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 fixed end moments, FEM. By using moment-distribution we are able to
investigate each effect separately. The following beam will be used to illustrate moment-distribution.
Rotation is possible at both B and C

Rotation at B and C are prevented and the load is applied.

FEM will result. These are called the initial moments.
Allow B to rotate until moment equilibrium is reached.
Rotation at B will induce a moment at C.
Allow C to rotate until moment equilibrium is reached. The
rotation of C will induce a moment at B.
Repeat 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 M0.
Rotation will take place until moment equilibrium is attained, i.e., sum moments MB = 0.

D
D
Therefore: MBA
+ MBC
+ M0 = 0
D
D
Where MBA
and MBC
are the moments as a result of the rotation at B, B, and are called the distribution
moments. Remember that all the other rotations and sway are prevented.

D
MBA
=

2 EIBC
4 EIBC B
2 EI AB
4 EI AB B
D
=
(2 B ) =
(2 B ) =
. In a similar fashion MBC
LAB
LAB
LBC
LBC

D
D
But: MBA
+ MBC
+ M0 = 0
Solve for B.

B =

M0

4 EI AB 4 EIBC
+
LAB
LBC

Solve the distribution moments.

Moment-distribution

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D
MBA

D
MBC

4 EI AB
M0
k M0
k M0
LAB
=
= BA
= BA
4 EI AB 4 EIBC
kBA + kBC
kB
+
LAB
LBC
4 EIBC
M0
LBC
k M0
k M0
=
= BC
= BC
4 EI AB 4 EIBC
kBA + kBC
kB
+
LAB
LBC

kBA 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 zero.
If B rotates a bending moment will be induced at A and C. Assume a rotation B and calculate the moment at
A.
D
M AB
=

D
M AB

M0
2 ELAB
( B ) , but bear in mind that B =
4 EIBC
4
EI

LAB
AB
+
LAB
LBC

2 EI AB
M0
LAB
=
4 EI AB 4 EIBC
+
LAB
LBC

The distributed bending moment is half the value of the distributed bending moment at B. This is called the
carry-over factor, CBA = .
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.

M AB = k AB =

2 EI AB
2 EI AB
4 EI AB
(2 A ) =
( 2 1,0 ) =
LAB
LAB
LAB

MBA =

2 EI AB
2 EI AB
2 EI AB
( A ) =
(1,0 ) =
LAB
LAB
LAB

CAB =

MBA 1
=
M AB 2

Moment-distribution

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Example:
Use the method of moment-distribution to determine the bending moment diagramme of the following beam.

Distribution at A and B
Stiffness of members at A:
k AB =

4 EI AB 4 EI
=
= 1,0
LAB
4

Distribution Factors
DAB =

k AB 1,0
=
= 1,0
k 1,0

DAB =

k AB
1,0
=
= 0,60
k 1,66667

DBC =

kBC
0,66667
=
= 0,40
k
1,66667

k = 1,0
Stiffness of members at B:
4 EIBA 4 EI
=
= 1,0
kBA =
LAB
4
kBC =

4 EIBC 4 EI
=
= 0,66667
LBC
6

k = 1,66667
Initial Moments:
W L 10 4
=
= +5,0 kN.m
8
8
W L
10 4
=
=
= 5,0 kN.m
8
8
w L2
5 62
=+
=+
= 15,0 kN.m
12
12
w L2
5 62
=
=
= 15,0 kN.m
12
12

0
M AB
= FEM AB =
0
MBA
= FEMBA

0
MBC
= FEMBC
0
MCB
= FEMCB

Moment-distribution

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Distribution of the moments:

Carry over factors
Action

MAB

MBA

MBC

Distribution factors

1,00

0,60

0,40

Initial moments

+ 5,000

- 5,000

+ 15,000

Allow rotation of A

- 5,000

Allow rotation of B

- 2,250

Allow rotation of A

+ 2,250

+ 1,125

Allow rotation of B

- 0,3375

- 0,675

Allow rotation of A

+ 0,3375

+ 0,1688

Allow rotation of B

- 0,051

- 0,1013

Allow rotation of A

+ 0,051

+ 0,0255

0,000

MCB
- 15,000

- 2,500
- 4,500

-3,000

-1,500

- 0,450

- 0,225

- 0,0675

- 0,0338

- 0,0153

- 0,0102

- 11,472

+ 11,472

- 16,759

Members with a hinge on one side:

Assume a member with a hinge at B.

Stiffness = moment required to induce a unit rotation at A:

3 EI AB
3 EI AB
k AB = M AB =
( A ) =
LAB
LAB
1
0
M AB
= FEM AB FEMBA
2

Redo example 1 using the stiffness of a member with a hinge.

kBA =

3 EIBA 3 EI
=
= 0,750
LAB
4

DAB =

k AB
0,750
=
= 0,52941
k 1,41667

kBC =

4 EIBC 4 EI
=
= 0,66667
LBC
6

DBC =

kBC
0,66667
=
= 0,47059
k
1,41667

k = 1,41667

W L 1 W L
0
MBA
= FEMBA 1 FEM AB =

+
= 7,50 kN.m
2
2
8
8
0
MBC
= FEMBC = +

w L2
5 62
=+
= 15,0 kN.m
12
12

Moment-distribution

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0
MCB
= FEMCB =

w L2
5 62
=
= 15,0 kN.m
12
12

MBA

MBC

MCB

Dist Factors

0,52941

0,47059

Init moments

- 7,500

+ 15,000

- 15,000

Rotate B

- 3,9706

- 3,5294

- 1,7647

-11,4706

+ 11,4706

-16,7647

Example 3:
Determine the bending moment diagramme of the following structure.

Rotation will occur at B and C.

Stiffness at B
kBA =

3 EIBA 3 2EI
=
= 1,5
LAB
4

DBA =

kBA
1,5
=
= 0,2727
k 5,5

kBE =

3 EIBE 3 EI
=
= 1,0
LBE
3

DBE =

kBE
1,0
=
= 0,1818
k 5,5

kBC =

4 EIBC 4 3EI
=
= 3,00
LBC
4

DBC =

kBC
3,0
=
= 0,5455
k
5,5

k = 5,5
kCB =

4 EICB 4 3EI
=
= 3,0
LCB
4

DCB =

kCB
3,0
=
= 0,600
k
5,0

kCD =

4 EICD 4 2EI
=
= 2,0
LCD
4

DCD =

kCD
2,0
=
= 0,400
5,0
k

k = 5,0
Initial moments:
0
MBC
= FEMBC = +

W L
20 4
=+
= +10,0 kN.m
8
8

Moment-distribution

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0
MCB
= FEMCB =

W L
10 4
=
= 10,0 kN.m
8
8

MAB

MBE

MBC

MCB

MCD

0,2727

0,1818

0,5455

0,600

0,400

-2,727
-1,041
-0,085

-3,853

+10,0000

-10,000

-5.455

-2,728

+3,818

+7,637

-2,083

-1,041

+0,312

+0,625

-0,170

-0,085

-1.818
-0,694
-0,057

-2,569

+6,422

MDC

+5,091

+2,545

+0,416

+0,208

+0,051

+0,034

-5,541

+5,541

+2,753

Structural Frames with Sway.

Frames with a sway mechanism may be tackled by preventing the sway and calculating the force required to
prevent the sway, call this P. Arbitrary sway is then applied to the structure and the force that leads to the
arbitrary sway is calculated, call this Q. Apply the super-position equation as neither of the forces are really
there.
P+xQ=0
Final bending moment = Bending moment with sway prevented + x times bending moment with arbitrary
sway.
Example 4:
Determine the bending moment diagramme of the following sway structure. The support A is a hinge, E is
fixed and D is a roller. There is a hinge in BC at C.

Force P prevents the sway and force Q induces the arbitrary sway.
Apply force P to prevent the sway. Rotation will occur at B and at C.

Moment-distribution

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At B
k BA =

3 EI AB
3 EI
=
= 0,6
5
L AB

DBA =

k BC =

3 EI BC
3 2EI
=
= 1,0
LBC
6

DBC =

k = 1,6

k BA

k
k BC

0,6
= 0,375
1,6

1,0
= 0,625
1,6

1,0
= 0,5556
1,8

0,8
= 0,4444
1,8

k
D = 1,000

At C
k CD =

3 EI CD
3 2EI
=
= 1,00
6
LCD

DCD =

k CE =

4 EI CE
4 EI
=
= 0,8
5
LCE

DCE =

k = 1,8

k CD

k
k CE

k
D = 1,000

Initial moments:
0
M BC
= FEM BC 1 FEM CB
2
2
w L2
w L
0

M BC
=
1
2 12
12

10 6 2 10 6 2
= +45,00 kN.m
+
12
2 12

MBA

MBC

MCD

MCE

MEC

0,375

0,625

0,5556

0,4444

+45,000
-16,875

-28,125

-16,875

+16,875

Force, P, that prevents sway:

Take moments about O1.

MO1 = 0.
- Px4 + VAB x 10 = 0

Moment-distribution

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V AB =

M BA
16,875
=
= 8,4375 kN
L AB
5

Arbitrary Sway

Choose AB as the unknown angle and calculate all others in terms of this angle.
BB'
CC '
BB' = 5
O1B = BC =
=
CC ' = 5
O2C = CD =
= 0,5
5
10
Assuming that all rotation angles are equal to 0 and there are sway angle it is possible to write the initial
moments in terms of these sway angle.
2 EI AB
(2 A + B 3 AB )
L AB

with angles = 0

M AB =

6 EI AB ( AB )
L AB

M AB =

3 EI AB
( A AB )
L AB

with angles = 0

Standard case: M AB =

Modified form:

M AB =

3 EI AB ( AB )
L AB

Therefore:
MBA : MBC : MCD : MCE : MEC
3 EI BC BC
3 EI CD CD
6 EI CE CE
6 EI CE CE
3 EI AB AB
:
:
:
:

L AB
LBC
LCD
LCE
LCE
3 EI ( )
3 2EI ( + )
3 2EI ( 0,5 )
6 EI ( )
6 EI ( )
:
:
:
:
5
6
6
5
5
0,6 EI : -1,0 EI : 0,5 EI : 1,2 EI : 1,2 EI

Set EI = 20
12 : -20 : 10 : 24 : 24

Moment-distribution

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MBA

MBC

MCD

MCE

0,375

0,625

0,5556

0,4444

12,000

-20,000

+10,000

+24,000

+24,00

+3,000

+5,000

-18,890

-15,110

-7,555

+15,000

-15,000

-8,890

+8,890

+16,445

MEC

M O1 = 0
- 4 x Q + 3 x 10 16,445 + 5,067 x 10 1,4817 x 9 = 0
Q = 12,7237 kN
Superposition equation:
P+xQ=0
X = 0,66313
Final bending moments:
MF = M sway prevented + x M arbitrary sway
MBA

MBC

MCD

MCE

MEC

-16,875

+16,875

M sway prevented

+9,947

-9,947

-5,895

+5,895

+10,905

x M arbitrary sway

-6,928

+6,928

-5,895

+5,895

+10,905

MF

Moment-distribution

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Final Bending Moment Diagramme.

Structure with Displacement of a Support

Example 5:
Determine the bending moment diagramme of the structure if E = 200 GPa, I = 150 x 10-6 m4 and the support
E moves 20 mm to the right.

View the structure with the displacement of the support.

EE = 20 mm, therefore:
CC ' = O1C 3000 =

BC =

O1B =

+20
= O1C = CE
4000

20
3000 = 15 mm
4000

CC '
15
=
6000 6000

DC =

CC '
15
=
6000 6000

Use the slope-deflection equations to determine the initial moments with all rotations equal to zero.

Moment-distribution

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0
M BC
=

2 EI BC
(2 B + C 3 BC ) + FEM BC
LBC

0
M BC
=

6
6
2
2 2EI
( 3 BC ) + FEM BC = 2 2 200 x10 150 x10 3 15 + 45 42 2
6000
6
6
6

0
M BC
= 150 + 20 = 170 kN.m

0
M CB
=

6
6
2
2 2EI
( 3 BC ) + FEM CB = 2 2 200 x10 150 x10 3 15 + 45 24 2
6000
6
6
6

0
M CB
= 150 40 = 110 kN.m

0
=
M CD

6
6
3 2EI
( CD ) = 3 2 200 x10 150 x10 15
6
6
6000

0
M CD
= 75 kN.m

0
=
M CE

6
6
3 EI
( CE ) = 3 200 x10 150 x10 20
5
5
4000

0
M CE
= 90 kN.m

At B
k BA =

4 EI AB
4 EI
=
= 1,0
L AB
4

DBA =

k BC =

4 EI BC
4 2EI
=
= 1,3333
LBC
6

DBC =

k = 2,3333

k BA

k
k BC

1,0
= 0,4286
2,3333

1,3333
= 0,5714
2,3333

1,3333
= 0,4546
2,9333

1,000
= 0,3409
2,9333

0,6
= 0,2045
2,9333

k
D = 1,000

At C
k CB =

4 EI CB
4 2EI
=
= 1,3333
LCB
6

DCB =

k CD

3 EI CD
3 2EI
=
=
= 1,000
LCD
6

DCD =

k CE

3 EI CE
3 EI
=
=
= 0,6000
LBCE
5

DCE =

k = 2,9333

Moment-distribution

k CB

k CD

k CE

D = 1,000

Page 11 of 14

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MAB

-36,431
-5,045
-0,328

-41,804

MBA

MBC

MCB

MCD

MCE

0,4286

0,5714

0,4546

0,3409

0,2045

+170,000

+110,000

-97,138

-48,569

+23,541

+47,082

-13,451

-6,726

+1,529

+3,058

-0,874

-0,437

+0,099

-72,862
-10,090
-0,655
-0,042

-0,057

-83,649

+83,649

-75,000

-90,000

+35,307

+21,180

+2,293

+1,375

+0,199

+0,149

+0,089

+104,607

-37,251

-67,356

Final Bending Moment Diagramme

Moment-distribution

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Moment-distribution

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Moment-distribution

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