YapSatInteractive Structural Analysis
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Slope Deflection MethodThe method and solved problems

In the slope-deflection method, the unknowns are joint rotations; for frames with sidesway, story displacements are added. Each member's end moments are written in terms of these unknowns, and joint equilibrium and story shear equations give the solution.

It is shorter than the force method when the degree of indeterminacy is high but few joints can rotate.

Solution steps

  1. Take the rotations of the free joints, and any sway, as the unknowns.
  2. Compute the fixed-end moments of each member.
  3. Write the slope-deflection equation for each member end.
  4. Write moment equilibrium at each joint and solve the system.
  5. Substitute the rotations to get the end moments, find the reactions, and check equilibrium.

Solved problems

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