MOMENT DISTRIBUTION

Positive Rotation n End Moment

A numerical method of solution to the slope deflection equations
Essence
Instead of trying to solve the linear simultaneous equations of equilibrium, the
unknowns at one joint at a time is solved with assumed/unconverged values of other
unknowns. The process repeated until convergence.
However, a physical explanation can be offered to the above numerical successive
approximation technique.
Introduced by Prof. Hardy Cross in 1924 by the physical approach.
Development of the method.
To formalise the method into a systematic strategy, the stiffness properties of
different members meeting at a joint and the reactions developed at farther ends
by an applied moment at the joint are recast into a couple of factors, viz:-
distribution & carry over factors.
Carryover Factor
Support moment at a fixed support due to a moment applied at a joint undergoing
rotation.
MA Fl
Flexural
l Rigidity
Ri idi offb
beam = EI
B Displacement of A from tangent drawn at B = 0
A L MA/EI * L/2 * L/3 - MBA/EI * L/2* 2L/3 = 0

MBA/MA = ½ CARRY OVER FACTOR

MA/EI +
MBA/EI
-

Distibution Factor
i) Slope of an element due to a moment applied at a joint undergoing rotation.
Farther end fixed.
Slope at A = ΘA
MA Flexural Rigidity of beam = EI
θA B Rotation of A from tangent drawn at B, ΘA =
A L MA/EI * L/2 - MBA/EI * L/2
= MA/EI * L/2 - MA/2EI * L/2
or ΘA = MAL/4EI
or MA = (4EI/L) ΘA or MA = k ΘA, k = 4EI/L
 i) Slope of an element due to a moment applied at a joint undergoing rotation.
Farther end hinged.
Slope
p at A = ΘA
MA B Flexural Rigidity of beam = EI
θA δB Displacement of B from tangent drawn at A, δB =
A L MA/EI * L/2 *2L/3 = MAL²/3EI
ΘA = δ B / L
or ΘA = MAL/3EI
MA/EI +
or MA = (3EI/L) ΘA or MA = k ΘA, k = 3EI/L

iii) Distibution of moments shared.

Joint Rotation ΘO same for all members
B
MOA +MOB +MOC + MOD = M
But MOA = KOA ΘO ……
or M = (kOA +kOB +kOC + kOD) Θo A C
or Θo = M/Σk O M
and Hence MOA = (KOA/Σk) M . ….

the factor (KOA/Σk) is the distribution factor d D

MOA = dOA M, MOB = dOB M, MOC = dOC M, MOD = dOD M

Explain the physical procedure

Explain the numeical procedure
Example. 1 Positive Rotation n End Moment
In the continuous beam ABCD loaded as shown, the support B sinks by δ cm during loading.
Find the support moments and draw SF & BM diagrams.
A 15 kN/m B C 40 kN 4m D

2I 1I 2I
8m 4m 8m

4
δ= 1 cm I= 16000 cm E= 200 GPa
1. Fixed End Moments
Span A-B
i) due to udl only
MFAB = -15 x 8² / 12 = -80 kNm
F
M BA = 15 x 8² / 12 = 80 kNm
i) due to SUPPORT SETTLEMENT only
F
M AB = 6 x (200x10^6) x (32000/10^8) x (-1/100) / 8² = -60 kNm
F
M BA = ( ) x (32000/10^8)
6 x (200x10^6) ( ) x (-1/100)
( ) / 8² = 60 kNm
-60
Total
MFAB = -80 + -60 = -140 kNm
F
M BA = 80 + -60 = 20 kNm
Span B-C
i)) due to udl only
y
F
M BC = -15 x 4² / 12 = -20 kNm
F
M CB = 15 x 4² / 12 = 20 kNm
i) due to SUPPORT SETTLEMENT only
F
M BC = 6 x (200x10^6) x (16000/10^8) x (1/100) / 4² = 120 kNm
F
M CB = 6 x (200x10^6) x (16000/10^8) x (1/100) / 4² = 120 kNm
Total
MFBC = -20 + 120 = 100 kNm
MFCB = 20 + 120 = 140 kNm
Span C-D
MFCD = -40 x 8/8= -40 kNm
F
M DC = 40 x 8/8= 40 kNm

2. Distribution Factors

Stiffness - k
Joint Member Σk d=k/Σk
4 or 3 EI/L
B-A 8EI/8= 1 EI 0.5
B 2 EI
B-C 4EI/4= 1 EI 0.5
C-B 4EI/4= 1 EI 0.5
C 2 EI
C-D 8EI/8= 1 EI 0.5
3. Moment Distribution

Joint A B C D
Member AB BA BC CB CD DC
DF 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
FEM -140 20 100 140 -40 40
Bal B,C -60 -60 -50 -50
C.O -30 -25 -30 -25
Bal B,C 12.5 12.5 15 15
C.O 6.25 7.5 6.25 7.5
Bal B,C -3.75 -3.75 -3.125 -3.125
C.O -1.875 -1.563 -1.875 -1.563
Bal B,C 0.7813 0.7813 0.9375 0.9375
C.O 0
0.3906
06 0.4688
0 4688 0.39063
0 39063 0.4688
0 46
Bal B,C -0.234 -0.234 -0.1953 -0.195
C.O -0.117 -0.098 -0.1172 -0.098
Bal B,C 0.0488 0.0488 0.05859 0.0586
C.O 0.0244 0.0293 0.02441 0.0293
Bal B
B,C
C -0.015
0 015 -0.015
0 015 -0.0122
0 0122 -0.012
0 012
C.O -0.007 -0.006 -0.0073 -0.006
Final -165.3 -30.67 30.663 77.3291 -77.34 21.332

-165.3 15 -30.67

A B
84.5 35.5

30.663 15 77.329

B C
3.002 56.998

-77.34 40 kN 21.332

C D
27.001 12.999

FBD of Members
 27.001
84.5 3

13
35.5 56.998
SFD

Example. 2 Positive Rotation n End Moment

In the continuous beam ABCD loaded as shown, the support B sinks by δ cm during loading.
Find the support moments and draw SF & BM diagrams.
A 15 kN/m B C 40 kN 4m D

2I 1I 2I
8m 4m 8m

4
δ= 1 cm I= 16000 cm E= 200 GPa

1. Fixed End Moments

Span A-B
i) due to udl only
MFAB = -15 x 8² / 12 = -80 kNm
F
M BA = 15 x 8² / 12 = 80 kNm
i) due to SUPPORT SETTLEMENT only
MFAB = 6 x (200x10
(200x10^6)
6) x (32000/10
(32000/10^8)
8) x ((-1/100)
1/100) / 8
8² = -60 kNm
F
M BA = 6 x (200x10^6) x (32000/10^8) x (-1/100) / 8² = -60 kNm
Total
F
M AB = -80 + -60 = -140 kNm
F
M BA = 80 + -60 = 20 kNm
Span B
B-C
C
i) due to udl only
MFBC = -15 x 4² / 12 = -20 kNm
F
M CB = 15 x 4² / 12 = 20 kNm
 i) due to SUPPORT SETTLEMENT only
MFBC = 6 x (200x10^6) x (16000/10^8) x (1/100) / 4² = 120 kNm
MFCB = 6 x (200x10
(200x10^6)
6) x (16000/10
(16000/10^8)
8) x (1/100) / 4
4² = 120 kNm
Total
MFBC = -20 + 120 = 100 kNm
F
M CB = 20 + 120 = 140 kNm
Span C-D
MFCD = -40 x 8/8= m
-40 kNm
MFDC = 40 x 8/8= 40 kNm
2. Distribution Factors
Stiffness - k
Joint Member Σk d=k/Σk
4 or 3 EI/L
B-A
B A 8EI/8=
8EI/8 1 EI 0.5
B 2 EI
B-C 4EI/4= 1 EI 0.5
C-B 4EI/4= 1 EI 0.5714
C 1.75 EI
C-D 3*2EI/8= 0.75 EI 0.4286
3. Moment Distribution
Joint
J A B C D
Member AB BA BC CB CD DC
DF 0.5 0.5 0.57143 0.4286
FEM -140 20 100 140 -40 40
Bal D -40
C.O above -20
Bal B,C -60 -60 -45.714 -34.29
C.O -30 -22.86 -30
Bal B,C 11.429 11.429 17.1429 12.857
C.O 5.7143 8.5714 5.71429
Bal B,C -4.286 -4.286 -3.2653 -2.449
CO
C.O -2.143
2 143 -1.633
1 633 -2.1429
2 1429
Bal B,C 0.8163 0.8163 1.22449 0.9184
C.O 0.4082 0.6122 0.40816
Bal B,C -0.306 -0.306 -0.2332 -0.175
C.O -0.153 -0.117 -0.1531
Bal B,C
BC 0 0583 0.0583
0.0583 0 0583 0.08746
0 08746 0 0656
0.0656
C.O 0.0292 0.0437 0.02915
Bal B,C -0.022 -0.022 -0.0167 -0.012
C.O -0.011 -0.008 -0.0109
Final -166.2 -32.31 32.302 83.0701 -83.08 0
Example. 2
Example Positive Rotation n End Moment

Rigid frames - Non-sway

80 kN/m
B C
60 kN 2I 1m
On both sides

1I 3m
1I
A 6m D

1. Fixed End Moments

Span A-B
MFAB = + 60 x 3 x 1² / 4² = 11.25 kNm
F
M BA = - 60 x 3² x 1 / 4 ² = -33.75 kNm
Span C
C-D
D
MFDC = - 60 x 3 x 1² / 4² = -11.25 kNm
F
M CD = + 60 x 3² x 1 / 4 ² = 33.75 kNm
Span B-C
F
M BC = + 80 x 6² / 12 = 240 kNm
MFCB = - 80 x 6² / 12 = -240 kNm

2. Distribution Factors

Stiffness - k
Joint Member Σk d=k/Σk
4 or 3 EI/L
B-A 4EI/4= 1 EI 0.4286
B 2.333 EI
B-C 8EI/6= 1.3 EI 0.5714
C-D 4EI/4= 1 EI 0.4286
C 2.333 EI
C-B 8EI/6= 1.3 EI 0.5714
3. Moment Distribution

Joint A B C D
Member AB BA BC CB CD DC
DF 0.4286 0.5714 0.57143 0.4286
FEM 11.25 -33.75 240 -240 33.75 -11.25
Bal B,C -88.39 -117.9 117.857 88.393
C.O -44.2 58.929 -58.929 44.196
Bal B,C -25.26 -33.67 33.6735 25.255
C.O -12.63 16.837 -16.837 12.628
Bal B,C -7.216 -9.621 9.62099 7.2157
C.O -3.608 4.8105 -4.8105 3.6079
Bal B,C -2.062 -2.749 2.74885 2.0616
C.O -1.031
10 1 11.3744
3744 -1.3744
1 3744 11.0308
0 0
Bal B,C -0.589 -0.785 0.78539 0.589
C.O -0.295 0.3927 -0.3927 0.2945
Bal B,C -0.168 -0.224 0.2244 0.1683
C.O -0.084 0.1122 -0.1122 0.0841
Bal B
B,C
C -0.048
0 048 -0.064
0 064 0 06411
0.06411 0 0481
0.0481
C.O -0.024 0.0321 -0.0321 0.024
Final -50.62 -157.5 157.51 -157.51 157.48 50.615

Example. 3
10 kN 30 kN/m
kN/
D B C
2I

1I 4m

A
2m 4m

1. Fixed End Moments

Span
p B-C
F
M BC = + 30 x 4² / 12 = 40 kNm
F
M CB = - 30 x 4² / 12 = -40 kNm
2. Distribution Factors

Stiffness - k
Joint Member Σk
k d=k/Σk
d k/ k
4 or 3 EI/L
B-A 4EI/4= 1 EI 0.3333
B 3 EI
B-C 8EI/4= 2 EI 0.6667

3. Moment Distribution

Joint A B C
Member AB BA BD BC CB
DF 0.3333 0.66667
FEM -20 40 -40
Bal B -6.667 -13.333
C.O -3.333 -6.667
Final -3.333 -6.667 -20 26.6667 -46.67

10 kN
-20
20 -2.5
2 5 26.667
26 667 46 67
-46.67 -2.5
25

10 55 65
65

-6.667
-6 667
-2.5

-2.5
-3.333
65
Frames with Sway

Steps in analysis
Joints are first assumed held against sway
Fixed end moments caused by applied loading are distributed and
first set of balanced moments obtained.
The unloaded frame is assumed to have a cetain amount of sidesway
which will cause a set of fixed end moments (corresponding
to sway of any one member an arbitrary value on FEM is
assigned and for other members, FEM is proportionately
worked out ). This set of FEM is distributed and second set
of balanced moments obtained.
Final set of end moments is now obtained by adding the first set and a
ratio of the second, the ratio being found using shear condition.

Illustration P W
B C

D
dof - rotations at B and C and Sway at level BC

First Stage - Non sway analysis (only rotational dof )

W
B C
I1
FEM of applied
pp loads distributed to obtain I2
1 1 1 1 1 1
M AB, M BA, M BC, M CB, M CD, M DC A

D
Second Stage - Arbitrary Sway analysis
MFAB = MFBA = 6EI1δ /h 1²
P δ δ MFDC = MFCD = 6EI2δ /h 2²
B C
h1
h2 MFAB / MFCD = I1h2² / I2h1²
A

D
Assume any value for one of them and workout others
These FEM distributed to obtain
2
M AB, M2BA, M2BC, M2CB, M2CD, M2DC

Third Stage - Determine actual sway from shear condition

End Moment, MAB = M1AB + a M2AB

Shear Condition, HA + HD + P = 0
Typically HA = (MAB + MBA)/h1
Typically,
Since end moments are expressed in terms of unknown " a ",
the shear condition can be used to obtain " a "

Example. 4
Rigid
d frame
f with
h sway
16 kN
B C
2I

1I 4m
1I
A D
3m 5m

Non sway distribution

FEM Span B-C
MFBC = + 16 x 3 x 5² / 8² = 18.75 kNm
F
M CB = - 16 x 5² x 3 / 8 ² = -11.25 kNm
DF
dBA = (1I/4) / (1I/4+2I/8) = 0.5
dBc = ((2I/8)) / (1I/4+2I/8)
( )= 0.5
dCB = (1I/4) / (1I/4+2I/8) = 0.5
dCD = (2I/8) / (1I/4+2I/8) = 0.5

Non sway distribution

Joint A B C D
Member AB BA BC CB CD DC
DF 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
FEM 18.75 -11.25
Bal B,C -9.375 -9.375 5.625 5.625
C.O -4.688 2.8125 -4.6875 2.8125
B lB
Bal B,C
C -1.406
1 406 -1.406
1 406 2.34375
2 34375 2.3438
2 3438
C.O -0.703 1.1719 -0.7031 1.1719
Bal B,C -0.586 -0.586 0.35156 0.3516
C.O -0.293 0.1758 -0.293 0.1758
Bal B,C -0.088 -0.088 0.14648 0.1465
CO
C.O -0 044
-0.044 0 0732
0.0732 -0 0439
-0.0439 0 0732
0.0732
Bal B,C -0.037 -0.037 0.02197 0.022
C.O -0.018 0.011 -0.0183 0.011
Bal B,C -0.005 -0.005 0.00916 0.0092
C.O -0.003 0.0046 -0.0027 0.0046
,
Bal B,C -0.002 -0.002 0.00137 0.0014
C.O -0.001 0.0007 -0.0011 0.0007
Final -5.75 -11.5 11.5 -8.5004 8.4993 4.2496

Arbitrary sway distribution

MFAB = MFBA = 6EIδ /h ²
δ δ M
F
DC = MFCD = 6EIδ /h ²
B C
h
h MFAB / MFCD = 1
A D

Assume, MFAB = 100

F
Then, M BA = 100
F
M DC = 100
F
M CD = 100
 Joint A B C D
Member AB BA BC CB CD DC
DF 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
FEM 100 100 100 100
Bal B,C -50 -50 -50 -50
C.O -25 -25 -25 -25
Bal B,C 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5
C.O 6.25 6.25 6.25 6.25
Bal B,C -3.125 -3.125 -3.125 -3.125
C.O -1.563 -1.563 -1.5625 -1.563
Bal B,C 0.7813 0.7813 0.78125 0.7813
C.O 0.3906 0.3906 0.39063 0.3906
Bal B,C -0.195 -0.195 -0.1953 -0.195
CO
C.O -0.098
0 098 -0.098
0 098 -0.0977
0 0977 -0.098
0 098
Bal B,C 0.0488 0.0488 0.04883 0.0488
C.O 0.0244 0.0244 0.02441 0.0244
Bal B,C -0.012 -0.012 -0.0122 -0.012
C.O -0.006 -0.006 -0.0061 -0.006
Final 79 999 59.998
79.999 59 998 -60
60 -60.004
60 004 59 998 79.999
59.998 79 999

Determine actual sway from shear condition

Shear condition reduces to :

MAB + MBA + MCD + MDC = 0

-5.75 +a* 79.999

+ -11.5 +a* 59.998
+ 8.4993 +a* 59.998
+ 4.2496 +a* 79.999 =0

279.99 a = 4.50027
a= 0.01607
MAB = -4.464 kNm
MBA = -10.54 kNm
MBC = 10.536 kNm
MCB = -9.465 kNm
MCD = 9.4636 kNm
MDC = 5.5355 kNm