Module

2
Analysis of Statically
Indeterminate
Structures by the
Matrix Force Method
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Lesson
13
The Three-Moment
Equations-Ii
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Instructional Objectives
After reading this chapter the student will be able to
1. Derive three-moment equations for a continuous beam with yielding supports.
2. Write compatibility equations of a continuous beam in terms of three
moments.
3. Compute reactions in statically indeterminate beams using three-moment
equations.
4. Analyse continuous beams having different moments of inertia in different
spans and undergoing support settlements using three-moment equations.

13.1 Introduction
In the last lesson, three-moment equations were developed for continuous
beams with unyielding supports. As discussed earlier, the support may settle by
unequal amount during the lifetime of the structure. Such future unequal
settlement induces extra stresses in statically indeterminate beams. Hence, one
needs to consider these settlements in the analysis. The three-moment
equations developed in the pervious lesson could be easily extended to account
for the support yielding. In the next section three-moment equations are derived
considering the support settlements. In the end, few problems are solved to
illustrate the method.

13.2 Derivation of Three-Moment Equation

Consider a two span of a continuous beam loaded as shown in Fig.13.1. Let M L ,
M C and M R be the support moments at left, center and right supports
respectively. As stated in the previous lesson, the moments are taken to be
positive when they cause tension at the bottom fibers. I L and I R denote moment
of inertia of left and right span respectively and l L and l R denote left and right
spans respectively. Let L , C and R be the support settlements of left, centre
and right supports respectively. L , C and R are taken as negative if the
settlement is downwards. The tangent to the elastic curve at support C makes
an angle CL at left support and CR at the right support as shown in Fig. 13.1.
From the figure it is observed that,

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 CL = CR

(13.1)

The rotations CL and CR due to external loads and support moments are
calculated from the M
diagram .They are (see lesson 12)
EI

CL =

AL x L M L l L M C l L
+
+
EI L l L 6 EI L 3EI L

(13.2a)

CR =

AR x R M R l R M C l R
+
+
EI R l R 6 EI R 3EI R

(13.2b)

The rotations of the chord L'C ' and C ' R' from the original position is given by

CL =
CR

L C

lL
C
= R
lR

(13.3a)
(13.3b)

From Fig. 13.1, one could write,

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 CL = CL CL

(13.4a)

CR = CR CR

(13.4b)

Thus, from equations (13.1) and (13.4), one could write,

CL CL = CR CR

(13.5)

Substituting the values of CL , CR , CL and CR in the above equation,

l
M L L
IL

l
l
l
+ 2M C L + R + M R R

IL IR
IR

C
6A x
6A x
= R R L L + 6 E L
I RlR
I LlL

lL

C
+ 6 E R

lR

This may be written as

l
M L L
IL
(13.6)

l
l
+ 2M C L + R + M R R

IL IR
IR

6A x
6A x
= R R L L 6 E C
I RlR
I LlL

l L

C R
+
lR

The above equation relates the redundant support moments at three successive
spans with the applied loading on the adjacent spans and the support
settlements.
Example 13.1
Draw the bending moment diagram of a continuous beam BC shown in
Fig.13.2a by three moment equations. The support B settles by 5mm below A
and C . Also evaluate reactions at A , B and C .Assume EI to be constant for all
members and E = 200 GPa , I = 8 106 mm 4

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Assume an imaginary span having infinitely large moment of inertia and arbitrary
span L left of A as shown in Fig.13.2b .Also it is observed that moment at C is
zero.
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The given problem is statically indeterminate to the second degree. The

moments M A and M B ,the redundants need to be evaluated. Applying three
moment equation to the span AAB,

L = C = 0 and R = 5 10 3 m

68 2
0 (5 10 3
L'
L' 4
4

M ' A + 2M A + + M B =
6 E 0 +
I (4)
4

I
I

5 10 3
8M A + 4 M B = 24 6 EI
4
Note that, EI = 200 10 9

(1)

8 10 6 10 12
= 1.6 10 3 kNm 2
3
10

Thus,
8M A + 4 M B = 24 6 1.6 10 3

5 10 3
4

8M A + 4M B = 36

(2)

Again applying three moment equation to span ABC the other equations is
obtained. For this case, L = 0 , C = 5 10 3 m (negative as the settlement is
downwards) and R = 0 .

5 10 3 5 10 3
24 6 10.667 2
4
4 4

M A + 2M B + =
6 E

I
I 4
4
4
I
I I

10 10 3
4 M A + 16 M B = 24 32 + 6 1.6 10
4
3

4M A + 16M B = 32

(3)

Solving equations (2) and (3),

M B = 1.0 kN.m
M A = 4.0 kN.m

(4)

Now, reactions are calculated from equations of static equilibrium (see

Fig.13.2c).

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Thus,

R A = 2.75 kN ( )

R BL = 1.25 kN ( )

R BR = 4.25 kN ( )
RC = 3.75 kN ( )
The reactions at B,
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RB = RBR + RBL = 5.5 kN

(5)

The area of each segment of the shear force diagram for the given continuous
beam is also indicated in the above diagram. This could be used to verify the
previously computed moments. For example, the area of the shear force diagram
between A and B is 5.5 kN.m .This must be equal to the change in the bending
moment between A and D, which is indeed the case ( 4 1.5 = 5.5 kN.m ). Thus,
moments previously calculated are correct.
Example 13.2
A continuous beam ABCD is supported on springs at supports B and C as
shown in Fig.13.3a. The loading is also shown in the figure. The stiffness of
EI
EI
springs is k B =
and k C =
.Evaluate support reactions and draw bending
20
30
moment diagram. Assume EI to be constant.

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In the given problem it is required to evaluate bending moments at supports B

and C . By inspection it is observed that the support moments at A and D are
zero. Since the continuous beam is supported on springs at B and C , the
support settles. Let RB and RC be the reactions at B and C respectively. Then
R
R
the support settlement at B and C are B and C respectively. Both the
kB
kC
settlements are negative and in other words they move downwards. Thus,

A = 0 , B =

30 RC
20 RB
,C =
and D = 0
EI
EI

(1)

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Now applying three moment equations to span ABC (see Fig.13.2b)

4
4
M A + 2M B +
I
I

20 R B 30 RC

20
R

4
4
6
21
.
33
2
6
20
2

B
EI
EI
+
=

+
6
M
E

C
4
I
I 4
I 4
I
4 EI

Simplifying,
16M B + 4 M C = 124 + 60 RB 45 RC

(2)

Again applying three moment equation to adjacent spans BC and CD ,

60
4 4
4

M B + 2M C + =
I
I I
I

(6 9 2 + 6 3
I 4

2
30 RC 20 R B

1)

3
EI
EI + 30 RC
6E

4
4 EI

4M B + 16M C = 90 + 90 RC 30 RB

(3)

In equation (2) and (3) express RB and RC in terms of M B and M C (see

Fig.13.2c)
R A = 8 + 0.25M B ( )

RBL = 8 0.25M B ( )
RBR = 5 + 0.25M C 0.25M B
RCL = 5 + 0.25M B 0.25M C
RCR = 2 0.25M C
RD = 6 + 0.25M C

()
()

()
()

(4)

Note that initially all reactions are assumed to act in the positive direction (i.e.
upwards) .Now,
RB = RBL + RBR = 13 0.5M B + 0.25M C
RC = RCL + RCR = 7 + 0.25M B 0.5M C

(5)

Now substituting the values of RB and RC in equations (2) and (3),

16 M B + 4 M C = 124 + 60(13 0.5M B + 0.25M C ) 45(7 + 0.25M B 0.5M C )
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Or,
57.25M B 33.5M C = 341

(6)

And from equation 3,

4 M B + 16 M C = 90 + 90(7 + 0.25M B 0.5M C ) 30(13 0.5M B + 0.25M C )
Simplifying,
33.5M B + 68.5M C = 150

(7)

Solving equations (6) and (7)

M C = 7.147 kN.m

(8)

M B = 10.138 kN.m
Substituting the values of M B and M C in (4),reactions are obtained.

RA = 10.535 kN
RBR = 4.252 kN
RCR = 0.213 kN
RB = 9.717 kN

()
()
()
()

RBL = 5.465 kN
RCL = 5.748 kN
RD = 7.787 kN
and RC = 5.961 kN

()
()
()
()

The shear force and bending moment diagram are shown in Fig. 13.2d.

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Example 13.3
Sketch the deflected shape of the continuous beam ABC of example 13.1.
The redundant moments M A and M B for this problem have already been
computed in problem 13.1.They are,

M B = 1.0 kN.m
M A = 4.0 kN.m
The computed reactions are also shown in Fig.13.2c.Now to sketch the deformed
shape of the beam it is required to compute rotations at B and C. These joints
rotations are computed from equations (13.2) and (13.3).
For calculating A , consider span AAB

A = AR AR
=

AR x R M B l R M A l R B A
+
+

EI R l R 6 EI R 3EI R
4

MB 4
MA 4
68 2
A
+
+
B

3
3
3
1.6 10 4 1.6 10 6 1.6 10 3 4

( 1) 4 + ( 4) 4 + 5 10 3
68 2
+
1.6 10 3 4 1.6 10 3 6 1.6 10 3 3 4

=0

(1)

For calculating BL , consider span ABC

BL = BL BL
A x
M l
M l
= L L + A L + B L
EI L l L 6 EI L 3EI L

A B
+
lL

(
(
8 2
4) 4
1) 4 5 10 3

=
+
+
+
3
3
3
1.6 10 4 1.6 10 6 1.6 10 3 4
= 1.25 10 3 radians

(2)

For BR consider span ABC

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( 1) 4 0 + 5 10 3
10.67 2
+

3
3
4
1.6 10 4 1.6 10 3

BR =

= 1.25 10 3 radians

(3)

( 1) 4 B C
10.67 2
+

3
3
4
1.6 10 4 1.6 10 3

C =

= 3.75 10 3 radians.

(4)

The deflected shape of the beam is shown in Fig. 13.4.

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Summary
The continuous beams with unyielding supports are analysed using threemoment equations in the last lesson. In this lesson, the three-moment-equations
developed in the previous lesson are extended to account for the support
settlements. The three-moment equations are derived for the case of a
continuous beam having different moment of inertia in different spans. Few
examples are derived to illustrate the procedure of analysing continuous beams
undergoing support settlements using three-moment equations.

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