The Slope Deflection Equation

The slope-deflection method relies on the use of the slope-deflection equation, which relate the
rotation of an element (both rotation at the ends and rigid body rotation) to the total moments at either
end. The ultimate goal is to find the end moments for each member in the structure as a function of all
of the *DOFs associated with both ends of the member. From there, we can apply equilibrium
conditions at all of the joints to solve for the unknown rotations. This is the system of equations that we
will have to solve, where the equations are the equilibrium equations for each node and the unknowns
are the translations and rotations of the nodes.

*A degree-of-freedom (or DOF) is a single way that a node is permitted to move or rotate.

The rotation of the chord (with the greek symbol psi ψ) is equal to:
 The slope deflection equations from equations may also be restated as:

Where instead of referring to nodes A and B, it refers to node n, which is the near end (the end that you
are finding the end moment for) and node f is the far end (the node at the opposite end of the element).

If we have an element that ends at a pin, and so does not have an end moment at one end, then the
entire analysis above may be redone to take advantage of the extra information.

Where node r is the node at the rigid end (a continuous end or an end that has a fixed end support) and
node h is the node at the hinged or pinned end that cannot resist moment. Notice that, unlike the
equation which has two different rotations θn and θf, this equation only has one rotation θr. This
effectively reduces the number of unknown rotations that we will have to solve in the slope-deflection
method analysis. This reduces the number of simultaneous equations that must be solved at the end of
the problem. Therefore, it is always a good idea to take advantage of the last two equations when
possible to reduce the overall amount of work.
 The Slope-Deflection Method for Beams

The slope-deflection equations give us the moment at either end of each element within a structure as a
function of both end rotations, the chord rotation, and the fixed end moments caused by the external
loads between the nodes

The Slope-Deflection Method for Beams

After we have those equations determined, we can apply moment equilibrium conditions at each node,
i.e. all the moments applied to the node must add to zero. Then we can solve those equations
simultaneously to find the end rotations. These end rotations may then be substituted back into the
slope-deflection equations to find the real moments at the ends of all of the members. From these
moments, we can find the shears and reactions and the moment diagrams for the entire structure.

The entire process for an indeterminate beam is summarized as follows:

1. Find all of the unrestrained DOFs in the beam structure.

2. Define an equilibrium condition for each DOF (for rotations, the sum of all moments at each
rotating node must equal zero).
3. Find the moments to put into the equilibrium conditions using the slope deflection equations.
4. For each element that has an external force between the nodes, find the fixed end moments at
either end.
5. If there are any support settlements or imposed displacements at node locations, find the chord
rotations caused by that settlement/displacement.
6. Construct each slope deflection equation.
7. Use the resulting equilibrium equations to solve for the values or the unknown DOF rotations
(solving a system of equations).
8. Use the now-known DOF rotations to find the real end moments for each element of the beam
(sub the rotations back into the slope-deflection equations).
9. Use the end moments and external loadings to find the shears and reactions.
 10. Draw the resultant shear and bending moment diagrams.

Example : Find the bending moment diagram for the 4° beam

Degree of freedom:
FIXED END MOMENTS