Lessons 19-21

Slope Deflection Method

Statically Indeterminate Beams

Chapter(s) covered:
(Structural Analysis 10.1 – 10.3)
 Slope-deflection method

Focus

• Overview of equations

• Slope deflection method w.r.t. statically indeterminate

beams

• Slope deflection method w.r.t. statically indeterminate

frames without sway

• Slope deflection method w.r.t. statically indeterminate

frames with sway
 Slope-deflection method

• As a structural engineer, safety of structures is fundamental

• 3 requirements are necessary for all structures to satisfy

 Equilibrium
 Load-displacement
 Compatibility of displacements
 Slope-deflection method

• To satisfy these requirements, analysis is pursued in 2 ways

 Force method of analysis – express displmt. in terms of

load using P-Δ relations. Solutions yield reactions and
equil. eqns. are then used to determine other reactions.

 Displacement method of analysis – opposite to force

method. Requires equil. eqns. to be satisfied. Unknown
displmts. are defined in terms of load using P-Δ relations.
Then, displmts. are obtained from which loads are then
determined.
 Slope-deflection method

Notes on the θ-Δ method

 Flexural deformations is accounted for, while axial and shear

deformations are ignored.

 The unknowns are the rotations and the relative joint

displacements.

 To determine the end moments at the joints, simultaneous

equations must be solved.

 Variables in the equations are rotations, joint displacements,

stiffness, and lengths of members.
 Slope-deflection method

• Degrees of freedom (DOF) – point that can undergo unknown

displacement in a loaded structure

• The points are called nodes, e.g. joints, supports, ends of a

member or where a member changes x-section

• No. of the unknown displacement is referred to as the degree

of the kinematic indeterminacy
 Slope-deflection method

• In 3D, maximum of 3 linear displacements and 3 rotational

displacements

• In 2D, 2 linear displacements and 1 rotational

displacement occur in each node

• However, nodal displacement can be

restricted by the supports
 Degree of kinematic indeterminacy (KI)
• Propped cantilever beam (a)
 1 DOF = KI to 1st degree

• Overhanging beam (b)

 4 DOF = KI to 4th degree

• Frame (c)
3 DOF = KI to 3rd degree

Note that axial deformation is

neglected in all 3 cases
 Goal of concept of KI

• In applying the displacement method of analysis, specifying

the number of the unconstrained DoF is the first step

• If nodal displacement are known, the deformation of the

structural members can be completely specified

• Then, the loadings within the members can be obtained

 Derivation of the Slope-Deflection
Equations
Sign Convection
• Moment and angular displacements are considered positive
when they act clockwise on the span.

• Linear displacement Δ is considered positive since it causes

the cord of the span and the span’s cord angle ψ to rotate
clockwise.

• The S-D equations are obtained by the principle of

superposition by considering separately the moments
developed at each support due to each displacement, θA, θB
and Δ, and then the loads.
 Derivation of the Slope-Deflection
Equations
• It relates unknown slopes and deflection to applied load on a
structure

Fig. 1.1: The beam

 Derivation of the Slope-Deflection
Equations
• Rotations at the joints can be expressed as

• ……. (1)
• ……. (2) chord

where and = end rotations caused by MAB and MBA

ψ = chord rotation caused by settlement of end B
 Derivation of the Slope-Deflection
Equations

• From the moment-area theorem,

change in slope = end shear force
of beam when loaded with M/EI
diagram.

• Thus, for the case at hand, the

rotation and are obtained
as

Fig. 1.2: End moments due to rotations

and
………. (3)
 Derivation of the Slope-Deflection
Equations
 Similarly, taking moment about A to determine

………. (4)

Solving equations (3) and (4), we have

………. (5)

………. (6)
 Derivation of the Slope-Deflection
Equations
• Solving Equations (5) and (6) for and and substituting them
into Equations (1) and (2)

.. (7)
.. (8)

• Substituting into both

Equations (7) and (8)
.. (9)

.. (10)
Fig. 1.3: End moments due to end
rotations ( and ) and chord
rotation (ψ)
 Derivation of the Slope-Deflection
Equations

• The final end moments can then be

computed as the summation of the
moments caused by slopes, deflections, MFAB
and fixed-end moments, as follows:
.. (11)
MFBA
Fig. 1.4: End moments due to end rotations
( and ) and chord rotation (ψ) and
fixed end moments (MFAB and MFBA)

where K is the stiffness factor given as

𝐼
𝐾
𝐿
 Derivation of the Slope-Deflection
Equations
Modification for pin-supported end span

• For beams or frames with a pin

or roller end support, the analysis is
usually modified as it reduces compu-
tational work. Fig. 1.5: Propped cantilever beam

For the beam shown, the end moments are

….. (12)

….. (13)

Solving Eqn (13) for θB and substituting into (12) gives

….. (14)
 Procedure for analysis
Analysis of indeterminate beams and non-sway frames
• Determine the FEMs for the members of the beam.

• Determine the rotations of the chord if there is any support

settlement.

• Write the slope-deflection equation for the members’ end

moments in terms of unknown rotations.

• Write the equilibrium equations at each joint that is free to

rotate in terms of the end moments of members connected
at that joint.
 Procedure for analysis
Analysis of indeterminate beams and non-sway frames
• Solve the system of equations obtained simultaneously to
determine the unknown joint rotations.

• Substitute the computed joint rotations into the equations

obtained in step 3 to determine the members’ end moments.

• Draw a free-body diagram of the indeterminate beams

indicating the end moments at the joint.

• Draw the shearing force diagrams of the beam by

considering the free-body diagram of each span of the beam
in the case of a multi-span structure.
 Analysis of frame without sidesway

• A frame will not sidesway, or displaced to the left or right if

 properly restrained against

sidesway

 unrestrained but symmetric

w.r.t. loading and geometry
 Procedure for analysis
Analysis of frames with side-sway
• Consider the frame shown. Due to
asymmetrical application of loads,
lateral displacement will occur
to the right at B & C.

• This will cause chord rotations

in columns AB and DC.

• This effect must be

accounted for in the slope-deflection equations.

• Hence, an extra equil. eqn. is included in the solution

(unknown joint linear displacement, Δ)