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Moment Distribution Method - 1

The Moment Distribution Method is a method developed by Hardy Cross in 1932 to solve for unknown internal forces at joints in continuous beams and rigid frames through successive approximation. It distributes an applied moment at a joint to each member connected to the joint based on the member's stiffness factor, which is the ratio of the member's stiffness to the total stiffness of all members at the joint. The distributed moment is then carried over to the other end of the member based on its carry-over factor. This process is repeated iteratively until the changes in moments are negligible to determine the final internal forces throughout the structure.

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Jaswant Sharma
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15 views

Moment Distribution Method - 1

The Moment Distribution Method is a method developed by Hardy Cross in 1932 to solve for unknown internal forces at joints in continuous beams and rigid frames through successive approximation. It distributes an applied moment at a joint to each member connected to the joint based on the member's stiffness factor, which is the ratio of the member's stiffness to the total stiffness of all members at the joint. The distributed moment is then carried over to the other end of the member based on its carry-over factor. This process is repeated iteratively until the changes in moments are negligible to determine the final internal forces throughout the structure.

Uploaded by

Jaswant Sharma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Moment Distribution Method

• Method developed by Prof. Hardy Cross in 1932.


• Importance of method: when unknown quantities are more than three in number.
• The method solves for the joint moments in continuous beams and rigid frames by
successive approximation.

Sign Conventions
Moment Positive (+) Negative (–)

Shear Force Positive (+) Negative (–)

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Mechanism of Moment Distribution
When beam hinged at both ends:

Both ends are hinged so Fixed end moment is zero at ends

Apply slope deflection equation for span AB


2𝐸𝐼
𝑀𝐴𝐵 = 2θ𝐴𝐵 + θ𝐵𝐴 ----(1) θAB
μ A B
𝐿 θBA
2𝐸𝐼 L
𝑀𝐵𝐴 = θ𝐴𝐵 + 2θ𝐵𝐴 ----(2)
𝐿

Now applying equilibrium condition at joint B μ

𝟏
» MBA= 0; 𝜽𝑩𝑨 = − 𝜽𝑨𝑩
𝟐
𝟐𝑬𝑰 𝟏 𝟑𝑬𝑰
From equation 1 𝝁 = 𝟐𝜽𝑨𝑩 − 𝜽𝑨𝑩 = 𝜽𝑨𝑩
𝑳 𝟐 𝑳
𝟑𝑬𝑰
For Unit rotation 𝝁=𝒌=
𝑳
4
When Beam hinged at one ends and fixed at other end.
μ'
Apply slope deflection equation for span AB B
μ A
2𝐸𝐼 θAB
𝑀𝐴𝐵 = μ = 2θ𝐴𝐵 + 0 ----(1) θBA
𝐿 L
2𝐸𝐼
𝑀𝐵𝐴 = μ′ = θ𝐴𝐵 + 0 ----(2) μ
𝐿
𝟒𝑬𝑰 ′ 𝟐𝑬𝑰
𝝁= 𝜽𝑨𝑩 𝝁 = 𝜽𝑨𝑩 μ'
𝑳 𝑳
μ
Thus relation between both end moments μ′ =
2

• The moment k required to rotate the near end of a prismatic beam through a unit angle
3𝐸𝐼 4𝐸𝐼
without translation when the far end being hinged or fixed is given by 𝑘 = or 𝑘 =
𝐿 𝐿
respectively. For distributing the moments in a rigid joint, if one end of the member is not
restrained then its stiffness should be multiplied by (3/4).
• When the prismatic member is fixed at one end and a moment is applied at the other end, the
moment induced at the fixed end is one half of the applied moment with the same direction.
5
Several members meeting at a joint
So μ1 μ2 μ3 and μ4 be the share of moment μ A
I1L1
So μ1+ μ2+ μ3+ μ4 = μ--------(A)
D I4L4 O
So magnitude of these moments μ
I2L2
3𝐸1𝐼1
𝜇1 = θ ⇒ k1θ ----(1) I3L3
𝐿1 B
C
4𝐸2𝐼2
𝜇2 = θ ⇒ k2θ ----(2)
𝐿2
3𝐸3𝐼3
𝜇3 = θ ⇒ k3θ ----(3)
𝐿3

4𝐸4𝐼4
𝜇4 = θ ⇒ k4θ -----(4)
𝐿4

From equation 1 to 4
𝜇1: 𝜇2: 𝜇3 : 𝜇4 :: k1 : k2 : k3 : k4-----------------(B)
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𝑘1 𝑘1
𝜇1 = μ⇒ μ A
𝑘1+𝑘2+𝑘3+𝑘4 ∑𝑘
𝑘2 𝑘2 I1L1
𝜇2 = μ⇒ μ
𝑘1+𝑘2+𝑘3+𝑘4 ∑𝑘 D I4L4 O μ
𝑘3 𝑘3
𝜇3 = μ⇒ μ I2L2
𝑘1+𝑘2+𝑘3+𝑘4 ∑𝑘
𝑘4 𝑘4 I3L3
𝜇4 = μ⇒ μ B
𝑘1+𝑘2+𝑘3+𝑘4 ∑𝑘 C
𝑘1 𝑘2 𝑘3 𝑘4
So quantity , , and are called distribution factor for particular member and 𝜇1,
∑𝑘 ∑𝑘 ∑𝑘 ∑𝑘
𝜇2, 𝜇3 and 𝜇4 are called distribution moments.

• So a moment is applied in a stiff joint of a structure, the moment is resisted by various


members in proportion to their respective stiffnesses (i.e., moment of inertia divided by
the length). If the stiffness of the member is more; then it resists more bending moment
and it absorbs a greater proportion of the applied moment.
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Basic definitions:
• Stiffness factor: Resistance offered by member to a unit displacement or rotation at a
point, for given support constraint conditions.
• Distribution Factor: It is defined as the fractions according to which an externally
applied unbalanced moment M at a joint is apportioned to the various members mating at
the joint.
• Carry-over Factors: It is defined as the ratio of the moment at the fixed far end to the
moment at the near end for the rotation at near end. (the number + 0.5 is the carry over
factor)

• In a fixed beam, if the support settles/subsides/sinks by an amount ∆, the moment


required to make the ends horizontal is 6EI ∆ / L2 .
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Steps follow for analysing numerical by Moment Distribution Method:
Step1: Calculate Maximum Bending Moment value for each span considering all span simply supported and Fixed end
moments for each loaded span are determined assuming both ends fixed.
Step 2: The stiffness factors for each span at the joint should be calculated. Using these values the distribution factors
𝐾
can be determined from equation DF = Σ𝐾

DF for a fixed end = 0 and DF = 1 for an end pin or roller support.


Step3: Put all the values of joints, members, distribution factor and fixed end moments in the respective column of the
moment distribution table. Then determine the unbalanced moment at each joint. Release or unlock the joints and
distribute the counterbalancing moments into connecting span at each joint using distribution factors. Carry these
moments in each span over to its other end by multiplying each moment by carry over factor. By repeating this cycle
of locking and unlocking the joints, it will be found that the moment corrections will diminish since the beam tends to
achieve its final deflected shape. When a small enough value for correction is obtained the process of cycling should
be stopped with carry over only to the end supports. Each column of FEMs, distributed moments and carry over
moment should then be added to get the final moments at the joints. Then superimpose support moment diagram over
free BMD (BMD of primary structure) final BMD for the beam is obtained. 9

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