Example:

Tactic: release joints one at a time while locking the other one; consider carry-over moments at every step
120 kN

50 kN/m
EI constant

A
4m

B
6m

10 m

AB
K 0.4
K infinity
Distribution Factor (DF) 0.0
STEP
Initial

ACTION
all joints locked

release joint B

10

lock joint B; release joint C

lock joint C; release joint B

lock joint B; release joint C

lock joint C; release joint B

lock joint B; release joint C

lock joint C; release joint B

lock joint B; release joint C

lock joint C; release joint B

lock joint B; release joint C

FEM
Joint moment imbalance
Distribution
Carry-over
Resultant moments
Joint moment imbalance
Distribution
Carry-over
Resultant moments
Joint moment imbalance
Distribution
Carry-over
Resultant moments
Joint moment imbalance
Distribution
Carry-over
Resultant moments
Joint moment imbalance
Distribution
Carry-over
Resultant moments
Joint moment imbalance
Distribution
Carry-over
Resultant moments
Joint moment imbalance
Distribution
Carry-over
Resultant moments
Joint moment imbalance
Distribution
Carry-over
Resultant moments
Joint moment imbalance
Distribution
Carry-over
Resultant moments
Joint moment imbalance
Distribution
Carry-over
Resultant moments

-172.8

75.4
-97.4

-97.4

61.5
-35.9

-35.9

7.7
-28.2

-28.2

1.0
-27.3

-27.3

0.1
-27.1

BA BC

CB

0.4 0.4
0.8
0.5 0.5

0.4
0.4
1.0

115.2 -416.7
-301.5
150.8 150.8

416.7
416.7

266.0 -266.0
0.0

75.4
492.1
492.1
-492.1

-246.0
266.0 -512.0
-246.0
123.0 123.0

0.0
0.0

389.0 -389.0
0.0

61.5
61.5
61.5
-61.5

-30.8
389.0 -419.7
-30.8
15.4 15.4

0.0
0.0

404.3 -404.3
0.0

7.7
7.7
7.7
-7.7

-3.8
404.3 -408.2
-3.8
1.9 1.9

0.0
0.0

406.3 -406.3
0.0

1.0
1.0
1.0
-1.0

-0.5
406.3 -406.7
-0.5
0.2 0.2

0.0
0.0

406.5 -406.5
0.0

0.1
0.1
0.1
-0.1

-0.1

-27.1

406.5 -406.6

0.0

Example:
Tactic: joints released and locked simultaneously, but carry-over moments considered after imbalance distribution

120 kN

50 kN/m
EI constant

A
4m

B
6m

10 m

K
K
D.F.
ACTION
all joints locked
release joint B, release joint C

release joint B, release joint C

release joint B, release joint C

release joint B, release joint C

release joint B, release joint C

release joint B, release joint C

release joint B, release joint C

release joint B, release joint C

FEM
Imbalance
Distribution
Carry-over
Resultant moments
Imbalance
Distribution
Carry-over
Resultant moments
Imbalance
Distribution
Carry-over
Resultant moments
Imbalance
Distribution
Carry-over
Resultant moments
Imbalance
Distribution
Carry-over
Resultant moments
Imbalance
Distribution
Carry-over
Resultant moments
Imbalance
Distribution
Carry-over
Resultant moments
Imbalance
Distribution
Carry-over
Resultant moments

AB
0.4
infinity
0.0

BA BC
0.4 0.4
0.8
0.5 0.5

-172.8

115.2 -416.7
-301.5
150.8 150.8
-208.4
266.0 -474.3
-208.4
104.2 104.2
-37.7
370.1 -407.8
-37.7
18.8 18.8
-26.0
389.0 -415.0
-26.0
13.0 13.0
-4.7
402.0 -406.7
-4.7
2.4 2.4
-3.3
404.3 -407.6
-3.3
1.6 1.6
-0.6
406.0 -406.6
-0.6
0.3 0.3
-0.4
406.3 -406.7
-0.4
0.2 0.2
-0.1
406.5 -406.5

75.4
-97.4

52.1
-45.3

9.4
-35.9

6.5
-29.4

1.2
-28.2

0.8
-27.4

0.1
-27.3

0.1
-27.2

CB
0.4
0.4
1.0
416.7
416.7
-416.7
75.4
75.4
75.4
-75.4
52.1
52.1
52.1
-52.1
9.4
9.4
9.4
-9.4
6.5
6.5
6.5
-6.5
1.2
1.2
1.2
-1.2
0.8
0.8
0.8
-0.8
0.1
0.1
0.1
-0.1
0.1
0.1