INTRODUCTION

A beam is a structural member design primarily to support forces acting perpendicular to

the axis of the member. The most common types of beams are fixed end beams, continuous
beam and simple beams.
A fixed end beam is a beam that is restricted from moment at both ends. A continuous
beam is statically indeterminant structure. They are used to provide strength of the
structure and provide other load paths in cases of failure. Continuous beams have
advantages over simple beams because they have lesser mid span deflection which is less
and higher vertical load capacity
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this experiment is to check the carry over moment, the stiffness values of the
two-way span beam.
To assist students in determining and understand how moment distribution works, how
quickly a moment is distributed across the beam over the fixed supports and ends, and how
the stiffer the beam is to resist the bending because of its length.
THEORY
Moment distribution is an iterative method of solving an indeterminate structure. When a
beam is loaded with the external forces to its spans, moment and shear forces develop at
each span making a beam to be imbalance. The bending moment at a span will tend to
deflect the beam and the internal stresses will tend to resist its bending therefore the
moments will be full distributed to a beam span. Moment distribution is useful to see how a
model provides analogue solution to structural analysis.
APPARATUS
1. Beam
2. 0.5 hangers
3. Weights
PROCEDURE
1. We put load hangers on A, B and C and released the three supports and zero the
pointers.
2. We locked all three supports.
3. Then applied 25N o the B hanger and the moment was 2500Nmm.
4. B was released and rotates to a position of equilibrium and B was locked and noted
rotation which was 0.08
5. We measure the moment at A by releasing it and added a 3N load to zero the
pointer. And it became a carry-over moment from B to A.
6. we added 7N at C to zero the pointer and It became a carry over moment from B to
C.

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 DATA

Length A-B =600mm

Length B-C=400mm
𝑀
Stiffness (k) = ɵ

𝑀𝑏𝑎
Distribution Factors (DF) = 𝑀

𝑀 3∗100
KAB = = 0.08 = 3750
ɵ

𝑀 7∗100
KBC = = 0.03 = 23333.333
ɵ

Total stiffness = 3750 + 23333.333 = 27083.333

3750
DFBA = 27083.333 = 0.138

23333.333
DFBC = 27083.333= 0.862

AB BA BC CB
Distribution Factors 0.138 0.862

Fixed End Moment 0 +2500 0

Distribution 0 -345 -2155 0

Carry Over -172.5 0 0 -1077.5

Final -172.5 -2500 -1077.5

Theoretical calculations

AB BA BC CB

Distribution Factors 0.4 0.6

Fixed End Moment 0 +2500 0

Distribution 0 -1000 -1500 0

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Carry Over -500 0 0 -750

Final -500 -2500 -750

CONCLUSION
Based on actual results I can conclude that the shorter the distance or the length of the span
the stiffer the span and the longer the length the lesser the stiffness and this result in
difference in distribution factors. We got imbalanced moments because of the rust in the
beam, and on the other side we did not use 0.5 hanger.
REFERENCES
1. ANALYSIS LAB MANUAL BY MR L. Melani
2. STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS III NOTES, MOMENT DISTRIBUTION BY Trevor N Haas, Pr
Tech Eng.

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TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………………………………….1
OBJECTIVES……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….1
THEORY……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1
APPARATUS………………………………………………………………………………………………………………2
PROCEDURE………………………………………………………………………………………………………………2
DATA………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3
CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3
REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3

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 STUDENT NAME : SIYAMTHANDA NGANGAMSHE
STUDENT NO. : 216238196
SUBJECT : STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS SAN33P2
PRACTICAL : MOMENT DISTRIBUTION
LOCATION : STRUCTURES LAB WSU COLLEGE ST
DATE OF LAB PRAC. : 30 APRIL 2019
DUE DATE : 07 MAY 2019
SUPERVISOR : L MELANE
LOCATION : SURVEY LAB
GROUP NAME : GROUP 2

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