MOMENT DISTRIBUTION METHOD

The moment distribution method is used for statically indeterminate beams and frames by
simple hand calculations. This is basically an iterative process. The procedure involves
artificially restraining temporarily all the joints against rotation and writing down the fixed end
moments for all the members. The joints are then released one by one in succession. At each
released joint the unbalanced moments are distributed to all the ends of the members meeting
at that joint.
A certain fraction of these distributed moments are carried over to the far ends of members.
The released joint is again restrained temporarily before proceeding to the next joint. The
same set of operations are carried out at each joint till all the joints are completed. This
completes one cycle of operations. The process is repeated a number of times or cycles till the
values obtained are within the desired accuracy.
The sign convention will be the same as one followed for slope-deflection method. Now we want
to define certain terms employed in this method. Consider a joint and four members which are
connected at that joint. Each member will represent a different case. If an external moment M
is applied to such a joint, the joint undergoes a rotation 1. Since all the members meeting at
this joint undergo the same rotation 1, the applied moment M is distributed to each of the
ends of the members according to their relative stiffness values.

Absolute and Relative Stiffness of Members

The absolute stiffness of a member can be defined as the moment required to produce a unit rotation at simply
supported end while the other end is fully restrained.
I/L ratio is referred to as relative stiffness and denoted by letter k

M ik

ki

k
=1

2EI
4EI
.2 1 = 2 E k .2 1 = 4 E k =
L
L
2EI
2EI
. 1 = 2 E k . 1 = 2 E k =
=
L
L

M ik =
M

M ki

Absolute Stiffness

by using slope-deflection equations, member end moments can be written

4
4

4 = 1

M
2

2 = 1

Skew Sym.

Symmetrical

Deformation

Deformation

2 EI 15

( 2 5 + 1 ) = 0 5 = 1 ,
L15
2

M 12 =

2 EI 12
2 EI 12
1 = 4 E ( 12 k12 ) 1
( 2 1 1 ) =
L12
L12

M 13 =

2 EI 13
4 EI 13
1 = 4 E ( k13 ) 1
( 2 1 ) =
L13
L13

M 14 =

2 EI 14
6 EI 14
1 = 4 E ( 32 k14 ) 1
( 2 1 + 1 ) =
L14
L14

M 15 =

2 EI 15
L15

M 51 =

zero moment

1 3 EI 15

1 = 4 E ( 34 k15 ) 1
2 1 =
L15
2

Modified relative
stiffness

Moment equilibrium equation of joint 1

M = 4 E ( k12 + k13 + k14 + k15 ) 1

1
2

1 =

3
2

3
4

M
1

4 E 12 k12 + k13 + 23 k14 + 34 k15

Relative stiffness values with their coefficients may be

considered as modified relative stiffness values
Substitute the rotation at joint 1 in slope deflection
equations

M 12
M 13

1
M
= 4 E ( k12 )
1
4 E 2 k12 + k13 + 32 k14 + 43 k15

M
1
= 4 E ( k13 )
1

4 E 2 k12 + k13 + 23 k14 + 43 k15

1
2

M 14 = 4 E ( 32 k14 )

M
4E

M 15 = 4 E ( 34 k15 )

M
4E

2 k12
=1
M = d 12 M
3
3
+
+
+
k
k
k
k
13
2 12
2 14
4 15

k13
=1
M = d 13 M
3
3
2 k12 + k13 + 2 k14 + 4 k15
3

1
2 k14
=

M = d 14 M
1

3
3
3
3
1
2 k12 + k13 + 2 k14 + 4 k15 2 k12 + k13 + 2 k14 + 4 k15
3

1
4 k15
=
1

M = d 15 M
3
3
3
3
1
+
+
+
+
+
+
k
k
k
k
k
k
k
k
13
13
2 12
2 12
2 14
4 15
2 14
4 15

M 12 + M 13 + M 14 + M 15 = M

Distribution Factors

d12 + d13 + d14 + d15 ) M = M

(1444
24443
1

M 31 =

2 EI13
1 k13
1
1
.
1 =
M
=
d
M
=
M 13
13
2 kij'
2
2
L13
Carry over factor

The carry over factor is defined as the factor by

which the moment at simply supported end is multiplied
to get the moment carried over to (produced at) the
other end.

The factor, by which the applied

moment is multiplied to obtain the end
moment of any member is known as the
DISTRIBUTION FACTOR

Relative
Modified
Stiffness
Values

k13
4

k14
Skew Sym.
3
2

1
3
4

k12
Symmetrical
1
2

k15

Deformation

Deformation
5

zero moment

100.kN

20. kNm

100*5
= 62.5kNm
8
20*7.52
F
F
M 23 = M 32 =
= 93.75kNm
12
M 12F = M 21F =

2
5

3EI

EI

1
62.5

7.5m

2
93.75

62.5

All the joints temporarily restrained

Fixed end moments

93.75

The temporary restraint is resisting a moment of

31.25 kNm to obtain the true condition at support 2,
we must remove the temporary restraint. When we
release the joint 2, it will rotate until it attains a
position of equilibrium generating a moment of
negative 31.25 kNm. This moment is distributed
between the two members in proportion to their
relative stiffness.

31.25

62.5

93.75

93.75

62.5

Free Body Diagram of joint 2

Therefore, the moment developed at

the end of each member

d 21 =
d 23 =

I
5
I
5

3I
7 .5

3I
7 .5
I
5

3I
7 .5

31.25

5.21

2
10.42

20.83

1
3

2
3

M 21 = 13 (31.25) = 10.42kNm.
M 23 = 23 (31.25) = 20.83kNm.
Half of these moments will be carried over
to the far ends of the members with the
same sign.

10.42

57.29

2
72.92

72.92

104.17

The above procedure can be recorded in a convenient tabular form

100.kN

20. kNm

2
5

3EI

EI

k12 = LI = 0.2 I

k23 =

0.3333

-62.5
5.21

62.5
10.42

72.92

-57.29

57.29

3I
7.5

= 0.4 I

0.6667

-93.75
20.83

93.75
10.42

-72.92

2
72.92

7.5m

72.92

104.17

104.17

Distribution Factors
3

Fixed end moments

Balance joint 2, and carry over moments
Final member end moments

Example : It is required to determine the support moments for the continuous beam.
50

80

80

3m

3 X 2m

0.3333
160

-150

k34 = = 0.25 I
40*4
= 53.33kNm
12

0.6667

0.5

-56.67

-28.33

20.42

40.83

-13.61

-6.81

1.70

3.40

-1.13

-0.57

0.15

0.29

-0.10

-0.05

0.02

0.03

0.03

0.01

8.79

-8.79

75.61

0.5
-53.33

0
53.33

d 21 =

0.125
0.375

= 13

d 23 =

0.25
0.375

d32 =

0.25
0.50

1
2

d34 =

0.25
0.50

1
2

2
3

50 kN force at the free end

produces a moment of 150 kNm. at
joint 1. It may be considered as an
external moment at the joint.

-75
-28.33
-6.81
-0.57
-0.05

-150

= 0.125 I

I
4

M 34F = M 43F =

F
21

3 I
4 6

k23 = 4I = 0.25 I

150
1

k12 =

80*2*42 80*4*22
M = M =
+
= 106.67kNm
36
36
F
12

Relative stiffness, distribution factors and

fixed end moments

40 kNm

-0.01

-0.01

49.23

-49.23

40.83

20.42

3.40

1.70

106.67
2

106.67

106.67

106.67
0.29

0.15
80

80

160

200
1

0.4286

375
-160.73

15

2 X 5m

Example : For the symmetrical structures use

the modified relative stiffness and no carry
over moment across the symmetry axis.

200

214.28

0.5714
0
-214.28

2 X 5m

M 21F =

k12 =

3 I
4 10

= 0.075I

d 21 =

0.075
0.175

= 0.4286

=
k23

3 I
2 15

= 0.100 I

d 23 =

0.100
0.175

= 0.5714

-214.28

Example : In addition to the given loading support 3 settles

down by 12 mm. EI= 700000 kNm2

24*10*10
= 300kNm
8
3EI 3*7.105 *0.012
= 2 =
= 252kNm
L
100

M 23F =

k12 =

3 I
4 10

= 0.075I

=
k23

3 I
4 10

= 0.075I

d 21 =

0.075
0.150

= 0.5

d 23 =

0.075
0.150

= 0.5

Fixed end moment

24 kN
m

150

P 2 a 2b 150
36*4
M = 2 b a +
=
16*6 +
= 252kNm
2 100
2
L
F
21

M 23FSS

3
200*10 = 375kNm
16

10

0.5

252

FEM support sett.

0.5

-300
-252

Balance joint 2

150

150

Final member end

moments

402

-402

Example : Find member end moments for the given symmetrical frame and loading.

20. kN m

For the analysis we may open the leg up

1
1

10

k12 = 5I = 0.20 I

d 21 =

0.20
0.25

= 0.80

=
k23

d 23 =

0.05
0.25

= 0.20

1 I
2 10

= 0.05I

M 23F =

0.8

30 kNm
3

133.33

33.33

66.67

133.33

-133.33

20*100
= 166.67kNm
12

k12 =

3 I
4 5

= 0.15 I

=
k23

3 I
4 7

= 0.1071I

d 21 = 0.5833

-166.67

66.67

Example : Find member end moments by using moment distribution method.

100kN

0.2

300
1

0.5833

0.4167
-183.75

-67.81

-48.44

-67.81

-232.19

d 23 = 0.4167

30*72
M =
= 183.75kNm
8
External moment on joint 2
M 2EM = 100*3 = 300kNm
F
23

Analysis of frames with side sway

In frames undergoing lateral translation (side sway), the analysis is carried out in two stages. In the first stage, the
frame is prevented from undergoing any side sway by applying an artificial joint restraint as shown in the figure
given below. The procedure is then similar to the one adopted for the frames without side sway.

3
4

Artificial
restraint

The value of the artificial restraining force F, is obtained by first evaluating the shear at the bases of columns.
Then from the equilibrium condition ,

HORIZONTAL

=0

the true value of F can be evaluated. At this stage the end moments are true only when restraining force F were
acting.
To achieve the true condition of structure, the frame has to be analyzed again by applying a force equal and
opposite to artificial restraining force F.
The member end moments resulting from this condition of loading will be combined with the moments obtained from
the earlier restrained condition to obtain the true values of moments in the frame.

20 kNm

Example : Determine the end moments of the portal frame using Cross
method.

3
M = 50*4 = 37.5kNm
16
F
21

20*62
M = M =
= 60kNm
12

d 21 =

F
23

0.75
1.75

F
32

3 4I
4 4

k23 =

6I
6

=I

1
= 0.5714
d 23 = 1.75

k34 =

4I
4

=I

d32 =

1
2

d34 =

1
2

= 0.75 I

0.4286
37.5
16.07
1.15
0.08
54.80

50kN

4EI

= 0.4286

k12 =

6 EI

3
4 EI

0.5

6m

0.5714

0.5

-60

60

-15

-30

21.43

10.72

-2.68

-5.36

1.53

0.76

-0.19

-0.38

0.11

0.06

-0.01

-0.03

-0.03

-0.01

-54.80

35.77

-35.77

-17.88

-30

54.80
3

0
-15

-5.36

-2.68

-0.38

-0.19

35.77

50

=0

Q12 = 11.3
1

17.88

11.3
H

=0

Q43 = 13.41

50

13.41

= 0 F = 50 11.3 13.41 = 25.29kN

This is the force the artificial restraint exerts on the frame to prevent side sway. To obtain the true condition the
artificial constraint has to be removed. This procedure could be done in an indirect manner. Apply an unknown force F,
the fixed end moments in the columns due to side sway:

3EI
= 0.75E
L2
6EI
M 34F = M 43F = 2 = 1.5E
L

M 21F =

Let E be 10,

M 21F = 7.5,...M 34F = M 43F = 15

5.76

8.08
3

2
1

0.4286
-7.5

0.5714
0
3.75

1.61

0.5
7.5

2.14

1.07

-0.27

-0.54

0.15

0.08

-0.02
0.01

0.01

-5.76

5.76

0.12

0.5

-15

-15

7.5

3.75

Q12 = 1.44
1

-0.54

-0.27

-0.04

-0.04

-0.02

8,07

-8,07

-11.54

=0

11.54

=0

Q43 = 4.90
4

1.44

4.90

= 0 F = 6.34kN

The true value of horizontal force to be applied to the frame is 25.29 kN. Therefore the moments due to a lateral
force of 25.29 kN are obtained by proportion, that is multiplying the moments by a factor 25.29/6.34=3.985


32.96

M 12 = 0
M 21 = +54.80 + 3.985*(5.76) = +31.84kNm

53.98

M 23 = 54.80 + 3.985*(+5.76) = 31.84kNm

NORMAL FORCE

66.02

M 32 = +35.77 + 3.985*(+8.07) = +67.93kNm

M 34 = 35.77 + 3.985*(8.08) = 67.93kNm

66.02

M 43 = 17.88 + 3.985*(11.54) = 63.87kNm

32.96

20 kNm

53.98

SHEAR FORCE

32.96
17.04

50kN

4EI

6EI

3
4EI

41.04
+

31.84

34.08

67.93

BENDING
MOMENT

+
+

63.87

Example :

100kN
2EI

30 kNm

k12 = = 0.2500 I
I
4

k23 =

EI

2
0
-40

13.46

1.20

0.11

4m

EI

0.4286
40

26.91

2.40

0.21

2I
6

= 0.3333I

k34 = 5I = 0.2000 I

d 21 =

0.25
0.25 + 0.3333

= 0.4286

d 23 =

0.3333
0.25 + 0.3333

= 0.5714

d32 =

0.3333
0.20 + 0.3333

= 0.6250

d34 =

0.2000
0.20 + 0.3333

= 0.3750

M 12F = M 21F = 40,... M 23F = 88.89,...M 32F = 44.44kNm

3
69.55

0.5714

0.625

-88.89

44.44

-13.89

-27.78

35.87

17.94

-5.61

-11.21

3.20

1.60

-0.50

-1.00

0.29

0.15

-0.05

-0.09

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.01

-25.22

69.54

-69.55

24.06

0.375

-16.67

-8.33

-6.73

-3.36

100
74.25

30

69.55

kN
m

24.06

25.75

24.06

12.02

25.22

-0.60

-0.30

-0.06

-0.03

-24.06

-12.02

Q12 = 48.92

120

25.75

F
48.92

Q43 = 28.33

28.33

= 0 F = 120 48.92 28.33 = 42.75kN

sin

sin = 0.8
tan =

4
3

6EI
= 0.375EI
16
6E 2I
M 23F = M 32F =
= 0.25EI
36. 43
M12F = M 21F =

tan

M 34F = M 43F =

6EI
= 0.30EI
25*0.8

let...EI = 100
32.36

0
-37.5
2.68
-0.10

0.4286
-37.5
5.36
-0.20

0.5714

0.625

25

25

7.14

3.54

0.46

0.91

-0.26

-0.13

0.04

0.08

-0.01

-0.02

-0.02

-0.01

-34.93

-32.36

32.36

29.39

0.375

-30

-30

0.55

0.28

29.39
10.29

29.40

32.36
0.05

0.02

-29.4

-29.7

To get the true moments for the lateral force of 45.75 kN. Acting
from left to right, these moments must be multiplied by 42.75/39.31
and superposed by the moments due to the external loads without
any side sway.

10.29

29.70

34.93

Q12 = 16.82

Q43 = 22.49
10.29

F
16.82

22.49

= 0 F = 16.82 + 22.49 = 39.31kN

 M 12 25.22
34.93 63.20

M 21 +69.54
32.36 +34.35
M 23 69.54 42.75 +32.36 34.35

=
M 32 +24.06 39.31 +29.40 +56.03
M 24.06
29.40 56.03
34

12.02
29.70
44.32

43

We may check the sum of shears at the base of columns

is equal to external lateral force.

52.79

61.23

63.06

NORMAL FORCE
kN

36.94

52.79

63.06

20.07

91.77

34.35

67.21

SHEAR FORCE
kN

12.09

56.03

+
+

44.32
52.79

63.20
BENDING MOMENT
kNM

36.94

Example: Find member end moments and draw shear force and bending moment diagrams. EI is constant.

100kN

k12 = 0.20 I

100

k23 =

3 I
4 5

= 0.15 I
1

d 21 = 0.5714

d 23 = 0.4286

4m

M
1

M12F = M21F =

6EI
= 0.4EI
25 sin

3EI
= 0.16EI
25 tan
let...EI = 100

-40

-40

0.4286

26.29

16

6.86

13.71

10.29

-33.14

-26.29

26.29

=0

Q12 = 133.33

26.29

0.5714

133.33

100

M23F =

F = 133.33

No side sway, no fem, due

to external loading. All the
member end moments are
zero.

100

tan

sin

33.14

5.26
F

Q = 26.82

1
5.26

=0

26.82

 M 12 0
33.14 164.73

133.33

=
+

M
0
26.29
130.68
21 26.82

+26.29 +130.68
M 0

23

26.14

SHEAR FORCE
kN

59.08

44.32

130.68

NORMAL FORCE
kN

164.73

BENDING MOMENT
kN