Moment Distribution

This is an alternative method to the slope-deflection

method for analysing statically indeterminate plane-
frame structures

The method is suitable for frame elements, where the

principal deflection effects are caused by bending rather
than shear or axial loading

The method makes use of the Principle of Superposition,

fixed end moments and the slope-deflection equations

It is an iterative process that converges on an

equilibrium solution…easier for hand calculations than
the slope-deflection method
 Moment Distribution

A B C
Consider a simple 2-span beam

First fully fix the ends of members AB and BC and

apply the loading.
MFBC = wL2/12 MFCB

A B C

Hence find the fixed-end moments

 Moment Distribution
MFBC MFCB

A B C

Joint B in this example wants to rotate in a clockwise

direction but cannot.

Joint B is not in equilibrium. MBA = 0 but MBC = MFBC.

The joint is out of balance

 Moment Distribution
MFAB MBC MFCB

A B C
If we now release the fixity at Joint B and allow it to rotate
then equilibrium is restored at this joint. The joint is balanced.
However this rotation now causes additional moments to the
transferred to joints A and C, which are still fixed.
These moments are known as carry-over moments

The beam is still not in equilibrium… joint A and joint C

would both like to rotate anti-clockwise, but cannot because
they are fixed.
 Moment Distribution
MFBA MFBC

A B C
If we now fix joint B, and allow rotations at joints A & C
(not the same rotation)
Then new carry-over moments are transferred back to
joint B
If the moments at joint B do not balance each other, then
we must again fix joints A & C and allow joint B to rotate.
We continue with this and the carry-over moments will get
smaller and smaller with each rotation until equilibrium is
restored throughout
 Moment Distribution
Stiffness, carry-over moments and distribution factors

When a joint is released and allowed to rotate, the out of

balance moment must be shared between the members on
each side of the joint according to the bending stiffness of
each member. If we force a positive (anticlockwise) rotation θA.

θA

A B
4 EIθ A3δ ⎞ 2 EI ⎛ 2EIθ A 3δ ⎞
M DAB
2 EI ⎛ 2EI
= DABDAB
M M =
Recall= (
⎜⎜ 2θ A +the θ)
θ B −slope-deflection
2 A ⎟⎟ =M DBA⎜⎜=2θ B + θ A −
M DBA equations ⎟⎟
LAB ⎝ LAB LAB LAB ⎠ LAB ⎝ L LAB ⎠
AB
 Moment Distribution

A B C
LAB LBC
When joint B rotates by an angle θB, there are moments
induced in AB and BC at B according to the bending
stiffnesses of AB & BC.
These are known as the balancing moments

4 EIθ B 4 EIθ B
M DBA = M DBC =
LAB LBC
 Moment Distribution

A B C
LAB LBC
Thus equilibrium is restored to an out of balance joint by
rotating the joint and adding moments to either side of the
joint according to the rotational stiffness of the member on
each side.
EI1 1
M DBA == M
MOO−−OO−−BB×× M DBC = M O −O − B ×
LLAB
AB LBC
EI1
LLAB
AB
++ EI1 LBC 1
L AB + 1
LBC

For constant EI Distribution factor

 Moment Distribution

A B C
LAB LBC

Half of the balancing moment is carried over to the

joint at the other end of the member

θB
EIDBA
2M θB
2MEIDBC
M DAB =
DAB =
M DCB
DCB
=
L2AB L2BC
 Moment Distribution

So … now we are ready to try a numerical example:

10kN w = 20kN/m

cL
A B C
3m 4m EI = constant
Fixed end moments:
MFAB = PL/8 = 3.75 kNm MFBA = - 3.75 kNm
MFBC = wL2/12 = 26.7 kNm MFCB = - 26.7 kNm
Distribution factors:
1 1
DFBA = 3
= 0.57 DFBC = 4
= 0.43
1
3 + 1
4
1
3 + 1
4
 Moment Distribution
Carry out calculations using a moment distribution table
A B C
DF EI/L 0.57 0.43 EI/L
MAB MBA MBC MCB
FEM 3.75 -3.75 26.7 -26.7
 Moment Distribution
Carry out calculations using a moment distribution table
A B C
DF EI/L 0.57 0.43 EI/L
MAB MBA MBC MCB
FEM 3.75 -3.75 26.7 -26.7

Out of balance
26.7-3.75=22.95
 Moment Distribution

A B C
DF 0.57 0.43
MAB MBA MBC MCB
FEM 3.75 -3.75 26.7 -26.7
Bal -13.1 -9.9

Balancing moments
(-22.95)x0.57=-13.1
(-22.95)x0.43=-9.9
 Moment Distribution

A B C
DF 0.57 0.43
MAB MBA MBC MCB
FEM 3.75 -3.75 26.7 -26.7
Bal -13.1 - 9.9
CO - 6.6 -5.0

Carry over moment

(half of the balancing
moment)
 Moment Distribution

A B C
DF 0.57 0.43
MAB MBA MBC MCB
FEM 3.75 -3.75 26.7 -26.7
Bal -13.1 - 9.9
CO - 6.6 -5.0

Total -2.9 -16.9 16.8 -31.7

 Moment Distribution
So … what happens if we replace the fixed support at A
with a pinned support ?
10kN w = 20kN/m

cL
A B C
3m 4m EI = constant
Fixed end moments:
MFAB = PL/8 = 3.75 kNm MFBA = - 3.75 kNm
MFBC = wL2/12 = 26.7 kNm MFBC = - 26.7 kNm
Distribution factors:
1 1
DFBA = 3
= 0.57 DFBC = 4
= 0.43
1
3 + 1
4
1
3 + 1
4
 Moment Distribution
Pinned Fixed
A B C
DF 1 EI/L 0.57 0.43 EI/L
MAB MBA MBC MCB
FEM 3.75 -3.75 26.7 -26.7
 Moment Distribution
Pinned Fixed
A B C
DF 1 EI/L 0.57 0.43 EI/L
MAB MBA MBC MCB
FEM 3.75 -3.75 26.7 -26.7

Out of balance
 Moment Distribution
Pinned Fixed
A B C
DF 1 0.57 0.43 1
MAB MBA MBC MCB
FEM 3.75 -3.75 26.7 -26.7
Bal -3.75 -13.1 -9.9

Balancing
moments
 Moment Distribution
Pinned Fixed
A B C
DF 1 0.57 0.43 1
MAB MBA MBC MCB
FEM 3.75 -3.75 26.7 -26.7
Bal -3.75 -13.1 - 9.9
CO - 6.6 -1.9 - 5.0

Carry over moments

 Moment Distribution
Pinned Fixed
A B C
DF 1 0.57 0.43 1
MAB MBA MBC MCB
FEM 3.75 -3.75 26.7 -26.7
Bal -3.75 -13.1 - 9.9
CO - 6.6 -1.9 - 5.0
Bal 6.6 1.1 0.8
CO 0.6 3.3 0.4
Bal -0.6 - 1.9 - 1.4
CO - 1.0 -0.3 -0.7
Bal 1.0 0.2 0.1
CO 0.5
Bal - 0.3 -0.2
Total 0 - 16.2 16.1 -32.0
 Moment Distribution
You can see that the pin end at A causes a very slow
convergence. We can improve on this situation.
Consider a beam AB with a rotation at A and B is pinned.
θA

A B
First we fully fix B and impose a rotation at A
 Moment Distribution
You can see that the pin end at A causes a very slow
convergence. We can improve on this situation.
Consider a beam AB with a rotation at A and B is pinned.
θA
MDAB MDBA
A B
First we fully fix B and impose a rotation at A
M DAB = 4 EIθ A M DBA = 2 EIθ A
L L
 Moment Distribution
You can see that the pin end at A causes a very slow
convergence. We can improve on this situation.
Consider a beam AB with a rotation at A and B is pinned.
θA
MDAB MDBA
A B
Now fully fix A and impose a balancing moment at B
M DAB = 4 EIθ A M DBA = 2 EIθ A
L L
 Moment Distribution
You can see that the pin end at A causes a very slow
convergence.
Consider a beam AB with a rotation at A and B is pinned.

MDAB MDBA
A B
Now fully fix A and impose a balancing moment at B
M DAB = 4 EIθ A M DBA = 2 EIθ A
L L

M DAB = − EIθ A M DBA = − 2 EIθ A

L L

M DAB = 3EIθ A M DBA = 0

L
 Moment Distribution
So … if we replace the 4EI/L stiffness of a pin support
member with 3EI/L and have a zero carry-over factor,
the end result is the same.
Try this with the same problem as before:

10kN w = 20kN/m

cL
A B C
3m 4m EI = constant
 Moment Distribution
Distribution factors:

33EI
EI 3
DFBA =
4LLAB
AB
= 4×3 = 0.5
3EI + +4EI 3 +1
4LLABAB LBC
BC
4×3 4

4EI
EI 1
LLBCBC 4
DFBc = = = 0.5
3EI + +4EI 3 +1
4LLABAB LBC
BC
4×3 4
 Moment Distribution
Pinned Fixed
A B C
DF 1 0.75EI/L 0.5 0.5 EI/L
MAB MBA MBC MCB
FEM 3.75 -3.75 26.7 -26.7
Bal -3.75 -11.5 -11.5
CO - 1.9 - 5.6

No carry over
 Moment Distribution
Pinned Fixed
A B C
DF 1 0.75EI/L 0.5 0.5 EI/L
MAB MBA MBC MCB
FEM 3.75 -3.75 26.7 -26.7
Bal -3.75 -11.5 -11.5
CO - 1.9 - 5.6
Bal 1.0 1.0
0.5
Total 0 - 16.2 16.2 -31.8

This is the same result as before.

 Moment Distribution
Pinned Fixed
A B C
DF 1 0.57 0.43 1
MAB MBA MBC MCB
FEM 3.75 -3.75 26.7 -26.7
Bal -3.75 -13.1 - 9.9
CO - 6.6 -1.9 - 5.0
Bal 6.6 1.1 0.8
CO 0.6 3.3 0.4
Bal -0.6 - 1.9 - 1.4
CO - 1.0 -0.3 -0.7
Bal 1.0 0.2 0.1
CO 0.5
Bal - 0.3 -0.2
Total 0 - 16.2 16.1 -32.0
Moment Distribution