686

CHAPTER 16

Slope-Deflection Method

FIG.

16.16 (contd.)

frame to an arbitrary horizontal displacement D and draw a qualitative

deected shape of the frame, which is consistent with its support conditions as well as with our assumption that the members of the frame
are inextensible. To draw the deected shape, which is shown in Fig.
16.16(b), we rst imagine that the members BD and CD are disconnected at joint D. Since member AC is assumed to be inextensible,
joint C can move only in an arc about point A. Furthermore, since the
translation of joint C is assumed to be small, we can consider the arc to
be a straight line perpendicular to member AC.
Thus, in order to move joint C horizontally by a distance D, we
must displace it in a direction perpendicular to member AC by a distance CC 0 (Fig. 16.16(b)), so that the horizontal component of CC 0
equals D. Note that although joint C is free to rotate, its rotation is ignored at this stage of the analysis, and the elastic curve AC 0 of member
AC is drawn with the tangent at C 0 parallel to the undeformed direction
of the member. The member CD remains horizontal and translates as a
rigid body into the position C 0 D1 with the displacement DD1 equal to
CC 0 , as shown in the gure. Since the horizontal member CD is assumed to be inextensible and the translation of joint D is assumed to be
small, the end D of this member can be moved from its deformed position D1 only in the vertical direction. Similarly, since member BD is also

SECTION 16.5

Analysis of Frames with Sidesway

687

assumed to be inextensible, its end D can be moved only in the direction

perpendicular to the member. Therefore, to obtain the deformed position of joint D, we move the end D of member CD from its deformed
position D1 in the vertical direction and the end D of member BD in the
direction perpendicular to BD, until the two ends meet at point D 0 ,
where they are reconnected to obtain the displaced position D 0 of
joint D. By assuming that joint D does not rotate, we draw the elastic
curves C 0 D 0 and BD 0 , respectively, of members CD and BD, to complete the deected shape of the entire frame.
The chord rotation of a member can be obtained by dividing the
relative displacement between the two ends of the member in the direction perpendicular to the member, by the members length. Thus we can
see from Fig. 16.16(b) that the chord rotations of the three members of
the frame are given by
cAC 

CC 0
L1

cBD 

DD 0
L2

cCD

D1 D 0
L

(16.26)

in which the chord rotations of members AC and BD are considered to

be negative because they are clockwise (Fig. 16.16(c)). The three chord
rotations can be expressed in terms of the joint displacement D by considering the displacement diagrams of joints C and D, shown in Fig.
16.16(b). Since CC 0 is perpendicular to AC, which is inclined at an angle
b1 with the vertical, CC 0 must make the same angle b 1 with the horizontal. Thus, from the displacement diagram of joint C (triangle CC 0 C2 ), we
can see that
CC 0

D
cos b1

(16.27)

Next, let us consider the displacement diagram of joint D (triangle

DD1 D 0 ). It has been shown previously that DD1 is equal in magnitude
and parallel to CC 0 . Therefore,
DD2 DD1 cos b1 D
Since DD 0 is perpendicular to member BD, it makes an angle b2 with
the horizontal. Thus, from the displacement diagram of joint D,
DD 0

DD2
D

cos b 2 cos b2

(16.28)

and
D1 D 0 DD1 sin b1 DD 0 sin b2

D
D
sin b1
sin b 2
cos b1
cos b2

or
D1 D 0 Dtan b1 tan b2

(16.29)

688

CHAPTER 16

Slope-Deflection Method

By substituting Eqs. (16.27) through (16.29) into Eq. (16.26), we obtain

the chord rotations of the three members in terms of D:
cAC 

D
L1 cos b 1

(16.30a)

cBD 

D
L2 cos b2

(16.30b)

cCD

D
tan b 1 tan b2
L

(16.30c)

The foregoing expressions of chord rotations can be used to write

the slope-deection equations, thereby relating member end moments
to the three unknown joint displacements, yC ; yD , and D. As in the case
of the rectangular frames considered previously, the three equilibrium
equations necessary for the solution of the unknown joint displacements
can be established by summing the moments acting on joints C and D
and by summing the horizontal forces acting on the entire frame. However, for frames with inclined legs, it is usually more convenient to
establish the third equilibrium equation by summing the moments of
all the forces and couples acting on the entire frame about a moment
center O, which is located at the intersection of the longitudinal axes of
the two inclined members, as shown in Fig. 16.16(d). The location of the
moment center O can be determined by using the conditions (see Fig.
16.16(d))
a1 cos b1 a2 cos b2
a1 sin b1 a2 sin b2 L

(16.31a)
(16.31b)

By solving Eqs. (16.31a) and (16.31b) simultaneously for a1 and a2 , we

obtain
a1

L
cos b1 tan b1 tan b 2

(16.32a)

a2

L
cos b2 tan b1 tan b 2

(16.32b)

Once the equilibrium equations have been established, the analysis can
be completed in the usual manner, as discussed previously.

Multistory Frames
The foregoing method can be extended to the analysis of multistory
frames subjected to sidesway, as illustrated by Example 16.12. However, because of the considerable amount of computational eort involved, the analysis of such structures today is performed on computers
using the matrix formulation of the displacement method presented in
Chapter 18.

SECTION 16.5

Analysis of Frames with Sidesway

689

Example 16.10
Determine the member end moments and reactions for the frame shown in Fig. 16.17(a) by the slope-deection method.

Solution
Degrees of Freedom The degrees of freedom are yC ; yD , and D (see Fig. 16.17(b)).

FIG.

16.17
continued

690

FIG.

CHAPTER 16

Slope-Deflection Method

16.17 (contd.)
continued

SECTION 16.5

Analysis of Frames with Sidesway

691

Fixed-End Moments By using the xed-end moment expressions given inside the back cover of the book, we obtain

FEMDC

4034 2

or

39:2 kN  m

29:4 kN  m @

or

29:4 kN  m

39:2 kN  m

7 2
403 2 4
7 2

FEMCD

FEMAC FEMCA FEMBD FEMDB 0

Chord Rotations From Fig. 16.17(b), we can see that
cAC 

D
7

cBD 

D
5

cCD 0

Slope-Deection Equations
MAC
MCA
MBD
MDB




2EI
D

yC  3 
0:286EI yC 0:122EI D
7
7



2EI
D

2yC  3 
0:571EI yC 0:122EI D
7
7



2EI
D

yD  3 
0:4EI yD 0:24EI D
5
5



2EI
D

2yD  3 
0:8EI yD 0:24EI D
5
5

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

MCD

2EI
2yC yD 39:2 0:571EI yC 0:286EI yD 39:2
7

(5)

MDC

2EI
yC 2yD  29:4 0:286EI yC 0:571EI yD  29:4
7

(6)

Equilibrium Equations By considering the moment equilibrium of joints C and D, we obtain the equilibrium
equations
MCA MCD 0

(7)

MDB MDC 0
To establish the third equilibrium equation, we apply the force equilibrium equation
entire frame (Fig. 16.17(c)), to obtain

(8)
FX 0 to the free body of the

SAC SBD 0
in which SAC and SBD represent the shears at the lower ends of columns AC and BD, respectively, as shown in
Fig. 16.17(c). To express the column end shears in terms of column end moments, we draw the free-body diagrams
of the two columns (Fig. 16.17(d)) and sum the moments about the top of each column:
SAC

MAC MCA
7

and

SBD

MBD MDB
5
continued

692

CHAPTER 16

Slope-Deflection Method

By substituting these equations into the third equilibrium equation, we obtain

MAC MCA MBD MDB

0
7
5
which can be rewritten as
5MAC MCA 7MBD MDB 0

(9)

Joint Displacements To determine the unknown joint displacements yC ; yD , and D, we substitute the slopedeection equations (Eqs. (1) through (6)) into the equilibrium equations (Eqs. (7) through (9)) to obtain
1:142EI yC 0:286EI yD 0:122EI D 39:2

(10)

0:286EI yC 1:371EI yD 0:24EI D 29:4

(11)

4:285EI yC 8:4EI yD 4:58EI D 0

(12)

Solving Eqs. (10) through (12) simultaneously yields

EI yC 40:211 kN  m 2
EI yD 34:24 kN  m 2
EI D 25:177 kN  m 3
Member End Moments By substituting the numerical values of EI yC ; EI yD , and EI D into the slope-deection
equations (Eqs. (1) through (6)), we obtain
MAC 14:6 kN  m
MCA 26 kN  m

26 kN  m @

Ans.
Ans.

MDC 21:3 kN  m

Ans.
Ans.

MDB 21:3 kN  m
MCD 26 kN  m

or

14:6 kN  m @

MBD 7:7 kN  m

or

Ans.
or

21:3 kN  m @

Ans.

To check that the solution of the simultaneous equations (Eqs. (10) through (12)) has been carried out correctly, we
substitute the numerical values of member end moments back into the equilibrium equations (Eqs. (7) through (9)):
MCA MCD 26 26 0

Checks

MDB MDC 21:3  21:3 0

Checks

5MAC MCA 7MBD MDB 514:6  26 77:7 21:3 0

Checks

Member End Shears The member end shears, obtained by considering the equilibrium of each member, are shown
in Fig. 16.17(e).
Member Axial Forces With end shears known, member axial forces can now be evaluated by considering the
equilibrium of joints C and D. The axial forces thus obtained are shown in Fig. 16.17(e).
Support Reactions See Fig. 16.17(f ).
Equilibrium Check The equilibrium equations check.

Ans.

SECTION 16.5

Analysis of Frames with Sidesway

693

Example 16.11
Determine the member end moments and reactions for the frame shown in Fig. 16.18(a) by the slope-deection method.

Solution
Degrees of Freedom Degrees of freedom are yC ; yD , and D.
Fixed-End Moments Since no external loads are applied to the members, the xed-end moments are zero.

FIG.

16.18
continued

694

FIG.

CHAPTER 16

Slope-Deflection Method

16.18 (contd.)
continued

SECTION 16.5

FIG.

Analysis of Frames with Sidesway

695

16.18 (contd.)
Chord Rotations From Fig. 16.18(b), we can see that
 
5
D
CC
4


0:0625D
20
20
0

cAC

DD 0
D
 0:0625D
16
16
 
3
D
0
C C1
4

0:0375D
20
20

cBD 

cCD

continued

696

CHAPTER 16

Slope-Deflection Method

Slope-Deection Equations
MAC

2EI
yC  30:0625D 0:1EI yC 0:0188EI D
20

(1)

MCA

2EI
2yC  30:0625D 0:2EI yC 0:0188EI D
20

(2)

MBD

2EI
yD  30:0625D 0:125EI yD 0:0234EI D
16

(3)

MDB

2EI
2yD  30:0625D 0:25EI yD 0:0234EI D
16

(4)

MCD

2EI
2yC yD  30:0375D 0:2EI yC 0:1EI yD  0:0113EI D
20

(5)

MDC

2EI
2yD yC  30:0375D 0:2EI yD 0:1EI yC  0:0113EI D
20

(6)

Equilibrium Equations By considering the moment equilibrium of joints C and D, we obtain the equilibrium equations
MCA MCD 0

(7)

MDB MDC 0

(8)

The third equilibrium equation is established by summing the moments of all the forces and couples acting on the free
body of the entire frame about point O, which is located at the intersection of the longitudinal axes of the two columns,
as shown in Fig. 16.18(c). Thus
P
MAC  SAC 53:33 MBD  SBD 42:67 3026:67 0
MO 0
in which the shears at the lower ends of the columns can be expressed in terms of column end moments as (see Fig. 16.18(d))
SAC

MAC MCA
20

and

SBD

MBD MDB
16

By substituting these expressions into the third equilibrium equation, we obtain

1:67MAC 2:67MCA 1:67MBD 2:67MDB 800

(9)

Joint Displacements Substitution of the slope-deection equations (Eqs. (1) through (6)) into the equilibrium
equations (Eqs. (7) through (9)) yields
0:4EI yC 0:1EI yD 0:0075EI D 0

(10)

0:1EI yC 0:45EI yD 0:0121EI D 0

(11)

0:71EI yC 0:877EI yD 0:183EI D 800

(12)

By solving Eqs. (10) through (12) simultaneously, we determine

EI yC 66:648 k-ft 2
EI yD 125:912 k-ft 2
EI D 5;233:6 k-ft 3
continued

SECTION 16.5

Analysis of Frames with Sidesway

697

Member End Moments By substituting the numerical values of EI yC ; EI yD , and EI D into the slope-deection
equations (Eqs. (1) through (6)), we obtain
MAC 91:7 k-ft

Ans.

MCA 85:1 k-ft

Ans.
Ans.

MDB 91 k-ft

MBD 106:7 k-ft

Ans.

MCD 85:1 k-ft

MDC 91 k-ft

or
or

85:1 k-ft @
91 k-ft @

Ans.
Ans.

Back substitution of the numerical values of member end moments into the equilibrium equations yields
MCA MCD 85:1  85:1 0

Checks

MDB MDC 91  91 0

Checks

1:67MAC 2:67MCA 1:67MBD 2:67MDB 1:6791:7 2:6785:1

1:67106:7 2:6791
801:5 & 800

Checks

Member End Shears and Axial Forces See Fig. 16.18(e).

Support Reactions See Fig. 16.18(f ).

Ans.

Equilibrium Check The equilibrium equations check.

Example 16.12
Determine the member end moments, the support reactions, and the horizontal deection of joint F of the two-story
frame shown in Fig. 16.19(a) by the slope-deection method.

Solution
Degrees of Freedom From Fig. 16.19(a), we can see that the joints C; D; E, and F of the frame are free to rotate,
and translate in the horizontal direction. As shown in Fig. 16.19(b), the horizontal displacement of the rst-story joints
C and D is designated as D1 , whereas the horizontal displacement of the second-story joints E and F is expressed as
D1 D2 , with D2 representing the displacement of the second-story joints relative to the rst-story joints. Thus, the
frame has six degrees of freedomthat is, yC ; yD ; yE ; yF ; D1 , and D2 .
Fixed-End Moments The nonzero xed-end moments are
FEMCD FEMEF 200 k-ft
FEMDC FEMFE 200 k-ft

continued

698

CHAPTER 16

Slope-Deflection Method

Chord Rotations See Fig. 16.19(b).

cAC cBD 

D1
20

cCE cDF 

D2
20

cCD cEF 0
Slope-Deection Equations Using Icolumn I and Igirder 2I , we write

FIG.

MAC 0:1EI yC 0:015EI D1

(1)

MCA 0:2EI yC 0:015EI D1

(2)

MBD 0:1EI yD 0:015EI D1

(3)

MDB 0:2EI yD 0:015EI D1

(4)

MCE 0:2EI yC 0:1EI yE 0:015EI D2

(5)

MEC 0:2EI yE 0:1EI yC 0:015EI D2

(6)

16.19
continued

SECTION 16.5

FIG.

Analysis of Frames with Sidesway

699

16.19 (contd.)
continued

700

CHAPTER 16

Slope-Deflection Method

MDF 0:2EI yD 0:1EI yF 0:015EI D2

(7)

MFD 0:2EI yF 0:1EI yD 0:015EI D2

(8)

MCD 0:2EI yC 0:1EI yD 200

(9)

MDC 0:2EI yD 0:1EI yC  200

(10)

MEF 0:2EI yE 0:1EI yF 200

(11)

MFE 0:2EI yF 0:1EI yE  200

(12)

Equilibrium Equations By considering the moment equilibrium of joints C, D, E, and F , we obtain

MCA MCD MCE 0

(13)

MDB MDC MDF 0

(14)

MEC MEF 0

(15)

MFD MFE 0

(16)

To establish the remaining two equilibrium equations, we successively pass a horizontal sectionP
just above the lower
ends of the columns of each story of the frame and apply the equation of horizontal equilibrium FX 0 to the free
body of the portion of the frame above the section.
The free-body diagrams thus obtained are shown in Fig. 16.19(c)
P
and (d). By applying the equilibrium equation
FX 0 to the top story of the frame (Fig. 16.19(c)), we obtain
SCE SDF 10
Similarly, by applying

FX 0 to the entire frame (Fig. 16.19(d)), we write

SAC SBD 30

By expressing column end shears in terms of column end moments as

SAC

MAC MCA
20

SBD

MBD MDB
20

SCE

MCE MEC
20

SDF

MDF MFD
20

and by substituting these expressions into the force equilibrium equations, we obtain
MCE MEC MDF MFD 200

(17)

MAC MCA MBD MDB 600

(18)

Joint Displacements Substitution of the slope-deection equations (Eqs. (1) through (12)) into the equilibrium
equations (Eqs. (13) through (18)) yields
0:6EI yC 0:1EI yD 0:1EI yE 0:015EI D1 0:015EI D2 200

(19)

0:1EI yC 0:6EI yD 0:1EI yF 0:015EI D1 0:015EI D2 200

(20)

0:1EI yC 0:4EI yE 0:1EI yF 0:015EI D2 200

(21)

0:1EI yD 0:1EI yE 0:4EI yF 0:015EI D2 200

(22)

0:3EI yC 0:3EI yD 0:3EI yE 0:3EI yF 0:06EI D2 200

(23)

0:1EI yC 0:1EI yD 0:02EI D1 200

(24)
continued

SECTION 16.5

Analysis of Frames with Sidesway

701

By solving Eqs. (19) through (24) by the Gauss-Jordan elimination method (Appendix B), we determine
EI yC 812:988 k-ft 2
EI yD 241:556 k-ft 2
EI yE 789:612 k-ft 2
EI yF 353:248 k-ft 2
EI D1 15;272:728 k-ft 3

or

D1 0:0758 ft 0:91 in: !

EI D2 10;787:878 k-ft 3

or

D2 0:0536 ft 0:643 in: !

Thus, the horizontal deection of joint F of the frame is as follows:

DF D1 D2 0:91 0:643 1:553 in: !

Ans.

Member End Moments By substituting the numerical values of the joint displacements into the slope-deection
equations (Eqs. (1) through (12)), we obtain
MAC 147:8 k-ft
Ans.

MCA 66:5 k-ft

Ans.

MBD 204:9 k-ft

Ans.

MDB 180:8 k-ft

Ans.

MCE 79:7 k-ft

or

79:7 k-ft @

Ans.

MEC 77:4 k-ft

or

77:4 k-ft @

Ans.

MDF 148:8 k-ft

Ans.

MFD 208:3 k-ft

Ans.

MCD 13:2 k-ft

MDC 329:6 k-ft

or

329:6 k-ft @

or

208:3 k-ft @

MEF 77:4 k-ft

Ans.

MFE 208:3 k-ft

Ans.
Ans.
Ans.

Back substitution of the numerical values of member end moments into the equilibrium equations yields
MCA MCD MCE 66:5 13:2  79:7 0

Checks

MDB MDC MDF 180:8  329:6 148:8 0

Checks

MEC MEF 77:4 77:4 0

Checks

MFD MFE 208:3  208:3 0

Checks

MCE MEC MDF MFD 79:7  77:4 148:8 208:3 200

Checks

MAC MCA MBD MDB 147:8 66:5 204:9 180:8 600

Checks

Member End Shears and Axial Forces See Fig. 16.19(e).

Support Reactions See Fig. 16.19(f ).
Equilibrium Check The equilibrium equations check.

Ans.

702

CHAPTER 16

Slope-Deflection Method

SUMMARY
In this chapter, we have studied a classical formulation of the displacement (stiness) method, called the slope-deection method, for the analysis of beams and frames. The method is based on the slope-deection
equation:
Mnf

2EI
2yn yf  3c FEMnf
L

(16.9)

which relates the moments at the ends of a member to the rotations and
displacements of its ends and the external loads applied to the member.
The procedure for analysis essentially involves (1) identifying the
unknown joint displacements (degrees of freedom) of the structure; (2)
for each member, writing slope-deection equations relating member
end moments to the unknown joint displacements; (3) establishing the
equations of equilibrium of the structure in terms of member end moments; (4) substituting the slope-deection equations into the equilibrium equations and solving the resulting system of equations to determine the unknown joint displacements; and (5) computing member
end moments by substituting the values of joint displacements back into
the slope-deection equations. Once member end moments have been
evaluated, member end shears and axial forces, and support reactions,
can be determined through equilibrium considerations.

PROBLEMS
Section 16.3
16.1 through 16.5 Determine the reactions and draw the
shear and bending moment diagrams for the beams shown
in Figs. P16.1P16.5 by using the slope-deection method.

16.6 Solve Problem 16.2 for the loading shown in Fig.

P16.2 and a settlement of 12 in. at support B.

20 k
3 k/ft

1.5 k/ft
A

15 ft

15 ft

E = 29,000 ksi
FIG.

P16.1

FIG.

P16.2, P16.6

20 ft
I = 1,650 in.4

Problems
16.7 Solve Problem 16.4 for the loading shown in Fig. P16.4
and the support settlements of 50 mm at B and 25 mm at C.

703

16.8 through 16.14 Determine the reactions and draw the

shear and bending moment diagrams for the beams shown
in Figs. P16.8P16.14 by using the slope-deection method.

1.5 k/ft
A

B
25 ft

FIG.

FIG.

P16.8

FIG.

P16.9, P16.15

FIG.

P16.10

20 ft
EI = constant

25 ft

P16.3

25 kN/m
A

8m
E = 70 GPa
FIG.

B
8m
I = 1,300 (106) mm4

P16.4, P16.7
3 k/ft

C
25 ft
2I

FIG.

15 ft
I

E = 29,000 ksi
I = 2,500 in.4

P16.5

35 k

1 k/ft
A

B
10 ft

C
10 ft

FIG.

P16.11

2 k/ft
E

D
10 ft
EI = constant

20 ft

704

CHAPTER 16

Slope-Deflection Method

120 kN
A

120 kN
C

B
6m

150 kN
G

D
4m

FIG.

P16.12, P16.16

FIG.

P16.13

6m

F
4m

2I
E = 200 Gpa
I = 500 (106) mm4

4m

4m
I

FIG.

P16.17, P16.21

FIG.

P16.18, P16.22

3 k/ft
C
FIG.

P16.14

10 ft
16.15 Solve Problem 16.9 for the loading shown in Fig.
P16.9 and a settlement of 25 mm at support C.

I
B

16.16 Solve Problem 16.12 for the loading shown in Fig.

P16.12 and support settlements of 10 mm at A; 65 mm at C;
40 mm at E; and 25 mm at G.

15 k
5 ft

A
20 ft

Section 16.4
16.17 through 16.20 Determine the member end moments
and reactions for the frames shown in Figs. P16.17P16.20
by using the slope-deection method.

5 ft
2I
E = constant

FIG.

P16.19

Problems

30 kN/m
C

705

2 k/ft
C

25 k

8m
20 ft
A

B
10 m
A

EI = constant
FIG.

P16.20
15 ft

16.21 Solve Problem 16.17 for the loading shown in Fig.

P16.17 and a settlement of 50 mm at support D.

EI = constant
FIG.

P16.24

FIG.

P16.25

16.22 Solve Problem 16.18 for the loading shown in Fig.

P16.18 and a settlement of 14 in. at support A.
16.23 Determine the member end moments and reactions
for the frame in Fig. P16.23 for the loading shown and the
support settlements of 1 in. at A and 112 in. at D. Use the
slope-deection method.

3 k/ft
40 k

D
15 ft

FIG.

P16.23
A

Section 16.5
16.24 through 16.31 Determine the member end moments
and reactions for the frames shown in Figs. P16.24P16.31
by using the slope-deection method.

B
30 ft
EI = constant

FIG.

P16.26