Moment distribution Method- Beam Examples

Moment Distribution Method

Example 1:

Analyse the continuous beam shown Bellow using the moment distribution method. Draw the
bending moment diagram and shear force diagram. Assume constant EI throughout the beam.

Solution
Step 1: The distribution factors at joint B are evaluated as follows.

Joint Member Relative Stiffness (k) Sum  k Distribution Factor ( k  k )

1
BA 0.47
6 17
B
3 1 3 48
BC  = 0.53
4 4 16

Step 2: Fixed end moments.

WL2 (10 )( 6 )
2

FEM AB = = = 30kNm
12 12
WL2 (10 )( 6 )
2

FEM BA =− = = − 30kNm
12 12

WL2 ( 30 )( 4 )
2

FEM BC = = = 40kNm
12 12
WL2 ( 30 )( 4 )
2

FEM BA =− = = − 40kNm
12 12

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Moment distribution Method- Beam Examples

Step 3: Moment Distribution table.

Joint A B C
Member AB BA BC CB
DF 0 0.47 0.53 1
FEM +30 -30 +40 -40
Bal. - 4.7 -5.3 40
C.O. -2.35 20
Bal -9.4 -10.6
CO -4.7
Final 22.95 - 44.1 44.1 0

Bending moment diagram of the beam is drawn as shown below.

10(6)2 ( 22.96 + 44.1) 30(4) 2 ( 22.96 + 0 )

MC = − = 11.37 kNm, M D = − = 37.95kNm
8 2 8 2
Step 4: shear force and bending moment diagram
Segment AB

 Fy = 0  VAB + VBA − 60 = 0
 M B = 0  22.96 − 6VAB + 180 − 44.1 = 0
VAB = 26.5 kN & VBA = 33.5 kN

Segment BC

 Fy = 0  VBC + VCB − 120 = 0

 M C = 0  44.1 − 4VBC + 240 = 0
VBC = 71 kN & VCB = 49 kN

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Moment distribution Method- Beam Examples

The shear force of the beam is shown below.

Based on similar triangle x1 and x2 can be determined as follow.

x1 26.5 159
=  33.5 x1 = 159 − 26.5 x1  x1 = = 2.65 m
6 − x1 33.5 (33.5 + 26.5)
x2 49 196
=  71x2 = 196 − 49 x2  x2 = = 1.63m
4 − x2 71 (71 + 49 )

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Moment distribution Method- Beam Examples

Example 2:
Analyse the following beam using moment distribution method. Assume constant EI throughout
the beam.

Solution:
Step 1: Distribution Factor
K BC : K CD DFBC : DFCD
3 1 1 1 1
 : :
4 6 8 1+1 1+1
1 1 0.5 : 0.5
8 : 8
1 1

Step 2: Fixed end moments

Assume counterclockwise is positive and clockwise is negative.

Segment BC

WL2 ( 20 )( 6 )
2

FEM BC = + = = +60 kNm

12 12
( 20 )( 6 ) = − 60 kNm
2
WL2
FEM CB =− =−
12 12

Segment CD

PL (120 )( 8 )
FEM CD = + = = +120 kNm
8 8

FEM DC =−
PL
=−
(120 )(8 ) = −120kNm
8 8

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Moment distribution Method- Beam Examples

Step 3: Moment Distribution Table

B C D
Member BA BC CB CD DC
D.F. 1 1 0.5 0.5 0
FEM –100 +60 –60 +120 – 120
+40 +20 0
FEM –100 +100 – 40 +120 – 120
D.M. 0 0 – 40 – 40 0
C.O. 0 0 – 20
D.F. 0 0 0
Final M –100 +100 – 80 +80 – 140

The bending moment can be drawn as shown below.

Step 3: Shear forces and shear force diagram

Segment AB

 Fy = 0  VBA − 50 = 0
VBA = 50kN

Segment BC
 Fy = 0  VBC + VCB − 120 = 0
20  62
 M C = 0  60 − 6VBC + − 60 = 0
2
VBC = 60 kN , VCB = 60 kN
Segment CD

VCD = VDC = 60 kN

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Moment distribution Method- Beam Examples

Example 3:
Analyse the continuous beam shown in Figure below. The support B settles down by 10 mm. E=
200 GN/m2 and I=8000 cm4. The MI of span AB is I and of span BC is 2I.

Solution:
Step 1: Distribution Factor
K AB : K BC DFBA : DFBC
1 3 2 1 1.125
:  :
6 4 8 1 + 1.125 1 + 1.125
1 3 8 9
: :
6 16 17 17
1 : 1.125

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Moment distribution Method- Beam Examples

Step 2: Fixed end moments

Segment AB
Fixed end moment due to load

Fixed end moment due to settelment at B

FEM AB = FEM 'AB +FEM ''AB

FEM 'AB :Fixed end moment due to load
FEM"AB :Fixed end moment due to settlment
WL2 (15 )( 6 )
2

FEM = '
AB = = 45 kNm ,
12 12
6 EI   B  6 EI  B 6  200  106  8000  10−8  0.01
FEM ''AB = − − = 2 = = 26.67 kNm
LAB  LAB  LAB 62
FEM AB = 45 +26.67 = 71.67 kNm
FEM BA = FEM 'BA +FEM ''BA
WL2 6 EI  B
FEM BA = − + 2
12 LAB
FEM BA = − 45 +26.67 = −18.67 kNm

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Moment distribution Method- Beam Examples

Segment BC
Fixed end moment due to load one

Fixed end moment due to load two

Fixed end moment due to settelment at B

FEM BC = FEM 'BC +FEM ''BC FEM '''BC

Pab 2 Pa 2b 6 E ( 2 I )  B
FEM BC = + 2 −
L2BC LBC L2BC
80  2  62 80  32  5 6  200  10  ( 2  8000 ) 10  0.01
6 −8

= + −
82 82 82
=90 + 56.25 − 30 =116.25 kNm
FEM CB = FEM 'CB +FEM CB
''
FEM '''CB
Pa 2b Pab 2 6 E ( 2 I )  B
FEM CB = − − 2 −
L2BC LBC L2BC
80  22  6 80  3  52 6  200 10  ( 2  8000 ) 10  0.01
6 −8

=− − −
82 82 82
= − 30 − 93.75 − 30 = − 153.75 kNm

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Moment distribution Method- Beam Examples

Step 3: Moment Distribution Table

A B C
Member AB BA BC DC
D.F. 0 0.47 0.53 1
FEM +71.67 –18.67 116.25 – 153.75
D.M 0 -45.863 -51.717 153.75
C.O -22.93 0 76.875 0
D.M 0 -36.131 -40.741
C.O -18.07 0 0
D.M. 0 0 0
Final M +30.67 – 100.667 +100.667 0

Step 3: Shear force and moment diagram

Segment AB

Segment BC

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Moment distribution Method- Beam Examples

Shear force and moment diagram

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