Skip to main content

Slope deflection: continuous beam, 75 kN/m, 190 kN

Short answer

Slope-deflection gives final moments M_BA=90.00, M_BC=-90.00, M_CB=158.71, M_CD=-158.71, M_DC=-8.71, M_DE=8.71, M_ED=4.35 kNm. Sagging maximum in BC is 111.28 kNm at 2.32 m from B; CD gives 45.60 kNm hogging under the 190 kN load.

Draw BMD using the slope deflection method. [Figure: continuous beam with supports A, B, C, D and a fixed end at the right; spans 3 m (cantilever with 20 kN/m), 5 m (75 kN/m UDL, stiffness 2.5EI), 0.5 m + 1.5 m with 190 kN point load (3EI), and 4 m (1.5EI) to the fixed end.]

Assumptions: A is the free end of a 3 m cantilever carrying 20 kN/m; B, C and D are simple supports; E is fixed. Spans: BC = 5 m (2.5EI) with 75 kN/m, CD = 2 m (3EI) with 190 kN at 0.5 m from C, DE = 4 m (1.5EI). No support settlement.

Step 1: Cantilever AB

MB=20×322=90M_B=\dfrac{20\times3^2}{2}=90 kNm (hogging). It is a known moment applied to joint B.

Step 2: Fixed-end moments (clockwise +)

  • BC: ∓75×5212=∓156.25\mp\dfrac{75\times5^2}{12}=\mp156.25 kNm
  • CD: FEMCD=−190×0.5×1.5222=−53.44FEM_{CD}=-\dfrac{190\times0.5\times1.5^2}{2^2}=-53.44, FEMDC=+190×0.52×1.522=17.81FEM_{DC}=+\dfrac{190\times0.5^2\times1.5}{2^2}=17.81 kNm
  • DE: no load

Step 3: Slope-deflection equations

  • MBC=2(2.5EI)5(2θB+θC)−156.25M_{BC}=\frac{2(2.5EI)}{5}\left(2\theta_{B} + \theta_{C}\right) - 156.25
  • MCB=2(2.5EI)5(2θC+θB)+156.25M_{CB}=\frac{2(2.5EI)}{5}\left(2\theta_{C} + \theta_{B}\right) + 156.25
  • MCD=2(3EI)2(2θC+θD)−53.44M_{CD}=\frac{2(3EI)}{2}\left(2\theta_{C} + \theta_{D}\right) - 53.44
  • MDC=2(3EI)2(2θD+θC)+17.81M_{DC}=\frac{2(3EI)}{2}\left(2\theta_{D} + \theta_{C}\right) + 17.81
  • MDE=2(1.5EI)4(2θD)M_{DE}=\frac{2(1.5EI)}{4}\left(2\theta_{D}\right)
  • MED=2(1.5EI)4(θD)M_{ED}=\frac{2(1.5EI)}{4}\left(\theta_{D}\right)

Step 4: Joint equilibrium

  • Joint B: MBC+MBA=0M_{BC}+M_{BA}=0 with MBA=+90M_{BA}=+90 kNm from the cantilever, so MBC=−90M_{BC}=-90 kNm
  • Joint C: MCB+MCD=0M_{CB}+M_{CD}=0
  • Joint D: MDC+MDE=0M_{DC}+M_{DE}=0
EI[2.00001.00000.00001.00008.00003.00000.00003.00007.5000]{θBθCθD}={66.250−102.812−17.812}EI\begin{bmatrix}2.0000 & 1.0000 & 0.0000 \\ 1.0000 & 8.0000 & 3.0000 \\ 0.0000 & 3.0000 & 7.5000\end{bmatrix}\begin{Bmatrix}\theta_{B} \\ \theta_{C} \\ \theta_{D}\end{Bmatrix}=\begin{Bmatrix}66.250 \\ -102.812 \\ -17.812\end{Bmatrix} EIθB=43.3482,EIθC=−20.4464,EIθD=5.8036EI\theta_{B}=43.3482,\quad EI\theta_{C}=-20.4464,\quad EI\theta_{D}=5.8036

Step 5: Final moments (kNm, clockwise on the member end +)

EndMM (kNm)EndMM (kNm)
AB0.00BA90.00
BC-90.00CB158.71
CD-158.71DC-8.71
DE8.71ED4.35

Joint checks:

  • Joint B: (90.00) + (-90.00) = 0.00 kNm (applied clockwise moment 0.00) ✓
  • Joint C: (158.71) + (-158.71) = 0.00 kNm (applied clockwise moment 0.00) ✓
  • Joint D: (-8.71) + (8.71) = 0.00 kNm (applied clockwise moment 0.00) ✓

Bending moment diagram ordinates (sagging +, kNm)

MemberBM at first endBM at second endMax within member
AB0.00-90.00-
BC-90.00-158.71111.28 at 2.32 m
CD-158.718.71-45.60 at 0.50 m (under the 190 kN load)
DE8.71-4.35-

Reactions: B: H=0.00H=0.00, V=233.76V=233.76, M=0.00M=0.00; C: H=0.00H=0.00, V=427.45V=427.45, M=0.00M=0.00; D: H=0.00H=0.00, V=−39.47V=-39.47, M=0.00M=0.00; E: H=0.00H=0.00, V=3.26V=3.26, M=−4.35M=-4.35.

Answer: bending moments 90.00 (hogging) at B (cantilever), 158.71 (hogging) at C, 8.71 (sagging) at D and 4.35 (hogging) at E (kNm); span BC sagging maximum 111.28 kNm at 2.32 m from B; in CD the moment under the 190 kN load is 45.60 kNm (hogging).

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

All Theory of Structures II chapter 3 questions →