JOHN PAUL COLLEGE
THEORY OF STRUCTURES
Influence Line All statically determinate beams
An influence line represents will have influence lines that
the variation of either the consist of straight-line
reaction, shear, moment, or segments. After some practice one
deflection at a specific point in a should be able to minimize
member as a concentrated force moves computations and locate the unit
over the member. load only at points representing
the end points of each line
Once this line is constructed, one segment.
can tell at a glance where the To avoid errors, it is
moving load should be placed on the recommended that one first
structure so that it creates the construct a table, listing “unit
greatest influence at the specified load at x” versus the
point. corresponding value of the
function calculated at the
Furthermore, the magnitude of the specific point; that is,
associated reaction, shear, moment, “reaction R,” “shear V,” or
or deflection at the point can then “moment M.” Once the load has
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be calculated from the ordinates of been placed at various points
the influence-line diagram. along the span of the member, the
tabulated values can be plotted
Influence line VS Shear and Moment and the influence-line segments
Diagram: constructed.
Influence lines represent the Influence-Line Equations:
effect of a moving load only at a The influence line can also be
specified point on a member, whereas constructed by placing the unit
shear and moment diagrams represent load at a variable position x on
the effect of fixed loads at all the member and then computing the
points along the axis of the member. value of R, V, or M at the point
as a function of x. In this
Procedure of Analysis: manner, the equations of the
Tabulated various line segments composing
Place a unit load at various the influence line can be
locations, x, along the member, determined and plotted.
and at each location use statics
to determine the value of the Qualitative Influence Lines
function (reaction, shear, or Müller Breslau principle, it states
moment) at the specified point. that the influence line for a
If the influence line for a function (reaction, shear, or
vertical force reaction at a moment) is to the same scale as the
point on a beam is to be deflected shape of the beam when the
constructed, consider the beam is acted upon by the function.
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.
JOHN PAUL COLLEGE
THEORY OF STRUCTURES
Illustrative Problems:
Situation 5. A beam, 12.5 m long, is
Situation 1. The beam shown is to be simply supported 1 m from the left
analyzed using moving loads. Sketch end and 1.5 m from the right end. A
the influence lines for the vertical highway uniform load of 10 kN/m, and
reaction at A, shear at C, and a concentrated load of 120 kN will
moment at C. pass on this beam. Shear must be
check at point C which is 6 m from
the left support.
1. Determine the length on the beam
where the uniform load must act
to produce the maximum positive
shear at point C.
Situation 2. The beam shown is to be 2. Determine the length on the beam
analyzed using moving loads. Sketch where the uniform load must act
the influence lines for the vertical to produce the maximum negative
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reaction at B, shear at C, and shear at point C.
moment between the supports. 3. Determine the maximum shear that
could develop at point C.
Situation 6. A 12-m beam is simply
supported at the left end and at 4
m from the right end. The beam will
be subjected to a 35 kN/m deadload,
25 kN/m liveload and 15 kN live
Situation 3. The compound beam shown load.
is to be analyzed using moving 4. Determine the maximum reaction at
loads. Sketch the influence lines the right support.
for the vertical reaction at C, 5. Determine the maximum negative
shear at D, and moment at D. shear in a point 5-m from the left
support.
6. Determine the maximum positive
moment at midspan.
7. Determine the maximum negative
moment at the overhang.
Situation 7. For the truss shown
below, Determine the maximum
Situation 4. The compound beam shown response (in compression and
is to be analyzed using moving tension) of CJ due to loadings.
loads. Sketch the influence lines
for the vertical reaction at A,
shear just to the right of support
at C, and moment at A.
WLL = 25 kN/m
PLL = 50 kN
