Structural Mechanics For Civil Engineers By Dr.

Djomo Mbong

CHAPTER ONE:

Displacement Method of Analysis:

The Slope-deflexion method
1. Introduction
An essential part of the computer-based stiffness method of analysis and also of the
moment distribution method are the slope–deflection relationships for beam elements. In these,
the shear forces and moments at the ends of a beam element are related to the end displacements
and rotations. In addition these relationships provide a method of solution for the determination
of end moments in statically indeterminate beams and frames; this method is known as the
slope–deflection method. Before we establish the method, let talk about the notion of fixed
end moments obtained through the moment-area method.

2. Moment-Area Method

The moment-area method is generally suitable when the deflection of a structure at a

particular point is required. Consider the curvature–moment equation of a beam :
1 d 2v d 2v M
 2;
1

M
  1
R dx R EI dx 2 EI
Integration of this equation between any two sections, say A and B, of a beam gives :
B
d 2v B M  dv  B M
 A EI dx A EI dx
B
dx    dx  
A dx 2  A
which gives
 dv   dv  B M
      A EI dx  2
 dx  B  dx  A
In qualitative terms Eq.(2) states that the change of slope between two sections A and B of a
beam is numerically equal to the area of the M EI diagram between those sections.
We now return to Eq.(1) and multiply both sides by x thereby retaining the equality.
Thus,
d 2v M
2
x x  3
dx EI
Integration of this equation between any two sections, say A and B, of a beam gives :
B
d 2v B M  dv  B dv B M
 xdx   A dx A EI xdx
B
xdx  x
 dx   dx 
 A
2
A dx A EI

which gives
 dv   dv  B M
xB    xA     vB  v A   A xdx  4
 dx  B  dx  A EI

3
 Chapter One: Displacement Method of Analysis: The Slope-deflexion method

in which xB and x A represent the x coordinate of each of the sections B and A, respectively,
while  dv dx  B and  dv dx  A are the respective slopes; v B and v A are the corresponding
deflections. The right-hand side of Eq.(4) represents the moment of the area of the M EI
diagram between the sections A and B about A.
Eq.(4) can be rewritten as:
 dv   dv  B M
xB    x A    v B  v A   x A EI dx  5
 dx  B  dx  A
Where x is the distance from A to the centroid of
the area between A and B.
Equations (2) and (4) may be used to
determine values of slope and deflection at any
section of a beam.

3. Fixed-end moments (FEMs)

Consider the fixed beam of Fig.1. Any
system of vertical loads induces reactions of force and moment, the latter arising from the
constraint against rotation provided by the supports. There are then four unknown reactions and
only two possible equations of statical equilibrium; the beam is therefore statically
indeterminate and has two redundancies. A solution is obtained by considering known values

Figure 1: Support reactions in a fixed beam.

of slope and deflection at particular beam sections.

Example 1: Figure 2(a) shows a fixed beam carrying a central concentrated load, W .
Determine the value of the fixed-end moments, M A and M B .
Since the ends A and B of the beam are prevented from rotating, moments M A and M B are
induced in the supports; these are termed fixed-end moments. From symmetry we see that
M A  M B and RA  RB  W 2 .
The beam AB in Fig.2(a) may be regarded as a simply supported beam carrying a central
concentrated load with moments M A and M B applied at the supports. The bending moment
diagrams corresponding to these two loading cases are shown in Fig.2(b) and (c) and are
known as the free bending moment diagram and the fixed-end moment diagram, respectively.
The resultant or final bending moment diagram is constructed by superimposing the free and
fixed-end moment diagrams as shown in Fig.2(d).
The moment-area method is now used to determine the fixed-end moments, M A and M B .
From Eq.(2) the change in slope between any two sections of a beam is equal to the area of the

4
 Structural Mechanics For Civil Engineers By Dr. Djomo Mbong

Figure 2: Bending moment diagram for a fixed beam.

M EI diagram between those sections. Therefore, the net area of the bending moment
diagram of Fig.2(d) must be zero since the change of slope between the ends of the beam is
zero. It follows that the area of the free bending moment diagram is numerically equal to the
area of the fixed-end moment diagram; thus,
1 WL WL2
M AL  L  M A  MB 
2 4 8
The resultant bending moment diagram has principal values as shown in Fig.3.

Figure 3: Complete bending moment diagram for the fixed beam.

Example 2: Determine the fixed-end moments and the fixed-end reactions for the beam
shown in Fig.4(a).
The resultant bending moment diagram is shown in Fig.4(b) where the line AB represents the
datum from which values of bending moment are measured. Again the net area of the resultant

5
 Chapter One: Displacement Method of Analysis: The Slope-deflexion method

Figure 4: The fixed beam.

bending moment diagram is zero since the change in slope between the ends of the beam is
zero. Hence
1 1 Wab Wab
 M A  MB  L  L  M A  MB  i
2 2 L L
We require a further equation to solve for M A and M B . This we obtain using Eq.(4) and
taking the origin for x at A; For the present case,  dv dx  B   dv dx  A  0 and
vB  v A  0 . Hence, Eq.(4) becomes:
M
0   ii 
B
xdx
A EI
Now using the equivalent relation Eq.(5) of (4), (ii) becomes (Also using the principle of the
opposite values of both fixed-end moments and free bending moment as in example 1):
L L 2 L 2a  1 Wab  1 Wab  b
M AL   MB  MA    a b a    iii 
2 2 3 3 2 L  2 L  3
Simplifying, we obtain
Wab
M A  2M B   2a  b   iv 
L2
Solving Eqs.(i) and (iv) simultaneously we obtain
Wab 2 Wa 2b
MA  ; MB  v
L2 L2
We can now use statics to obtain R A and R B ; hence we will obtain
Wb2 Wa 2
RA  3  3a  b  ; RB  3  a  3b   vi 
L L

4. Slope-Deflexion equations

Consider the beam, AB, shown in Fig.5. The beam has flexural rigidity EI and is
subjected to moments, M AB and M BA , and shear forces, S AB and S BA , at its ends. The shear
forces and moments produce displacements v A and v B and rotations  A and  B as shown. Here

6
 Structural Mechanics For Civil Engineers By Dr. Djomo Mbong

Figure 5: Slope and Deflection of a beam

we are concerned with moments at the ends of a beam. We will adopt a sign convention such
that the moment at a point is positive when it is applied in a clockwise sense and negative when
in an anticlockwise sense; thus in Fig.5 both moments M AB and M BA are positive. In the
analysis we shall ignore axial force effects since these would have a negligible effect in the
equation for moment equilibrium.
Let remember that in theory of beam, for a beam the following relations are valid:
1 d 2v d 2v M
 2;
1

M
   6
R dx R EI dx 2 EI
From Eq.(6) and Fig.5,
d 2v
EI 2  M AB  S AB x
dx
Hence
dv x2
EI  M AB x  S AB  C1  7
dx 2
And
x2 x3
EIv  M AB  S AB  C1 x  C 2  8
2 6
dv
When x  0;   A v  v A . Therefore, from Eq.(7), C1  EI A and from Eq.(8),
dx
C 2  EIv A . Equations (7) and (8) then, respectively, become
x2
EI
dv
 M AB x  S AB  EI A  9
dx 2
And
x2 x3
EIv  M AB  S AB  EI A x  EIv A 10
2 6
dv
Also at x  L;   B v  v B . Therefore, from Eqs.(9) and (10), we have:
dx

7
 Chapter One: Displacement Method of Analysis: The Slope-deflexion method

L2
EI B  M AB L  S AB  EI A 11
2
And
L2 L3
EIv B  M AB  S AB  EI A L  EIv A 12
2 6
Solving Eqs (11) and (12) for M AB and S AB gives:
2 EI  3 
M AB    2 A   B  L  v A  v B   13
L  
And

 v A  v B  
6 EI 2
S AB   A   B  14
L2  L 
Now, from the moment equilibrium of the beam about B, we have
M AB  S AB L  MBA  0  MBA   M AB  S AB L
Substituting for M AB and S AB in this expression from Eqs.(13) and (14) we obtain:
2 EI  3 
M BA    2 A   B   v A  v B   15
L  L 
Further, since S BA   S AB (from the vertical equilibrium of the element):
6 EI  2 
S BA    A   B  L  v A  v B   16
L2  
Equations (13)–(16) are usually written in the form
 6 EI 4 EI 6 EI 2 EI
 M AB   L2 v A  L  A  L2 v B  L  B

 S  12 EI v  6 EI   12 EI v  6 EI 
 AB

L3 A L2 A L3 B L2 B 17 
 M   6 EI v  4 EI   6 EI v  2 EI 
 BA L2 A L A L2 B L B
 12 EI 6 EI 12 EI 6 EI
 S BA   3 v A  2  A  vB  2  B
 L L L3
L
Equations (17) are known as the slope–deflection equations and establish force-
displacement relationships for the beam as opposed to the displacement-force relationships of
the flexibility method. The coefficients that pre-multiply the components of displacement in
Eq.(17) are known as stiffness coefficients.
The beam in Fig.5 is not subject to lateral loads. Clearly, in practical cases, unless we
are interested solely in the effect of a sinking support, lateral loads will be present. These will
cause additional moments and shear forces at the ends of the beam. Equations (13)–(16) may
then be written as
2 EI  3 
M AB    2 A   B  L  v A  v B    M AB
F
18
L  
same equations Mab down has just factorized -2EI/L outside and added fixed end moment Mab at end

8
 Structural Mechanics For Civil Engineers By Dr. Djomo Mbong


6 EI 2 
other factorizations S AB   A   B  L  v A  v B    S AB
F
19
from equation 17 L2 
2 EI  3 
M BA   2 B   A   v A  v B    M BA F
 20 
L  L 
6 EI  2 
S BA    A   B  L  v A  v B    S BA
F
 21
L2  
F F
in which M AB and M BA are the moments at the ends of the beam caused by the applied loads
and correspond to  A   B  0 and v A  vB  0 , i.e. they are fixed-end moments (FEMs).
F F
Similarly the shear forces S AB and S BA correspond to the fixed-end case.

Example 3: Determination of the support reactions in the three-span continuous beam

shown in Fig.6.

Figure 6: Continuous beam of example 4 of chapter 3.

Initially we consider the beam as comprising three separate fixed beams AB, BC and CD and
F F F
calculate the values of the FEMs, M AB , M BA , M BC , etc. We can also evaluate the fixed-
F F F
end reactions RAB , RBA , RBC , etc. Thus, using the same procedure as in example 2,
remembering that clockwise moments are positive and anticlockwise moments negative, we
have
For the fixed-end moments
F
M AB   M BA
F
 0.75kNm ; F
M BC   M CB
F
 1.25kNm ;
F
M CD   M DC
F
 1.0kNm
For the fixed-end reactions
F
RAB  RBA
F
 3.0kN ; F
RBC  RCB
F
 5.0kN ; RCD
F
 RDC
F
 6.0kN
In the beam of Fig.6, the vertical displacements at all the supports are zero, i.e. v A , v B , vC
and v D are zero. Therefore, from Eqs.(18) and (20) we have:
M AB  2 EI  2 A   B   0.75 i
M BA  2 EI  2 B   A   0.75  ii 
M BC  2 EI  2 B   C   1.25  iii 
M CB  2 EI  2 C   B   1.25  iv 
9
replaced Va and Vb with zero Chapter One: Displacement Method of Analysis: The Slope-deflexion method

M CD  2 EI  2 C   D   1 v
M DC  2 EI  2 D   C   1  vi 
From the equilibrium of moments at the supports
M AB  0 ; MBA  MBC  0 ; MCB  MCD  0 ; M DC  0
Substituting the expressions (i)-(vi) in the previous equilibrium equations, we obtain:
setting Mab=0 in eqn (i) 4EI A  2EI B  0.75  0  vii 
2EI A  8EI B  2EIC  0.5  0  viii 
2 EI B  8 EIC  2EI D  0.25  0  ix 
4 EI D  2 EI C  1  0  x
The solution of Eqs (vii)–(x) gives this is done by solving them simultaneously
EI A  0.183 ; EI B  0.008 ; EIC  0.033 ; EI D  0.267  xi 
Using the obtained values at (xi) in Eqs.(19) and (21), knowing that v A , v B , vC and v D are
zero, we have for this example:

6 EI 2 
RAB   A   B  L  v A  v B    RAB  1.85kN
F
 xii 

L2 
6 EI  2 
RBA   2  A   B   v A  v B    RBA F
 4.15kN  xiii 
L  L 
6 EI  2 
RBC  2  B   C   v B  vC    RBC F
 4.75kN  xiv 
L  L 

6 EI 2 
RCB    B   C  L  vC  v B    RCB  5.25kN  xv 
F

L2 
6 EI  2 
RCD  2  C   D   vC  v D    RCD F
 7.4kN  xvi 
L  L 
6 EI  2 
RDC    C   D  L  vC  v D    RDC  4.6kN  xvii 
F

L2  
Following the separated beams in fig.7, the final reactions at the supports can be obtained as:

RA  RAB  1.85kN ; RB  RBA  RBC  8.9kN ;

RC  RCB  RCD  12.65kN ; RD  RDC  4.6kN

Figure 7: Moments and reactions at the ends of the spans of the continuous beam
.

10
 Structural Mechanics For Civil Engineers By Dr. Djomo Mbong

Example 4: Determination of the end moments in the members of the portal frame shown
in Fig.8; the second moment of area of the vertical members is 2.5I while that of the
horizontal members is I.

Figure 8: Portal Frame

In this particular problem, due to the application of the 10kN load, the frame will sway such
that there will be horizontal displacements, v B and vC , at B and C in the members BA and
CD. Since we are ignoring displacements produced by axial forces then vB  vC  v1 . Also
we note that the rotation,  A  0 since the end A of the member AB is fixed.
Initially, as in example 3, we calculate the FEMs in the members of the frame, again using the
same procedure of example 2.
3  62 10  10
M F
CE   54kNm ; M AB F
  M BA
F
  12.5kNm ;
2 8
3  202
M BC   M CB    100kNm ; M CD  M DC  0
F F F F

12
Now, from Eqs (16.28) and (16.30)
EI  3 
M AB     B  v1   12.5 i
2  10 
EI  3 
M BA    2 B  v1   12.5  ii 
2  10 
suppose to be 5 and not 2 i think
EI
M BC  
10
 2 B  C   100  iii 
EI
M CB  
10
 2C   B   100  iv 
EI  3 
M CD    2 C   D  v1  v
2  10 
EI  3 
M DC    2 D   C  v1   vi 
2  10 
The effect of the cantilever CE may be included by replacing it by its end moment, thereby
reducing the number of equations to be solved. From the equilibrium of moments at the supports
MBA  MBC  0 ; MCB  MCD  54  0 ; M DC  0
same statement
Substituting the expressions (ii)-(vi) in the previous equilibrium equations, we obtain:used in example 3
above
11
why is this added to the equilibrium of
moments at the supports equation
 Chapter One: Displacement Method of Analysis: The Slope-deflexion method

1.2 EI B  0.1EIC  0.15 EIv1  87.5  0  vii 

0.1EI B  1.2EIC  0.5EI D  0.15EIv1  46  0  viii 
2 EI D  EIC  0.3EIv1  0  ix 
Since there are four unknown displacements we require a further equation for a solution. This
may be obtained by considering the overall horizontal equilibrium of the frame. Thus,
S AB  SDC  10  0 displacement in question is
described to occur in the elements
in which, from Eq.(19) AB and DC
6  2.5 EI 12  2.5 EI
S AB  2
B  v1  5 applying equation 19 but
10 103 the 2.5 in numerators does
6  2.5 EI 12  2.5 EI not makes sense
S DC 
102
  D   C  
103
v1

Hence, substituting for S AB and S DC in the equilibrium equations, we have:

EI B  EIC  EI D  0.4EIv1  33.3  0  x
Solving Eqs.(vii)–(x) we obtain :
EI B  101.5 ; EIC  73.2 ; EI D  9.8 ; EIv1  178.6  xi 
Substituting these values in Eqs.(i)–(vi) yields
M AB  11.5kNm ; M BA  87.2kNm ; MBC  87.2kNm ; M CB  95.5kNm ;
MCD  41.5kNm ; M DC  0kNm ; MCE  54kNm

Table 1: Fixed End Moments (FEMs)

FEMs
Load Case F
M AB F
M BA
WL WL

8 8

Wab 2 Wa 2b
 2
L L2

i think all the load

cases can be
wL2 wL2
any type of support 
12 12

 L2 2 wb 3  L b 
 2 b  a   3 L
w 2
 2   
2

L  L2  3 4 

 b3  a 3   14  b4  a 4  

12
Structural Mechanics For Civil Engineers By Dr. Djomo Mbong

M 0b M 0b
 2a  b   2b  a 
L2 L2

6 EI 6 EI
 
L2 L2

0 3 EI

L2

13