SIMPLIFIED AND EFFICIENT EQUATION SOLUTION STRATEGY FOR MOMENT DISTRIBUTION METHOD

The moment distribution method needs to relax the joints in turn repeatedly in the case of multi-joint rotation, which involves extensive calculations and often yields only approximate solutions. By analyzing the relationships between various types of member-end-moments (MEMs) in the moment distribution method, a simplified and efficient strategy based on equation solution is proposed for the moment distribution method. This approach calculates the exact solution for MEMs in continuous beams and rigid frames without sidesway by solving equations with basic unknowns at a minimal number of member ends. As a result, the computational cost is significantly reduced compared to traditional moment distribution methods and matrix displacement methods.