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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
dx
dM
V =
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
Free body diagram
Vertical reaction A
y
, equivalent load P. At the
cut of distance x from left end: shear force V,
bending moment M
w (kN/m)
L (m)
M
V
Revision: Structural analysis
The reaction at A is
The equivalent point load at a distance x/2 from A is
Take moment about the cut,
Force equilibrium for y direction,
Maximum shear force happens at end
Maximum bending moment happens at middle
wL A
y
2
1
!
wx P !
2 2
1
0
2 2
1
2
wx
wLx
x
wx wLx
!
!
wx wL V
wx wL V
!
!
2
1
0
2
1
wL V
2
1
max
!
8
2
max
wL
M =
Revision: Structural analysis
The area underneath the bending moment
curve
Integral
The distance from either support to centroid
of A: x
1
=x
2
=L/2
12 4 6
2 2 3 2 2 2
3 3 3
0
2 3
0
2
0
wL wL wL
x wL x w
dx
wxL wx
Mdx A
L
L L
= + =

'
+

'

+ =

'
+

'

+ = =

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
Distance from left end to centroid of bending
moment area A is

e e +

'
+

'

e e
=
b x a Pa P
L
Pb
x
a x
L
Pbx
M
0
2
Pab
A=
3
1
L a
x

!
Three bending moment theorem
The theorem applies to any two adjacent
spans in a continuous beam. For constant
section, the theorem states
Where M
A
, M
B
, M
C
are the bending moment
values at three subsequent supports A, B, C

'
+

'

+ = +

'
+

'

+ +
2 2
2 2
1 1
1 1
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
6 2
I L
x A
I L
x A
I
L M
I
L
I
L
M
I
L M
C
B
A
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 M
Load
(due to applied load on the
single span) and the linear function fitted through
computed bending moments at 2 corresponding
supports, M
3BMtheorem
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
For each span , fit a linear function
through the bending moment at its 2 ends.

14 . 107
43 . 71
14 . 107
500
500
500
4 1 0
1 4 1
0 1 4
D
C
B
D
C
B
M
M
M
M
M
M
L x e e 0
Example 1: UDL on 4 spans
Revise mathematics: linear function y(x) fitted
through point 1 (x
1
, y
1
) and point 2 (x
2
, y
2
)
satisfies
1 2
1
1 2
1
x x
x x
y y
y y

Example 1: UDL on 4 spans


Sum the bending moment due to applied load
M
Load
and the fitted function M
3BMtheorem
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
U L over 4 equal spans
-100
-50
0
50
100
150
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Distance (m)
B
e
n
d
i
n
g

m
o
m
e
n
t

M

(
k
N
.
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;
M
A
= M
E
= 0.
Hence,
Example 2: UDL on 2 spans
Fitting the linear function through the bending
moment data at ends for each span

93 . 8
714 . 35
07 . 116
0
250
500
4 1 0
1 4 1
0 1 4
D
C
B
D
C
B
M
M
M
M
M
M
Example 2: UDL on 2 spans
M = M
Load
+ M
3BMtheorem
Example 2: UDL on 2 spans
UDL on 2 adjacent spans
-100
-50
0
50
100
150
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Distance (m)
B
e
n
d
i
n
g

m
o
m
e
n
t

M

(
k
N
.
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
Fitting the linear function through the bending
moment data at ends for each span

571 . 53
714 . 35
571 . 53
250
250
250
4 1 0
1 4 1
0 1 4
D
C
B
D
C
B
M
M
M
M
M
M
Example 3: Load on alternate spans
M = M
Load
+ M
3BMtheorem
Example 3: Load on alternate spans
UDL loaded on al erna e pan
-120
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
20
40
60
80
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
D sta ce ( )
B
e
e
t
(
k
N
)
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 M
A
, M
B
, M
C
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 M
B1
= M
B
, M
B2
= M
B
Example 4: Continuous beam with fixed
ends
With , from the left hand side,
having
A
B
1
A
= -157.5, A
AB
= -157.5,
A
BC
= -125, A
CB
2
= -125
Consider spans (B
1
A, AB)
12
3
wL
A =
)
) 1 . ( 5 . 157 2
3
5 . 1 5 . 157
3
5 . 1 5 . 157
6 3 3 3 2 3
1
1
Eq M M
M M
M M M
B A
B B
B A B
= + -
=

'
+

'

-
+
-
- = - + + - - + -
Example 4: Continuous beam with fixed
ends
Consider spans (AB, BC)
Consider spans (BC, CB
2
)
)
) 2 . ( 5 . 282 17 . 1 33 . 4
5 . 3
75 . 1 125
3
5 . 1 5 . 157
6 3 3 3 2 3
1
Eq M M M
M M M
C B A
B A B
! v v p

'
+

'

v
v ! v v v v
)
) 3 . ( 1 . 107 2
5 . 3
75 . 1 125
5 . 3
75 . 1 125
6 5 . 3 5 . 3 5 . 3 2 5 . 3
2
2
Eq M M
M M
M M M
C B
B B
B C B
= - +
=

'
+

'

-
+
-
- = - + + - - + -
Example 4: Continuous beam with fixed
ends
From Eqs. (1), (2), (3), the bending moments at A,
B, C are found
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.

84 . 31
47 . 43
01 . 57
C
B
A
M
M
M
Next lecture
Design of tension member
Reading:
AS4100:1998, Section 7 and related parts in
Section 6 and Section 9

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