CHAPTER 1

Slope Deflection Method

For Indeterminate Beams

RAHAYU BINTI HAYAT

Civil Engineering
Department
 Learning Outcome
At the end of this topic, student should be able to
Understand the basic concept of slope deflection
method for solving the indeterminate beams:

State the slope deflection equation

Calculate the internal moments of beams subjected
to point loads and distributed loads up to three
unknowns using slope deflection method
Draw shear force and bending moment diagram
 Statically Indeterminate Beams

Statically indeterminate beams are ones in which the

number of reactions exceeds the number of independent
equations of equilibrium
 Types of Indeterminate Beams
Usually identified by the beams support system

Fixed-end beam
Propped cantilever beam

Continuous beam
 Basic concept of slope deflection method
This method was first proposed by Prof. George A. Maney in
1915 as a general method for analysis of indeterminate
beams and frames.
the moments at the ends of the members are expressed in
terms of end rotations of these ends.
write the equilibrium equations for each Nodes (Specified
points on the structure that undergo displacements and
rotations)
Using slope deflection method, internal moments are then
known..
 Assumptions
What are the assumptions made in slope-
deflection method?
i. Between each pair of the supports the
beam section is constant.
ii. The joint in structure may rotate or
deflect as a whole, but the angles
between the members meeting at that
joint remain the same
 Boundary Condition

At pinned support: At roller support:

y=0 y=0
=? =?
 Boundary condition

At fixed support: At free x = L

y=0 y = maks
 = maks
 =0
 SLOPE-DEFLECTION EQUATION
The general slope-deflection equations give the
support moments of a beam in terms of slopes,
deflections, stiffness and length of the members
(beams).

The slope-deflection equations will be derive for

the following two case :
1. When the support at the same level.
2. When one of the support is at the lower level
(sinking).
a) Consider an intermediate span AB of a continuous beam,
subject to some loading;

Let : L  length of the span AB

E  Young' s modulus for the beam material
I  moment of inertiaof the beam section
M AB  support moment at A
M BA  support moment at B
b) Due to the external loading, the beam will deflect, as a result of
which the ends A and B of the beam will rotate.

 A  slope at A and  B  slope at B

c) Apply end moments MAB and MBA at the ends A and B so that the
slope at A and B due to external loading are reduce to zero (0)
Moments MAB and MBA = Fixed end moments
Consider a continuous beam when subjected to the applied
loads, the member will develop End Moments, M and become
deformed as indicated:
P
MAB
MBA MBC MCB
w

A
L
L/2 L/2

A B C
Analysis of Beams by Slope-Deflection Method

MA  0 MB = 0 MC = 0

MAB = ? MBA + MBC = 0 MCB = 0

Equilibrium
Equation
 Analysis of Beams by Slope-Deflection Method

MA  0 MB = 0 MC = 0 MC = 0

MAB = ? MBA + MBC = 0 MCB + MCD = 0 MDC = 0

Equilibrium Equation
 DERIVATION OF THE SLOPE-
DEFLECTION EQUATION

Where:
M = Internal moments @ end moments (kNm)
 = rotation (slope)
 = settlement
L = Length of beam span
EI = Flexural Rigidity (kNm2)
FEM = Fixed End Moment
 Fixed End Moment (FEM)

The fixed end moments are reaction moments

developed in a beam member under certain load
conditions with both ends fixed.

A beam with both ends fixed is statically

indeterminate to the 2nd degree, and any
structural analysis method applicable on
statically indeterminate beams can be used to
calculate the fixed end moments.
 FORMULAE for FEM
FEMAB FEMBA
w / unit length

A
L
A B

w
FEMAB FEMBA

A L/2 L/2 B

NOTE : -ve for anticlockwise and +ve for clockwise moment

 FORMULAE for FEM

w
FEMAB FEMBA

A a b B

NOTE : -ve for anticlockwise and +ve for clockwise moment

 Slope Deflection Method
Step 1: Identify Internal moment, M and slope,  at each member

Step 2: Calculate Fixed End Moment (FEM) for each member

Step 3: Write Slope Deflection Equation

Step 4: Solve Equilibrium Equation and solve for unknown 

Step 5: Substitute  into Slope deflection Equation and calculate the

internal moment

Step 6: Calculate reaction and draw SFD and BMD

After learn this topic, student should be able to:

Explain the basic concept of slope deflection

method for solving the indeterminate beams
State the slope deflection equation
Calculate the internal moments of beams
subjected to point loads and distributed loads
up to three unknowns using slope deflection
method
Draw shear force and bending moment
diagram
 EXAMPLE 1
A continuous beam is loaded as shown in Figure A5.
i. Calculate fixed end moments for each member
ii. Write slope deflection equation

Answer: FEMAB = -45kNm; FEMBA = +45kNm

FEMBC = -30kNm; FEMCB = + 30kNm
 EXAMPLE 2
Calculate internal moment for continuous beam
subjected to a load as figure below by using slope
deflection method, Then draw SFD and BMD
12 kN

2 kN/m

A C
B

6m 3m 3m
 SOLUTION 1
i. Fixed End Moment
Assume the beam ABC to be made of fixed beams AB and BC.

2 kN/m
wl 2 2  62
FEM AB     6kNm
A B
12 12
FEM BA  6kNm
6m

12 kN

wl  12  6
FEM BC     9kNm
B
8 8
C
FEM CB  9kNm
3m 3m
 ii. Slope Deflection Equations
Since the beam is fixed at A and C, therefore slope at A and C, will
be equal to zero (0).
Support moment in the span AB;

2 EI
M AB  ( 2 A   B )  M F
AB
L
2 EI
 ( B )  6 (1) ( A  0)
6

2 EI
M BA  ( 2 B   A )  M F
BA
L
2 EI
 ( 2 B )  6 ( 2) ( A  0)
6
Similarly support moment for span BC;
2 EI
M BC  ( 2 B   C )  M F BC
L
2 EI
 ( 2 B )  9 ( C  0)
6
2 EI
 ( B )  9  ( iii)
3

2 EI
M CB  ( 2 C   B )  M F CB
L
2 EI
 ( B )  9 ( C  0)
6
EI
 ( B )  9  ( iv)
3
iii. Equilibrium Equations

Since the joint B is in EQUILIBRIUM, therefore ;

M BA  M BC  0
 2 EI   2 EI 
 3 ( B )  6 
  3 ( B )  9 0
   
4 EI
( B )  3
3
9
B 
4 EI
iv. Final Moments at support A, B, and C;
Substituting the value of  B  9 in equations (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) ;
4 EI

EI 9
12 kN M AB    6   5.25kNm
2 kN/m 3 4 EI
2 EI 9
A
B
C M BA    6   7.5kNm
3 4 EI
6m 3m 3m
2 EI 9
M BC    9   7.5kNm
3 4 EI
EI 9
M AB    9   9.75kNm
3 4 EI
vii. Reaction at support A, B and C

Span AB
Taking moment about B, for span AB;
RA (6)  7.5  5.25  2(6)( 3)  0
36  5.25  7.5
RA 
6
RA  5.625kN 5.25 kN/m 7.5 kN/m
2 kN/m
Taking moment about A, for span AB; A B
6m
RB1 (6)  5.25  7.5  2(6)( 3)  0 RA RB1
36  7.5  5.25
RB1 
6
RB1  6.375kN
vii. Reaction at support A, B and C
Span BC
Taking moment about C, for span BC;

RB 2 (6)  9.75  7.5  12( 3)  0

36  7.5  9.75
RB 2 
6 7.5 kN/m 9.75 kN/m
12 kN
RB 2  5.625kN

Taking moment about B, for span BC; B

3m 3m
C

RC (6)  7.5  9.75  12( 3)  0 RB2 RC

36  9.75  7.5
RC 
6
RC  6.375kN
viii.Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagram

When Shear Force = 0,

Bending Moment is maximum
x 6 x

5.625 6.375
5.625 12 6.375
6.375 x  33.75  5.625 x
12 x  33.75
x  2.81m

(The distance where the Bending Moment

maximum from support A is 2.81 m)

2.63
x 6-x 9.38
 Example 3
Calculate internal moment for continuous beam
subjected to a load as figure below by using slope
deflection method, Then draw SFD and BMD.

Answer: B = 22.5/EI, VA = 56.25kN, VB1 = 63.75kN,

VB2 = 56.25kN, VC = 63.75kN)
 Example 3
Calculate internal moment for continuous
beam subjected to a load as figure below by
using slope deflection method, Then draw
SFD and BMD
 FEM (kNm)
𝑤𝐿2 9(4)2
𝐹𝐸𝑀𝐴𝐵 = − =− = −12
12 12
𝑤𝐿2 9(4)2
𝐹𝐸𝑀𝐵𝐴 = + =+ =+12
12 12
𝑤𝑎𝑏2 9(2)(3)2 8(3)(2)2
𝐹𝐸𝑀𝐵𝐶 = − 2 =− +−
𝐿 (5)2 (5)2
= −6.48 +3.84
= − 10.32
𝑤𝑎2 𝑏 9 2 2 (3) 8(32 )(2)
𝐹𝐸𝑀𝐵𝐶 = + 2 = +
𝐿 (5)2 (5)2
= 4.32 +5.76
= 10.08