Slope Deflection Equation

 Serves as a basis for other methods and suited to structures with few
number of unknown rotations and displacements and large number of
unknown forces

 Basically an expression of End Moments of a Member as a Function

of End Rotation and Relative Displacements b/n the Ends

 Equilibrium conditions of Joints, Members, Part or the entire structure

are considered to determine the unknown rotations and displacements
Sign Convention

 The Bending Moment Sign Convention is not convenient and the

following Statical Sign Convention, more suitable, non confusing
is adopted

• The rotation θ of a joint or member is positive if the tangent

turns in clock wise direction, and the opposite sense is
considered as negative

• An end moment M is considered positive if it tends to rotate

the member counter clockwise or the joint clockwise and
the opposite sense is considered as negative
 Sign Convention (Rotation)

A A
A
A

Negative Rotation
Positive Rotation
 Sign Convention (Moment)

Positive Moment Negative Moment

 Derivation of Slope – Deflection Equation
P1 P2
A B a. Original position
L EI

MAB
A
B  b. Displaced Beam

MBA

=
MFAB
MFBA c. Fixed end Moments

M’AB
+
A M’BA d. Rotation at A

M ’’ B M BA ’’
+
AB e. Rotation at B

M’’’AB +
 f. Relative Displacement
M ’’’
BA
End Moments

The final end moments can be found by adding the end moments due to the different cases

Fixed end Moments MFAB ; MFBA

End Moment due to Rotation at A θA M’AB ; M’BA

End Moment due to Rotation at A θB M’’AB ; M’’BA

End Moment due to Relative M’’’AB ;M’’’BA

Displacement of the two ends Δ

MAB = MFAB + M’AB + M’’AB + M’’’AB

MBA = MFBA + M’BA + M’’BA + M’’’BA

1) Fixed End Moments

– The fixed end moments corresponding to actual loads can be

determined using the Three Moment Equation or other
methods as discussed previously.

– Usually available in tabular form for different case of loading and

can be calculated by selecting the appropriate expression from
available “Table of Fixed End Moments”

– The sign should be identified according to “Statical Sign

Convention”
 2) End Moments Due to rotation at A, θA

– Actual sense of end moments corresponding to Positive sense

of rotation at A, θA, are found to be as shown below
– For simplicity, Moment area method can be used to determine
the magnitude and positive or negative sense of moments can
be interpreted as per Statical Sign Convention later on
M’AB 2nd Moment Area Theorem
A M BA
’
EI
A A
L M ' ABL L M ' BAL 2L
t AB    ( ) ( ) 0
2EI 3 2EI 3
M’AB
M’BA
' 1 '
L/3
A
M BA   M AB
2
2L/3
End Moments Due to rotation at A θA (Cont’d)

1st Moment Area Theorem

' M ' AB
(M AB  )L
(M ' AB  M ' BA ) L 2 M ' AB
 A  B   A   A  L
2EI 2EI 4EI

' 4EI A ' 2EI A

M AB  and M BA  
L L
3) End Moments Due to rotation at B θB

– Similarly, actual sense of end moments corresponding to

Positive sense of rotation at B θB, are found to be as shown
below

M’’AB B M’’BA
EI Following the same
A B
L Procedure , It can be
shown that
M’’BA
M’’AB 4 EI B
’
M '' BA  
L
L/3 2EI B
2L/3
M '' AB 
L
 4) End Moments Due to Relative Displacement Δ

– Similarly, actual sense of end moments corresponding to Positive sense of

relative displacement Δ are found to be as shown below
M’’’AB
1st Moment Area Theorem
EI B '''
(M AB  MBA'''
)L
A D A  B  0
2EI
M’’’BA '''
M AB  MBA '''

L 2nd Moment Area Theorem

M’’’BA
''' '''
M BA L L M AB L 2L
M’’’AB
2L/3
L/3 t BA  ( ) ( )
2 EI 3 2 EI 3

''' 6 EI ''' 6 EI
M AB   2
 and M BA  2

L L
Summary

After identifying exact sense and determining the magnitude of

Moments corresponding to positive sense of rotation θ and relative
displacement Δ, in each case, Positive and negative sense of
corresponding moments as per the Statical Sign Convention is then
identified to be as follows. Introducing geometric stiffness of the
member K = I/L
' 4EI ' 2EI
M AB    A   4EK  A ; M BA    A   2EK  A
L L
'' 2EI '' 4EI
M AB    B   2EK  B ; M BA    B   4EK  B
L L
''' 6EI  3  ''' 6EI  3 
M AB  2
  2EK  ; M BA  2
  2EK  
L L L L
Resultant Moment
The resultant end moment can be obtained by adding the different
components of end moments as vector

MAB = MFAB + M’AB + M’’AB + M’’’AB

MBA = MFBA + M’BA + M’’BA + M’’’BA

SD
M AB  M F
AB  
2 EK 2 A   B  3 
L
 Equation

M BA  M F
BA  2 EK  2 B   A  3
L

Application of Slope – Deflection Equation

1) Continuous Beams with Unyielding Support (Δ = 0)

The General SD Equation Reduces to

M AB  M F
AB  2 EK 2 A   B 

M BA  F
M BA  2 EK  2 B  A
Application of Slope – Deflection Equation

2) Continuous Beams with yielding of Support

The General SD Equation is applicable with the specified

rotation and deflection

M AB  M F
AB  
2 EK 2 A   B  3 
L

M BA  M F
BA  2 EK  2 B   A  3
L

3) Beams with Hinged End
A B
A EI

M AB F
 M AB 
 2 EK 2 A   B  3
L
  0
F
M AB 
2 EK A  2  EK B  3EK (*)
L

M BA  M F
BA  2
F
M AB

 3EK  B  
L

F1
M BA  Fixed End Moment of Pr oped Cantilever

F1
M BA  M BA  3EK  B    L
 4) Beams with Overhanging End
Considering
A B Equilibrium
L EI Condition at Joint A

Cantilever Moment
F 3
M AB  M A  M AB  2EK(2 A  B  )  M A  0
L
1 3 EK 
2 EK  A  (M F
AB  M A )  EK  B 
2 L
M BA  F
M BA  2 EK  2 B   A  3
L

F 1 F 
M BA  M BA  (M AB  M A )  3 EK ( B  )
2 L
 5) Frames with out Side Sway

 Frames are said to be non- Sway when there is no relative displacement b/n
the two ends of a member (Δ = 0)
 This will happen in either of the following two cases

Physically prevented Symmetric frame subjected

from side sway to symmetric loading

 The General SD Equation reduces to

M AB  M F
AB  2 EK 2 A  B 
M BA  M F
BA  2 EK  2 B A 
 6) Frames with Side Sway

 For Frames with side Sway, the usual SD equation involving all rotation and
displacement components are applicable.

M AB F
 M AB 
 2 EK 2 A   B  3 L
F
M BA  M BA  2 EK  2  A  3 
B L
 The relative displacement Δ b/n the two ends of the member is to be measured in
a direction normal to un deformed position of the member

 Typical cases of frames with corresponding expression for Δ/L to be used in the
genera SD Equation for members are presented subsequently
 Typical cases of Frames with Side Sway
Frame with Frames with un
Equal Height Equal Height

   

      ;   0
 LAB  LCD h  LBC        
   ,    ,   0
 LAB hAB  LCD hCD  LBC
 Frame with One Inclined Leg
Δ
B C
ΔBC C’ ’

’
ΔCD = Δ
B’

ΔBC = -Δtan
a
h Δ
a AB
=Δ
sec
 

A D
Δ L
AB

   Sec     tan   
    ;    ;   
 L  AB h Sec h  L BC L  L CD h
 Symmetric Frame with Inclined Legs

Δ C’
ΔBC
B
C ec
Δs

ΔBC = -2Δtan
B’
’
=
a a Δ CD a Δ
h
A a
Δ
D
AB
=Δ
sec
Δ 
AB a L a Δ CD

     Sec    2 tan 
       ;   
 L  AB  L CD h Sec h  L  BC L
 Un Symmetric Frame with Inclined Legs

Δ
C’ ’

Δ ΔBC

ΔBC = -(Δtan + tan)

B
C
h 
ec
’
a B’ s
b = Δ
Δ
CD
Δ
A b
Δ Δ a

D
D

C
Δ
AB
AB
=Δ
a L b sec


      (tan  tan  ) a    
   ;      ;  
 L  AB h  L  BC L b h  L CD h
Equilibrium Equations

Once the end moments of each member are expressed in terms of

end rotations and relative displacement (θ, Δ), sufficient

number of equations need to be formulated by considering

equilibrium condition of joints, members or the whole

frame solve the unknown rotations and displacements.