THREE MOMENT EQUATION

SYMBOLS & NOTATIONS

M1, M2, M3 = moments at points 1,2 & 3

L1 = horizontal distance between points 1 & 2,
span # 1
L2 = horizontal distance between points 2 & 3,
span # 2
h1=vertical deviation of point 1
with respect to point 2
h3=vertical deviation of point 3
with respect to point 2
I1 = moment of inertia of section of span #1
I2 = moment of inertia of section of span #2
E1,E2 = modulus of elasticity of
sections of span #1 and #2
A1a1 = moment of area of Moment
diagram of the loads on span #1 about
the left end of span # 1
A2a2 = moment of area of Moment
diagram of the loads on span #2 about
the right end of span # 2

DERIVATION OF THE THREE MOMENT EQUATION

Substituting EQs 2 and 3 in EQ. 1

Multiplying by 6 and simplifying:

General Form of the three moment equation:

If E is constant:

If E and I are constants:

If E and I are constants, h1 = h3 = 0

COMPUTATION OF REACTIONS:

Positive sense of end moments: if end moments are positive they must be plotted as illustrated

below, if negative plot it otherwise.

For interior reactions:

Note:
After the end moments are plotted, neglect negative signs; in computing reactions using ∑M = 0
positive moments depends on your assumption
Example 11.1

Analyze the indeterminate beam shown by three moment equation. Assume constant EI.

Solution:
Considering points A, B and C:

Considering points B, C and D:

Equate EQ.1 & EQ.2

Compute the reactions:

Draw the Shear and Moment diagram:
M=
1 A 1

M = 24.78(2) = 49.56
1

M –M =A
B 1 2

M - 49.56= -23.22(3)
B

M = -20.1
B

M -M = A
2 B 3

M - (-20.1) = 5.43(2)
2

M =-9.24
2

M – M =A
C 2 4

M -(-9.24)=-18.57(2)
C

M = - 46.38
C

M –M=A
3 C 5

M (-46.38) =1/2(25.73)(4.29)
3-

M =8.81
3

M –M =A
D 3 6

M -8.81 =1/2(10.2)(1.71)
D

M =0
D

Example 11.2

Analyze the indeterminate beam shown by three moment

equation. Assume constant EI.

Solution:
Considering points A, B and C:
Considering points B, C and D:

Equate EQ.1 & EQ.2:

M = -70.59 kN.m MC = -79.37 kN.m

B

Compute the reactions:

Draw the Shear and Moment diagram:
 Example 11.3

Analyze the indeterminate beam shown by three

moment equation. Assume constant EI.

Solution:

Considering points A’, A and B:

Considering points A, B and C:

Considering points B, C and D:

Equate EQ.3 & EQ.4

Compute the reactions:

Draw the Shear and Moment diagram: