Beam Moment Distribution: Worked Example 1.

22

Beam Moment Distribution

Worked Examples
Question 1
Use the moment distribution method to draw a dimensioned sketch of the bending moment
diagram for the following beam. The section is uniform.

40 kN
36 kN/m

A B C D

4m 4m 2m 2m

Solution 1
Working in units of kN and m:
FEMs:
wL2 36 4 2 wL2 36 4 2
BC = 48 CB = 48
12 12 12 12
WL 40 4 WL 40 4
CD = 20 DC = 20
8 8 8 8

Distribution factors:
Joint B Joint C
BA BC CB CD
K I I I I I I I I
1 1 1 1
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
DF 1 1 1 1
4 4 4 4
1
4
14 1
4
14 1
4
14 1
4
14
1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2

M DATOO
Beam Moment Distribution: Worked Example 1.23

Distribution table:
Joint A B C D
End AB BA BC CB CD DC

DF 1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2
FEM -48 48 -20 20
Bal 24 24 -14 -14
CO 12 -7 12 -7
Bal 3.5 3.5 -6 -6
CO 1.8 -3 1.8 -3
Bal 1.5 1.5 -0.9 -0.9
CO 0.8 -0.5 0.8 -0.5
Bal 0.3 0.2 -0.4 -0.4
Final EM 15 29 -29 41 -41 10

The maximum free moments, which are sagging (that is tension on the bottom of the
member) are:
wL2 36 4 2
BC = 72 (maximum at mid-span; parabolic in-between)
8 8
CD = 20 2 40 (maximum at mid-span; linear in-between)

The final bending moments are:

In AB: at A = 15 (tension on bottom) at B = 29 (tension on top)

In BC: at B = 29 (tension on top) at C = 41 (tension on top)

29 41
at mid-span = 72 37 (tension on bottom)
2

In CD: at C = 41 (tension on top) at D = 10 (tension on top)

41 10
under point load = 40 15 (tension on bottom)
2

M DATOO
Beam Moment Distribution: Worked Example 1.24

Drawing the bending moment diagram (kN m) on the tension side:

41
29

10

15 15

37

Shear calculations:
In AB:

15 29

RA RB
4

R A 4 15 29 0 R A 11.0
RB 0 (11.0) 11.0
In BC:

29 41
36

RB RC
4

RB 4 41 36 4 2 29 RB 69.0
RC (36 4) 69.0 75.0

M DATOO
Beam Moment Distribution: Worked Example 1.25

In CD:

41 40 10

RC RD
4

RC 4 10 40 2 41 RC 27.8

RD 40 27.8 12.2

Shear table:
Span AB BC CD
End AB BA BC CB CD DC
Shears -11.0 11.0 69.0 75.0 27.8 12.2
Reaction -11 80 103 12

Shear force diagram (kN):

69

28

11
12

75

M DATOO
Beam Moment Distribution: Worked Example 1.26

Question 2
Use the moment distribution method to draw a dimensioned sketch of the bending moment
diagram for the following beam:

100 kN 80 kN 40 kN
30 kN/m

A 2I B 3I C 4I D
2.5 m
2.5 m 2.5 m 6m 1.25 m 1.25 m

Solution 2
Working in units of kN and m:
FEMs:
WL 100 5 WL 100 5
AB = 62.5 BA = 62.5
8 8 8 8
wL2 30 6 2 wL2 30 6 2
BC = 90 CB = 90
12 12 12 12
Wab 2 80 1.25 3.75 2 40 3.75 1.25 2
CD = 65.6
L2 52 52
Wa 2 b 80 1.25 2 3.75 40 3.75 2 1.25
DC = 46.9
L2 52 52

Distribution factors:
Joint B Joint C
BA BC CB CD
K 2I 2I 3I I 3I I 3 4 I 3I
1 1 1
5 5 6 2 6 2 4 5 5
DF 2
5
1
2
1
2
3
5
2
5 1
2
2
5 1
2
1
2 3
5
1
2 3
5

4 5 5 6
9 9 11 11

M DATOO
Beam Moment Distribution: Worked Example 1.27

Distribution table:
Joint A B C D
End AB BA BC CB CD DC

DF 4 5 5 6
9 9 11 11
FEM -62.5 62.5 -90 90 -65.6 46.9
Pin at D -23.5 -46.9
FEM* -62.5 62.5 -90 90 -89.1 0
Bal 12.2 15.3 -0.4 -0.5
CO 6.1 -0.2 7.7
Bal 0.1 0.1 -3.5 -4.2
CO -1.8
Bal 0.8 1.0
Final EM -56 76 -76 94 -94 0

The maximum free moments, which are sagging (that is tension on the bottom of the
member) are:
AB = 100 1.25 125 (maximum at mid-span; linear in-between)
wL2 30 6 2
BC = 135 (maximum at mid-span; parabolic in-between)
8 8

RC
40 1.25 80 3.75 70 RD
80 1.25 40 3.75 50
5 5
M 80 RC 1.25 70 1.25 88 M 40 RD 1.25 50 1.25 63

The final bending moments are:

In AB: at A = 56 (tension on top) at B = 76 (tension on top)
56 76
Under point load = 125 59 (tension on bottom)
2

In BC: at B = 76 (tension on top) at C = 94 (tension on top)

76 94
at mid-span = 135 50 (tension on bottom)
2

M DATOO
Beam Moment Distribution: Worked Example 1.28

In CD: at C = 94 (tension on top) at D = 0

94
under 80 kN point load = 88 3.75 17 (tension on bottom)
5
94
under 40 kN point load = 63 1.25 39 (tension on bottom)
5

Drawing the bending moment diagram (kN m) on the tension side:

94
76
56

17
39
50
59

M DATOO
Beam Moment Distribution: Worked Example 1.29

Question 3
Use the moment distribution method to draw a dimensioned sketch of the bending moment
diagram. Hence, draw a dimensioned sketch of the shear force diagram.

80 kN 160 kN
12 kN/m 24 kN/m

A B C D E
I I 2I 3I

2m 1.5 m 1.5 m 1m 3m 6m

Solution 3
Working in units of kN and m:
Cantilever action at BA M BA 12 2 1 24 M BC 24

FEMs:
WL 80 3 WL 80 3
BC = 30 CB = 30
8 8 8 8
Wab 2 160 1 3 2 Wa 2 b 160 12 3
CD = 90 DC = 30
L2 42 L2 42
wL2 24 6 2 wL2 24 6 2
DE = 72 ED = 72
12 12 12 12
Distribution factors:
Joint C Joint D
CB CD DC DE
K 3 I I 2I I 2I I 3I I
1 1 1
4 3 4 4 2 4 2 6 2
DF 1
4
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
4 1
2
1
4 1
2
1
2 1
2
1
2 1
2

1 2 1 1
3 3 2 2

M DATOO
Beam Moment Distribution: Worked Example 1.30

Distribution table:
Joint B C D E
End BC CB CD DC DE Ed

DF 1 2 1 1
3 3 2 2
FEM -30 30 -90 30 -72 72
MBA=-24 +6 +3
FEM* -24 33 -90 30 -72 72
Bal 19 38 21 21
CO 10.5 19 10.5
Bal -3.5 -7.0 -9.5 -9.5
CO -4.8 -3.5 -4.8
Bal 1.6 3.2 1.8 1.7
CO 0.9 1.6 0.9
Bal -0.3 -0.6 -0.8 -0.8
Final EM -24 50 -50 60 -60 79

The maximum free moments, which are sagging (that is tension on the bottom of the
member) are:
BC = 40 1.5 60 (maximum at mid-span; linear in-between)

RC
160 3 120
4
M 160 RC 1 120 1 120 (maximum under point load; linear in-between)

wL2 24 6 2
DE = 108 (maximum at mid-span; parabolic in-between)
8 8

The final bending moments are:

In AB: at A = 0 at B = 24 (tension on top)

In BC: at B = 24 (tension on top) at C = 50 (tension on top)

24 50
Under point load = 60 23 (tension on bottom)
2
In CD: at C = 50 (tension on top) at D = 60 (tension on top)
M DATOO
Beam Moment Distribution: Worked Example 1.31

(60 50)
under point load = 120 50 1 68 (tension on bottom)
4

In DE: at D = 60 (tension on top) at E = 79 (tension on top)

60 79
at mid-span = 108 39 (tension on bottom)
2

Drawing the bending moment diagram (kN m) on the tension side:

79

60
50

24

23

39

68

Shear calculations:
In AB:

0 24
12

RA RB
2

R A 2 24 12 2 1 RA 0
RB 24 0 24
In BC:
M DATOO
Beam Moment Distribution: Worked Example 1.32

24 80 50

RB RC

1.5 1.5

RB 3 50 80 1.5 24 RB 31.3
RC 80 31.3 48.7

In CD:

50 60
160

RC RD

1 3

RC 4 60 160 3 50 RC 117.5

RD 160 117.5 42.5

In DE:

60 79
24

RD RE
6

RD 6 79 24 6 3 60 RD 69.0

RE 24 6 69 75.0

M DATOO
Beam Moment Distribution: Worked Example 1.33

Shear table:
Span AB BC CD DE
End AB BA BC CB CD DC DE ED
Shears 0 24.0 31.3 48.7 117.5 42.5 69.0 75.0
Reaction 0 55 166 112 75

Shear force diagram (kN):

117

69

31
E
A B C D
24
43
49
75

M DATOO