Moment Distribution Method

By

Dr. Mahdi Damghani

2022-2023

1
Suggested Readings

2
 Introduction

• It is an approximate hand calculation method for analysis of

continuous beams and planar frames.
• It is also known as Hardy Cross method (by Prof Hardy
Cross) presented in year 1932 to speed up the slope
deflection method and remedy its complexity when dealing
with large structures. i.e. solving many simultaneous
equations).
• Its computational simplicity is praised.
• In order to explain the method, the best approach is to
show it through some examples.
• However, we need familiarity with some concepts and
terminology before we begin.

3
 Fixed End Moments (FEM)

• Bending moments at the

end of beams assuming
both ends are fully
clamped under various
loading.

4
 Positive sign conventions
Shear forces acting
upward are positive

Moment is positive Effect of axial forces

when it is applied in are neglected
clockwise sense

Positive rotations
and displacements
A positive 𝑀𝐵𝐴
decreases 𝜃 𝐵.

5
 Stiffness coefficients

• A moment applied at a point on a beam causes a

rotation of the beam at that point, the angle of rotation
being directly proportional to the applied moment

A positive moment Rotational

reduces rotation based stiffness of
on previous slide beam AB

• The value of KAB depends on the support conditions

at the end of the beam.

6
 Distribution factors (DF)

Distribution factor for Distribution factor for

the left of joint B (span the right of joint B
BA) (span BC)

7
 Stiffness coefficients and Carry Over
Factor (COF) Fixed or
clamped
Simply
supported
M BA

COF = 0.5

M BA
M AB = 0
COF = 0

M AB M BA
M AB = − M BA
COF = 0

M AB = + M BA M AB M BA
COF = 0

8
 Process

Assume all BCs are Release the joints

artificially clamped Distribute unbalanced
before any loading is (net unbalancing moments to either side
applied (Fixed End moment is of the joint based on
Moment are generated) generated) their stiffness and DFs

Carry over the

Repeat this for all unbalanced
Sum up the
the joints until COF moments to the
moments becomes zero adjacent joints using
COF

9
 Method illustration through an
example

• Draw bending moment and shear force diagram of

the structure below.

10
 Solution

• Firstly, the structure has 3 degrees of indeterminacy

(6-3=3).  Fx = 0

• Number of knowns: 3 equations of equilibrium →  Fy = 0

• Number of unknowns: 6 support reactions:  M = 0

11
 Solution
(clam ping joints)

• The same as slope-deflection method, we assume all joints are

clamped and calculate FEMs (fixed end moments).

Fixed End
Moments
−6 +6 −7.67 +7.67 −2.67 +2.67

12
 Solution
(releasing joints-stiffness calc-DFs)
The moment at Final moment must
clamped end is be zero for simply
always balanced supported BC
(infinitely stiff BC) 4 EI / 3 2 EI 2 EI 1.5 EI
= 0.4 = 0.6 = 0.57 = 0.43
4 EI / 3 + 2 EI 4 EI / 3 + 2 EI 2 EI + 1.5 EI 2 EI + 1.5 EI
4 EI 4 EI 3EI
K AB = = 4 EI / 3 K AB = = 2 EI K AB = = 1.5EI
L L L
−6 COF = 0.5 +6 −7.67 COF = 0.5 +7.67 −2.67 COF = 0 +2.67

 0.4 0.6 0.57 0.43

Distribution Distribution Distribution

factor (DF) factor (DF) factor (DF)

13
 Solution
(calculate unbalanced m om ents & distribute them)

4 EI / 3 2 EI 2 EI 1.5 EI
= 0.4 = 0.6 = 0.57 = 0.43
4 EI / 3 + 2 EI 4 EI / 3 + 2 EI 2 EI + 1.5 EI 2 EI + 1.5 EI
4 EI 4 EI 3EI
K AB = = 4 EI / 3 K AB = = 2 EI K AB = = 1.5EI
L L L
−6 COF = 0.5 +6 −7.67 COF = 0.5 +7.67 −2.67 COF = 0 +2.67

 0.4 0.6 0.57 0.43

6 − 7.67 = −1.67 7.67 − 2.67 = 5 2.67

−2.67
−1.34
+0.67 +1.00 −2.09 −1.58
0.34 −1.05 0.5
0.42 0.63 −0.29 −0.21
0.21 −0.15 0.32
0.06 0.09 −0.18 −0.14

0.03 −0.09 0.05

0.04 0.05 −0.03 −0.02
14
 Solution
(sum up m om ents)

4 EI / 3 2 EI 2 EI 1.5 EI
= 0.4 = 0.6 = 0.57 = 0.43
4 EI / 3 + 2 EI 4 EI / 3 + 2 EI 2 EI + 1.5 EI 2 EI + 1.5 EI
4 EI 4 EI 3EI
K AB = = 4 EI / 3 K AB = = 2 EI K AB = = 1.5EI
L L L
−6 COF = 0.5 +6 −7.67 COF = 0.5 +7.67 −2.67 COF = 0 +2.67

 0.4 0.6 0.57 0.43

6 − 7.67 = −1.67 7.67 − 2.67 = 5 2.67

−2.67
−1.34
+0.67 +1.00 −2.09 −1.58
0.34 −1.05 0.5
0.42 0.63 −0.29 −0.21
0.21 −0.15 0.32
0.06 0.09 −0.18 −0.14

0.03 −0.09 0.05

0.04 0.05 −0.03 −0.02
M AB = −6 + 0.34 + 0.21 + 0.03
M BA = +7.19 M BC = −7.19 M CB = +5.95 M CD = −5.95 M DC = 0 15
= −5.42
 Reaction at support
locations
S AB S BA S BC SCB SCD

−5.42 +7.19 −7.19 +5.95 −5.95

RA = S AB = 11.41 RB = ( S BA + S BC ) = 31.21 RC = ( SCB + SCD ) = 28.35 RD = S DC = 5.03

3 2 2
3S AB − 5.42 + 7.19 − 8  3  =0 2 S BC − 7.19 + 5.95 − 8  2  − 20 1 = 0 2 SCD − 5.95 − 8  2  =0
2 2 2
S AB = 11.41 S BC = 18.62 SCD = 10.97

S AB + S BA = 8  3 S BC + SCB = 20 + 2  8 SCD + S DC = 2  8
S BA = 12.59 SCB = 17.38 S DC = 5.03

16
 Reaction at support
locations
11.41 S ( x) 18.62 S ( x) S ( x) 10.97 S ( x)

−5.42 M ( x) −7.19 M ( x) M ( x) −5.95 M ( x) RD = 5.03

S ( x) = 8 x − 11.41 For 0  x  1 S ( x) = −8 x + 5.03

M ( x) = −5.42 + 11.41x − 4 x 2 S ( x) = 8 x − 18.62 M ( x) = −4 x 2 + 5.03x
M ( x) = −7.19 + 18.62 x − 4 x 2

For 1  x  2
S ( x) = 8 x + 1.38
M ( x) = −7.19 + 18.62 x − 4 x 2 − 20 ( x − 1)
= −4 x 2 + 1.38 x + 12.81

17
Shear force diagram

11.41 12.59 18.62 17.38 10.97 5.03

S ( x) = 8 x − 11.41 S ( x) = 8 x − 18.62 S ( x) = 8 x + 1.38 S ( x) = −8 x + 5.03

+12.59 +17.38
+9.38
+5.03

-10.62
-11.41 -18.62 -10.97
18
 Bending moment diagram
M AB = −5.42 M BA = +7.19 M BC = −7.19 M CB = +5.95 M CD = −5.95 M DC = 0

M ( x) = −7.19 + 18.62 x − 4 x 2

M ( x) = −5.42 + 11.41x − 4 x 2 M ( x) = −4 x 2 + 5.03x

M ( x) = −4 x 2 + 1.38 x + 12.81

+7.43
+2.70

-5.42 -5.95
-7.19
19
 Example

• Calculate internal bending moments on either sides of

joints B and C for the beam shown below.

20
 Solution

• The structure is symmetric in terms of both the

geometry and the loading.
• Thus, we will use half the structure to save on
computational cost.

21
 Solution
• The beam is cut at mid-span and replaced with sliding
clamped boundary condition. The 40kN concentrated
load is replaced by 20kN, i.e. half of the original
structure as we are halving the structure.
• Fixed end moments 20 kN
are calculated as
FEM is halved as there
will be no COF from B
to C or vice versa

40 10
F
M BC = − M CB
F
= −0.5 = −25kNm
8
5  62
F
M AB = − M BA
F
=− = −15kNm
12
22
 Solution

• The distribution factors (DFs) are then calculated as

Case 2 of Case 3 of
DFs DFs

23
 Solution

• Note that by using symmetry we only balance the joint

B bot needing to worry about other joint, significantly
reducing the computational cost.
Out of balance
moment here is
-25.00 + 15.00 + 7.50
= -2.50.
Thus, +2.50 is added
and distributed to both
side of the joint based
on 0.71 and 0.29.

+15.00 * 0.5
= +7.50

24
Moment distribution method for
frames

• Symmetric (geometry and • Unsymmetric (either geometry or

loading) loading)
• Joints B and C remain where • Additional displacements takes
they are (ignoring axial and place due to sway.
shear deformations).
• The sway causes additional
• Joints B and C are rigid so moments at the end of the
angles do not change after members.
deformation.

25
Example (symmetric geometry and loading)

• Obtain the bending moment diagram for the

frame shown below. Note that the flexural rigidity
EI is the same for all members

26
 Solution

• The geometry is unsymmetrical, however the

horizontal member BC hinders the sway of the DABE
frame.
• Fixed end moments are calculated as

27
 Solution (reminder)

• The loading
scenarios for
calculation of fixed
end bending
moments are
obtained from the
highlighted cases.

28
 Solution

• The vertical member EB is pinned at E.

• The final moment at E is zero.
• We treat E as an outside pinned support, balance E
initially and reduce the stiffness coefficient, KBE, as
before.
• There is no FEM at E so that the question of
balancing E initially does not arise.

29
 Solution

• The DFs are now calculated

30
 Solution
Added to make 0 - 32.00 = +32.00 - 21.30 = Added to make
it balanced -32.00 +10.70 it balanced

31
Example (Unsymmetric either geometry or
loading)
• Obtain the bending moment diagram for the
portal frame shown. The flexural rigidity of the
horizontal member BC is 2EI while that of the
vertical members AB and CD is EI.

32
 Solution

• In such scenarios, sway (lateral displacement) of the

structure takes place.
• The approach is two superimpose two scenarios.
• In scenario 1, the structure is constrained from sway,
• In scenario 2, the sway is allowed.
• Let’s see this in practice.

33
 Solution

R R

• Scenario 1 • Scenario 2
• An unw anted reaction • Equal but opposite
R takes place at C direction R is applied back

34
 Solution (scenario 1)

• Fixed end moments are as below for non-sway

condition

• Distribution factors (DFs) are

35
Solution (scenario 1)

36
 Solution (scenario 2)

• We now assume that the frame sways by an

arbitrary amount 𝛿.
• Since we are ignoring the effect of axial strains,
the horizontal movements of B and C are both 𝛿.
• The fixed end moments are

• Let’s assume that 𝛿 = 100 × 102 /6𝐸𝐼.

37
 Solution reminder

• The fixed end

moments for this
scenario come from
the opposite table.

38
 These are not the actual
sway moments as we did not
Solution (scenario 2) know the displacement 𝛿 in
the first place and do not
know it now either.

We can use these values as

long as they represent the
real lateral displacement of
the frame. What is the 39
solution then?
 Solution (scenario 2-theory development-
method 1)
• Let’s do a bit of maths in a general form before
embracing our problem.

Actual moment AB Moment for non- Moment for the

of the structure sway case sway case

40
 Solution (scenario 2-theory
development-method 1)
• Impose small virtual displacement including rotation
𝜃𝑣 of members AB and CD (principle of virtual work) .
• Assuming connections are rigid, then internally there
is no work done on the structure.
• Only external works do some work.
• So the virtual work of external action should be zero.

the end
Since the problem is linear, the end
moments associated to arbitrary
arbitrary sway
sway
needs to be multiplied by k to 41
represent those of structure.
 Solution (scenario 2-theory
development-method 2)
• If using potential energy approach is too difficult to comprehend
then we may use the following approach (Free Body Diagrams).
M CD
M BA
P
S BA SCD S BA
SCD
M BA M CD
P + S AB + SCD = 0
Ph + M AB + M BA + M CD + M DC = 0
S AB S DC
M AB M DC
The same outcome
M AB + M BA M CD + M DC as the previous slide.
S BA = SCD =
h h
42
 Solution

• Now let’s go back to the problem at hand.

• We determine k as below

43
 Solution

• Now we can combine sway and non-sway moments to obtain the

moments of the structure using coefficient k.
• But before that let’s get the actual sway moments as below.

44
 Solution

• The final end moments are then as below.

45
Tutorial

• Calculate the end moments in the members of the

frame. All members have the same flexural rigidity, EI;
note that the member CD is pinned to the foundation
at D.

46