Slope Deflection Method

53:134:
This method for beams and frames Structural
was Design II
introduced in 1914 by George A. Maney
It was later replaced by moment distribution method which is more advanced and useful
Fundamental Slope-Deflection Equations:

⎧ 2 EI ⎡ Δ⎤
⎪ M AB = L ⎢ 2θ A + θ B − 3 L ⎥ + FEM AB
⎪⎪ ⎣ ⎦
⎨
⎪
⎪ M BA = 2 EI ⎡ 2θ B + θ A − 3 Δ ⎤ + FEM BA
⎩⎪ L ⎢⎣ L ⎥⎦

where

Case A: fixed-end moments

M AB = FEM AB ; M BA = FEM BA

wL2 wL2
FEM AB =− ; FEM BA =+ Example 5.1.11
12 12

Pab 2 Pa 2b
FEM AB = − 2 ; FEM BA = + 2 Example 5.1.12
L L

J.S. Arora/Q. Wang 3 Chapter5-Slope-defl_Method.doc

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Case B: rotation at A

4 EI 2 EI
M AB = θ A; M BA = θA Example 5.1.5
L L

Case C: rotation at B

2 EI 4 EI
M AB = θB; M BA = θB Example 5.1.5
L L

Case D: displacement of end B related to end A

6 EI 6 EI
M AB = − Δ; M BA = − Δ Example 5.1.13
L2 L2

3. Analysis of Beams – Slope-Deflection Method

• General Procedure:

Step 1: Scan the beam and identify the number of (a) segments
and (b) kinematic unknowns. A segment is the portion of
the beam between two nodes. Kinematic unknowns are

J.S. Arora/Q. Wang 4 Chapter5-Slope-defl_Method.doc

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