Moment distribution method

BY
DR. MAHDI DAMGHANI
 Introduction

It was developed by Prof. Hardy Cross (one of

America's most brilliant engineers) in 1932

It is also known as Hardy cross method

This method was originally though of to analyse

reinforced concrete structures

A very powerful method of analysing indeterminate

continuous beams and frames
 Indeterminate structure

How many unknowns does the beam have?

How many equations do we have (knowns) to solve
the unknowns?

150 kN
15 kN/m 10 kN/m
3m

A D
I B I C I

8m 6m 8m
Example
 Back to our problem

Fix all the joints (assume all the joints in the

structure have no ability to rotate)
Calculate the Fixed End Moments (FEM)
Allow the joints that were fixed artificially to rotate
freely
The unbalanced moments created must be balanced
out based on the relative stiffness of members and
carry over factor
Sum up the moments
 See it in practice

150 kN
15 kN/m 10 kN/m
3m

A D
I B I C I

8m 6m 8m

We are taking anti-clockwise moments as negative

-80 kN.m 15 kN/m +80 kN.m 10 kN/m

-112.5kN.m 112.5 kN.m -53.33 kN.m 53.33 kN.m
3m
150 kN

A B C
8m B C D
6m 8m
 How fixed end moment are calculated

In beam AB
Fixed end moment at A = -wl2/12 = - (15)(8)(8)/12 = - 80 kN.m
Fixed end moment at B = +wl2/12 = +(15)(8)(8)/12 = + 80 kN.m
In beam BC
Fixed end moment at B = - (Pab2)/l2 = - (150)(3)(3)2/62
= -112.5 kN.m
Fixed end moment at C = + (Pab2)/l2 = + (150)(3)(3)2/62
= + 112.5 kN.m
In beam AB
Fixed end moment at C = -wl2/12 = - (10)(8)(8)/12 = - 53.33 kN.m
Fixed end moment at D = +wl2/12 = +(10)(8)(8)/12 = + 53.33kN.m

You can get FEMs from next slide for various types of loadings
 Fixed End Moment Table
-
-

-
Fixed End Moment Table
 Release the fixed joints

Now we allow those joints that were artificially fixed to

rotate freely
Due to the joint release, the fixed end moments on either
side of joints B, C and D act in the opposite direction
now, and cause a net unbalanced moment to occur at the
joint
150 kN
15 kN/m 10 kN/m
3m

A B C D
I I I
8m 6m 8m

Released moments -80.0 +112.5 -112.5 +53.33 -53.33

-59.17 -53.33
unbalanced moment +32.5
 Unbalanced moment

 The joint moments are distributed to either side of the joint B, C

or D, according to their relative stiffnesses
 These distributed moments also modify the moments at the
opposite side of the beam span, i.e. at joint A in span AB, at joints
B and C in span BC and at joints C and D in span CD.
 Modification is dependent on the carry-over factor (which is
equal to 0.5 in this case)
150 kN
15 kN/m 10 kN/m
3m

A B C D
I I I
8m 6m 8m

Released moments -80.0 +112.5 -112.5 +53.33 -53.33

-59.17 -53.33
unbalanced moment +32.5
 Essential concepts

Before continuing we need to know about

 Stiffness
 Distribution factor
 Carry-over factor
 Stiffness

Stiffness = Resistance offered by member to a unit

displacement or rotation at a point, for given
support constraint conditions 4 EI
K
L
Flexural stiffness of a member

Note: The above stiffness is obtained assuming

that the opposite support is fixed, if it is not the
case you may use
3 4 EI 3EI
K  
4 L L
 Distribution factor

For each member at each node is

K member
DFmember 
K
Summation of flexural stiffness of all
connected members at a particular
joint
Note: unbalanced moment is distributed between
members based on DF of each member, i.e.

M member  M unbalanced  DFmember

 Carry-over factor

 If MA is applied to the beam below it causes;

M AL
A 
4EI
 Then, half of this moment goes to end B;
1 Carry over factor
M B  ( )M A
2

MA MB

A B
A A

RA RB
L
E, I – Member properties
 Back to our problem

Calculate distribution factor for all members

K 0.5EI
DF  BA
  0.0
AB K BA  K wall 0.5   (wall stiffness)
K 0.5EI
DF  BA
  0.4284
BA K K 0.5EI  0.667EI
BA BC
K BC 0.667EI
DFBC    0.5716
K K 0.5EI  0.667EI
BA BC
K 0.667EI
DFCB  CB
  0.5716
K K 0.667EI  0.500EI
CB CD
K CD 0.500EI
DF    0.4284
CD K CB  K CD 0.667EI  0.500EI
K DC
DFDC   1.00
K
DC
 FEM

A B C D
0 0.428 0.571 0.571 0.428 1
-80 +80 -112.5 +112.5 -53.33 +53.33
 Distribution of FEM

A B C D
0 0.428 0.571 0.571 0.428 1
-80 +80 -112.5 +112.5 -53.33 +53.33
Unbalancing moment -32.5 +59.17
+13.91 +18.59 -33.78 -25.39 -53.33
 Carry-over factor

A B C D
0 0.428 0.571 0.571 0.428 1
-80 +80 -112.5 +112.5 -53.33 +53.33
Unbalancing moment -32.5 +59.17
Distribution +13.91 +18.59 -33.78 -25.39 -53.33
Carry over (M*0.5) +6.955 -16.89 +9.295 -26.665 -12.695
 Re-calculate unbalancing moment and redistribution

A B C D
0 0.428 0.571 0.571 0.428 1
-80 +80 -112.5 +112.5 -53.33 +53.33
Unbalancing moment -32.5 +59.17
Distribution +13.91 +18.59 -33.78 -25.39 -53.33
Carry over (M*0.5) +6.955 -16.89 +9.295 -26.665 -12.695
-16.89 -17.37
+7.22 +9.661 +9.918 +7.45 +12.695
 Carry-over factor effect

A B C D
0 0.428 0.571 0.571 0.428 1
-80 +80 -112.5 +112.5 -53.33 +53.33
Unbalancing moment -32.5 +59.17
Distribution +13.91 +18.59 -33.78 -25.39 -53.33
Carry over (M*0.5) +6.955 -16.89 +9.295 -26.665 -12.695
-16.89 -17.37
+7.22 +9.661 +9.918 +7.45 +12.695
+3.61 +4.95 +4.8305 +6.347 +3.725
 Calculate unbalancing moment and distribute it

A B C D
0 0.428 0.571 0.571 0.428 1
-80 +80 -112.5 +112.5 -53.33 +53.33
Unbalancing moment -32.5 +59.17
Distribution +13.91 +18.59 -33.78 -25.39 -53.33
Carry over (M*0.5) +6.955 -16.89 +9.295 -26.665 -12.695
-16.89 -17.37
+7.22 +9.661 +9.918 +7.45 +12.695
+3.61 +4.95 +4.8305 +6.347 +3.725
+4.95 +11.177
-2.1186 -2.8314 -6.382 -4.79 -3.725
 Carry-over effect

A B C D
0 0.428 0.571 0.571 0.428 1
-80 +80 -112.5 +112.5 -53.33 +53.33
Unbalancing moment -32.5 +59.17
Distribution +13.91 +18.59 -33.78 -25.39 -53.33
Carry over (M*0.5) +6.955 -16.89 +9.295 -26.665 -12.695
-16.89 -17.37
+7.22 +9.661 +9.918 +7.45 +12.695
+3.61 +4.95 +4.8305 +6.347 +3.725
+4.95 +11.177
-2.1186 -2.8314 -6.382 -4.79 -3.725
-1.0593 -3.191 -1.4157 -1.8625 -2.395
 Re-calculate unbalancing moment

A B C D
0 0.428 0.571 0.571 0.428 1
-80 +80 -112.5 +112.5 -53.33 +53.33
Unbalancing moment -32.5 +59.17
Distribution +13.91 +18.59 -33.78 -25.39 -53.33
Carry over (M*0.5) +6.955 -16.89 +9.295 -26.665 -12.695
-16.89 -17.37
+7.22 +9.661 +9.918 +7.45 +12.695
+3.61 +4.95 +4.8305 +6.347 +3.725
+4.95 +11.177
-2.1186 -2.8314 -6.382 -4.79 -3.725
-1.0593 -3.191 -1.4157 -1.8625 -2.395
-3.191 -3.278 +2.395
 Distribute the unbalancing moment

A B C D
0 0.428 0.571 0.571 0.428 1
-80 +80 -112.5 +112.5 -53.33 +53.33
Unbalancing moment -32.5 +59.17
Distribution +13.91 +18.59 -33.78 -25.39 -53.33
Carry over (M*0.5) +6.955 -16.89 +9.295 -26.665 -12.695
-16.89 -17.37
+7.22 +9.661 +9.918 +7.45 +12.695
+3.61 +4.95 +4.8305 +6.347 +3.725
+4.95 +11.177
-2.1186 -2.8314 -6.382 -4.79 -3.725
-1.0593 -3.191 -1.4157 -1.8625 -2.395
-3.191 -3.278 +2.395
+1.365 +1.825 +1.871 +1.406 -2.395
 Carry-over effect

A B C D
0 0.428 0.571 0.571 0.428 1
-80 +80 -112.5 +112.5 -53.33 +53.33
Unbalancing moment -32.5 +59.17
Distribution +13.91 +18.59 -33.78 -25.39 -53.33
Carry over (M*0.5) +6.955 -16.89 +9.295 -26.665 -12.695
-16.89 -17.37
+7.22 +9.661 +9.918 +7.45 +12.695
+3.61 +4.95 +4.8305 +6.347 +3.725
+4.95 +11.177
-2.1186 -2.8314 -6.382 -4.79 -3.725
-1.0593 -3.191 -1.4157 -1.8625 -2.395
-3.191 -3.278 +2.395
+1.365 +1.825 +1.871 +1.406 -2.395
+0.682 +0.935 +0.912 -1.197 0.703
 Unbalancing moment

A B C D
0 0.428 0.571 0.571 0.428 1
-80 +80 -112.5 +112.5 -53.33 +53.33
Unbalancing moment -32.5 +59.17
Distribution +13.91 +18.59 -33.78 -25.39 -53.33
Carry over (M*0.5) +6.955 -16.89 +9.295 -26.665 -12.695
-16.89 -17.37
+7.22 +9.661 +9.918 +7.45 +12.695
+3.61 +4.95 +4.8305 +6.347 +3.725
+4.95 +11.177
-2.1186 -2.8314 -6.382 -4.79 -3.725
-1.0593 -3.191 -1.4157 -1.8625 -2.395
-3.191 -3.278 +2.395
+1.365 +1.825 +1.871 +1.406 -2.395
+0.682 +0.935 +0.912 -1.197 0.703
+0.935 -0.285
 Distribute the unbalancing moment

A B C D
0 0.428 0.571 0.571 0.428 1
-80 +80 -112.5 +112.5 -53.33 +53.33
Unbalancing moment -32.5 +59.17
Distribution +13.91 +18.59 -33.78 -25.39 -53.33
Carry over (M*0.5) +6.955 -16.89 +9.295 -26.665 -12.695
-16.89 -17.37
+7.22 +9.661 +9.918 +7.45 +12.695
+3.61 +4.95 +4.8305 +6.347 +3.725
+4.95 +11.177
-2.1186 -2.8314 -6.382 -4.79 -3.725
-1.0593 -3.191 -1.4157 -1.8625 -2.395
-3.191 -3.278 +2.395
+1.365 +1.825 +1.871 +1.406 -2.395
+0.682 +0.935 +0.912 -1.197 0.703
+0.935 -0.285
-0.4 -0.535 +0.16 +0.125 -0.703
 Sum up the moments

A B C D
0 0.428 0.571 0.571 0.428 1
-80 +80 -112.5 +112.5 -53.33 +53.33
Unbalancing moment -32.5 +59.17
Distribution +13.91 +18.59 -33.78 -25.39 -53.33
Carry over (M*0.5) +6.955 -16.89 +9.295 -26.665 -12.695
-16.89 -17.37
+7.22 +9.661 +9.918 +7.45 +12.695
+3.61 +4.95 +4.8305 +6.347 +3.725
+4.95 +11.177
-2.1186 -2.8314 -6.382 -4.79 -3.725
-1.0593 -3.191 -1.4157 -1.8625 -2.395
-3.191 -3.278 +2.395
+1.365 +1.825 +1.871 +1.406 -2.395
+0.682 +0.935 +0.912 -1.197 0.703
+0.935 -0.285
-0.4 -0.535 +0.16 +0.125 -0.703
M A   M   69.81 M BL  99.97 M BL  97.90 MD  0
M BR  101.81 M BR  97.90
 Example 2

Draw the moment diagram for the beam below

Answer 2
 Example 3

The beam below is simply supported at A,

cantilevered at D. IAB=8500cm4, IBC=6500cm4 and
ICE=5500cm4
Solution 3
Distribution factors
FEM calculation
Table
Bending moment diagram
Example 4
Example 5