CED 426

Structural Theory II
Lecture 17
Displacement Method of Analysis:
Moment Distribution for Beams

Mary Joanne C. Aniñon

Instructor
Procedure For Analysis
• The following procedure provides a general method for determining
the end moments on the beam spans using moment distribution.

1. Determine the Distribution Factors and Fixed-End Moments

2. Perform Moment-Distribution Process
Distribution Factors and Fixed-End
Moments
1.a. Identify the joints and spans on the beam.
1.b. Calculate member and joint stiffness factors for each span.
1.c. Determine the distribution factors (DF). Remember that DF = 0 for
fixed end and DF = 1 for an end pin or end roller support
1.d. Determine the fixed-end moments
Moment-Distribution Process
Assume all joints are initially locked. Then:
2.a. Determine the moment that is needed to put each joint in
equilibrium
2.b. Release or unlock the joints and distribute the counterbalancing
moments into the members at each joint
2.c. Carry these moments over to the other end of the member by
multiplying each moment by the carry-over factor
Moment-Distribution Process
• By repeating this cycle of locking and unlocking the joints, it will be
found that the moment corrections will diminish since the beam
tends to achieve its final deflected shape
• When a small enough value for the corrections is obtained, the
process should be stopped.
• Each column of FEMs, distributed moments, and carry-over moments
should then be added. If this is done correctly, moment equilibrium at
the joints will be achieved
Example 1
• Determine the internal moments at each support of the beam shown
in Fig.11-7a. EI is constant
Example 1
Step 1.a. Identify the joints and spans in the
beam: A, B, C, D and span AB, DC, CD

Step 1.b. Calculate member and joint stiffness

factors for each span.
4 𝐸𝐼
K=
𝐿
𝐾
𝐷𝐹 =
∑𝐾
Step 1.c. Determine the distribution factors (DF).
Example 1
1.d. Determine the fixed-end moments
 2.a. Determine the moment that is
needed to put each joint in
Example 1 equilibrium

2.b. Release or unlock the joints

1 Joint A B C D
and distribute the
2 Member AB BA BC CB CD DC
counterbalancing moments into
3 DF 0 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.6 0 the members at each joint
4 FEM 0 0 -240 240 -250 250
5 Dist. 0 120 120 4 6 0 2.c. Carry these moments over to
6 CO 60 0 2 60 0 3 the other end of the member by
7 Dist. 0 -1 -1 -24 -36 0 multiplying each moment by the
8 CO -0.5 0 -12 -0.5 0 -18 carry-over factor
9 Dist. 0 6 6 0.2 0.3 0
10 CO 3 0 0.1 3 0 0.15 Blue – 2.b. (Joint) – Add, Opposite in
11 Dist. 0 -0.05 -0.05 -1.2 -1.8 0 Sign-Multiply to DF
12 Green – 2.c. (Span) – Divided by 2
CO -0.025 0 -0.6 -0.025 0 -0.9 (don’t change the sign) – distribute to
13 Dist. 0 0.3 0.3 0.01 0.015 0
the other side
14 ∑M 62.475 125.25 -125.25 281.485 -281.485 234.25 Stop on Color Blue!
Stop when the values in Blue Rows is
<= 0.05
Example 1

• Starting with the FEMs, line 4, the moments at joints B and C are
distributed simultaneously, line 5.
• These moments are then carried over simultaneously to the
respective ends at each span, line 6.
• The resulting moments are again simultaneously distributed and
carried over, lines 7 and 8.
• The process is continued until the resulting moments are diminished
an appropriate amount, line 13
• The resulting moments are found by summation, line 14
Example 1 Initial Assumption: All CLOCKWISE
Joint A B C D
Member AB BA BC CB CD DC
∑M 62.475 125.25 -125.25 281.485 -281.485 234.25

3.a. Compute the shear

Placing these moments on each span and applying the equations of equilibrium yields the end shears.
Example 1

3.a. Compute the shear and moment diagrams