CE 331, Fall 2004 Moment Frames: Theory 1/9

Gravity Loads
Moment frames are statically indeterminate. We can use superposition to calculate the moments at
the ends of the columns and girder (m) as the sum of the moments due to loads with no joint rotation
(fixed-end moments or FEMs) and the moments due to joint rotation (m).

no joint
Lgird rotation
2 w w 2 3
3

Lcol = +
1 4
m23 m32
m23 m32
m21 m34 FEM23 FEM32
m21 m34

m12 m43
m12 m43

actual moments fixed-end moments moments due to joint rotation

Figure 1. Superposition of member-end moments for gravity loads.

Fixed-end moments are tabulated for common beam loads in structural analysis text books (see
handout). Two examples are shown in the figure below. Note that the change in the moment from
the end to mid-span is equal to the simple-span moment in each case.

L L/2 L/2
w P

PL/8
wL2/24

-wL2/12 -wL2/12 -PL/8 -PL/8

wL2/8 PL/4

Figure 2. Moment Diagrams (drawn on compression side).

CE 331, Fall 2004 Moment Frames: Theory 2/9
The moments at the end of a beam due to the rotation of one of its ends are also tabulated in many
books (see handout).

Fixed-Base Columns
Equations for the moment at the top of the column (m21) and the moment at the end of the girder
(m23) in Figure 1 can be written as follows. Counter-clockwise rotation is taken as positive.
m23 = FEM 23 + m23
wL2
FEM 23 =
12
4 EI gird 2 EI gird
m23 = 2 + 3 , but 2 = 3
L gird L gird
2 EI gird
m23 = FEM 23 + 2
L gird

m21 = FEM 21 + m21

FEM 21 = 0
4 EI col 2 EI col
m21 = 2 + 1 , but 1 = 0
Lcol Lcol
4 EI col
m21 = 2
Lcol
Sum moments about Joint 2 and solve for 2:
-m23 m23
M 2 = 0, m23 m21 = 0
-m21
2
2 EI gird 4 EI col
FEM 23 + 2 2 = 0
Lgird Lcol m21
FEM 23
2 =
2 EI gird 4 EI col
+
L gird Lcol
CE 331, Fall 2004 Moment Frames: Theory 3/9

substitute expression for 2 back into equations for m21 and m23:
4EIcol 4I col
4EIcol Lcol Lcol
m21 = 2 = ( FEM23 ) = ( FEM23 )
Lcol 2EI gird 4EIcol 2I gird 4I col
+ +
Lgird Lcol Lgird Lcol
kcol
m21 = ( FEM23 )
k gird + kcol
4I col
where: kcol =
Lcol
2I gird
k gird =
Lgird

2EI gird
2EI gird Lgird
m23 = FEM23 + 2 = FEM23 + ( FEM23 )
Lgird 2EI gird 4EIcol
+
Lgird Lcol
k gird
m23 = FEM23 + ( FEM23 )
k gird + kcol

2EIcol
m12 = 2 ,
Lcol
m21
m12 =
2

Pinned-Base Columns
The same equations are used to calculate the member-end moments for a frame with pinned-base
3EI col
columns, except that for pinned-base columns: k col = .
Lcol
CE 331, Fall 2004 Moment Frames: Theory 4/9
Sidesway (due to Wind Loads)
Sidesway causes moments in the columns which in turn cause moments in the girder, as shown
below.

no joint
Lgird
rotation
2 3 2 3
2
P 3 P

Lcol = +
1 4
m23 m23
v23 v32 v23 v32
m32 m32
v21 v34
m21 m34
v21 v34
v21 v34

m21 m34 m21 m34
m12 M43
m12
m43 m12 m43
v12 v43
v12
v43

v12 v43

Actual V & M V & M due to Load, no Joint Rotation V & M due to Joint Rotation

Figure 3. Superposition of member-end moments for sidesway loads.

The fixed-end shears and moments due to joint translation are shown in the handout.
Fixed-base Columns:
m12 = m12 + m12

6 EI col
m12 = 2
L2col
4 EI col 2 EI col 2 EI col
m12 = 2 + 1 = 2 since 1 = 0
Lcol Lcol Lcol
6 EI col 2 EI col
m12 = 2
2 + 2
L col Lcol

m21 = m21 + m21
6 EI col
m21 = 2
L2col
4 EI col 2 EI col 4 EI col
m21 = 2 + 1 = 2 since 1 = 0
Lcol Lcol Lcol
6 EI col 4 EI col
m21 = 2
2 + 2
Lcol Lcol
CE 331, Fall 2004 Moment Frames: Theory 5/9

m23 = m23 + m23

m23 =0
4 EI gird 2 EI gird
m23 = 2 + 3
Lgird Lgird
but = 2 = 3
6 EI gird
m23 = 2
Lgird

We have two unknowns (2 and 2) and only one equation ( M2 = 0). For a symmetric structure,
with negligible axial shortening of the girder, the column shears are equal.
PWL
v12 = v43 =
2
And
v12 = v12 + v12

12 EI col
v12 = 2
L3col
6 EI col
v12 = 2
L2col
12 EI col 6 EI
v12 = 3
2 + 2 col 2
Lcol Lcol
P WL
Set shear at base of column
2
P WL
v12 =
2
12 EI col 6 EI col P WL
2 + 2 =
L3col L2col 2
P WL 6 EI col
2 2
2 Lcol
solving for 2 , 2 =
12 EI col
L3col
P WL L3col Lcol
2 = 2
24 EI col 2
CE 331, Fall 2004 Moment Frames: Theory 6/9

m21 and m12 are now functions of 2 only. We can solve for 2 by substituting the equation for 2 into
the equation for m21 and then summing moments about Joint 2.
6 EI col 4 EI col
m 21 = 2
2 + 2
L col L col
6 EI col P WL L3col L 4 EI col
= 2 col 2 + 2
L col 24 EI col 2 L col
WL
P L col 3 EI col 4 EI col
= 2 + 2
4 L col L col
P WL L col EI col
m 21 = + 2
4 L col
Now summing moments about Joint 2:

M 2 = 0, m23 m21 = 0
6 EI gird P WL Lcol EI col
2 2 = 0
L gird 4 Lcol

P WL Lcol

2 = 4
6 EI gird EI col
+
L gird Lcol

We finally can write equations for m12, m21 and m23 by substituting the equations for 2 and 2 as
needed into the equations for m12, m21 and m23.
6 EI col 2 EI col
m12 = 2 + 2
L2col L col
P WL L col

6 EI col P WL L3col L col 2 EI col P WL L col EI col P WL L col EI col 4
= 2 + = =
L2col 24 EI col 2 L
2
4 L
2
4 L col 6 EI gird EI
col col
+ col
L gird L col
I col

P WL L col 1 + Lcol
m12 =
4 6 I gird I
+ col
L gird Lcol
CE 331, Fall 2004 Moment Frames: Theory 7/9
P WL Lcol EI col

P WL Lcol EI col P WL Lcol EI col 4
WL
= P Lcol 1 Lcol
m 21 = + 2 = +
4 Lcol 4 Lcol 6 EI EI 4 6 EI gird EI
+ col + col
gird

L gird Lcol L gird Lcol

I col
WL
m 21 =
P Lcol 1 Lcol
4 6 I gird I
+ col
L gird Lcol

P WL Lcol 6 EI gird
WL
6 EI gird 6 EI gird 4 = P Lcol L gird
m23 = 2 =
Lgird L gird 6 EI gird EI col 4 6 EI gird EI col
+ +
Lgird Lcol Lgird Lcol
6 I gird

P WL Lcol L gird
m23 =
4 6 I gird I col
+
Lgird Lcol

Pinned-base Columns:
6 EI gird
m23 = 2 as before
Lgird
3EI col 3EI col
m21 = 2
2 + 2
Lcol Lcol
m12 = 0

P WL
As before: v12 = v 43 =
2
CE 331, Fall 2004 Moment Frames: Theory 8/9
Now
v12 = v12 + v12

3EI col
v12 = 2
L3col
3EI col
v12 = 2
L2col
3EI col 3EI col P WL
v12 = 2 + 2 =
L3col L2col 2

P WL 3EI col
2 2
2 Lcol P WL L3col
solving for 2 , 2 = = Lcol 2
3EI col 6 EI col
L3col

3EI col 3EI col

substituting into the equation for m 21 , m21 = 2
2 + 2
Lcol Lcol
3EI col P WL L3col 3EI col
= 2 Lcol 2 + 2
Lcol 6 EI col Lcol
P WL Lcol 3EI col 3EI col
= 2 + 2
2 Lcol Lcol
P WL Lcol
m21 = (m 21 is independent of 2 !)
2

Summing moments about Joint 2:

M 2 = 0, m23 m21 = 0
m23 = m21
P WL Lcol
m23 =
2
CE 331, Fall 2004 Moment Frames: Theory 9/9

Summary
Moments due to Gravity Loads
no joint
Lgird rotation
2 w w 2 3
3

Lcol = +
1 4
4 I col 3I col
Rotational Stiffnesses : Fixed - Base : kcol = Pinned - Base: kcol =
Lcol Lcol
2 I gird
k gird =
Lgird
Member - end Moments :

mend = FEM girder +

k gird
( FEM )
k gird + kcol
girder girder

mtop =
kcol
( FEM girder ) mbot =
mtop col
for fixed - base
k gird + kcol
col col
2

Moments due to Sidesway

no joint
Lgird
rotation
2 3 2 3
2
P 3 P

Lcol = +
1 4

Fixed - Base :
I col 6 I gird
Rotational Stiffnesses : k col = k gird =
Lcol L gird
Member - end Moments :
P WL Lcol k gird
mend gird =
4 k gird + k col
P WL Lcol k col P WL Lcol k col
mtop col = 1 mbot col = 1 +
4 k gird + k col 4 k gird + k col
Pinned - Base :
P WL Lcol P WL Lcol
mtop col = , mend gird =
2 2