Moment-Distribution
The method of moment distribution relies on a series of calculations that are repeated and that with every
cycle come closer to the final situation. In this way we are able to avoid solving simultaneous equations.
Inspection of the slope-deflection equations shows us that the final end-moments depend on 4 effects
namely, A, B, AB and the fied end moments, !"#. By using moment-distribution we are able to investigate
each effect separately. The following beam will be used to illustrate moment-distribution.
$otation is possible at both B and %
$otation at B and % are prevented and the load is applied.
!"# will result. These are called the initial moments.
Allow B to rotate until moment equilibrium is reached.
$otation at B will induce a moment at %.
Allow % to rotate until moment equilibrium is reached. The
rotation of % will induce a moment at B.
$epeat this process until moment equilibrium is reached at
the nodes.
Assume that the sum of the initial moments at the node B is equal to #&.
$otation will ta'e place until moment equilibrium is attained, i.e., sum moments #B ( &.
Therefore)
*here are the moments as a result of the
rotation at B, B, and are called the
distribution moments. $emember that all the other rotations and sway are prevented.
. In a similar fashion
But)
+olve for B.
+olve the distribution moments.
'BA is the stiffness of the
member BA at the node B. It
is also the moment that
would be induced if a unit rotation were applied at B in the member BA and the rotation at A was ,ero.
If B rotates a bending moment will be induced at A and %. Assume a rotation B and calculate the moment at
A.
Moment-distribution Page 1 of 13
&
&
D D
BA BC
M M M + + =
D D
BA BC
M and M
( )
- 4
-
D AB AB B
BA B
AB AB
EI EI
M
L L
= = ( )
- 4
-
D BC BC B
BC B
BC BC
EI EI
M
L L
= =
&
&
D D
BA BC
M M M + + =
&
4 4
B
BC AB
AB BC
M
EI EI
L L
=
+
&
& &
4
4 4
AB
D BA BA AB
BA
BC AB
BA BC B
AB BC
EI
M
k M k M L
M
EI EI
k k k
L L
= = =
+
+
&
& &
4
4 4
BC
D BC BC BC
BC
BC AB
BA BC B
AB BC
EI
M
L k M k M
M
EI EI
k k k
L L
= = =
+
+
, but bear in mind that
The distributed bending moment is half
the value of the distributed bending
moment at B. This is called the carry-
over factor, %BA ( ..
The same solution may be obtained if one remembers that the stiffness of a member is the moment that is
induced if a unit rotation is applied at the node.
Moment-distribution Page 2 of 13
( )
-
D AB
AB B
AB
EL
M
L
=
&
4 4
B
BC AB
AB BC
M
EI EI
L L
=
+ &
-
4 4
AB
D AB
AB
BC AB
AB BC
EI
M
L
M
EI EI
L L
=
+
( ) ( )
- - 4
- - /,&
AB AB AB
AB AB A
AB AB AB
EI EI EI
M k
L L L
= = = =
( ) ( )
- - -
/,&
AB AB AB
BA A
AB AB AB
EI EI EI
M
L L L
= = =
/
-
BA
AB
AB
M
C
M
= =
"ample)
0se the method of moment-
distribution to determine the bending moment diagramme of the following beam.
1istribution at A and B
+tiffness of members
at A)
1istribution
!actors
+tiffness of members at B)
Initial #oments)
Moment-distribution Page 3 of 13
4 4
/,&
4
AB
AB
AB
EI EI
k
L
= = =
/,&
/,&
/,&
AB
AB
k
D
k
= = =
/,& k =
4 4
/,&
4
BA
BA
AB
EI EI
k
L
= = =
/,&
&,2&
/,22223
AB
AB
k
D
k
= = =
4 4
&,22223
2
BC
BC
BC
EI EI
k
L
= = =
&,22223
&,4&
/,22223
BC
BC
k
D
k
= = =
/,22223 k =
&
/& 4
4,& .
5 5
AB AB
W L
M FEM kN m
= = = = +
&
/& 4
4,& .
5 5
BA BA
W L
M FEM kN m
= = = =
- -
&
4 2
/4,& .
/- /-
BC BC
w L
M FEM kN m
= = + = + = - -
&
4 2
/4,& .
/- /-
CB CB
w L
M FEM kN m
= = = =
1istribution of the moments)
%arry over factors
. .
Action #AB #BA #B% #%B
1istribution factors /,&& &,2& &,4&
Initial moments 6 4,&&& - 4,&&& 6 /4,&&& - /4,&&&
Allow rotation of A - 4,&&& . - -,4&&
Allow rotation of B - -,-4& . - 4,4&& -7,&&& . -/,4&&
Allow rotation of A 6 -,-4& 6 /,/-4
Allow rotation of B - &,7734 - &,234 - &,44& - &,--4
Allow rotation of A 6 &,7734 6 &,/255
Allow rotation of B - &,&4/ - &,/&/7 - &,&234 - &,&775
Allow rotation of A 6 &,&4/ 6 &,&-44
- &,&/47 - &,&/&-
&,&&& - //,43- 6 //,43- - /2,348
Members with a hinge on one side:
Assume a member with a hinge at B.
+tiffness ( moment required to
induce a unit rotation at A)
$edo eample / using the stiffness of a
member with a hinge.
#BA #B% #%B
1ist !actors &,4-84/ &,43&48
Init moments - 3,4&& 6 /4,&&& - /4,&&&
$otate B - 7,83&2 - 7,4-84 - /,3243
-//,43&2 6 //,43&2 -/2,3243
Moment-distribution Page 4 of 13
( )
7 7
AB AB
AB AB A
AB AB
EI EI
k M
L L
= = =
&
/
-
AB AB BA
M FEM FEM =
7 7
&,34&
4
BA
BA
AB
EI EI
k
L
= = =
&,34&
&,4-84/
/,4/223
AB
AB
k
D
k
= = =
4 4
&,22223
2
BC
BC
BC
EI EI
k
L
= = =
&,22223
&,43&48
/,4/223
BC
BC
k
D
k
= = =
/,4/223 k =
&
/ /
3,4& .
- -
5 5
BA BA AB
W L W L
M FEM FEM kN m
= = + =
- -
&
4 2
/4,& .
/- /-
BC BC
w L
M FEM kN m
= = + = + = - -
&
4 2
/4,& .
/- /-
CB CB
w L
M FEM kN m
= = = =
"ample 7)
1etermine the bending moment
diagramme of the following structure.
$otation will
occur at B and
%.
+tiffness at B
Initial moments)
#AB #B" #B% #%B #%1 #1%
&,-3-3 &,/5/5 &,4444 &,2&& &,4&&
6/&,&&&& -/&,&&&
--,3-3 -/.5/5 -4.444 --,3-5
67,5/5 63,273 64,&8/ 6-,444
-/,&4/ -&,284 --,&57 -/,&4/
6&,7/- 6&,2-4 6&,4/2 6&,-&5
-&,&54 -&,&43 -&,/3& -&,&54
6&,&4/ 6&,&74
-7,547 --,428 62,4-- -4,44/ 64,44/ 6-,347
Structural Frames with Sway.
!rames with a sway mechanism may be tac'led by preventing the sway and calculating the force required to
prevent the sway, call this 9. Arbitrary sway is then applied to the structure and the force that leads to the
arbitrary sway is calculated, call this :. Apply the super-position equation as neither of the forces are really
there.
9 6 : ( &
!inal bending moment ( Bending moment with sway prevented 6 times bending moment with arbitrary
sway.
Moment-distribution Page 5 of 13
7 7 -
/,4
4
BA
BA
AB
EI EI
k
L
= = =
/,4
&,-3-3
4,4
BA
BA
k
D
k
= = =
7 7
/,&
7
BE
BE
BE
EI EI
k
L
= = =
/,&
&,/5/5
4,4
BE
BE
k
D
k
= = =
4 4 7
7,&&
4
BC
BC
BC
EI EI
k
L
= = =
7,&
&,4444
4,4
BC
BC
k
D
k
= = =
4,4 k =
4 4 7
7,&
4
CB
CB
CB
EI EI
k
L
= = =
7,&
&,2&&
4,&
CB
CB
k
D
k
= = =
4 4 -
-,&
4
CD
CD
CD
EI EI
k
L
= = =
-,&
&,4&&
4,&
CD
CD
k
D
k
= = =
4,& k =
&
-& 4
/&,& .
5 5
BC BC
W L
M FEM kN m
= = + = + = +
&
/& 4
/&,& .
5 5
CB CB
W L
M FEM kN m
= = = =
"ample 4)
1etermine the bending moment diagramme of the following sway structure. The support A is a hinge, " is
fied and 1 is a roller. There is a hinge in B% at %.
!orce 9 prevents the
sway and force :
induces the arbitrary
sway.
Apply force 9 to prevent
the sway. $otation will
occur at B and at %.
Moment-distribution Page 6 of 13
At B
At C
Initial moments)
(
#BA #B% #%1 #%" #"%
&,734 &,2-4 &,4442 &,4444
644,&&&
-/2,534 --5,/-4
-/2,534 6/2,534 & & &
!orce, 9, that prevents sway)
Ta'e moments about
;/.
#;/ ( &. - 94 6
<AB /& ( &
Arbitrary Sway
%hoose AB as the
un'nown angle and
calculate all others in
terms of this angle.
Assuming that all rotation
angles are equal to & and
there are sway angle it is
possible to write the initial
moments in terms of these
sway angle.
+tandard case)
with angles ( &
Moment-distribution Page 7 of 13
2 , &
4
7 7
=
=
EI
L
EI
k
AB
AB
BA
734 , &
2 , /
2 , &
= = =
k
k
D
BA
BA
& , /
2
- 7 7
=
=
EI
L
EI
k
BC
BC
BC
2-4 , &
2 , /
& , /
= = =
k
k
D
BC
BC
2 , / =
k &&& , / =
D
&& , /
2
- 7 7
=
=
EI
L
EI
k
CD
CD
CD
4442 , &
5 , /
& , /
= = =
k
k
D
CD
CD
5 , &
4
4 4
=
=
EI
L
EI
k
CE
CE
CE
4444 , &
5 , /
5 , &
= = =
k
k
D
CE
CE
5 , / =
k &&& , / =
D
CB BC BC
FEM FEM M
-
/
&
=
=
/-
-
/
/-
- -
&
L w L w
M
BC
m kN. && , 44
/- -
2 /&
/-
2 /&
- -
+ =
kN
L
M
V
AB
BA
AB
4734 , 5
4
534 , /2
=
=
= 4 = BB
= = =
4
=
/
BB
BC B O
= 4 = CC
= = = 4 , &
/&
=
-
CC
CD C O
( )
AB B A
AB
AB
AB
L
EI
M +
= 7 -
-
#odified form)
with angles ( &
Therefore)
#BA ) #B% ) #%1 ) #%" ) #"%
) )) )
))))
&,2 "I ) -/,& "I ) &,4 "I ) /,- "I ) /,- "I
+et "I ( -&
12 : -2 : 1 : 2! : 2!
Moment-distribution Page 8 of 13
( )
AB
AB AB
AB
L
EI
M
=
2
( )
AB A
AB
AB
AB
L
EI
M
=
7
( )
AB
AB AB
AB
L
EI
M
=
7
AB
AB AB
L
EI
7
BC
BC BC
L
EI
7
CD
CD
L
CD EI
7
CE
CE CE
L
EI
2
CE
CE CE
L
EI
2
4
> ? 7
EI
2
> ? - 7 +
EI
2
> 4 , & ? - 7
EI
4
> ? 2
EI
4
> ? 2
EI
#BA #B% #%1
#%" #"%
&,734 &,2-4 &,4442 &,4444
/-,&&& --&,&&& 6/&,&&& 6-4,&&& 6-4,&&
67,&&& 64,&&& -/5,58& -/4,//& -3,444
6/4,&&& -/4,&&& -5,58& 65,58& 6/2,444
- 4 : 6 7 /& @
/2,444 6 4,&23 /&
@ /,45/3 8 ( &
: ( /-,3-73 'A
+uperposition
equation)
9 6 : ( &
B ( &,227/7
!inal bending moments)
#! ( # sway prevented 6 # arbitrary sway
#BA #B% #%1 #%" #"%
-/2,534 6/2,534 & & & # sway prevented
68,843 -8,843 -4,584 64,584 6/&,8&4 # arbitrary sway
-2,8-5 62,8-5 -4,584 64,584 6/&,8&4 #!
!inal Bending #oment
1iagramme.
Structure with
Dis"lacement
o# a Su""ort
"ample 4)
1etermine the bending moment diagramme of the structure if " ( -&& C9a, I ( /4& /&
-2
m
4
and the support
" moves -& mm to the right.
Moment-distribution Page 9 of 13
= &
/ O
M
<iew the structure with the
displacement of the support.
""D ( -& mm, therefore)
0se the slope-deflection
equations to determine the initial
moments with all rotations equal to ,ero.
At B
At C
Moment-distribution Page 10 of 13
CE C O B O
= =
+
=
/ /
4&&&
-&
mm CC
C O
/4 7&&&
4&&&
-&
7&&& =
/
= = =
2&&&
/4
2&&&
=
= =
CC
BC
2&&&
/4
2&&&
=
= =
CC
DC
( )
BC BC C B
BC
BC
BC
FEM
L
EI
M + +
= 7 -
-
&
( )
-
- 2 2
&
2
- 4 44
2&&&
/4
7
2
/& /4& /& -&& - -
7
2
- -
+
= +
x x
FEM
EI
M
BC BC BC
m kN M
BC
. /3& -& /4&
&
= + =
( )
-
- 2 2
&
2
- 4 44
2&&&
/4
7
2
/& /4& /& -&& - -
7
2
- -
+
= +
x x
FEM
EI
M
CB BC CB
m kN M
CB
. //& 4& /4&
&
= =
( )
2&&&
/4
2
/& /4& /& -&& - 7
2
- 7
2 2
&
x x EI
M
CD CD
m kN M
CD
. 34
&
=
( )
4&&&
-&
4
/& /4& /& -&& 7
4
7
2 2
&
x x EI
M
CE CE
m kN M
CE
. 8&
&
=
& , /
4
4 4
=
=
EI
L
EI
k
AB
AB
BA
4-52 , &
7777 , -
& , /
= = =
k
k
D
BA
BA
7777 , /
2
- 4 4
=
=
EI
L
EI
k
BC
BC
BC
43/4 , &
7777 , -
7777 , /
= = =
k
k
D
BC
BC
7777 , - =
k &&& , / =
D
7777 , /
2
- 4 4
=
=
EI
L
EI
k
CB
CB
CB
4442 , &
8777 , -
7777 , /
= = =
k
k
D
CB
CB
&&& , /
2
- 7 7
=
=
EI
L
EI
k
CD
CD
CD
74&8 , &
8777 , -
&&& , /
= = =
k
k
D
CD
CD
2&&& , &
4
7 7
=
=
EI
L
EI
k
BCE
CE
CE
-&44 , &
8777 , -
2 , &
= = =
k
k
D
CE
CE
8777 , - =
k &&& , / =
D
#AB #BA #B% #%B #%1 #%"
&,4-52 &,43/4 &,4442 &,74&8 &,-&44
6/3&,&&& 6//&,&&& -34,&&& -8&,&&&
-72,47/ -3-,52- -83,/75 -45,428
6-7,44/ 643,&5- 674,7&3 6-/,/5&
-4,&44 -/&,&8& -/7,44/ -2,3-2
6/,4-8 67,&45 6-,-87 6/,734
-&,7-5 -&,244 -&,534 -&,473
6&,&88 6&,/88 6&,/48 6&,&58
-&,&4- -&,&43
-4/,5&4 -57,248 657,248 6/&4,2&3 -73,-4/ -23,742
Final Bending Moment
Diagramme
Moment-distribution Page 11 of 13
Moment-distribution Page 12 of 13
Moment-distribution Page 13 of 13
