Influence Line For Truss

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Outline:
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Bridge Truss Floor System
1.2 Influence Line for Truss Support Reactions
1.3 Influence Line for Truss Member Forces
1.4 Solved example
1.5 Assignment

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1.0 Introduction.
In the previous lesson, we have studied the development of influence
lines for beams. In similar fashion, one can construct the influence
line for trusses. The moving loads are never carried directly on the
main girder but are transmitted across girders to the joints of bottom
chords. Following section will explain load transmission to the truss
followed by the influence line for truss support reactions and
influence line for truss member forces.
1.1 Bridge Truss Floor System
A typical elevation and plan of bridge truss floor system are shown in
figures 1.0 and 1.1. As shown in the figure the loading(the weight of
the traffic) on the bridge deck is transferred to stringers. These
stringers in turn transfer the load to floor beams and then to the
joints along the bottom chord of the truss.
It should be noted that for any load position, the truss is always loaded
at the joints.

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1.2 Influence Line for Truss Support Reactions.
Influence line for truss support reactions are drawn using similar
procedure for a simply supported beam. These influence lines are
useful to find out the support, which will be critical in terms of
maximum loading. For illustration see section 1.4.
1.3 Influence Line for Truss Member Forces.
Influence line for truss member force can be obtained very easily. First,
obtain the ordinate values of IFL for a member by loading each joint
along the deck with a unit load and find member force. The member
force can be found out using the method of joints or sections.
However, the key concept is using the method of section. The data is
prepared in tabular form and plotted for specific truss member force.
The truss member carries axial loads. In the present discussion,
tensile force nature is considered as positive and compressive force
nature is considered as negative.

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1.4 Solved example
Construct the influence lines for the support reactions and the forces in
members GF, CF and CD For the bridge truss shown in figure 1.2.

Solution:
Influence line for RA
Subject the bridge truss to a downward concentrated load of unit
magnitude which moves from left end A to right end E as shown in
fig. 1.3.

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To develop the influence line for the vertical reaction RA of the truss,
determine the expression for RA in terms of the variable position of
the unit load at x, by applying equilibrium equation.

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-ve ΣME = 0
-20RA + 1(20-x) = 0
RA = (20-x) = 1 – x/20
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** the table of values is shown below and x values corresponds to
points A, B, C, D and E of the truss as shown in figure 1.4.

x RA
0 1
5 0.75
10 0.5
15 0 .25

20 0

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Influence line for RE
Similarly, the influence line for the vertical reaction RE of the truss is
drawn figure 1.5.

-ve ΣMA = 0
20RE - 1(x) = 0
RE = 1(x) = x/20
20
x RE
0 0
5 0.25
10 0.5
15 0.75
20 1.0

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Influence line for force in members GF, CF and CD
By using the method of section.
i. When the unit load is at A. all the force in the members is zero
ii. When the unit load is at B see figure 1.6

-ve ΣMA = 0
- 1(5) – (10)FGF = 0
FGF = -5/10 = -0.50KN
+ ΣFy = 0; RA – 1 + FCF sin450 = o Recall SOHCAHTOA for slope
FCF = (1 – 0.75)/0.7071 = 0.35KN
+ ΣFx = 0; –0.50 + FCF cos450 + FCD = o
FCD = 0.50 – 0.25 = 0.25KN

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iii. When the unit load is at C, see figure 1.7

-ve ΣMA = 0
- 1(10) – (10)FGF = 0
FGF = -10/10 = -1.0KN
+ ΣFy = 0; RA – 1 + FCF sin450 = o
FCF = (1 – 0.50)/0.7071 = 0.71KN
+ ΣFx = 0; –1.00 + FCF cos450 + FCD = o
FCD = 1.00 – 0.50 = 0.50KN

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iv. When the unit load is at D the unit load is cut off, see figure 1.8

-ve ΣMA = 0
– (10)FGF = 0
FGF = 0KN
+ ΣFy = 0; RA + FCF sin450 = o
FCF = (-0.25)/0.7071 = -0.35KN
+ ΣFx = 0; 0 + FCF cos450 + FCD = o
FCD = 0.23KN

v. When the unit load is at E, all the force in the members are zero
Tabulating the values of x and the member forces the IFL of the
members are plotted as shown in figures 1.9, 1.10 & 1.11 respectively.

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x FGF FCF FCD
0 (A) 0 0 0
5 (B) -0.50 0.35 0.25
10(C) -1.0 0.71 0.50
15 (D) 0 -0.35 0.23
20 (E) 0 0 0

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1.5 Assignment
Construct the influence lines for the support reactions and the force
in member CF For the bridge truss shown in figure 1.12. Then
compute the maximum live force(tension or compression) that
can be developed in this member due to 15KN/m which is
transmitted to the truss along the bottom chord.

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