DISPLACEMENT METHOD

OF ANALYSIS: MOMENT
DISTRIBUTION METHOD
Moment Distribution Method
The moment distribution method was introduced by Hardy Cross.
´ The Carry-Over Moment
Carry-over moment is defined as the moment induced at the fixed end of a beam by the action of a
moment applied at the other end.
when a moment is applied at B and flexes the
Consider the beam shown: beam, it induces a wall moment MA, the
deviation of B from the tangent through A is zero,
L M then:
MA B
B
A
θB EItB/A = AreaAB𝑥̅ B
RB ! " ! !
0 = (" MA L)(# 𝐿) + (" MB L)(# 𝐿)

𝟏
MA = − 𝟐 MB
M
MA B
Therefore, the moment applied at B “carries over”
to the fixed end A a moment that is half the
L amount and in opposite direction.
Moment Distribution Method
´ The Beam Stiffness
Beam stiffness is the moment required by the simply supported end of a beam to produce a unit
rotation of that end while the other end being rigidly fixed.

Consider the beam shown:

MA L MB The rotation of B relative to the tangent through A is:

B
A
θB EIθAB = AreaAB
RB ! !
EIθAB = (" MA L) + (" MB L)

! ! !
MB EIθ = ( )(− MB L) + ( MB L)
" " "
MA
𝟒𝑬𝑰)
L MB =
𝑳
Moment Distribution Method
The rotation of B relative to the tangent through A is:

EIθAB = AreaAB
In many structures, the value of E remains
! ! constant and only a relative measure of
EIθAB = ( MA L) + ( MB L)
" "
resistance is required. The relative beam
! ! ! stiffness is,
EIθAB = ( )(− MB L) + ( MB L)
" " "
Relative k = I/L
𝟒𝑬𝑰)
MB =
𝑳
If I is not specified, it is convenient to take
When θ equals 1 radian, MB is knowns as the beam stiffness I as the common multiple of the span
and it varies with the ratio I/L and E. lengths.

Beam stiffness is denoted as k and hence,

Absolute k = 4EI / L
Moment Distribution Method
´ The Modified Beam Stiffness
For continuous beams with hinge or roller ends, the final moment at that end is zero. The distribution
of moment will become easier if we multiply the beam stiffness k of the span containing the support by ¾
(0.75), which would eliminate any further distribution of moment on that support. Do not do this for fixed-
end support.

´ The Distribution Factor

In a continuous beam, the moments between any two adjacent spans are generally not equal. The
unbalanced moment must be distributed to the other ends of each span. The ratio of distribution to any
beam is called the distribution factor, DF:

DF = k / Σk

where: k is the stiffness factor and Σk is the sum of the stiffness factors for adjacent beams. If the beams are
of the same material, only relative k need to be used.

DF = 0 (for fixed end)

DF = 1 (for hinged/roller end support)
Example 1
Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam shown.
Fixed-End Moments
Relative Stiffnesses and Distribution factors

𝑘
𝐷𝐹 =
∑𝑘
𝐷𝐹 = 0 if fixed
𝐷𝐹 = 1 if pin or roller

# '(
𝑘!" = 𝑘"! =
$
*
#
=3 𝐷𝐹!" = 0
)
# '( 𝐷𝐹"! = = 0.429
𝑘"% = 𝑘%" =
&
*
#
=4 )*(
(
𝐷𝐹"% = = 0.571
)*(

𝐷𝐹%" = 0
JOINT A B C
SPAN AB BA BC CB
k 3 3 4 4
DF 0 0.429 0.571 0 𝑘!" = 𝑘"! = 3
FEM 0 0 -7.2 10.8 𝑘"% = 𝑘%" = 4
Bal 0 3.086 4.114 0 𝐷𝐹!" = 0 𝐷𝐹"% = 0.571
CO 1.543 0 0 2.057 𝐷𝐹"! = 0.429 𝐷𝐹%" = 0
Bal 0 0 0 0
𝐵𝑎𝑙!" = −𝐹𝐸𝑀!" ∗ 𝐷𝐹!" = 0
Sum 1.543 3.086 -3.068 12.857
𝐵𝑎𝑙"! = −(𝐹𝐸𝑀"! + 𝐹𝐸𝑀"% ) ∗ 𝐷𝐹"!
𝑀!" = 1.543 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚 𝐵𝑎𝑙"! = − 0 − 7.2 ∗ 0.429 = 3.086
𝑀"! = 3.086 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚 𝐵𝑎𝑙"% = −(𝐹𝐸𝑀"! + 𝐹𝐸𝑀"% ) ∗ 𝐷𝐹"%
𝑀"% = −3.086 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚 𝐵𝑎𝑙"% = − 0 − 7.2 ∗ 0.571 = 4.114
𝑀%" = 12.857 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚 𝐵𝑎𝑙%" = −𝐹𝐸𝑀%" ∗ 𝐷𝐹%" = 0
Example 2
Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam shown.
Fixed-End Moments

+, -' $
(FEM)BC = − =− = −12 k . ft
$ $
+, -' $
(FEM)CB = = = 12 k . ft
$ $
Relative Stiffnesses and Distribution factors

𝑘
𝐷𝐹 =
∑𝑘
𝐷𝐹 = 0 if fixed
𝐷𝐹 = 1 if pin or roller

# '(
𝑘!" = 𝑘"! =
'(
*
#
=1 𝐷𝐹!" = 0
-
# '( 𝐷𝐹"! = = 0.25
𝑘"% = 𝑘%" =
$
*
#
=3 -*)
)
𝐷𝐹"% = = 0.75
-*)

𝐷𝐹%" = 1
JOINT A B C
SPAN AB BA BC CB
k 1 1 3 3
DF 0 0.25 0.75 1
FEM -96 96 -12 12
Bal 0 -21 -63 -12 𝑘!" = 𝑘"! = 1
CO -10.5 0 -6 -31.5 𝑘"% = 𝑘%" = 3
Bal 0 1.5 4.5 31.5
𝐷𝐹!" = 0 𝐷𝐹"% = 0.75
CO 0.75 0 15.75 2.25
𝐷𝐹"! = 0.25 𝐷𝐹%" = 1
Bal 0 -3.94 -11.81 -2.25
CO -1.969 0 -1.125 -5.906 𝐵𝑎𝑙!" = −𝐹𝐸𝑀!" ∗ 𝐷𝐹!" = 0
Bal 0 0.281 0.844 5.906 𝐵𝑎𝑙"! = −(𝐹𝐸𝑀"! + 𝐹𝐸𝑀"% ) ∗ 𝐷𝐹"!
CO 0.141 0 2.953 0.422 𝐵𝑎𝑙"! = − 96 − 12 ∗ 0.25 = −21
Bal 0 -0.738 -2.215 -0.422 𝐵𝑎𝑙"% = −(𝐹𝐸𝑀"! + 𝐹𝐸𝑀"% ) ∗ 𝐷𝐹"%
Sum -107.578 72.105 -72.105 0 𝐵𝑎𝑙"% = − 96 − 12 ∗ 0.75 = −63
𝑀!" = −107.578 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚 𝑀"% = −72.105 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚 𝐵𝑎𝑙%" = −𝐹𝐸𝑀%" ∗ 𝐷𝐹%" = −12
𝑀"! = 72.105 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚 𝑀%" = 0 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
Example 3
Determine the moment at A and B for the beam shown. The support at
B is displaced (settles) 80 mm. Take E = 200 GPa, I = 5x106 mm4.
Fixed-End Moments

& '../-.! 0/-."! ...$

(FEM)AB = (FEM)BA = −
(#
(FEM)AB = (FEM)BA = −30 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
MBA = 8 4 = 24 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
Relative Stiffnesses and Distribution factors

𝑘
𝐷𝐹 =
∑𝑘
𝐷𝐹 = 0 if fixed
𝐷𝐹 = 1 if pin or roller

# (
𝑘!" = 𝑘"! =
(
*
#
=1 𝐷𝐹!" = 0
𝐷𝐹"! = 1
JOINT A B
SPAN AB BA BC
k 1 1
DF 0 1
FEM -30 -30 -24 𝑘!" = 𝑘"! = 1
Bal 0 54
𝐷𝐹!" = 0
CO 27 0
𝐷𝐹"! = 1
Bal 0 0
Sum -3 24 -24 𝐵𝑎𝑙!" = −𝐹𝐸𝑀!" ∗ 𝐷𝐹!" = 0
𝐵𝑎𝑙"! = −(𝐹𝐸𝑀"! + 𝐹𝐸𝑀"% ) ∗ 𝐷𝐹"!
𝑀!" = −3 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
𝐵𝑎𝑙"! = − −30 − 24 ∗ 1 = 54
𝑀"! = 24 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
𝑀"% = −24 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
Example 4
Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the frame shown. EI is
constant
Fixed-End Moments
Relative Stiffnesses

# '(
𝑘!" = 𝑘"! =
-'
*
#
=2
# '(
𝑘"% = 𝑘%" = * #
$
=3
# '(
𝑘%2 = 𝑘2% = *
-' #
=2
JOINT A B C D
SPAN AB BA BC CB CD DC
k 2 2 3 3 2 2
DF 0 0.40 0.60 0.60 0.40 0
FEM 0 0 -80 80 0 0
Bal 0 32 48 -48 -32 0
CO 16 0 -24 24 0 -16
Bal 0 9.6 14.4 -14.4 -9.6 0
CO 4.8 0 -7.2 7.2 0 -4.8
Bal 0 2.88 4.32 -4.32 -2.88 0 𝑘!" = 𝑘"! = 2
CO 1.44 0 -2.16 2.16 0 -1.44 𝑘"% = 𝑘%" = 3
Bal 0 0.864 1.296 -1.296 -0.864 0 𝑘%2 = 𝑘2% = 2
CO 0.432 0 -0.648 0.648 0 -0.432
Bal 0 0.259 0.389 -0.389 -0.259 0
Sum 22.672 45.603 -45.603 45.603 -45.603 -22.672
𝑀!" = 22.672 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚 𝑀"% = −45.603 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚 𝑀%2 = −45.603 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
𝑀"! = 45.603 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚 𝑀%" = 45.603 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚 𝑀2% = −22.672 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
Example 5
Determine the internal moments at each joint of the frame shown.
The moment of inertia for each member is given in the figure. Take
E = 29x103 ksi.
Fixed-End Moments

+,! # !"!
(FEM)CE = − =− = −36 k . ft
!" !"

+,! # !"!
(FEM)EC = = = 36 k . ft
!" !"
Absolute Stiffness
JOINT A B C D E
SPAN AB BA BC CB CD CE DC EC
k 0.001286 0.001286 0.002411 0.002411 0.000643 0.002612 0.000643 0.002612
DF 0 0.35 0.65 0.43 0.113 0.461 1 1
FEM 0 0 -12 12 0 -36 0 36
Bal 0 4.174 7.826 10.212 2.724 11.064 0 -36
CO 2.087 0 5.106 3.913 0 -18.000 1.362 5.532
Bal 0 -1.776 -3.330 5.994 1.599 6.494 -1.362 -5.532
CO -0.888 0 2.997 -1.665 -0.681 -2.766 0.799 3.247
Bal 0 -1.043 -1.955 2.175 0.580 2.357 -0.799 -3.247
CO -0.521 0 1.088 -0.977 -0.400 -1.624 0.290 1.178
Bal 0 -0.378 -0.709 1.277 0.341 1.383 -0.290 -1.178
CO -0.189 0 0.638 -0.355 -0.145 -0.589 0.170 0.692
Bal 0 -0.222 -0.416 0.463 0.124 0.502 -0.170 -0.692
Sum 0.489 0.755 -0.755 33.038 4.141 -37.179 0 0
Example 6
Draw the shear and moment diagrams of the frame shown. The
Young’s modulus E is constant for all members and the columns
have twice the moment of inertia I as the beam.
Fixed-End Moments
Due to loads
+,! -. /!
(FEM)CD = − =− = −83.333 kN. m
!" !"
+,! -. /!
(FEM)DC = = = 83.333 kN. m
!" !"

(FEM)AC = (FEM)CA = (FEM)BD = (FEM)DB = 0

Due to sway
0123
(FEM)AC = (FEM)CA = (FEM)BD = (FEM)DB = − ,!
01("2)3
(FEM)AC = (FEM)CA = (FEM)BD = (FEM)DB = −
6!
!-
(FEM)AC = (FEM)CA = (FEM)BD = (FEM)DB = − 𝐸𝐼Δ
-7
Relative stiffnesses

'# )0
𝑘!% = 𝑘"2 = ∗ = 10
3 #

𝑘%2 = 0# ∗ )0
# =7
Due to loads
JOINT A C D B
SPAN AC CA CD DC DB BD
k 10 10 7 7 10 10
DF 1 0.588 0.412 0.412 0.588 1
FEM 0 0 -83.333 83.333 0 0
Bal 0 49.019 34.314 -34.314 -49.019 0
CO 24.510 0 -17.157 17.157 0 -24.510
Bal -24.510 10.092 7.065 -7.065 -10.092 24.510
CO 5.046 -12.255 -3.532 3.532 12.255 -5.046
Bal -5.046 9.287 6.501 -6.501 -9.287 5.046
CO 4.643 -2.523 -3.250 3.250 2.523 -4.643
Bal -4.643 3.396 2.377 -2.377 -3.396 4.643
CO 1.698 -2.322 -1.189 1.189 2.322 -1.698
Bal -1.698 2.065 1.445 -1.445 -2.065 1.698
Sum 0 56.760 -56.760 56.760 -56.760 0
Due to sway
JOINT A C D B
SPAN AC CA CD DC DB BD
k 10 10 7 7 10 10
DF 1 0.588 0.412 0.412 0.588 1
FEM -0.286 -0.286 0 0 -0.286 -0.286
Bal 0.286 0.168 0.118 0.118 0.168 0.286
CO 0.084 0.143 0.059 0.059 0.143 0.084
Bal -0.084 -0.119 -0.083 -0.083 -0.119 -0.084
CO -0.059 -0.042 -0.042 -0.042 -0.042 -0.059
Bal 0.059 0.049 0.034 0.034 0.049 0.059
CO 0.025 0.030 0.017 0.017 0.030 0.025
Bal -0.025 -0.028 -0.019 -0.019 -0.028 -0.025
CO -0.014 -0.012 -0.010 -0.010 -0.012 -0.014
Bal 0.014 0.013 0.009 0.009 0.013 0.014
Sum 0 -0.084 0.084 0.084 -0.084 0
 JOINT A C D B
SPAN AC CA CD DC DB BD
Due to loads Sum 0 56.760 -56.760 56.760 -56.760 0
Due to sway Sum 0 -0.084 0.084 0.084 -0.084 0

𝑀!% = 0
𝑀%! = 56.76 − 0.084𝑘
𝑀%2 = −56.76 + 0.084𝑘
𝑀2% = 56.76 + 0.084𝑘
𝑀2" = −56.76 − 0.084𝑘
𝑀"2 = 0
Shear Condition
PCA PDB

MCA MCA
C VCA D VDB

A B
VAC VBD MAC VAC MBD VBD

PAC PBD
VAC + VBD = 100
Shear Condition
PCA PDB Moment at C

MCA MCA MAC + MCA + 7VAC = 0

C VCA D VDB MAC+MCA
VAC = − 2

7m 7m Moment at D
MCA + MBD + 7VBD = 0
A B MBD+MDB
VBD = − 2
MAC VAC MBD VBD

PAC PBD
Shear Condition

VAC + VBD = 100

MAC+MCA
VAC = − 2
MBD+MDB
VBD = − 2

MAC+MCA MBD+MDB
− − = 100
7 7
MAC+MCA+MBD+MDB = −700
Shear Condition

MAC+MCA+MBD+MDB = −700
𝑀!% = 0
𝑀%! = 56.76 − 0.084𝑘
𝑀2" = −56.76 − 0.084𝑘
𝑀"2 = 0

0 + 56.76 − 0.084𝑘 + −56.76 − 0.084𝑘 + 0 = −700

−0.168𝑘 = −700
𝑘 = 4166.667
Moment Values
𝑘 = 4166.667
𝑀!% = 0
𝑀%! = 56.76 − 0.084𝑘 = −293.240 kN. m
𝑀%2 = −56.76 + 0.084𝑘 = 293.240 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
𝑀2% = 56.76 + 0.084𝑘 = 406.760 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
𝑀2" = −56.76 − 0.084𝑘 = 406.760 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
𝑀"2 = 0