Notes CE311INFLUENCE-LINES 113558

INFLUENCE LINES Concentrated Force.
For any concentrated force F acting on the beam at any

position x, the value of the function can be found by multiplying the ordinate of the
Influence lines have important application for the design of structures that resist large live influence line at the position x by the magnitude of F.
loads. In this topic, we will discuss how to draw the influence line for a statically determinate Uniform Load. In general, the value of a function caused by a uniform distributed
structure. The theory is applied to structures subjected to a distributed load or a series of load is simply the area under the influence line for the function multiplied by the
concentrated forces, and specific applications to floor girders and bridge trusses are given. intensity of the uniform load.
If a structure is subjected to a live or moving load, the variation of the shear and bending Illustration
moment in the member is best described using the influence line. An influence line Draw the influence line for the reaction at A for the beam shown.
represents the variation of either the reaction, shear, or moment at a specific point in a A B
member as a concentrated force moves over the member. Once this line is constructed, one
can tell at a glance where the moving load should be placed on the structure so that it creates 10 m
the greatest influence at the specified point.
Solution
PROCEDURE FOR ANALYSIS Procedure 1: TABULATE VALUES
Either of the following two procedures can be used to construct the influence line at a specific
point P in a member for any function (reaction, shear, or moment).
TABULATE VALUES
• Place a unit load at various locations, x, along the member, and at each location use statics
to determine the value of the function at the specified point.
• If the influence line for a vertical force reaction at a point on a beam is to be constructed,
consider the reaction to be positive at the point when it acts upward on the beam.
• If a shear or moment influence line is to be drawn for a point, take the shear or moment at
the point as positive according to the same sign convention used for drawing shear and
moment diagrams.
• All statically determinate beams will have influence lines that consist of straight line
segments. After some practice one should be able to minimize computations and locate the
unit load only at points representing the end points of each line segment.
INFLUENCE-LINE EQUATIONS
• The influence line can also be constructed by placing the unit load at a variable position x on
the member and then computing the value of R, V, or M at the point as a function of x. In this
manner, the equations of the various line segments composing the influence line can be Procedure 2: EQUATIONS
determined and plotted.
Loadings. Once the influence line for a function (reaction, shear, or moment) has been
constructed, it will then be possible to position the live loads on the beam which will produce
the maximum value of the function. Two types of loadings will now be considered.
Illustration
Draw the influence line for the shear at bending moment at C for the beam shown.
SAMPLE PROBLEM #1:

Given the compound beam as shown below, construct the influence lines for R A, RC, RE, VB
and MB.
A C E
D
2m 2m 3m 3m
SAMPLE PROBLEM #2:
The figure shows a compound beam. Draw influence for RA, RB, MB, VD, MD. VE and ME.
D E
B
C
2m 2m 2m 2m
MÜLLER-BRESLAU PRINCIPLE
The basis of the Müller-Breslau Principle is that we can find the influence line for a
determinate beam by:
1) Removing the restraint caused by the parameter that we want to find the influence
line for
2) Then, displace or rotate the resulting structure by one unit.
If the restraint that is removed is an internal shear or a vertical or horizontal support, then the
second step is to displace the structure at that same location. If the restraint that is removed is
an internal moment or a rotational restraint, then the second step is to rotate the structure at
that same location.
Influence Lines for the Reaction at B:

Influence Lines for the moment reaction at point F :
Influence Lines for the Reaction at D :
Influence Lines for shear at point C' which is 6m to the right of point C :
Influence Lines for the Reaction at F:

Influence Lines for the internal moment at D’
Influence Lines for the internal moment at C’ :
Trusses are often used as primary load-carrying elements for bridges. Hence, for design it is
important to be able to construct the influence lines for each of its members. As shown in the
figure below, the loading on the bridge deck is transmitted to stringers, which in turn transmit
Influence Lines for shear in the beam at point D’ which is 2m to the right of point D : the loading to floor beams and then to the joints along the bottom cord of the truss.
SAMPLE PROBLEM #3:
Draw the influence line for the force in member BC of the Warren truss. Indicate numerical
values for the peaks. All members have the same length.
SAMPLE PROBLEM #4:

For the truss shown, construct the influence lines for the bar for each of the lettered bars.
SAMPLE PROBLEM #6:
A simple beam 45ft long carries moving loads of 10 kips, 10 kips and 5 kips spaced 5ft apart.
Calculate (a) the maximum left reaction and (b) the maximum shear and bending moment at a
SAMPLE PROBLEM #5: section 15ft from the left end.
Given a simple beam 24 ft long, construct the influence lines for the shear and bending
moment at a section 8 ft from the left end, and obtain the maximum shear and maximum
bending moment for the section resulting from a moving uniform load of 3 kips/ft and a
movable concentrated load of 50 kips.

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INFLUENCE LINES Concentrated Force.

For any concentrated force F acting on the beam at any

SAMPLE PROBLEM #1:

Influence Lines for the Reaction at B:

Influence Lines for the Reaction at D :

Influence Lines for the Reaction at F:

Influence Lines for the internal moment at C’ :

SAMPLE PROBLEM #4:

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