V.

DEMENKO

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

2013

Lecture 24 Continuous (Multispan) Beams and the Method of Three

Moments
Beams that have more than one span and there are continuous throughout
their lengths (Fig. 1) are known as continuous beams. They are commonly
encountered in aircraft, bridges, buildings, pipelines and various kinds of
specialized structures. Continuous beams are statically indeterminate and may
be analyzed by the method of superposition. In this lecture, we describe a
particular form of the superposition method, called the method of three
moments, that is especially useful in the analysis of the continuous beams.
We assume that all loads acting on the beam are vertical and that there are
no restraints against rotation at the supports (that is, none of the supports is fixed
or clamped). In addition, we assume that there are no axial deformations due to
restraints against horizontal movement. Under these conditions, all reactions at
the supports are vertical forces.

Fig. 1
The design scheme of continuous beam is represented in Fig. 2

Fig. 2
A system may be singly, two-fold, three-fold,...., m-fold statically indeterminate,
depending on the number of redundant supports.
Consider the n und n+1 spans. The moments M n 1 , M n and M n 1 are
applied to replace the removed constraints between adjacent spans:

V. DEMENKO

Fn

M n-1

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

Mn

2013

Fn+1

Mn

Mn+1

ln+1

ln
Fig. 3

The moments shown in Fig. 3 are considered positive. The displacement

equation expresses the fact that the mutual angle of rotation of the adjacent
sections of the spans n and n+1 over the n-th support must be zero (Fig. 4):

Fig. 4
n, n n, n 1 .

(1)

(a) Consider the n span and determine the n, n angle:

(b)

Fig. 5
Evidently that n, n n, n Fn n, n M n 1 n, n M n .

(2)

Determine these angles. For this purpose we draw moment diagrams due to the
given forces. The rigidity EI is assumed to be the same for all the spans:

V. DEMENKO

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

2013

In accordance with the Mohrs method:

l

1 n
n, n Fn
M yF x M y x dx n,n . (3)
EI y 0

Fig. 6

To calculate the n,n M n 1

angle we will use the
Vereschagins method:
n,n M n 1

Fig. 7

1 M n 1ln 1
. (4)
2
3
EI

V. DEMENKO

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

2013

To calculate the n,n M n

angle we will use the
Veresschagins method:

n , n M n

1 M n ln 2
. (5)
3
EI 2

Fig. 8
Substitute the results obtained in expression (2):
n, n n, n

M n 1 ln M nln
.

6 EI y
3EI y

(6)

(b) Consider the n+1 span and determine the n,n 1 angle:

Evidently, that
n, n 1 n, n 1Fn 1 n, n 1M n
n,n 1M n 1 .

Fig. 9

(7)

V. DEMENKO

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

2013

In accordance with the Mohrs method

l 1

1 n
n,n1Fn1
M yF x M y x dx
EI 0
n,n 1 .
(8)

Fig. 10

To calculate the n,n 1 M n angle we

will use the Vereschagins method:
1 M n ln 1 2
n,n 1M n
. (9)
EI y
2
3

Fig. 11

V. DEMENKO

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

2013

To calculate the n,n 1 M n angle we

will use the Vereschagins method:
1 M n1ln1 1
n,n1M n1
. (10)
EI y
2
3

Fig. 12
We substitute the results obtained into expression (7)
M l M l
n, n 1 n,n 1 n n 1 n 1 n 1 .
3EI y
6 EI y

(11)

Equation (1) takes the form

M l
M l
M l
M l
n,n n 1 n n n n,n 1 n n 1 n 1 n 1 .
6 EI y
3EI y
3EI y
6 EI y

(12)

The equation assumes the following final form

M n 1ln 2 M n ln ln 1 M n 1ln 1 6 EI y n,n n,n 1 .

(13)

This equation is known as the equation of three moments. The principle of

deriving such equations for a multispan beam is sufficiently clear. The equation
of three moments is set up for each pair of adjacent spans with all pairs
considered in succession. Consequently the number of equations for a
multispan beam is equal to the degree of static indeterminacy.
After the equations have been solved and the moments found, it is an easy
matter to draw a bending moment diagram and to find the stresses in the beam.

V. DEMENKO

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

2013

Example 1 Open the static indeterminacy of the beam shown in Fig. 13.

Given: F=10 kN,

a=1m, b=2m,
c=3m
Qz x , M y x ?

Fig. 13
The system is two-fold statically indeterminate. A feature of the system is
the presence of the overhanging end on the right and the built-in end on the
left. We transfer the force F to the point over the right support and introduce the
moment M 3 in place of the removed overhang (cantilever part).
We replace the built-in fixation by two infinitely close supports, i.e., we
introduce a span of length l1 0 on the left. Equivalent system is shown in
Fig. 13
For the pair of spans AB and BC equation (13) becomes
M 0l1 2 M1l1 l2 M 2l2 6 EI 1,1 1,2 , M 0 0 , 1,1 1,2 0 .

l1 0, l2 a, l3 b .
We proceed to the second pair of spans. The moment of the given force
M D M 3 may be considered either as a support moment equal to F or as a
given external load. We shall consider the moment F as a support moment.
Equation (13) then yields
M1l2 2 M 2 l2 l3 M 3l3 6 EI 2,2 2,3 , 2,2 2,3 0 .
By solving the equations obtained simultaneously, we find
0 0 2 M1 0 a M 2a 0,

M1a 2 M 2 a b F C b 0,
2 Fbc
Fbc
M2
10.91 kNm, M1
5.45 kNm .
3a 4b
3a 4b

V. DEMENKO

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

2013

Thereafter we draw a bending moment diagram connecting to separately

considered spans:

Fig. 14
Example 2 Open the statically indeterminacy of the beam shown in Fig. 15.

Given: F=10 kN,

q=10 kN/m,
M A 20kNm ,
M B 40kNm ,
M C 30kNm ,
a=1m, b=2m,
c=3m, d=1m
Qz x , M y x ?

Fig. 15
In this case
M 0 F a M A 10 1 20 10kNm,
M 2 q

d2
1
M C 10 30 25kNm.
2
2

V. DEMENKO

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

1.1 11 M B

2013

M Bb
40 2
80

.
3EI
3EI
3EI

Fig. 16

qc3
10 33
45
1,2 1,2 q

24 EI
24 EI
4 EI
Fig. 17
Substituting into equation (13) we get

45
80
10 2 2 M 2 3 25 3 6 EI

.
3EI 4 EI
From this, M1 3.75 kNm.
Therefore, opening of statical indeterminacy is finished and we will consider the
equilibrium of two separate spans:
(a) left span:

Fig. 18

V. DEMENKO

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

(b) right span:

Fig. 19

2013

10