5/4/24, 12:41 AM The Three-Moment Equation | Strength of Materials Review at MATHalino

Distribute 1/EI
¯
6A1 ā1 M1 L1 2M2 L1 6A2 b 2 2M2 L2 M3 L2 h1 h3
+ + + + + = 6( + )
E1 I1 L1 E1 I1 E1 I1 E2 I2 L2 E2 I2 E2 I2 L1 L2

Combine similar terms and rearrange

M1 L1 L1 L2 M3 L2 6A1 ā1 6A2 ¯

b2 h1 h3
+ 2M2 ( + ) + + + = 6( + )
E1 I1 E1 I1 E2 I2 E2 I2 E1 I1 L1 E2 I2 L2 L1 L2

If E is constant this equation becomes,

M1 L1 L1 L2 M3 L2 6A1 ā1 6A2 ¯

b2 h1 h3
+ 2M2 ( + ) + + + = 6E ( + )
I1 I1 I2 I2 I1 L1 I2 L2 L1 L2

If E and I are constant then,

6A1 ā1 6A2 ¯

b2 h1 h3
M1 L1 + 2M2 (L1 + L2 ) + M3 L2 + + = 6EI ( + )
L1 L2 L1 L2

For the application of three-moment equation to continuous beam, points 1, 2, and 3 are usually unsettling supports, thus h1 and h3 are
zero. With E and I constants, the equation will reduce to

¯
6A1 ā1 6A2 b 2
M1 L1 + 2M2 (L1 + L2 ) + M3 L2 + + = 0
L1 L2

Factors for the three-moment equation

The table below list the value of 6Aā/L and 6A¯b/L for different types of loading.

6Aā ¯
6A b
Type of Loading
L L

Concentrated load anywhere on the span.

Pa Pb
2 2 2 2
(L − a ) (L − b )
L L

Concentrated load at the midspan.

2 2
3P L 3P L

8 8

Uniform load over the entire span. wo L

3
wo L
3

4 4

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5/4/24, 12:41 AM The Three-Moment Equation | Strength of Materials Review at MATHalino

Increasing triangular load on the whole span.

3 3
8w o L 7w o L

60 60

Decreasing triangular load on the whole span.

3 3
7w o L 8w o L

60 60

Isosceles triangular load over the entire span.

3 3
5w o L 5w o L

32 32

Moment load at any point on the span.

M M
2 2 2 2
− (3a − L ) + (3b − L )
L L

General uniform loading.

6Aā wo
2 2 2 2 2 2
= [ b (2L − b ) − a (2L − a )]
L 4L

¯
6A b wo
2 2 2 2 2 2
= [ d (2L − d ) − c (2L − c )]
L 4L

Tags: Derivation of Formula three-moment equation three-moment equation factors derivation of three-moment equation

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