CE 309

Structural Analysis

Moment Distribution Method

01/11/2016
 Outline of Lecture

Introduction
Action of Concentrated Moment at Joint
Action of Arbitrary Loading
Examples
Moment Distribution Method
Originally proposed by Prof Hardy Cross in 1932

Unknown displacements are not computed; end

moments are directly determined

Unknown displacements are fixed and released one at a

time

The process of fixing results in moments accumulating at

various joints; this needs to be balanced

Fixing and balancing is iteratively carried out till the

residual unbalanced moment at all joints vanish
ONE CYCLE MOMENT DISTRIBUTION

Action of Concentrated Moment at Joint

D
4

80kNm
3
A C
O
1
2

EI and L are constants for

B all 4 elements
 ONE CYCLE MOMENT DISTRIBUTION

Action of Concentrated Moment at Joint

This moment Mo, causes the
joint to rotate in the same
direction as the applied
moment
dio is the measure of relative
D stiffness and is known as
4 distribution factor, defined as
80kNm =
3

A C
O where kio is the
1 flexural stiffness of
the ith element
Moment Mo gets apportioned 2
to the various connecting
elements in proportion to their B
relative stiffnesses as
Mio = dio Mo
Recall Flexural Stiffness of Beam Element
M0=(3EI/L)0
0/2 M0
0
A O

Far end A hinged BMD M0=(4EI/L)0

M0
0
A O

Far end A fixed M0/2

BMD
M0 M0=(EI/L)0
0
A O
BMD
Far end A guided-fixed
Recall Flexural Stiffness of Beam Element
M0=(3EI/L)0
0/2 M0
0
A O
Carry-over factor is 0

Far end A hinged BMD M0=(4EI/L)0

M0
0
A O
Carry-over factor is +1/2
Far end A fixed M0/2
BMD
M0 M0=(EI/L)0
0
A O
Carry-over factor is -1
BMD
Far end A guided-fixed
ONE CYCLE MOMENT DISTRIBUTION

Individual Element Behaviour

M0A/2 M0A=(4EI/L)0
0
D A O
4
1
80kNm
3
A C
O
1
2

B
ONE CYCLE MOMENT DISTRIBUTION

Individual Element Behaviour M0D=(3EI/L)0

O

D
4
0
80kNm
3 2
-0/2
A C
O
1
2
B
B
ONE CYCLE MOMENT DISTRIBUTION

Individual Element Behaviour

M0C=(EI/L)0 M0C

D O
4
0 3 C
80kNm
3
A C
O
1
2 Element 4 (OD) does not resist
any bending moment , as the
roller does not offer any
B
horizontal reaction
OD remains straight, undergoing
rigid body rotation
 ONE CYCLE MOMENT DISTRIBUTION
Distribution factors can be found for all connecting
members The applied moment at O gets
distributed to the 4 elements in
proportion to their relative stiffnesses
D
80kNm

E
Distribution Factor of
element 1 A C
O
4/
1 =
4 3
+ +

d1= 4/8 B
 ONE CYCLE MOMENT DISTRIBUTION
Distribution factors can be found for all connecting
members The applied moment at O gets
distributed to the 4 elements in
proportion to their relative stiffnesses
D
80kNm

E
Distribution Factor of
element 1 A C
4/ O
1 =
4 3
+ +
d1= 4/8 Distribution Factor of
element 2 B
3/
2 =
4 3
+ + d2= 3/8
 ONE CYCLE MOMENT DISTRIBUTION
Distribution factors can be found for all connecting
members The applied moment at O gets
distributed to the 4 elements in
proportion to their relative stiffnesses
D
80kNm
d4= 0

E
Distribution Factor of
element 1 A C
4/ O
1 = Distribution Factor of
4 3
+ + element 3
d1= 4/8 /
Distribution Factor of 1 =
B 4 3 d3= 1/8
element 2 + +
3/
1 =
4 3
+ + d2= 3/8
 ONE CYCLE MOMENT DISTRIBUTION
Moment is distributed in the ratio 4:3:1:0 ( i.e; 40:30:10:0 kNm )

Clockwise end moment of D

40kNm at the end O will also 4
generate a carry-over moment
equal to +0.540=+20kNm at 80kNm
the fixed end A 3
A C
O
1
2 Similarly, the clockwise end
moment of 10kNm at the end O
in OC will also generate a carry-
B over moment equal to -10kNm
at the guided-fixed end C
The solution is generally written in a tabular
format- Moment Distribution Table
Beam AO OA OD (OE) OB OC CO
ends
D.F 4/8 0 0 3/8 1/8

C.O.F +1/2 -1

F.E.M 0.0 0.0 0.0 -80.0 0.0 0.0

Bal. +20.0 +40.0 0.0 0.0 +30.0 +10.0 -10.0

+20.0 +40.0 0.0 -80.0 +30.0 +10.0 -10.0

The solution is generally written in a tabular
format- Moment Distribution Table

Beam ends are marked for member

First row
end moments (AO for MAO, OA for
MOA, OB for MOB etc..)

the values of distribution factors ,

referred as D.F (dOA=4/8, dOB=3/8,
dOC=1/8, dOD=0) marked at the
Next row
appropriate beam end locations
The sum of all distribution factors at a
joint is equal to unity
The solution is generally written in a tabular
format- Moment Distribution Table

the carry-over factors, referred to as C.O.F.,

Next row
are indicated at the appropriate locations
(+1/2 for AO and -1 for CO)

the values of end moments are written

First, fixed end moments (F.E.M.) are
indicated at the appropriate locations.
Subsequent
rows
To accommodate the concentrated
moment of 80kNm, imagine that this
moment is applied at the free end E of an
imaginary rigid arm OE. This will induce a
fixed end moment, MFOE=-80kNm in the
imaginary member OE
 The solution is generally written in a tabular
format- Moment Distribution Table

Balancing operation is carried out

Next row The unbalanced moment (sum of all
FEMs at joint O, -80kNm) is
balanced by distributing it, with an
opposite sign to the various end
Last row moments connected to the joint. This
is done by multiplying the balancing
moment +80kNm by the
corresponding D.Fs

Carry-over operation also done.

The various end Arrows are to be marked to indicate
moments are the direction in which the carry over is
summed done
Moment Distribution Table

AO OA OD (OE) OB OC CO

D.F 4/8 0 0 3/8 1/8

C.O.F +1/2 -1

F.E.M 0.0 0.0 0.0 -80.0 0.0 0.0

Bal. +20.0 +40.0 0.0 0.0 +30.0 +10.0 -10.0

+20.0 +40.0 0.0 -80.0 +30.0 +10.0 -10.0

Example 1

Analyse the two-span continuous beam ABC by Moment

distribution method

50kNm

A C
B
4m 2m
Example 2

Analyse the frame ABC by Moment distribution method

50kNm

C
B 2I
4m

A
3m