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Structural Analysis

Analysis of Subframe – worked Example

March 10, 2024 Amuletola Rasheed Structural Analysis 5 min read

Table of Contents
■ Step 1: The first step to analyzing it is to first draw out the subframe which will include the whole beam
span and the adjoining upper and lower floor columns
■ Step 2: Compute the slab loads and distribute it on the floor beams
■ Step 3: Assume every support in the beam is fixed and calculate the fixed end moment of the beams.
Thus:
■ Step 4 Determine the stiffness of each member
■ Step 4 Determine the distribution factor
■ Step 5: Enter the values of the fixed end moment and distribution factor in a table and initiate
subsequent iterations.

In this article, we shall analyze a sub-frame to generate column moments and support moments in
beams using moment distribution method.
The figures below show the elevation and plan views of a structure. The moments in beams and columns
in the fifth storey shall be analyzed. Read on as we take you through a stepwise solution to the problem.

fig1: Fifth floor Plan view showing elevation line XX

fig 2: Elevation view XX

Step 1: The first step to analyzing it is to first draw out the subframe which will include the whole beam
span and the adjoining upper and lower floor columns
.

Let us write out the member dimension that makes up the subframe.

Members dimensions

Column AB, DE & GH: Length = 3.5m Cross Section = 300 x 350 mm

Column BC, EF & HI: Length = 4m Cross Section = 300 x 350 mm

Beam BE & EH: Length = 6m Cross Section 300 x 600mm

Slabs: Thickness = 200mm span = 6m x 2m

It should be noted that we have only favored this type of subframe as we want to compute the moment
in both beam and columns, other types of subframe can also be used based on the target internal force
to be obtained.

Step 2: Compute the slab loads and distribute it on the floor

beams
Permanent action

Characteristic Self-weight of slab = 0.2 x 25 = 5KN/m2

super dead Load on Slab = 5.0KN/m2

Characteristic Permanent Load on Slab = 5.0 + 5.0 =10KN/m2

Area of Slab load Supported by Beam 1 = 0.5 x 1 x 2 = 1KN/m2

Characteristic Permanent Load of Slab on Beam = 1.0 x 10 = 10.0KN/m

Self-weight of beam = 0.3 x 0.6 x 25 = 4.5KN/m

Total Permanent Load on beam = 10.0 + 4.5 = 14.5KN/m

Variable action

Variable load on slab = 10KN/m2

Area of Slab load Supported by Beam 1 = 0.5 x 1 x 2.0 =1.0m2

Characteristic Variable Load of Slab on Beam 1 = 1.0 x 10 = 10KN/m

In order to subject the middle column to bending stress, the spans it is supporting shall be
asymmetrically loaded. The maximum ultimate load shall be assumed to be acting on a span while the
other span is subjected to minimum ultimate load. The maximum and minimum ultimate loads are
computed below.

Total Design Load

Maximum ultimate Load acting on Slab =1.35(14.5) + 1.5(10) = 34.6KN/m

Minimum ultimate Load acting on Slab = 1.35(14.5) = 19.6KN/m

We shall convert each uniform load to concentrated load by multiply them by the total length of each
beam.

34.6 x 6 = 207.5KN

19.6 x 6 = 117.6KN

Step 3: Assume every support in the beam is fixed and

calculate the fixed end moment of the beams. Thus:
−P X L −-207X 6
MBE = = = −115.63KN m
8 8

P X L −207X 6
MEB = = = 115.63KN m
8 8

−P X L −-117.6X 6
MEH = = = −88.2KN m
8 8

P X L 117.6X 6
MH E = = = 88.2KN m
8 8

Step 4 Determine the stiffness of each member

The Stiffness of each member is determined. The columns and the beams have the same cross-section
respectively, hence the second moment area of all the columns are the same, and that of all the beams
are also equal.
3 3
b x h 0.3x 0.35
F or the columns, I = = = 0.001
12 12

3 3
b x h 0.3x 0.6
F or the beams, I = = = 0.005
12 12

The stiffness of each element member can be calculated using 4EI/L. To make the calculation easier,
we can group the members into three according on their length: the upper column, the lower column,
and the beams.

The stiffness of each of the upper column is:

4EI 4X 0.001E
K = = = 0.001E
L 3.5

The stiffness of each of the lower column is:

4EI 4X 0.001E
K = = = 0.001E
L 4

The stiffness of each of the beam is:

4EI 4,X 0.005E

K = = = 0.004E
L 6

Step 4 Determine the distribution factor

Since the sub-frame is symmetrical the distribution factor of BA, BC, and BE is equal to that of HG, HI, and
HE respectively
KAB 0.001E
DFBA = DFH G = = = 0.207
KAB + KBC + KBE 0.001E + 0.001E + 0.004E

KBC 0.001E
DFBC = DFH I = = = 0.182
KAB + KBC + KBE 0.001E + 0.001E + 0.004E

KBC 0.004E
DFBE = DFH E = = = 0.610
KAB + KBC + KBE 0.001E + 0.001E + 0.004E

KED 0.001E
DFED = = = 0.129
KED + KEF + KEB +KEH 0.001E + 0.001E + 0.003E +0.003E

KEF 0.001E
DFEF = = = 0.113
KED + KEF + KEB +KEH 0.001E + 0.001E + 0.003E +0.003E

KEB 0.003E
DFEB = = = 0.379
KED + KEF + KEB +KEH 0.001E + 0.001E + 0.003E +0.003E

DFEB = DFEH = 0.379

NB: You may notice that some of the value of the distribution factors differ in spite that there are
corresponding figures representing stiffness at the numerator and denominator respectively (E.g: DFBA
vs DFBC). This happens because the actual values use in the calculations are not the approximated
values displayed in this solution. The un-approximated figures are used hence the little differences.
This explanation also applies to the earlier computation of stiffness.

In order to make our iteration concise and tidy when making the moment distribution operations, it is a
good practice to group columns meeting at a joint together. To implement this, we add together the
distribution factors of column meeting at a joint so that the columns can be treated as a single member.

DFAB + DFBC = 0.207 + 0.182 = 0.389

DFED + DFEF = 0.129 + 0.113 = 0.242

DFHG + DFHI = 0.182 + 0.610 = 0.390

Step 5: Enter the values of the fixed end moment and

distribution factor in a table and initiate subsequent iterations.
The values of fixed end moment and Distribution factors will be entered in a table as shown below

The next thing is to calculate the out of Balance Moment (OBM), and then the carry-over moment like
that of any other moment-distribution operation until the moments at the supports reasonably converges.
If the operations are diligently carried out, the result should be as that as shown below:
The moment at each beam end can be extracted directly from the table. BE = -67.58KNm, EB =
170.98KNm, EH = -147KNm, and HE = 27.039KNm

The moment of individual column at a joint can be gotten by multiplying the overall moment of the
columns meeting at that particular joint by the distribution factor of each of the column in turn. This is
carried out below:

KBA 0.001
MBA = 67.581,X = 67.581,X = 36.0KN m
KBA + KBC 0.001+ 0.001

KBC 0.001
MBC = 67.581X = 67.581X = 31.5KN m
KBA + KBC 0.001+ 0.001

KED 0.001
MED = 23.991X = 23.991X = 12.8KN m
KEF + KED 0.001+ 0.001

KEF 0.001
MEF = 23.991X = 23.991X = 11.2KN m
KEF + KED 0.001+ 0.001

KH G 0.001
MH G = 28.191X = 28.191X = 15.035KN m
KH G + KH I 0.001+ 0.001

KH I 0.001
MH I = 28.191X = 28.191X = 13.156KN m
KH G + KH I 0.001+ 0.001

It is worthwhile to call your attention again to the fact that in spite that the figures in both the numerator
and denominator of the distribution factor relating to one or two columns corresponds with one another,
 the final moments distributed to them still differ. This is because the figures used in the actual
computations are un-approximated unlike those displayed in the actual calculations above.

Amuletola Rasheed

Author: Amuletola Rasheed

You can reach Amuletola Rasheed via [email protected]

View all posts by Amuletola Rasheed >

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Design of half turn staircase to BS 8110

This article presents a worked example on
the design of half-turn staircase to BS
8110-1:1997 The staircase to be designed
connects the ground floor and the first floor
of a building. The flights of the staircase
span a horizontal distance of 1.8m while
the first landing supported by end beam
span a distance of 1.115m. The final
landing connecting to the first floor spans a
distance of 1.138m. The layout of the
staircase is shown below.
Click the link in the comment below to read
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