D

Three-Moment Equation
D.1 Derivation of Three-Moment Equation
D.2 Application of Three-Moment Equation
Summary
Problems

In Chapter 13, we studied two formulations of the force (flexibility) method of

analysis of statically indeterminate structures, namely, the method of consis-
tent deformations and the method of least work. In this appendix, we consider
a third formulation of the force method, called the three-moment equation.
The three-moment equation, which was initially presented by Clapeyron
in 1857, provides a convenient tool for analyzing continuous beams. The
three-moment equation represents, in a general form, the compatibility con-
dition that the slope of the elastic curve be continuous at an interior support of
the continuous beam. Since the equation involves three moments—the bending
moments at the support under consideration and at the two adjacent supports—
it is commonly referred to as the three-moment equation. When using this
method, the bending moments at the interior (and any fixed) supports of the
continuous beam are treated as the redundants. The three-moment equation is
then applied at the location of each redundant to obtain a set of compatibility
equations which can be solved for the unknown redundant moments.
We begin this appendix with the derivation of the three-moment equation
for beams with prismatic spans and subjected to external loads and support
settlements. Next, we present a procedure for the application of this equation
for the analysis of continuous beams.

D.1 Derivation of Three-Moment Equation

Consider an arbitrary continuous beam subjected to external loads and
support settlements as shown in Fig. D.1(a). As discussed previously in
Chapter 13, this beam can be analyzed by the method of consistent defor-
mations by treating the bending moments at the interior supports to be the
redundants. From Fig. D.1(a), we can see that the slope of the elastic curve
of the indeterminate beam is continuous at the interior supports. When the
restraints corresponding to the redundant bending moments are removed by
inserting internal hinges at the interior support points, the primary structure

775

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776 APPENDIX D Three-Moment Equation

FIG. D.1

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 Section D.1 Derivation of Three-Moment Equation 777

thus obtained consists of a series of simply supported beams. As shown in

Figs. D.1(b) and (c), respectively, when this primary structure is subjected to
the known external loading and support settlements, discontinuities develop
in the slope of the elastic curve at the locations of the interior supports. Since
the redundant bending moments provide continuity of the slope of the elastic
curve, these unknown moments are applied as loads on the primary structure
as shown in Fig. D.1(d), and their magnitudes are determined by solving the
compatibility equations based on the condition that, at each interior support
of the primary structure, the slope of the elastic curve, due to the combined
effect of the external loading, support settlements, and unknown redundants,
must be continuous.
The three-moment equation uses the foregoing compatibility condition
of slope continuity at an interior support to provide a general relationship
between the unknown bending moments at the support where compatibility
is being considered and at the adjacent supports to the left and to the right, in
terms of the loads on the intermediate spans and any settlements of the three
supports.
To derive the three-moment equation, we focus our attention on the com-
patibility equation at an interior support c of the continuous beam, with pris-
matic spans and a constant modulus of elasticity, shown in Fig. D.1(a). As
indicated in this figure, the adjacent supports to the left and to the right of c
are identified as  and r, respectively; the subscripts  and r are used to refer
to the loads and properties of the left span, c, and the right span, cr , respec-
tively; and the settlements of supports , c, and r are denoted by D , Dc , and
Dr , respectively. The support settlements are considered positive when in the
downward direction, as shown in the figure.
From Fig. D.1(a), we can see that the slope of the elastic curve of the
indeterminate beam is continuous at c. In other words, there is no change
of slope of the tangents to the elastic curve at just to the left of c and just to
the right of c; that is, the angle between the tangents is zero. However, when
the primary structure, obtained by inserting internal hinges at the interior
support points, is subjected to external loads, as shown in Fig. D.1(b), a
discontinuity develops in the slope of the elastic curve at c, in the sense that
the tangent to the elastic curve at just to the left of c rotates relative to the
tangent at just to the right of c. The change of slope (or the angle) between
the two tangents due to external loads is denoted by u1 and can be expressed
as (see Fig. D.1(b))
u1 5u 1 1ur 1 (D.1)

in which u 1 and ur 1 denote, respectively, the slopes at the ends c of the spans
to the left and to the right of the support c, due to external loads. Similarly, the
slope discontinuity at c in the primary structure, due to support settlements
(Fig. D.1(c)), can be written as
u 2 5 u  2 1 ur 2 (D.2)

in which u  2 and ur 2 represent, respectively, the slopes of the spans to the left
and to the right of c, due to support settlements. Finally, when the primary

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778 APPENDIX D Three-Moment Equation

structure is loaded with the redundant support bending moments, as shown in

Fig. D.1(d), the slope discontinuity at c can be expressed as
u3 5 u  3 1 ur 3 (D.3)

in which u  3 and ur 3 denote, respectively, the slopes at end c of the spans to

the left and to the right of the support c, due to unknown redundant moments.
The compatibility equation is based on the requirement that the slope of
the elastic curve of the actual indeterminate beam is continuous at c; that is,
there is no change of slope from just to the left of c to just to the right of c.
Therefore, the algebraic sum of the angles between the tangents at just to the
left and at just to the right of c due to the external loading, support settlements,
and the redundant bending moments must be zero. Thus,
u1 1u 2 1u3 5 0 (D.4)

By substituting Eqs. (D.1) through (D.3) into Eq. (D.4), we obtain

(u 1 1ur 1 ) 1 (u  2 1ur 2 ) 1 (u  3 1ur 3 ) 5 0 (D.5)

Since each span of the primary structure can be treated as a simply

supported beam, the slopes at the ends c of the left and the right spans, due
to the external loads (Fig. D.1(b)), can be conveniently determined either
by the conjugate-beam method or by using the beam-deflection formulas
given inside the front cover of the book. By using the deflection formulas,
we obtain

P L2 k  (1 2 k 2 ) w L3
u 1 5 ∑ 1 (D.6a)
6 EI  24 EI 
Pr L2r kr (1 2 kr2 ) wr L3r
ur 1 5 ∑ 1 (D.6b)
6 EI r 24 EI r
in which the summation signs have been added to the first terms on the right
sides of these equations, so that multiple concentrated loads can be applied to
each span (instead of a single concentrated load as shown in Figs. D.1(a) and
(b) for simplicity). As continuous beams usually are loaded with uniformly
distributed loads over entire spans and concentrated loads, the effects of only
these two types of loadings generally are considered in the three-moment
equation. However, the effects of other types of loads can be included simply
by adding the expressions of slopes due to these loads to the right sides of
Eqs. (D.6a) and (D.6b).
The slopes u  2 and ur 2, of the left and the right spans, respectively, due
to support settlements, can be obtained directly from the deformed positions
of the spans depicted in Fig. D.1(c). Since the settlements are assumed to be
small, the slopes can be expressed as

D  2 Dc Dr 2 Dc
u 2 5 ur 2 5 (D.7)
L Lr

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 Section D.1 Derivation of Three-Moment Equation 779

The slopes at ends c of the left and the right spans, due to redundant
support bending moments (Figs. D.1(d)), can be determined conveniently by
using the beam-deflection formulas. Thus,
M  L M c L
u 3 5 1 (D.8a)
6 EI  3EI 
M c Lr M r Lr
ur 3 5 1 (D.8b)
3EI r 6 EI r
in which M  , M c , and M r denote the bending moments at supports , c, and r,
respectively. As shown in Fig. D.1(d), these redundant bending moments are
considered to be positive in accordance with the beam convention—that is,
when causing compression in the upper fibers and tension in the lower fibers
of the beam.
By substituting Eqs. (D.6) through (D.8) into Eq. (D.5), we write the
compatibility equation as

P L2 k  (1 2 k 2 ) w L3 Pr L2r kr (1 2 kr2 ) wr L3r D 2 Dc

∑ 1 1∑ 1 1 l
6 EI  24 EI  6 EI r 24 EI r L
Dr 2 Dc M  L M c L M c Lr M r Lr
1 1 1 1 1 50
Lr 6 EI  3EI  3EI r 6 EI r
By simplifying the foregoing equation and rearranging it to separate the terms
containing redundant moments from those involving loads and support settle-
ments, we obtain the general form of the three-moment equation:

M  L ⎛L L ⎞ ML
1 2Mc ⎜  1 r ⎟ 1 r r
I ⎝ 
I Ir ⎠ Ir
P L2 k P L2 k w L3 w L3
52∑
I
(1 2 k2 ) 2 ∑ r r r (1 2 kr2 ) 2   2 r r
Ir 4I 4 Ir
⎛ D 2 Dc Dr 2 Dc ⎞
26 E ⎜  1 (D.9)
⎝ L Lr ⎟⎠

in which M c 5 bending moment at support c where the compatibility is

being considered; M  , M r 5 bending moments at the adjacent supports
to the left and to the right of c, respectively; E 5 modulus of elasticity;
L , Lr 5 lengths of the spans to the left and to the right of c, respectively;
I  , I r 5 moments of inertia of the spans to the left and to the right of c,
respectively; P , Pr 5 concentrated loads acting on the left and the right
spans, respectively; k  (or kr ) 5 ratio of the distance of P (or Pr ) from the left
(or right) support to the span length; w, wr 5 uniformly distributed loads
applied to the left and the right spans, respectively; Dc 5 settlement of the
support c under consideration; and D , Dr 5 settlements of the adjacent sup-
ports to the left and to the right of c, respectively. As noted before, the support
bending moments are considered to be positive in accordance with the beam
convention—that is, when causing compression in the upper fibers and tension
in the lower fibers of the beam. Furthermore, the external loads and support
settlements are considered positive when in the downward direction, as shown
in Fig. D.1(a).

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780 APPENDIX D Three-Moment Equation

If the moments of inertia of two adjacent spans of a continuous beam are

equal (i.e., I  5 I r 5 I ), then the three-moment equation simplifies to

M  L 1 2 M c ( L 1 Lr ) 1 M r Lr

52∑ P L2 k (1 2 k2 ) 2 ∑ Pr L2r kr (1 2 kr2 ) 2

1
4
( w L3 1 wr L3r )
⎛ D 2 Dc Dr 2 Dc ⎞
26 EI ⎜  1 (D.10)
⎝ L Lr ⎟⎠

If both the moments of inertia and the lengths of two adjacent spans are equal
(i.e., I  5 I r 5 I and L 5 Lr 5 L ), then the three-moment equation becomes

M 1 4 Mc 1 Mr
52∑ P Lk  (1 2 k 2 ) 2 ∑ Pr Lkr (1 2 kr2 ) (D.11)
2
L
2
4
( w 1 wr ) 2 6LEI2 ( D 2 2Dc 1 Dr )

The foregoing three-moment equations are applicable to any three con-

secutive supports, , c, and r, of a continuous beam, provided that there are no
discontinuities, such as internal hinges, in the beam between the left support
 and the right support r.

D.2 Application of Three-Moment Equation

The following step-by-step procedure can be used for analyzing continuous
beams by the three-moment equation.
1. Select the unknown bending moments at all interior supports of the
beam as the redundants.
2. By treating each interior support successively as the intermediate sup-
port c, write a three-moment equation. When writing these equations,
it should be realized that bending moments at the simple end supports
are known. For such a support with a cantilever overhang, the bending
moment equals that due to the external loads acting on the cantilever
portion about the end support. The total number of three-moment equa-
tions thus obtained must be equal to the number of redundant support
bending moments, which must be the only unknowns in these equations.
3. Solve the system of three-moment equations for the unknown support
bending moments.
4. Compute the span end shears. For each span of the beam, (a) draw a
free-body diagram showing the external loads and end moments and
(b) apply the equations of equilibrium to calculate the shear forces at
the ends of the span.
5. Determine support reactions by considering the equilibrium of the
support joints of the beam.
6. If so desired, draw shear and bending moment diagrams of the beam
by using the beam sign convention.

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 Section D.2 Application of Three-Moment Equation 781

Fixed Supports
The three-moment equations, as given by Eqs. (D.9) through (D.11), were
derived to satisfy the compatibility condition of slope continuity at the interior
supports of continuous beams. These equations can, however, be used to satisfy
the compatibility condition of zero slope at the fixed end supports of beams. This
can be achieved by replacing the fixed support by an imaginary interior roller
support with an adjoining end span of zero length simply supported at its outer
end, as shown in Fig. D.2. The reaction moment at the actual fixed support is
now treated as the redundant bending moment at the imaginary interior support,
and the three-moment equation when applied to this imaginary support satis-
fies the compatibility condition of zero slope of the elastic curve at the actual
fixed support. When analyzing a beam for support settlements, both imaginary
supports—that is, the interior roller support and the outer simple end support—
are considered to undergo the same settlement as the actual fixed support.

FIG. D.2

Example D.1

Determine the reactions and draw the shear and bending moment diagrams for the beam shown in Fig. D.3(a) by using the
three-moment equation.

150 kN 100 kN
50 kN/m
A C
B

2m 2m 2m 5m

2I I

E = constant

(a) Indeterminate Beam

FIG. D.3
continued

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782 APPENDIX D Three-Moment Equation

150 kN 100 kN 148.2 162.86

189.32 189.32 50 kN/m
A B
B B C
189.32 189.32

Ay = 101.8 ByAB = 148.2 ByBC= 162.86 Cy = 87.14

By = 311.06

(b) Span End Moments and Shears

150 kN 100 kN
50 kN/m
A C
Ax = 0 D E B

Ay = 101.8 kN By = 311.06 kN Cy = 87.14 kN

(c) Support Reactions

162.86
101.8
1.75 m
D E C
A B F
–48.2
–87.14
–148.2
Shear diagram (kN)

203.6

107.2
76.25

B
A D E F C

189.2
Bending moment diagram (kN·m)

(d) Shear and Bending Moment Diagrams

FIG. D.3 (contd.)
continued

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 Section D.2 Application of Three-Moment Equation 783

Solution
Redundant. The beam has one degree of indeterminacy. The bending moment M B , at the interior support B, is the redundant.
Three-Moment Equation at Joint B. Considering the supports, A, B, and C as , c, and r , respectively, and substituting
L 5 6 m, Lr 5 5 m, I  5 2 I , I r 5 I , P1 5 150 kN, k 1 51y3 , P 2 5 100 kN, k  2 5 2y3 , wr 5 50 kNym , Pr 5 w 5 D 5 Dc 5 Dr 5 0 ,
into Eq. (D.9), we obtain
150(6)2 (1y3)
1 2 M B ⎛⎜ 1 ⎞⎟ 1 C
M A (6) 6 5 M (5)
52 [1 2 (1y3)2 ]
2I ⎝ 2I I ⎠ I 2I
100(6)2 (2y3) 50(5)3
2 [1 2 (2y3)2 ] 2
2I 4I

Since A and C are simple end supports, we have by inspection

M A 5 MC 5 0
Thus, the three-moment equation becomes

16 M B 523029.17
from which we obtain the redundant bending moment to be

M B 52189.32 kN ⋅ m Ans.
Span End Shears and Reactions. The shears at the ends of the spans AB and BC of the continuous beam can now be determined
by applying the equations of equilibrium to the free bodies of the spans shown in Fig. D.3(b). Note that the negative bending
moment M B is applied at the ends B of spans AB and BC so that it causes tension in the upper fibers and compression in the
lower fibers of the beam. By considering the equilibrium of span AB, we obtain
1 ∑ MB 5 0 2Ay (6) 1 150(4) 1 100(2) 2 189.32 5 0
Ay 5 101.8 kN ↑ Ans.
1 ↑ ∑ Fy 5 0 101.8 2 150 2 100 1 B AB
y 50
B AB
y 5 148.2 kN ↑

Similarly, for span BC,

1 ∑ MC 5 0 2ByBC (5) 1 189.32 1 50(5)(2.5) 5 0

ByBC 5 162.86 kN ↑
1 ↑ ∑ Fy 5 0 162.86 2 50(5) 1 C y 5 0
C y 5 87.14 kN ↑ Ans.
By considering the equilibrium of joint B in the vertical direction, we obtain

By 5 ByAB 1 ByBC 5 148.2 1 162.86 5 311.06 kN ↑ Ans.

The reactions are shown in Fig. D.3(c).
Shear and Bending Moment Diagrams. See Fig. D.3(d). Ans.

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784 APPENDIX D Three-Moment Equation

Example D.2

Determine the reactions for the continuous beam shown in Fig. D.4(a) due to the uniformly distributed load and due to the support
settlements of 10 mm at A, 50 mm at B, 20 mm at C, and 40 mm at D. Use the three-moment equation.

30 kN/m
A D
B C

10 m 10 m 10 m

EI = constant

E = 200 GPa I = 700 (106) mm4

(a) Indeterminate Beam

115.2 161.5 116.4 115.2 451.2 183.6 195.1 451.2

30 kN/m 30 kN/m 30 kN/m
B C
A
B 115.2 115.2 B C 451.2 451.2 C D

Ay = 138.5 ByAB = 161.5 ByBC = 116.4 CyBC = 183.6 CyCD = 195.1 Dy = 104.9

By = 277.9 Cy = 378.7
(b) Span End Moments and Shears

30 kN/m
Ax = 0 A
D
B C

Ay = 138.5 kN By = 277.9 kN Cy = 378.7 kN Dy = 104.9 kN

(c) Support Reactions
FIG. D.4

Solution
Redundants. The bending moments M B and M C , at the interior supports B and C, respectively, are the redundants.
Three-Moment Equation at Joint B. By considering the supports A, B, and C as , c, and r , respectively, and
substituting L 510 m , E 5 200 GPa 5 200(10 6 ) kNym 2, I 5 700(10 6 ) mm 4 5 700(1026 ) m 4 , w 5 wr 5 30 kNym, D 5 D A 5
10 mm 5 0.01 m, DC 5 D B 5 50 mm 5 0.05 m , Dr 5 DC 5 20 mm 5 0.02 m and P 5 Pr 5 0 , into Eq. (D.11), we write
(10)2 6(200)(700)
M A 1 4 M B 1 M C 52 (30 1 30) 2 [0.01 2 2(0.05) 1 0.02]
4 (10)2
Since A is a simple end support, M A 5 0. The foregoing equation thus simplifies to
4 M B 1 M C 52912 (1)
Three-Moment Equation at Joint C. Similarly, by considering the supports B, C, and D as , c, and r, respectively, and by
substituting the appropriate numerical values in Eq. (D.11), we obtain
(10)2 6(200)(700)
M B 1 4 M C 1 M D 52 (30 1 30) 2 [0.05 2 2(0.02) 1 0.04]
4 (10)2
continued

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 Section D.2 Application of Three-Moment Equation 785

Since D is a simple end support, M D 5 0 . Thus, the foregoing equation becomes

M B 1 4 M C 521,920 (2)

Support Bending Moments. Solving Eqs. (1) and (2) simultaneously for M B and M C , we obtain
M B 52115.2 kN ⋅ m Ans.
M C 52451.2 kN ⋅ m Ans.
Span End Shears and Reactions. With the redundants M B and M C known, the span end shears and the support reactions can
be determined by considering the equilibrium of the free bodies of the spans AB, BC, and CD, and joints B and C, as shown in
Fig. D.4(b). The reactions are shown in Fig. D.4(c). Ans.

Example D.3

Determine the reactions for the continuous beam shown in Fig. D.5(a) by the three-moment equation.

Solution
Since support A of the beam is fixed, we replace it with an imaginary interior roller support with an adjoining end span of zero
length, as shown in Fig. D.5(b).
Redundants. From Fig. D.5(b), we can see that the bending moments M A and M B at the supports A and B, respectively, are
the redundants.
Three-Moment Equation at Joint A. By using Eq. (D.10) for supports A′ , A, and B, we obtain

2 M A (0 1 6) 1 M B (6) 52225(6)2 (1y2)[1 2 (1y2)2 ]

or

2 M A 1 M B 52506.25 (1)

Three-Moment Equation at Joint B. Similarly, applying Eq. (D.10) for supports A, B, and C, we write

M A (6) 1 2 M B (6 1 9) 1 M C (9)
52225(6) 2 (1y2) ⎡⎣1 2 (1y2) 2 ⎤⎦ 2 (1y4)(30)(9)3
The bending moment at end C of the cantilever overhang CD is computed as
M C 5230(3)(1.5) 52135 kN ⋅ m Ans.
By substituting M C 52135 kN ⋅ m into the foregoing three-moment equation and simplifying, we obtain
M A 1 5 M B 521215 (2)

Support Bending Moments. Solving Eqs. (1) and (2), we obtain

M A 52146.25 kN ⋅ m Ans.
M B 52213.75 kN ⋅ m Ans.
Span End Shears and Reactions. See Figs. D.5(c) and (d). Ans.
continued

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786 APPENDIX D Three-Moment Equation

225 kN
30 kN/m

A
B C D

3m 3m 9m 3m

EI = constant
(a) Indeterminate Beam

225 kN
30 kN/m
A A
B C D

0 3m 3m 9m 3m
(b) Equivalent Beam to be Analyzed by Three-Moment Equation

225 kN 123.75 143.75 213.75 135 126.25 90 135

146.25 213.75 30 kN/m 30 kN/m
B C
A B B C C D
213.75 213.75 135 135

101.25 123.75 143.75 126.25 90

By = 267.5 Cy = 216.25
(c) Span End Moments and Shears

225 kN
30 kN/m
146.25 kN · m A B
C D

101.25 kN 267.5 kN 216.25 kN

(d) Support Reactions
FIG. D.5

SUMMARY
In this appendix, we have considered a formulation of the force (flexibility)
method of analysis of statically indeterminate structures, called the three-
moment equation.
The three-moment equation represents, in a general form, the compati-
bility condition that the slope of the elastic curve be continuous at an interior

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 Problems 787

support of the continuous beam. This method, which can be used for analyzing
continuous beams subjected to external loads and support settlements, involves
treating the bending moments at the interior (and any fixed) supports of the
beam as the redundants. The three-moment equation is then applied at the
location of each redundant to obtain a set of compatibility equations which
can then be solved for the redundant bending moments.

PROBLEMS

Section D.2 15 kN/m

D.1 through D.8 Determine the reactions and draw the shear and
bending moment diagrams for the beams shown in Figs. PD.1 A B C
through PD.8 using the three-moment equation.
7m 7m
EI = constant
200 kN 200 kN
FIG. PD.4

3m 3m 3m 3m 100 kN
10 kN/m
A
B C
12 m 6m
FIG. PD.1
I 2I
E = constant
25 kN/m
FIG. PD.5
A C
B

10 m 20 m 120 kN 120 kN 150 kN

I 2I
A C E
E = 200 GPa G
I = 500(106) mm4 B D F
FIG. PD.2, PD.9
6m 4m 6m 4m 4m 4m

I 2I I
250 kN
25 kN/m E = 200 GPa
A I = 500(106) mm4
D
B C FIG. PD.6, PD.10
12 m 6m 6m

I 1.5I
E = constant
FIG. PD.3

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