinery, and other structures.

Historically, statics traces to ancient and classical thoughts and was formalized through the work of scientists such as Archimedes, Euler, and Newton. The term reflects the focus on bodies “standing” in equilibrium, and the field remains foundational despite advances in dynamics and strength of materials.