Moment Distribution

Method
Presented by
Fuad Bin Nazrul
 Moment Distribution Method
• Developed by Hardy Cross in 1982
• Used to analyze statically indeterminate beams and frames in which
member are primary subjected to bending
• Although this method is a deformation method like the slope-
deflection method
• It is an approximate method and, thus, does not require solving
simultaneous equations
• The degree of accuracy of the results obtained by the method of
moment distribution depends on the number of successive
approximations or the iteration process
 Stiffness

Stiffness:
Stiffness (K) is defined as the end moment required to produce
a unit rotation at one end of a member while the other end is fixed.

a) A beam hinged at one end and fixed at the other.

b) When both ends are hinged.
 Stiffness

a) A beam hinged at one end and fixed at the other.

From the slope deflection

Equation the expression for
the moment we get

=K
 Stiffness
b) When both ends are hinged

From the slope deflection

equation the expression for
the moment at the hinged
end where the load is applied
we get

=K
Modified stiffness factor for various end conditions

1. If one end is simply supported

K= 3EI / L

2. If one end is symmetrical to the other end

K= 2EI / L

3. Is one end is anti-symmetrical to the other end

K= 6EI / L
 Carry-Over Factor
Carry over factor (C) :
Carry-over factor is defined as the ration of moment induced at
the fixed end of a member to the moment producing rotation at the
opposite end.

A moment applied at the near end induces at a fixed far end a

moment equal to half its magnitude in the same direction

1
Carry-over factor =
2
 Distribution factor
• The factor by which the applied moment is distributed to the
member is known as the distribution factor
• Distribution factor is the ratio according to which an externally
applied unbalanced moment M at a joint is apportioned to the
various members mating at the joint
Distribution factor

• So, Distribution Factor

𝑆𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑗𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡
 Sign Convention

• Clockwise moments and rotations are positive (+)ve

• Anti-clockwise moments and rotations are negative (-)ve
• Displacements are positive when measured from left to right or
vertically downward
 Fixed End Moments
• Denoted as MF, MF, FEM
• The fixed end moments for the various load cases
 Sample Problem
Analyze the following beam, using moment distribution method. Draw
shear force and bending moment diagram. EI = constant

20 K
1 K/f

A C

B 20 ft
60 ft 20 ft
 Solution
Relative Stiffness:
4𝐸𝐼 4𝐸𝐿
KAB= KBA= =
𝐿 60

4𝐸𝐼 4𝐸𝐼
KBC= KCB= =
𝐿 40

Distribution Factor:
DAB= 𝐾 𝐾+𝐾
𝐴𝐵 =0 DBA= 𝐾 𝐾𝐵𝐴
= 0.4
𝐴𝐵 𝑊𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝐵𝐴 +𝐾𝐵𝐶

𝐾𝐵𝐶 𝐾𝐶𝐵
DBC= 𝐾𝐵𝐴 +𝐾𝐵𝐶
= 0.6 DCB= 𝐾𝐶𝐵 +𝐾𝑊𝑎𝑙𝑙
=0
 Solution
Fixed End Moment:
𝑊𝐿2 1𝑋602
MFBA= - MFAB = = = 300 K-ft
12 12

𝑃𝐿 20𝑋40
MFCB= - MF BC = = = 100 K-ft
8 8
 Solution
Distribution of moment:

Joint A B C Unbalanced by
Member AB BA BC CB 200 K-ft

DF 0 0.4 0.6 0 To balance it give

FEM -300 300 -100 100 -200 K-ft
DM -80 -120
COM -40 -60
-200 K-ft will
ΣM K-ft -340 220 -220 40 distributed to the
member using the
Distribution factor
 Solution

20 K
1 K/f

A 40 K-ft
220 K-ft 220 K-ft
340 K-ft B C
60 ft 20 ft 20 ft
 Solution

220 K-ft 20 K
340 K-ft 220 K-ft 40 K-ft
1 K/f
A C
B B
60 ft 20 ft 20 ft

RB=9 K RB=11 K
RA= 26.33 K RB=33.67 K
 Solution
26.33 K 9K
+ +
SFD
- -
11 K
33.67 K
180 K-ft
346.63 K-ft

+ +
BMD - - -
-
40 K-ft
220 K-ft
340 K-ft
 Output
• Calculate stiffness factors and distribution factors for various members in a
continuous beam.
• Define unbalanced moment at a rigid joint.
• Compute distribution moment and carry-over moment.
• Derive expressions for distribution moment, carry-over moments.
• Analyze continuous beam by the moment-distribution method
• Draw the free-body diagram of each span of the given beam, showing the loads
and moments at the joints obtained by the moment distribution method.
• Determine the support reactions for each span.
• Compute and construct the shearing force and bending moment diagrams for
each span.
• Draw one bending moment and one shearing force diagram for the given beam
by combining the diagrams
 Reference Book

1. Indeterminate Structural Analysis - J. S. Kinney

2. Basic Structural Analysis – C. S Raddy
3. Structural Analysis – R. C Hibbler