Tutorial Week 7 (28 April 2024)

Method of Moment Distribution

• Office: 10.13.05b
• By A/Prof Shiwei_Zhou
Email: [email protected]
Example 1: Calculate the moment at
joints using the moment distribution
method. Node A and C are fixed, and
node B is a roller.
Distribution factor
0 at the fixed support because it can withstand all moment
DF = 
1 at a pin because its momnet is zero, distribue all moment

Member stiffness
 4 EI
 L general formula
K =
 3EI for a member with end pin because the pin weaks the stiffness
 L

Joint A B C
Member AB BA BC CB
DF 0 1/3 2/3 0

Calculate Distribution Factor DF :

DF = 0 at fixed end (Very stiff can undertake all moment)
DF= 1 at pinned end (Very weak has to distribute all moment to another joint)
Ki 4 EI 3EI
DF = ; K: member stiffness, K= (general), K= if far end is pined (weak member)
∑ Ki L L

4 EI 4 E ( 480 )
4 EI 4 E ( 360 ) K=
BC = = 480 E
K=
AB = = 240 E L 4
L 6 Tips: The sum of
K AB 1 K BC 2 distribution factors
DFBA
= = DFBC
= =
K AB + K BC 3 K AB + K BC 3 around a node must be 1.
 Joint A B C
Member AB BA BC CB
DF 0 1/3 2/3 0
FEM -38.4 38.4 -60 60

M FAB = F
− M BA =
−
wL
=
−
12.8
2 6 2
( )
−38.4 kN .m
=
12 12

F F PL 120 ( 4 )
M BC − M CB
= =
− =
− −60 kN .m
=
8 8
 Joint A B C
Member AB BA BC CB
DF 0 1/3 2/3 0
FEM -38.4 38.4 -60 60
Dist1 -(-38.4)0=0 -(38.4-60)(1/3)=7.2 -(38.4-60)(2/3)=14.4 -(60)0=0

Distributed moment = -sum(Fixed end moment)(DF)

Determine carry-over factors
Definition: When a portion of M is distributed to a member,
a moment is produced at the opposite end of the member.
The proportion of M at the opposite end is carry-over Factor CO=0.5
The carry-over factor is 0 from fixed end to any end; CO=0
The carry-over factor is 0 from a support to a pin end;
Otherwise it is 0.5.

Joint A B C
Member AB BA BC CB
DF 0 1/3 2/3 0
FEM -38.4 38.4 -60 60
Dist1 -(-38.4)0=0 -(38.4-60)(1/3)=7.2 -(38.4-60)(2/3)=14.4 -(60)0=0
CO1 7.2/2=3.6 0 0 14.4/2=7.2
 Joint A B C
Member AB BA BC CB
DF 0 1/3 2/3 0
FEM -38.4 38.4 -60 60
Dist1 -(-38.4)0=0 -(38.4-60)(1/3)=7.2 -(38.4-60)(2/3)=14.4 -(60)0=0
CO1 7.2/2=3.6 0 0 14.4/2=7.2
Dist2 -(3.6)0=0 -(0+0)( 1/3)=0 -(0+0)( 2/3)=0 -(7.2)(0)=0
CO2
Sum
 Joint A B C
Member AB BA BC CB
DF 0 1/3 2/3 0
FEM -38.4 38.4 -60 60
Dist1 -(-38.4)0=0 -(38.4-60)(1/3)=7.2 -(38.4-60)(2/3)=14.4 -(60)0=0
CO1 7.2/2=3.6 0 0 14.4/2=7.2
Dist2 -(3.6)0=0 -(0+0)( 1/3)=0 -(0+0)( 2/3)=0 -(7.2)(0)=0
CO2 0 0 0 0
Sum
 Joint A B C
Member AB BA BC CB
DF 0 1/3 2/3 0
FEM -38.4 38.4 -60 60
Dist1 -(-38.4)0=0 -(38.4-60)(1/3)=7.2 -(38.4-60)(2/3)=14.4 -(60)0=0
CO1 7.2/2=3.6 0 0 14.4/2=7.2
Dist2 -(3.6)0=0 -(0+0)( 1/3)=0 -(0+0)( 2/3)=0 -(7.2)(0)=0
CO2 0 0 0 0
Sum -34.8 45.6 -45.6 67.2
Do distribution cycles for all joints simultaneously
Each cycle consists of two steps:
a.) Distribution of out of balance moments Mo,
b).Calculation of the carry over moment at the far end of each member.
The procedure is stopped when, at all joints, the out of balance moment is an egligible
value. In this case, the joints should be balanced and no carry-over moments.
Calculate the final moment at either end of each member
This is the sum of all moments ( including FEM ) computed during the distribution cycles.
 Steps of Moment Distribution Method
1. Restrain all possible displacements.
2. Calculate Distribution Factor DF :
DF = 0 at fixed end (Very stiff can undertake all moment)
DF= 1 at pinned end (Very weak has to distribute all moment to another joint)
Ki 4 EI 3EI
DF = ; K: member stiffness, K= (general), K= if far end is pined (weak member)
∑ Ki L L
3.Determine carry-over factors
Definition: When a portion of M is distributed to a member,
a moment is produced at the opposite end of the member.
The proportion of M at the opposite end is carry-over Factor
The carry-over factor is 0 from fixed end to any end;
The carry-over factor is 0 from a middle roller to a pin end;
Otherwise it is 0.5.
4.Calculate Fixed End Moments (FEM)
5.Do distribution cycles for all joints simultaneously
Eachcycle consists of two steps:
a.) Distribution of out of balance moments Mo,
b).Calculation of the carry over moment at the far end of each member.
The procedure is stopped when, at all joints, the out of balance moment is an egligible
value. In this case, the joints should be balanced and no carry-over moments.
6.Calculate the final moment at either end of each member?
This is the sum of all moments ( including FEM ) computed during the distribution cycles.
Example 2: Calculate the moment at joints using the moment
distribution method. A, D and E are pin supports.
 Joint A B C D E
Member AB BA BD BC CB CE DB EC
DF 1 0.5496 0.2061 0.2442 0.4156 0.5844 1 1

3EI 3E ( 320 )
K=
AB = = 480 E
L 2
3EI 3E ( 240 )
A, D and E are pin supports, DF=1 K=
BD = = 180 E
L 4
3EI 3E ( 400 )
K=
EC = = 300 E
L 4
4 EI 4 E ( 320 )
K=
BC = = 213.33E
L 6
K AB 480 E
DFBA = = 0.5496
K AB + K BD + K BC 480 E + 180 E + 213.33E KCB 213.33E
DFCB =
= = 0.4156
K BD 180 E K CB + K CE 213.33 + 300 E
DFBD = = 0.2061
K AB + K BD + K BC 480 E + 180 E + 213.33E KCE 300 E
DFCE
= = = 0.5844
K BC 213.33E KCB + KCE 213.33 + 300 E
DFBC = = 0.2442
K AB + K BD + K BC 480 E + 180 E + 213.33E
 Joint A B C D E
Member AB BA BD BC CB CE DB EC
DF 1 0.5496 0.2061 0.2442 0.4156 0.5844 1 1
FEM -12 12 0 -108 108 -30 0 30

MF =−M F =
wL2 36 22 ( )
− = −12kN .m
= PL 60 ( 4 )
AB BA 12 12 MF =−M F =− = −30kN .m
=
( ) 8 8
CE EC
wL2 36 62
MF =−M F =− = −108kN .m
=
BC CB 12 12
 Joint A B C D E
Member AB BA BD BC CB CE DB EC
DF 1 0.5496 0.2061 0.2442 0.4156 0.5844 1 1
FEM -12 12 0 -108 108 -30 0 30
Dist1 12 52.7634 19.7863 23.4504 -32.4156 -45.5844 0 -30

−(12 + 0 − 108)(0.2061) =
19.7863 −(108 − 30)(0.5844) =
−45.5844

−(12 + 0 − 108)(0.5496) =52.7634

 0.5

The carry-over factor is 0 from fixed end to any end;

The carry-over factor is 0 from a middle node to a pin end;
Joint A B C D E
Member AB BA BD BC CB CE DB EC
DF 1 0.5496 0.2061 0.2442 0.4156 0.5844 1 1
FEM -12 12 0 -108 108 -30 0 30
Dist1 12 52.7634 19.7863 23.4504 -32.4156 -45.5844 0 -30
CO1 0 6 0 -16.2078 11.7252 -15 0 0
 Joint A B C D E
Member AB BA BD BC CB CE DB EC
DF 1 0.5496 0.2061 0.2442 0.4156 0.5844 1 1
FEM -12 12 0 -108 108 -30 0 30
Dist1 12 52.7634 19.7863 23.4504 -32.4156 -45.5844 0 -30
CO1 0 6 0 -16.2078 11.7252 -15 0 0
Dist2 0 5.6104 2.1039 2.4935 1.3610 1.9138 0 0
CO2 0 0 0 0.6805 1.2468 0 0 0
Dist3 0 -0.3740 -0.1403 -0.1662 -0.5181 -0.7286 0 0
CO3 0 0 0 -0.2591 -0.0831 0 0 0
Dist4 0 0.1424 0.0534 0.0633 0.0345 0.0486 0 0
CO4 0 0 0 0.0173 0.0316 0 0 0
Dist5 0 -0.0095 -0.0036 -0.0042 -0.0131 -0.0185 0 0
CO5 0 0 0 -0.0066 -0.0021 0 0 0
Sum 0 76.1326 21.7997 -97.9390 89.3670 -89.3691 0 0
Verify using slope deflection method

2 EI
M
= AB ( 2θ A + θ B − 3ψ AB ) + M
= F
320 E ( 2θ A + θ B ) − 12 (1)
2 AB
2 EI
M BA
= ( 2θ B + θ A − 3ψ AB ) + M
= F
320 E ( 2θ B + θ A ) + 12 (2)
2 BA
2 EI 320 E
M
= BC ( 2θ B + θC − 3ψ BC ) + M= F
( 2θ B + θC ) − 108 (3)
6 BC 3
2 EI 320 E
M CB
= ( 2θC + θ B − 3ψ BC ) + M= F
( 2θC + θ B ) + 108 (4)
6 CB 3
2 EI
M
= BD ( 2θ B + θ D − 3ψ DB ) + M= F
120 E ( 2θ B + θ D ) (5)
4 BD
2 EI
M DB
= ( 2θ D + θ B − 3ψ DB ) + M
= F
120 E ( 2θ D + θ B ) (6)
4 DB
2 EI
M
= CE ( 2θC + θ E − 3ψ CE ) + M= F
200 E ( 2θC + θ E ) − 30 (7)
4 CE
2 EI
M
= EC ( 2θ E + θC − 3ψ CE ) + M= F
200 E ( 2θ E + θC ) + 30 (8)
4 EC
 Five unknown freedoms, thus there are 5 following compatibility Eqs.

M AB =0 ⇒ 320 E ( 2θ A + θ B ) − 12 =0 (9)
320 E
M BA + M BC + M BD= 0 ⇒= 320 E ( 2θ B + θ A ) + 12 + ( 2θ B + θC ) − 108 + 120 E ( 2θ B + θ D )= 0 (10)
3
320 E
M CB + M CE= 0 ⇒= ( 2θC + θ B ) + 108 + 200 E ( 2θC + θ E ) − 30= 0 (11)
3
M DB= 0 ⇒= 120 E ( 2θ D + θ B )= 0 (12)
M EC= 0 ⇒= 200 E ( 2θ E + θC ) + 30= 0 (13)

Simplify Eqs. (9)-(13), got Finally, we got

640 Eθ A + 320 Eθ B =
12
Eθ A = −0.0418
960 Eθ A + 3280Eθ B + 320 EθC + 360 Eθ D =
288
Eθ B = 0.1211
320 Eθ B + 1840 EθC + 600 Eθ E =
−234
EθC = − 0.1479
2θ D + θ B =
0
Eθ D = − 0.0606
200 EθC + 400 Eθ E =
−30
Eθ E = − 0.0011
 2 EI
M AB
= ( 2θ A + θ B − 3ψ AB ) + =
MF 320 E ( 2θ A + θ B=
) − 12 0 (1)
2 AB
2 EI
M BA
= ( 2θ B + θ A − 3ψ AB ) + =
MF 320 E ( 2θ B + θ A=
) + 12 76.1361 (2)
2 BA
2 EI 320 E
M
= BC ( 2θ B + θC − 3ψ BC ) + M= F
( 2θ B + θC ) −=108 -97.9371 (3)
6 BC 3
2 EI 320 E
M CB
= ( 2θC + θ B − 3ψ BC ) + M= F
( 2θC + θ B ) =
+ 108 89.3683 (4)
6 CB 3
2 EI
M BD = ( 2θ B + θ D − 3ψ DB ) + =
MF 120 E ( 2θ B +
= θ D ) 21.8010 (5)
4 BD
2 EI
M DB
= ( 2θ D + θ B − 3ψ DB ) + M
= F
120 E ( 2θ D +=
θB ) 0 (6)
4 DB
2 EI
M CE
= ( 2θC + θ E − 3ψ CE ) + M= F
200 E ( 2θC + θ E =
) − 30 -89.3683 (7)
4 CE
2 EI
M EC
= ( 2θ E + θC − 3ψ CE ) + M= F
200 E ( 2θ E + θC =
) + 30 0 (8)
4 EC

Comparison
Joint A B C D E
Member AB BA BD BC CB CE DB EC
Sum 0 76.1326 21.7997 -97.9390 89.3670 -89.3691 0 0