1

Notes by Dr Chris Ackerman 2009

MOMENT AREA METHOD
1.1. Introduction


The Moment Area Method is a method that can be used to determine slopes and deflections of static
determinate flexural structures or the reactions and moments of static indeterminate flexural
structures. In the case of solving indeterminate structures, the principle of superposition is used. For
structures with multiple degrees of indeterminacy and complicated bending moments, this method
becomes laborious to use. This method is very effective to calculate structural reactions and moments
of fixed end beams. These Fixed End Moments are used extensively in the Slope Deflection Method,
Moment Distribution Method, Flexibility Method (B-Tech) and Stiffness Method (B-Tech).

1.2. Theoretical considerations

For the flexural member shown in Figure 1.1 the following equation can be derived:

Figure 1.1
r
P
1
P
2

Member
deflected
shape
Tangential
line at P
2

Tangential
line at P
1

x
1
x
2

x
y

2


M
Bending
moment
diagram
x
1
x
2

x
Member
original shape

1

2

2
Notes by Dr Chris Ackerman 2009
EI
M
r
=
1
1.1

Where,
r = Radius of curvature of flexural member
M = Bending moment due to applied load
E = Modulus of elasticity of material resisting applied load
I = Moment of inertia of material geometry resisting applied load

Integrating between two limits x
1
and x
2
yield the following equation:

2 1
2
1
x x
x
x
dx
dy
dx
dy
dx
EI
M
|

\
|
|

\
|
=

1.2

Where,


dx
dy
slope = |

\
|
=

Therefore, the area of bending moment diagram between two points is equal to the difference in
slopes between two points. Integrating again between two limits x
1
and x
2
yield the following equation:

dx
dx
y d
x dx
EI
Mx
x
x
x
x

=
2
1
2
1
2
2
1.3

Therefore, the first moment of the bending moment area between two points is equal to the relative
displacement between the two points on the curvature of the element. The following two equations are
written from equations 1.2 and 1.3 and are called the slope and deflection moment area equations:

2
1
1 2
x
x
EI
A

(

= 1.4

2
1
1 2 2
x
x
EI
x A
x
(

= + 1.5
3
Notes by Dr Chris Ackerman 2009

Where,

1
and
2
= the vertical displacement at P
1
and P
2
respectively.
x = centroidal distance of the bending moment diagram between P
1
and P
2
, measured from
P
1
in the direction of P
2
.

1.3. How the method works

Determine the degree of static indeterminacy (n).
Remove n number of redundancies.
Draw the bending moment diagram of the static determinate structure (Primary structure).
Draw the bending moment diagrams of n number of redundancies removed.
Imaginary draw curved shape of original loaded structure. In order to sketch an accurate
representation of the flexure of the loaded structure, the following rules must be satisfied:
o The flexure must be consistent with the bending moment curve. The bending moment
curve gives an indication of the direction of flexure. Negative bending moments indicate
hogging flexure and positive bending moments indicate sagging flexure. At the bending
moment inflection point, hogging flexure and sagging flexure switches.
o The deflected shape must satisfy the constraints at the boundaries.
o The original angle at rigid joints must be preserved.
o The length of the element stays the same.
o The horizontal projection of a beam or the vertical projection of a column is equal to the
original length of the member.
o Axial deformations are ignored.
Use the deflected shape to indicate rotation and deflection status at supports and the point in
question. For instance, the slope and deflection at fixed supports are zero and deflections at
pinned supports are zero.
Apply equations 1.4 and 1.5 between supports and point in question using the known deflections
and rotations (zero).
Calculate unknowns at point in question using boundary conditions and superposition.




4
Notes by Dr Chris Ackerman 2009
1.4. Examples

1.4.1. Example 1

Calculate and draw the bending moment diagram of the fixed end beam shown in Figure 1.2.

Figure 1.2 Fixed end beam with distributed load

1. Determinacy: The structure is indeterminate to the second degree (axial deformation is
ignored).
2. Remove for instance moments at A and B to render the structure determinate (superposition).
3. Draw bending moment diagram of Primary structure (Figure 1.3).

Figure 1.3 Primary structure bending moment diagram.

4. Remove loading, apply removed redundancies, one at a time and draw the different bending
moment diagrams (Figure 1.4).

Figure 1.4 Redundancy bending moment diagram.
A
B
L m
+
M
A

- -
L m
=
A
B
M
-
L m
M
B

A B
A B
L m
8
2
L w

+
w kN/m
A B
L m
EI
5
Notes by Dr Chris Ackerman 2009
5. Draw the imaginary curved shape of the original structure and indicate the slope and deflection
status at the supports and the point in question (Figure 1.5).

Figure 1.5 Curved shape of structure.

5. Apply Moment Area Equations to determine unknown bending moment (M). Set the
boundaries P
1
and P
2
as node A and node B. This is done because the unknown bending
moment M is located at the nodes A and B. Also, the number of unknown deflections and
rotations is limited at theses two nodes.

12
2 3
2
8
2
0 0
2
2
1 2
2
1
L w
M
EI
L L w
L M
EI
A

x
x

=
|
|

\
|

+
=
(

=


Another way to solve M is to select P
1
and P
2
as node A and mid-span. At mid-span the slope of the
curved shape is zero. Therefore, the slope equation can be used with M the only unknown.

12
2 3
2
8 2
0 0
2
2
1 2
2
1
L w
M
EI
L L w L M
EI
A

x
x

=
|
|

\
|

=
(

=


The final completed FBD, SFD and BMD are shown in Figure 1.6.

A
B

A
= 0

A
= 0

B
= 0

B
= 0
L m
6
Notes by Dr Chris Ackerman 2009

Figure 1.6 Final FBD, SFD and BMD of fixed end beam

With M known the maximum deflection for instance at mid span can be calculated.

EI
L w
EI
L L L w L L L w
L
EI
x A
L
x
x
384
4 2 12 2 8
3
2 3
2
8
0
2
0
4
1
2 2
1
1 2 2
2
1

=
|
|

\
|

= +
(

= +







wL
2
/12 kNm

wL
2
/24 kNm

-
+
BMD
wL/2 kN

wL/2 kN

+
-
L/2 m
SFD
-
wL
2
/12 kNm

wL
2
/12 kNm
w kN/m
B
wL/2 kN
0 kN
L m
0 kN
FBD
wL/2 kN
wL
2
/12 kNm
A
L/2 m

7
Notes by Dr Chris Ackerman 2009
1.4.2. Example 2

Calculate the structural reactions and moments of the static indeterminate propped cantilever
beam shown in Figure 1.7. EI is constant for the beam.

Figure 1.7 Static indeterminate propped cantilever beam

1. Determinacy: Structure is indeterminate to the first degree.
2. Remove for instance the vertical reaction at B to render the structure determinate. The
moment at A could also have been removed.
3. Draw bending moment diagrams of Primary structure (Figure 1.8).


2
1
1
333 , 5
3
2 8
kNm A
A
=

=

2
2
2
7 , 138
3
2 8
3
6 72
kNm A
A
=

=

m x
x
A
x A x A
x
615 , 4
7 , 138
4
3
2 333 , 5
4
3
6
3
6 72
2
2
2
1 1
2
=

=

=

m x
x
333 , 3
3
2 2
2
3
3
=

+ =

2
3
3
16
2
2 16
kNm A
A
=

=


m x
x
667 , 2
3
2 4
4
4
=

=

2
4
4
8
2
4 4
kNm R A
R
A
B
B
=

=

Figure 1.8 Primary and redundancy bending moment diagrams.
8 kN
4 kN/m
A
B
C
2 m 2 m 2 m
D
PRIMARY STRUCTURE
PRIMARY STRUCTURE
REDUNDANCY
72 kNm
16 kNm
-
-
+
x
2

x
3

x
4

4 m 2 m
2 m 2 m 2 m
4 m 2 m
A
1

A
2

A
3

A
4

x
1

4R
B
kNm
x
8
Notes by Dr Chris Ackerman 2009

4. Remove loading, apply removed redundancy and draw bending moment diagram (Figure 1.8).
5. Draw the imaginary curved shape of the original structure and indicate the slope and deflection
status at the supports and the point in question (Figure 1.9).

Figure 1.9 Curved shape of structure.

6. Apply Moment Area Equations to determine unknown bending moments. Apply deflection
equation from B to A. This is done because the unknowns in the deflection equation i.e.
A
,
B

and
A
is zero. The bending moment areas and centroidal distances in the equation used is
shown above.

( )
EI
R

B
B A A
667 , 2 8 333 , 3 16 ) 2 615 , 4 ( 7 , 138
4
+
= +
kN ,5 19 =
B
R

The remainder of the structural reactions can now be determined using the three static equations.
With R
B
known, it is now possible for instance to calculate the deflection at C. In order to do this,
apply the deflection equation from C to A. This is done because the unknowns in the deflection
equation
A
and
A
are zero and
C
is the only unknown.

( ) ( )
EI
x A x A x A

C A A
2 2
6
4 4 3 3
+ + +
= +
m
EI
EI
C
C
333 , 5
667 , 4 5 , 19 8 333 , 5 16
4
3
6
3
6 72
=
+
(

=

1.4.3. Example 3

Calculate the structural reactions and moments of the static indeterminate frame shown in
Figure 1.10.
A
C

Av
= 0

A
= 0
B

Bv
= 0

B
= ?

Cv
= ?

C
= ?
9
Notes by Dr Chris Ackerman 2009

Figure 1.10 Static indeterminate frame

1. Determinacy: Structure is indeterminate to the first degree.
2. Remove for instance the vertical reaction at C to render the structure determinate.
3. Draw bending moment diagram of Primary structure (Figure 1.11).


Figure 1.11 Primary and redundancy bending moment diagrams.

66
18
18
-
-
18
0
0
3Vc
+
+
0
0
3Vc
BMDs (kNm)
PRMARY STRUCTURE REDUNDANCY
6 kN
8 kN
A
B
C
6 m
6 m
3 m
3Vc
10
Notes by Dr Chris Ackerman 2009
4. Remove loading, apply removed redundancy and draw bending moment diagram
(Figure 1.11).
5. Draw the imaginary curved shape of the original structure and indicate the slope and deflection
status at the supports and the point in question (Figure 1.12).

Figure 1.12 Curved shape of static indeterminate frame.

6. Apply Moment Area Equations to determine unknown V
C
. Apply deflection equation
horizontally from C to A. This is done because the unknowns in the deflection equation i.e.

AV
,
C
and
AV
is zero. The bending moment areas and centroidal distances in the equation
used are shown in Figure 1.13. Note that the centroids of the bending moment areas are
located at the neutral axis of the structure. Also, the horizontal centroidal distances are used
together with the vertical deflections and the vertical centroidal distances are used together
with the horizontal deflections.
EI
V x
V

C
C
Cv Av A
|

\
|


+

= +
2
3 6 ) 18 66 (
3 12 18
2
2 18 3
3 12 3
3
2 3
2
3 3
3

kN 9,692 =
C
V
The structure is now determinate and the 3 static equations can be used to calculate the other
structural reactions. The free body diagram (FBD) shear force diagram and bending moment
diagrams are shown in Figure 1.14.


A

Cv
= 0

Ch
= ?

C
= ?
C

Bv
= ?

Bh
= ?

B
= ?

Av
= 0

Ah
= 0

A
= 0

B
11
Notes by Dr Chris Ackerman 2009

Figure 1.13 Primary and redundancy bending moment diagrams.


Figure 1.14 Axial force, shear force and bending moment diagrams of frame.
6 kN
8 kN
A
B
C
6 m
6 m
3 m
9,692 kN
3,692 kN
8 kN
36,92 kNm
36,92 kNm

11,08 kNm
-
+
0 8 kN

3,692 kN

+
-
8 kN

0
FBD SFD BMD
+
66
18
-
-
18
3 m
3Vc
+
+
0
2 m
3Vc
3Vc
BMDs (kNm)
PRMARY STRUCTURE REDUNDANCY
3 m
2 m
3 m
(318/2)
(1218)
((66-18) 6/2) 123Vc
33Vc/2
11,08 kNm

12
Notes by Dr Chris Ackerman 2009
1.5. Problems

1.5.1. Problem 1

Calculate the vertical and horizontal deflection at C of the static determined frame shown in
Figure 1.15. EI is constant.
Answers:
EI
EI
H
V
C
C
2376
1176
=
=


Figure 1.15 Static determinate frame

1.5.2. Problem 2

Calculate and draw the free body diagram of the propped cantilever shown in Figure 1.16. EI is
constant.
12 kN/m
12 kN/m
A
B
C
6 m
2 m
13
Notes by Dr Chris Ackerman 2009

Figure 1.16 Static indeterminate propped cantilever beam
Answer:

1.5.3. Problem 3

Calculate the bending moment at A of the propped cantilever shown in Figure 1.17. EI is constant.
The beam deflects as shown in the figure.

Figure 1.17 Static determinate propped cantilever beam

Answer:
2
3
L
EIy
M
B
A
=

1.5.4. Problem 4

Calculate the mid span deflection of the static determined beam shown in Figure 1.18. EI is constant.
A
B
L m
y
B

4 m 4 m 8 m
10 kN
15 kN/m
A
B
C
D
20 kN
543,7 kNm
166,5 kN
103,5 kN
4 m
4 m
8 m
10 kN
15 kN/m
A
B
C
D
20 kN
14
Notes by Dr Chris Ackerman 2009
Answer:
EI
ML
MIDSPAN
16
2
=

Figure 1.18 Static determinate propped cantilever beam

1.5.5. Problem 5

Use the results of example 3 and calculate:
Horizontal deflection at C,
Horizontal deflection at B,
Vertical deflection at B,
Slope at B
Slope at C

Answers:

EI

EI

EI
C
B
B
C B
C
v
h h
h
526 , 5
09 , 11
0
5 , 642
=

=
=
=

=



A
B
L m
M kNm