13.3 Slope-Deflection Equations
for Nonprismatic Members
The slope-deflection equations for prismatic members were developed in
Chapter 11. In this section we will generalize the form of these equations
so that they apply as well to nonprismatic members. To do this, we will use
the results of the previous section and proceed to formulate the equations
in the same manner discussed in Chapter 11, that is, considering the
effects caused by the loads, relative joint displacement, and each joint
rotation separately, and then superimposing the results.
Loads. Loads are specified by the fixed-end moments and
acting at the ends A and B of the span. Positive moments act
clockwise.
Relative Joint Translation. When a relative displacement between
the joints occurs, the induced moments are determined from Eq. 13–6. At
end A this moment is and at end B it is
Rotation at
A
. If end A rotates the required moment in the span
at A is Also, this induces a moment of at
end B.
Rotation at
B
. If end B rotates a moment of must act at end
B, and the moment induced at end A is
The total end moments caused by these effects yield the generalized
slope-deflection equations, which can therefore be written as
Since these two equations are similar, we can express them as a single
equation. Referring to one end of the span as the near end (N) and the
other end as the far end (F ), and representing the member rotation as
we have
(13–8)
Here
internal moment at the near end of the span; this moment is
positive clockwise when acting on the span.
absolute stiffness of the near end determined from tables or by
calculation.
K
N
=
M
N
=
M
N
= K
N
1u
N
+ C
N
u
F
- c11 + C
N
22+ 1FEM2
N
c =¢>L,
M
BA
= K
B
B
u
B
+ C
BA
u
A
-
¢
L
11 + C
BA
2
R
+ 1FEM2
BA
M
AB
= K
A
B
u
A
+ C
AB
u
B
-
¢
L
11 + C
AB
2
R
+ 1FEM2
AB
C
BA
K
B
u
B
= C
AB
K
A
u
B
.
K
B
u
B
u
B
,
C
AB
K
A
u
A
= C
BA
K
B
u
A
K
A
u
A
.
u
A
,
-[K
B
¢>L]11 + C
BA
2.
-[K
A
¢>L]11 + C
AB
2
¢
1FEM2
BA
1FEM2
AB
534 CHAPTER 13 BEAMS AND FRAMES H AVING N ONPRISMATIC M EMBERS
13