Three moment theorem

Asst. Prof. Hang Thu Vu

hang@civil.uwa.edu.au
Lecture outline

 The purpose of carrying out structural analysis is to

calculate the maximum values of actions (moment,
shear force and axial force) for design member or
check member capacity
 Continuous beam with n spans which subjects to
various loading configurations is one of most
popular structural member for building
 Continuous beam is indeterminate structure with the
number of unknown reactions is more than the
number of static equilibrium equations (3 equations).
Lecture outline
 A simple technique to solve continuous beam
problem is to use the “Theorem of Three
bending moments”. First, the bending
moment can be constructed straightforward
by applying the theorem. Then, other
unknowns can be found from the beam
equations. For example, the shear force can
be found by differentiating the bending
moment dM
V
dx
Lecture outline

 This lecture will detail the theorem and its

applications
 Theorem of Three bending moments
 Applications
 Example 1: 4 spans, patch load
 Example 2: 4 spans, 2-span loaded
 Example 3: 4 spans, loads on alternate spans
 Example 4: Fixed ends
Theorem of Three bending moments
Revision: Structural analysis
w (kN/m)

L (m)

M
 Free body diagram
V

 Vertical reaction Ay, equivalent load P. At the

cut of distance x from left end: shear force V,
bending moment M
Revision: Structural analysis
1
 The reaction at A is Ay  wL
2
 The equivalent point load at a distance x/2 from A is P  wx
 Take moment about the cut, M  1 wLx  wx x  0
2 2
1 wx 2
M  wLx 
2 2
1
 Force equilibrium for y direction,  V  wL  wx  0
2
1
V  wL  wx
2
1
 Maximum shear force happens at end max 2 wL
V 
wL2
 Maximum bending moment happens at middle M m ax 
8
Revision: Structural analysis
The area underneath the bending moment
curve
 Integral
L
L
 wx
L 2
wxL   wx
3
wL x 
2
A   Mdx      dx    
0
0
2 2   2 3 2 2 0
wL3 wL3 wL3
  
6 4 12

 The distance from either support to centroid

of A: x1=x2=L/2
Point load
 In a similar manner, the bending moment M
and bending moment area A can be obtained
for span subjected to point load
Point load
 Pbx
 L 0 xa
M 
 x  Pb  P   Pa a  x  b
  L 
Pab
A
2
 Distance from left end to centroid of bending
moment area A is
aL
x1 
3
Three bending moment theorem
 The theorem applies to any two adjacent
spans in a continuous beam. For constant
section, the theorem states

M A L1  L1 L2  M C L2  A1 x1 A2 x2 
 2 M B      6  
I1  I1 I 2  I2  L1 I1 L2 I 2 

 Where MA, MB, MC are the bending moment

values at three subsequent supports A, B, C
For any load system
Solution procedure
 For each patch formed by 2 adjacent spans of the
continuous beam, write the theorem equation.
Establish the system of n linear independent
equations for n unknown bending moments at
supports
 Solve the system for support bending moments
 The BM of the continuous beam is constructed
individually for each span by summing the basic
bending moment MLoad (due to applied load on the
single span) and the linear function fitted through
computed bending moments at 2 corresponding
supports, M3BMtheorem
Applications
Example 1: UDL on 4 spans

 To generate the bending moment diagrams,

nominate values for UDL w and span length
L. Assume w = -10 kN/m (negative sign to
indicate downward force) and L = 10 m.
Example 1: UDL on 4 spans
 Apply the “Three bending moment theorem”
equation to spans (AB, BC), (BC, CD), (CD, DE).
Substitute L=10, A1 = A2 = -833.33, MA = ME =
0 into 3 equations, we obtain
4 1 0  M B  500  M B  107.14
1 4 1  M   500   M    71.43 
   C    C  
0 1 4  M D  500  M D  107.14

 For each span 0  x  L , fit a linear function

through the bending moment at its 2 ends.
Example 1: UDL on 4 spans
 Revise mathematics: linear function y(x) fitted
through point 1 (x1, y1) and point 2 (x2, y2)
satisfies y  y1 x  x1

y 2  y1 x2  x1
Example 1: UDL on 4 spans
 Sum the bending moment due to applied load
MLoad and the fitted function M3BMtheorem to obtain
the bending moment M on each span

 Plot the bending moment for the continuous

beam from constructed bending moment M in
the above table
Example 1: UDL on 4 spans
UDL over 4 equal spans
150

100
Bending moment M (kN.m)

50

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

-50

-100

Distance (m)
Example 2: UDL on 2 spans

 Having L=10;
 spans (AB, BC): A1 = A2 = -833.33,
 spans (BC, CD): A1 = -833.33, A2 =0,
 spans (CD, DE): A1 = A2 = 0;
 MA = ME = 0.
 Hence,
Example 2: UDL on 2 spans
4 1 0  M B  500  M B  116.07 
1 4 1  M   250   M   35.714
   C    C  
0 1 4  M D   0   M D    8.93 

 Fitting the linear function through the bending

moment data at ends for each span
Example 2: UDL on 2 spans

 M = MLoad + M3BMtheorem
Example 2: UDL on 2 spans
UDL on 2 adjacent spans
150

100
Bending moment M (kN.m)

50

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

-50

-100

Distance (m)
Example 3: Load on alternate spans

 Having L=10;
 spans (AB, BC): A1 = -833.33, A2 =0;
 spans (BC, CD): A1 =0, A2 = -833.33;
 spans (CD, DE): A1 = -833.33, A2 =0;
 MA = ME = 0.
 Hence,
Example 3: Load on alternate spans
4 1 0  M B  250  M B   53.571
1 4 1  M   250   M   35.714
   C    C  
0 1 4  M D  250  M D   53.571
 Fitting the linear function through the bending
moment data at ends for each span
Example 3: Load on alternate spans

 M = MLoad + M3BMtheorem
Example 3: Load on alternate spans
UDL loaded on alternate spans
80

60

40
Bending moment M (kN.m)

20

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
-20

-40

-60

-80

-100

-120

Distance (m)
Example 4: Continuous beam with fixed
ends
 For a continuous beam of (n) spans, (n-1) equations
can be generated from the three moment theorem.
The total of supports on the beam are (n+1).
 If 2 end supports are pins, the number of unknown
BMs at supports is (n-1). We can solve the system
of (n-1) equations for these (n-1) BMs as detailed in
previous examples
 For continuous beam with one fixed end, the
number of unknown BMs is (n). For continuous
beam with two fixed ends, the number of unknown
BMs is (n+1). We can not solve for these unknown
BMs as the number of equations is smaller than the
number of unknowns.
Example 4: Continuous beam with fixed
ends
 Consider this example of 2-span continuous
beam ABC of const. cross section, built in
fixed ends at A and C, supported at B

 One equation for 3 unknowns MA, MB, MC

Example 4: Continuous beam with fixed
ends
 Effect of a fixed end is similar to placing a
mirroring span at the wall end

 B1 is mirror of B over A, B2 is mirror of B

over C. Have MB1= MB, MB2= MB
Example 4: Continuous beam with fixed
ends
wL3
 With A   , from the left hand side,
12
having
 AB A = -157.5, AAB = -157.5,
1
 ABC = -125, ACB = -125
2
 Consider spans (B1A, AB)
  157.5  1.5  157.5  1.5 
M B1  3  2  M A  3  3  M B  3  6    
 3 3 
M B1  M B
 2  M A  M B  157.5 ( Eq.1)
 Example 4: Continuous beam with fixed
ends
 Consider spans (AB, BC)
  157.5  1.5  125  1.75 
M B1  3  2  M A  3  3  M B  3  6    
 3 3.5 
 M A  4.33  M B  1.17  M C  282.5 ( Eq.2)

 Consider spans (BC, CB2)

  125  1.75  125  1.75 
M B  3.5  2  M C  3.5  3.5  M B2  3.5  6    
 3 .5 3 .5 
M B  M B2
 M B  2  M C  107.1 ( Eq.3)
Example 4: Continuous beam with fixed
ends
 From Eqs. (1), (2), (3), the bending moments at A,
B, C are found

 M A   57.01
   
 M B   43.47
 M  31.84
 C  
 After the bending moments at all supports are
known, the bending moment is recovered for each
span in the usual manner. The BMD for the
continuous beam can then be plotted.
Next lecture

 Design of tension member

 Reading:
 AS4100:1998, Section 7 and related parts in
Section 6 and Section 9