6.

4 Moment Distribution for Frames:

Frames Without Sidesway:

Analysis of statically indeterminate frames without sidesway or joint movement is similar to
that for analysis of beams. In the case for frames, three or more members may meet at the joint, and
the unbalanced moment is distributed to the ends of the members in proportion to their relative
stiffness and distribution factors just like for the analysis of beams.
Frames With Sidesway:
Analysis of Frames With Sidesway:
1. Assume that sidesway is prevented. Distribute the fixed-end in the usual manner to obtain
the first set of balanced end moments.
2. Disregarding the loads, assume the unloaded frame to undergo a certain amount of sidesway
6EIΔ 6EIR
which will cause fixed-end moments calculated using the equation M = or M= .
L2 L
Distribute these fixed-end moments obtaining a second set of balanced moments.
3. The actual values of the end moments are determined by combining the first set of balanced
moments from step 1 and the product of a certain ratio and the second set. This ratio is
obtained from a shear condition.
When two or more unknown amounts of sidesway are present, consider each sidesway
separately. Add to the sum in step 1 and the product of a ratio and an additional set of balanced
moments due to a second joint movement and so on. Values of the ratios are calculated from
shear conditions.
Example. Determine the end moments of each member of the frames loaded as shown in the
figures. Round off distribution factors to 3 decimal places and the rest to 2 decimal places. Stop the
iteration if all the values are less than 0.20 or if the number of distribution reaches the 7 th, whichever
comes first.
a) 75 KN Solution:
Moment of inertia (I) / Relative I
1
3.5m 3.5m IAB = (0.3)(0.3)3 = 6.75 x 10−4 / 6.75
12
𝐾𝑁 1
25 IBC = (0.3)(0.45)3 =22.78 x 10−4 / 22.78
𝑚 12

B 7.0m C Relative stiffness: K =I/L

6.75
K AB = = 1.125
6
22.78
Beam: 0.3m x 0.45m K BC = = 3.254
7
6.0m 𝐂olumn: 0.3m x 0.3m Distribution factors:
DFAB = DFCB = 0 ( Fixed support)
1.125
DFBA = =0.257
1.125+3.254
DFBC = 1 – 0.257 =0.743
A Fixed-end moments: (Absolute values)
𝐾𝑁 60(6)2 60(6)2
60 FEM AB = = 108 KN-m; FEM BA = = 72 KN-m
𝑚 20 30
25(7)2 75(3.5)(3.5)2
FEM BC = FEM CB = + = 167.71 KN-m
12 72

Joint A B C
Member AB BA BC CB
DF 0 0.257 0.743 0
FEM 108 −72 167.71 −167.71
1st Distribution 0 −24.60 −71.11 0
Carry-over (CO) −12.30 0 0 −35.56
2nd Distribution 0 0 0 0
Moment (KN-m) 95.70 −96.60 96.60 −203.27
b) 75 KN 82 KN
 KN
28
m
KN
22
m
1.00m B 3.00m 3.00m C 2.50m 2.50m E

Beams: 0.25m x 0.45m

3.00m
0.30m
A D 0.25m
KN
29.83
m

Solution: Moments of inertia / Relative moment of inertia:

( Note: The height of the column is the dimension parallel to the moment. For the
shown arrangement of the columns, the height is 0.25m and the width is 0.30m).
1
IAB = IDC = (0.3)(0.25)3 = 3.906 x 10−4 / 3.906
12
1
IBC = ICE = (0.25)(0.45)3 = 18.984 x 10−4 / 18.984
12

Stiffness:
3.906
K AB = K DC = = 0.9765 = K BA = K CD
4
18.984
K BC = K CB = = 3.164
6
18.984
K CE = K EC = = 3.797
5

Distribution factors: DFAB = DFDC = DFEC = 0 ( Fixed support)

0.9765
DFBA = = 0.236; DFBC = 1 – 0.236 = 0.764
0.9765+3.164
KCB 3.164
DFCB = = = 0.399
KCB +KCE + KCD 3.164+3.797+0.9765
3.797
DFCE = = 0.478
3.164+3.797+0.9765
DFBC = 1 – 0.399 −0.478 = 0.123

𝒘𝑳𝟐
Fixed-end moments: (Absolute values) 𝑴𝑨𝑩 = − 𝑲𝟐 (10 −10K + 3𝑲𝟐 )
𝟔𝟎

wL2
FEMAB = k 2 [10 − 10k + 3k 2 ] ; kL =3; k = 0.75
60
29.83(4)2
FEMAB = (0.75)2 [10 − 10(0.75) + 3(0.75)2 ] = 18.74 KN-m
60
wL2 29.83(4)2
FEMBA = k 3 [5 − 3k] = (0.75)3 [5 − 3(0.75)] = 9.23 KN-m
60 60
22(6)2 75(3)(3)2
FEMBC = FEMCB = + = 122.25 KN-m
12 62
22(5)2 6(5)2 82(2.5)(2.5)2
FEMCE = + + = 102.08 KN-m
12 30 52
22(5)2 6(5)2 82(2.5)2 (2.5)
FEMEC = + + = 104.58 KN-m
12 20 52

Joint A B C D E
 Member AB BA BC CB CE CD DC EC
DF 0 0.236 0.764 0.399 0.478 0.123 0 0
FEM 18.74 −9.23 122.25 −122.25 102.08 0 0 −104.58
1st Distribution 0 −26.67 −86.35 8.05 9.64 2.48 0 0
Carry-over (CO) −13.34 0 4.03 −43.18 0 0 1.24 4.82
2nd Distribution 0 −0.95 −3.08 17.23 20.64 5.31 0 0
Carry-over (CO) −0.48 0 8.62 −1.54 0 0 2.66 10.32
3rd Distribution 0 −2.03 −6.59 0.61 0.74 0.19 0 0
Carry-over (CO) −1.02 0 0.31 −3.30 0 0 0.10 0.37
4th Distribution 0 −0.07 −0.24 1.32 1.58 0.41 0 0
Carry-over (CO) −0.04 0 0.66 −0.12 0 0 0.21 0.79
5th Distribution 0 −0.16 −0.50 0.05 0.06 0.01 0 0
Carry-over (CO) −0.08 0 0.03 −0.25 0 0 0.01 0.03
6th Distribution 0 −0.01 −0.02 0.10 0.12 0.03 0 0
Moment (KN-m) 3.78 −39.12 39.12 −143.28 134.86 8.43 4.22 −88.25

c) 45 KN 55 KN Dimensions:
1.8m 2.6m 1.8m 1st Floor Columns: 0.30m x 0.30m
𝐾𝑁
22 2nd Floor Columns: 0.25mx0.30m
𝑚
G H (Width = 0.25m)
2nd Floor Beams: 0.30 x 0.50m
Roof Beam: 0.25m x 0.45m

3.2m
75 KN 82 KN 65KN

1.8m 2.6m 1.8m 2.75m 2.55m

𝐾𝑁 𝐾𝑁
28 28
𝑚 𝑚

D 6.2m E 5.3m F

4.8m

A B C

Solution: Moments of inertia / Relative moment of inertia:

1
First floor columns: I = (0.3)(0.3)3 = 6.75 x 10−4 / 6.75
12

1
Second floor columns: I = (0.25)(0.3)3 = 5.625x 10−4 / 5.625
12

1
Beams: I2ND = (0.3)(0.5)3 = 31.25 x 10−4 / 31.25
12

1
I𝑅𝑜𝑜𝑓 = (0.25)(0.45)3 = 18.98 x 10−4 / 18.98
12
Stiffness:
 6.75
K DA =K EB = K FC = = 1.406 ( 1st Floor Columns)
4.8

5.625
K DG = K GD = K EH = K HE = = 1.758 (2nd Floor Columns)
3.2

31.25
K DE = K ED= = 5.040 (Longer 2nd Floor Beam)
6.2

31.25
K EF = K FE= = 5.896 ( Shorter 2nd Floor Beam)
5.3
18.98
K GH = K HG = = 3.061(Roof Beam)
6.2

Distribution factors: DFAD = DFBE = DFCF = 0 ( Fixed support)

KDA 1.406
DFDA = = = 0.171
KDA +KDE +KDG 1.406+5.04+1.758

5.04
DFDE = = 0.614; DFDG = 1 – 0.171 −0.614 = 0.215
8.204

KED 5.04
DFED= = = 0.357
KED +KEF + KEB +KEH 5.04+5.896+1.406+1.758

5.896 1.406 1.758

DFEF= = 0.418; DFEB = = 0.100; DFEH= = 0.125
14.1 14.1 14.1

Or: DFEH = 1 – 0.357 −0.418 −0.100 = 0.125

5.896
DFFE= = 0.807; DFFC = 1 −0.807 = 0.193
5.896+1.406

1.758
DFGD = DFHE = = 0.365; DFGH = DFHG = 1 – 0.365 = 0.635
1.758+3.061

Fixed-end moments: (Absolute values)

28(6.2)2 75(1.8)(4.4)2 82(4.4)(1.8)2

FEMDE = + + = 188.10 KN-m
12 6.22 6.22

28(6.2)2 75(1.8)2 (4.4) 82(4.4)2 (1.8)

FEMED = + + = 191.85 KN-m
12 6.22 6.22

28(5.3)2 65(2.75)(2.55)2
FEMEF = + = 106.92 KN-m
12 5.32

28(5.3)2 65(2.75)2 (2.55)

FEMFE = + = 110.17 KN-m
12 5.32

22(6.2)2 45(1.8)(4.4)2 55(4.4)(1.8)2

FEMGH = + + = 131.67 KN-m
12 6.22 6.22

22(6.2)2 45(1.8)2 (4.4) 55(4.4)2 (1.8)

FEMHG = + + = 137.02 KN-m
12 6.22 6.22
Distribution of moment on the figure of the frame itself:
The distributions arranged vertically are for the beams while those arranged horizontally are
for the columns. Just like in the tabulated form, the first figures are the respective distribution factors,
followed by the fixed end moments, then the first distributions, the carry-over moments, then the
second distributions, the carry-over moments and so on. The iteration ends with the distribution of
moments. The last values are the respective moment of the beams and columns which are the
algebraic sum of the values excluding the distribution factors. Take note that the algebraic sum of the
moments at each joint = 0. Any discrepancy is due to rounding off of values.

−72.56
0.39
− 0.51
0.84
− 1.04
2.62
− 3.99
5.17
− 7.40
23.18
− 41.81
87.01
−137.02
G 0.635 H
0.635
− 81.26

−48.06
−20.22

72.56
− 0.58
− 0.21

−1.19

−4.58

− 8.50

− 0.11

− 0.28

− 0.14

− 0.74
13.32

50.01
0.15

0.29

0.68

0.96

5.31
0.23

0.48

1.51

2.97
0.365

0.365
131.67 0.40
−83.61 8
43.51
−14.79
11.59
−220.91 −18.66
−7.97
− 0.37 0.29
2.59
0.43 − 0.37
−2.08
− 0.64 0.75
1.31
0.83 − 0.93
−1.02
− 1.50 0.37
0.42
1.95 − 0.47
−0.36
− 0.80 1.98
81.26
2.73 − 2.45
− 4.18 − 14.32
− 57.75 17.75
88.91
−67.63

30.32
−40.44
−24.03

−2.29
− 4.25

−0.60

−0.29

42.13
− 0.28
1.91

1.36

0.58

0.30

0.12

10.62
25.01
− 1.47

− 0.55

− 0.22

− 0.13
6.66

1.49

0.76

0.24
0.215

0.125

−191.85 −110.17
0.357 0.807
D E F
0.614 0.418
− 28.77

−32.17

18.65
0.171
0.24
0.10
0.00

0.00
0.46
0.00
1.08
0.00
1.52
0.00

− 3.43

21.26
0.193
0.07

0.00
0.00
0.18
0.00
0.10
0.00
0.47
0.00
− 0.18
− 0.11

− 0.44

− 0.22

− 1.17

188.10
8.49
0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.10
6.37

106.92
−115.49 35.50
15.16 44.46
5.45 − 4.90
− 2.09 − 7.16
3.89 −0.93
− 0.40 0.99
1.65 −1.85
− 0.79 0.19
0.85 −0.74
− 0.32 0.38
0.34 −0.44
96.35 172.42
−14.43
−16.08

0.00
0.00
0.00

0.00
0.76

0.54
0.00
0.23
0.00
0.12
0.00

9.29 − 0.59

0.09 −0.11

0.05 −0.22

0.24 −0.09

3.24
0.00
0.00
0.00
4.25
0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

A B C
10.63
− 1.72
0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00
0.00