Slope-deflection equations

Equations can be derived relating the rotations &

deflections of the ends of a beam to the end moments.
A consistent sign convention must again be adopted.
Anti-clockwise moments are positive
Anti-clockwise rotations are positive
Relative displacements of beam ends are positive
if the beam rotates in an anti-clockwise direction
Shear forces taken as positive if

Slope-deflection equations
P1

MAB

P2

VAB
A

A
x

MBA

VBA

Consider a beam with applied end deflections and rotations

The beam also has loadings on the span
As a result of the loading and deflections/rotations,
there are end moments and shear forces induced.

Slope-deflection equations
Using the Principle of Supposition, we can first analyse
the beam with the load applied and with the ends fully-fixed
Then we can add the effects of the beam with no applied
loading, but with end deflections and rotations
B
A
P2
P1
MFAB
MFBA
VFAB
VFBA
x

MDAB

VDBA

VDAB

MDBA

Slope-deflection equations
The total moments can be obtained by adding the
fixed-end moments and the displacement moments.
MAB = MFAB + MDAB
MBA = MFBA + MDBA
We have already studied how to determine fixed-end
moments.
The displacement moments can now be found
by deriving slope-deflection equations.

Slope-deflection equations
Considering the beam with end deflection/rotations
By taking a section at a distance x:

M = M DAB VDAB x

M = 0

x
VDAB
MDAB

A
x

d2y
= EI 2
dx
MDBA
VDBA

Slope-deflection equations
2

d y
EI 2 = M DAB VDAB x
dx
Integrating once:
2 2

dydy
xx
M
xV
DAB
VDAB + +EIA A
EIEI = = M
x
DAB
DAB
dxdx
22

At x = 0, dy/dx = A
A = EI A

Integrating again:

x 2x 2
x3x3
EIy
EIy
=
=M
M
DAB
VDAB + EI
+ EI
AxA+x B
DAB
DAB V
22
66

At x = 0, y = 0
B =0

Slope-deflection equations
22

Lx
dy
++EI
EI B ==M
MDAB
VVDAB
EIAA
DABLx
DAB
22
dx
xL2
xL3
EI
EIy
= M DAB
VDAB + EI A L
x
DAB
2
6

At x = L, dy/dx = B

At x = L, y =

Eliminating VDAB from these equations gives:

M DAB

2 EI
3
=
2 A + B
L
L

Slope-deflection equations
By taking looking at the beam on the other side
at a distance x:

MDAB

V
VDAB

AM

MDBA
VDBA

L-x

We can go through a similar process to find:

2 EI
3
M DBA =
2 B + A
L
L

Slope-deflection equations

M DAB

2 EI
3
=
2 A + B
L
L

2 EI
3
M DBA =
2 B + A
L
L
These are the slope-deflection equations which can be
used to relate the end deflection and rotations of a beam
to the end moments

We have derived the slope-deflection equations.

Now how can they be used?
1. Can be used to analyse statically indeterminate
plane-frame structures
2. They are the basis of an iterative solution procedure
for statically indeterminate plane-frame structures:
Moment-distribution method
3. They are the basis for powerful matrix solution
methods: Computer analysis

Before carrying out a numerical analysis, it is useful to

sketch the expected deformed shape of the structure
together with the expected reaction type and direction.
It is also helpful to sketch how you expect the bending
moment diagram to look

Some examples: 1

M
T

-M

-M

T
T

T
Right-angle
unchanged
No curvature
at a pin

Deflected shape
and reactions

Bending moment
diagram

Some examples: 2
T

M
T

-M

-M
T

T
Right-angle
unchanged
No curvature
at a pin

Deflected shape
and reactions

Bending moment
diagram

Some examples: 3

-M
T

T
T

-M
TM

Right-angle
unchanged
Rotation but
no curvature
at a pin
Bending moment
diagram

Some examples: 4
T

-M
T

Right-angle
unchanged
T

No rotation
at a fixed end T

-M
M

To analyse statically indeterminate plane-frame structures

Write down expressions for the moments at each end of

each member in a frame
Each expression will contain a fixed-end moment and a
slope-deflection moment.

Impose equilibrium conditions:

i.e. at any joint M = 0. At any pinned end, M = 0.
Impose joint rotation compatibility, i.e. a rigid joint which
rotates must result in the same rotations for all member
ends at that point
This gives a series of simultaneous equations for the
rotations and deflections of the ends
which can be solved.

Remember what we have already learnt

The total moments can be obtained by adding the

fixed-end moments and the displacement moments.

MAB = MFAB + MDAB

MBA = MFBA + MDBA

The fixed end moments can be found from

equilibrium and compatibility (or by looking up the
solution to simple cases)
The displacement moments are function of the end
rotations and relative displacements of the ends of a
beam

M DAB

2 EI
3
=
2 A + B
L
L

2 EI
3
M DBA =
2 B + A
L
L

Example problem 1:
w = 20 kN/m

3m

4m

EI = 420 x 103 kN/m2 for AB & BC

Unknown rotations: B & c
Write down fixed-end moments:
MFAB = MFBA = 0
22
MFBC
M
=w
20xxL4/12
/12 = 26.7 kNm
FBC =
MFCB = -26.7 kNm

B
3m

4m

C
EI = 420 x 103

Write down slope-deflection equations:

A = 0
For AB: = 0 For BC: = 0

2 420 1033 3
2 EI
= = 280
MM
2 A +10
B((BB))
M=DAB
DAB
DAB
L 3
L

2 2EI 420 1033 3

MMDBA
+ A((2B)B )
M== = 560
2 B 10
DBA DBA
L 3
L

3
3
22EI
420

10
3

2
3)
EI
3
3

2
420
10

(
)
(
M
=
210

10
2

M
=
210

10
2

(
)
M
=
2

MDBC
+B B)
2 B + CB B C C M DCB
2 C +(2C
DBC=
DCB
=
DBC
DCB
BC
L 4
L
L 4
L

Example problem 1:
Now recall that:
and

MBA = MFBA + MDBA

MBC = MFBC + MDBC

For equilibrium at joint B:

Hence:

MBA + MBC = 0

0 = 560x103 B + 210 x 103(2B+ C) + 26.7

980 B + 210 C = -0.0267

For equilibrium at joint C:

Hence:

MCB = 0

0 = 210 x 103 (2C+ B) - 26.7

210 B + 420 C = 0.0267

Example problem 1:
980 B + 210 C = -0.0267
210 B + 420 C = 0.0267
Solving the simultaneous equations gives
B = -45.7 x 10-6 radians
C = 86.4 x 10-6 radians
Note: B is -ve hence
C is +ve hence

This agrees with

expected rotations

Example problem 1:

3 3
6
M
=

12
.
8
kNm
(
)
MM
=
=
280
280

10
10

45
.
7

10
ABAB AB
B

M=BA560
6(
kNm
M BAM=BA560
=10325
10
.345
.B7)106

3 3
6
M
=
25
.
6
kNm
(
)
=
210

10
(
2

+
M
)
MM
=
210

10
2

45
.
7
+
86
.
4

10
+ 26.7
BC
B
C
FBC
BC BC
3
3
6
M
=
0
(
(
)
)
M CB = M
210

=
10
210
2

10
86
.
4
2

45
+
.

+
10
M
26.7
CB
CB
C
B
FCB

Example problem 1:
Note that the problem:

B
A
Is the same problem as:

B
C

As long as axial
deflection of AB
can be ignored

Example problem 2:
P = 10kN
w = 20 kN/m

3m

4m

EI = 500 x 103 kN/m2 for AB & BC

Unknown rotations: A, B & c Note: A
Write down fixed-end moments:
MFAB = PL/8
= -M=FBA
10 x 3/8
3.75 kNm = -MFBA
2/12 =
MFBC = 20
26.7
x 4kNm
= -M
-M
FCB
FCB

C
B ???

P = 10kN
A
3m

w = 20 kN/m
C
4m

Write down slope-deflection equations:

EI = 500 x 103

For AB: = 0 For BC: = 0

3
3
3
EI 10
2 2500
2 EI
3

3
2

500

10
3
=
+

M
(
)
M
=
333

10
2

+A B+
A (A2B A +B B) MM
M
M DAB
=
2(B2+(B2
===333 10
DAB
DAB
DBA
A ) A)
DBA
DBA
L 3
L
L 3
L
3
3
EI
2EI
3

2
3
10

2
500
2
500
10

3
3
MM
2 C(2+(2CB+C+B)B)
B +(2(2CB+B +C)C ) MMDCB
10
M
=== 250210
DBC
DCB= = 250
DBC
DBC
L 4
L
L 4
L

Now recall that:

and

MAB = MFAB + MDAB

MBA = MFBA + MDBA
MBC = MFBC + MDBC and so on

For equilibrium at joint A:

Hence:

MAB = 0

0 = 3.75 + 333 x 103

(2A+ B)

666 A + 333 B = -0.00375

For equilibrium at joint B:

MBA + MBC = 0

Hence: 0 = -3.75 + 333x103(2B+ A) + 26.7 +250 x 103(2B+ C)

333A +1166 B + 250 C = 0.02295

For equilibrium at joint C:

Hence:

MCB = 0

0 = - 26.7 +250 x 103(2C+ B)

250 B + 500 C = 0.0267

Solving the simultaneous equations gives

A = 13.9 x 10-6 radians

B = -39 x 10-6 radians

C = 73 x 10-6 radians

A
A

3m

w = 20 kN/m
C
4m

Assumed
Actual
deflection
deflection

33
6
M
=
+
M
M
=
0
kNm
(
(
)
)
M
MAB
=
=
3
3
.
.
75
75
+
+
333
333

10
10
2
2

13
+
.
9

39

10
AB
FAB
DAB A
AB
AB
B

3 3
66
M
=
M
+
M
MM
=

=
3

.
75
3
.
75
+
333
+
333

10

10
(
2
(

39

+
+
13

.
9
)

10
10
M
=

25
.
3
kNm
BA
DBA
BA BA
B
A
BAFBA
33
6
M
=
25
.
3
kNm
=
M
+
M
(
(
)
)
MMBCBC=M
=26
26
.
7
.
7
+
+
250
250

10
10
2
2

39
+

+
73

10
BC
BC
FBC
DBCB
C
3 3
6
=
0
kNm
M
=
M
+
M
(
(
)
)
M CB
M=CB=26
M.7M
+
250
+
250

10

10
2

2
73

+
39

10
CB
CB
FCB
DCBC
FCB
B

Example problem 2:
MBA=-25.3

MBC= 25.3
MCB=0

MAB=0
B

M=5.1
M=28.3

Tutorial 2: Slope-deflection
Now its your turn! Tutorial 2