Moment Distribution (Hardy Cross)

This method is basically aiming to calculate directly the End Moments

through iterative mechanism without determining the end rotation and
displacements using the same model approach of Determining Flows in
Pipe Network Analysis.

Q Q = q 1 + q2 + q3

The Flow in each Pipe is proportional to

A1 the x-sectional Area A of the Pipes

q1 A3
A2
q2 q3
Basic Facts
It is important to understand the following basic Facts/relations
explored in the SD- Equation

MAB
(i) Stiffness Factor: A MBA
EI
B
A
L

4 EI
M AB   A  4 EK  A
L

M BA  2 EK  A

M AB  4 EK
 A
(ii) Cary Over Factor:

carry over factor is the ratio of the induced moment at the far end
MBA to the applied moment at the near end MAB

M BA 2 EK A 1
 
M AB 4 EK A 2
(iii) Distribution Factor
The unbalanced moment at a joint is Distributed in to the
members framing at the joint in proportion to their stiffness.
C
M AB  4 EK AB A

M AC  4 EK AC A
A Mo
A
M AD  4 EK AD A
D

M AB  M AC M AD  M o
Equilibrium Condition at Joint A

M AB  M AC  M AD  Mo

4 EK AB A  4 EK AC A  4 EK AD A  Mo

4 E A K AB  K AC  K AD   M o

Mo
4 E A 
K
Member End Moments are Expressed as:

K
M  4 EK AB   AB
M  DF AB M

AB A o o
K

K
M  4 EK AC   AC
M  DF AC M

AC A o o
K

K
M  4 EK AD   AD
M  DF AD M

AD A o o
K

The term K/K is known as the Distribution Factor: DF

Application of Moment Distribution

(i) Continuous Beams with Fixed Ends:

Example
30KN
20KN/m
A B C
EI EI
3.60 2.00 2.00

Fixed End Moments

2 2
F F wL 20 * 3.6
M AB   M BA    21.60
12 12

F F PL 30 * 4
M BC   M CB    15.00
8 8
 Stiffness (I = 3.6)

3 .6 3 .6
k AB  1; k BC   0 .9
3 .6 4
Distribution Factor

1 0 .9
DFBA   0.526 ; DFBC   0.474
1  0 .9 1  0 .9

DF AB  0 ; DF CB  0
 Balancing of Moments / Iteration

30KN
20KN/m

A B C
EI
K 1.0 0.90
DF 0 0.526 0.474 0
FEM +21.60 -21.60 +15.00 -15.00
+3.47 +3.13
+1.74 +1.57

Final Moment +23.34 -18.13 +18.13 -13.43

 (ii) Beams with Hinged Ends:

 The Usual procedure of distributing unbalanced moments can be carried out

with the inclusion of DF = 1.0 at the hinged end instead of 0.0 since the hinge
support doesn’t absorb any moment , and the iteration, which may be
Lengthy, is continued until the final moment at the hinged end becomes zero.

 This lengthy iteration can considerably be shortened by Properly considering

the effect of hinge support in determining the STIFNESS and FIXED END
MOMENTS at the very beginning so that there is no need to carry over to the
hinged end.
Stiffness with One End Hinged : Fixed End Moment

A B
MAB A EI B To be determined as
Propped cantilever
L

M BA   2 EK 2  B   A   0

     A
B 2
M AB   2 EK 2  A   B 
3
 M AB  3 EK  A  4 EK  A 
4
Stiffness of a member when one end is hinged reduces by ¼ and
found to be ¾ of K
K 
3 I
4
 
L
 Example: Repeat the previous example with end C hinged
30KN
20KN/m
A B C
EI EI
3.60 2.00 2.00

Fixed End Moments

2 2
F F wL 20 * 3.6
M AB   M BA    21.60
12 12

F 3PL 3 * 30 * 4
M BC     22.50
16 16
 Stiffness (I = 3.6)

3 .6 3 .6
k AB  1; k BC  0 .75 *  0 .68
3 .6 4
Distribution Factor

1 0.68
DFBA   0.60 ; DFBC   0.40
1  0.68 1  0.68

DF AB  0 ; DFCB  1 .0
 Balancing of Moments / Iteration

30KN
20KN/m

A B C
EI
K 1.0 0.68
DF 0 0.60 0.40 1
FEM +21.60 -21.60 +22.50 0.0
-0.54 -0.36
-0.27

Final Moment +21.33 -22.14 -22.14 0.0

 (iii) Continuous Beams with Support Settlements:

 Moment distribution of the same Procedure can also be used to analyze

continuous beams with support settlement by incorporating the moments due to
prescribed displacement of supports as equivalent fixed end moments, and then
the normal distribution /balancing of moment can be followed.

F
M AB A
F
MBA F F 6EI
EI  M AB  M BA  2

F
B L
M AB
A
F 3EI
EI B

M AB  2

B L
L
F 3
M BA  0 ; B 
2L
 (iv) Frames with Out Side Sway

 Frames with out side sway can be analyzed in the same manner as that of the
continuous beam.
 The only difference would probably be, in the case of frames there may be more
than two members framing at a joint.
 The unbalanced moment at a joint is still distributed to each member in
proportion to their stiffness.

Example
Refer to the example solved in the handout
 (v) Frames with Side Sway
 Moment distribution for sway frames is applied in to two stages of solution

 Consider the following Sway frame

P2 P2 D D

R = k*F
F

P1
º
P1 +

(c)
(b)
(a)
 The joints are first assumed to be held against side sway by introducing artificial restraint R at the
appropriate joint
 End moments corresponding to this case are determined through normal balancing/distribution
procedure and reaction R at the artificial joint is determined from equilibrium consideration of the frame.
 The artificial restraint is then released and the frame is assumed to undergo sideway (some reasonable
value for the displacement can be considered) in the absence of the applied loads. The fixed end
moments due to the displacement are determined and end moments duet the specified sway are
determined using again the usual moment distribution.
 The equivalent force F necessary to maintain the frame in its swayed position corresponding to the
specified displacement  is determined from equilibrium condition of the frame.
  The actual magnitude of the lateral force F necessary to eliminate the artificial restrain R is determined
from R= kF, where k is a correction factor
 The final set of end moments is obtained by adding the non-sway moments to the sway moments
multiplied by the correction factor.

Ma = Mb + kMc