Bahir Dar University Institute of Technology

School of Civil and Water Resource Engineering

Theory of Structures I
(CENG 2111)

Chapter 3
Influence Lines for Statically Determinate Structures
• Introduction
• Influence Lines for :
• Reactions,
• Shear force
• Bending Moment and
• Axial forces
• Maximum BM and SF diagrams
• Müller Breslau Principle for Qualitative Influence Lines
3.1 Introduction

 The effects caused on a structure by forces which vary with

time is not constant
Example: Bridge
 The loads remain constant, but the application varies across
the span
 If the position of the force vary its effect will also differ
Continued….
Continued….

 The diagram which shows how action effects vary as a single

load (with magnitude of unity) rolls across the span is known
as an influence line diagram
Continued….
Difference b/n influence line and shear or moment
diagram.

 Influence lines diagram represent the effect of a

moving load only at a specified point on a member,
 Shear and moment diagrams represent the effect of
fixed loads at all points along the axis of the
member.
Influence Lines for Reactions, SF, BM and axial forces

Beams
 Support reactions, SFs and BMs at any section of abeam
subjected to a moving loads will vary as loads cross the
span
 An IL for reaction, SF or BM will show:
 The reaction, SF or BM influence coefficient by which a rolling
load of magnitude P must be multiplied to give the actual
reaction, SF or BM
Continued….
Construction of Influence Lines [IL]
i. Tabulating values
ii. Developing equations
iii. Müller Breslau Principles
 For all of these procedures, the moving dimensionless force of
magnitude unity will be chosen.
Continued….

i) Tabulating Values
 Place a unit load at various locations, x, along the member,
 at each location use statics to determine the value of the
function (reaction, shear or moment) at the specified point.
Continued….
 To avoid error it is recommended that one first construct
a table,

unit load at Reaction Shear Moment

x R V M

 The tabulated values can be plotted and the influence line

segments constructed.
Continued….

ii) Influence Line Equations

 Influence line can be constructed by deriving a general
mathematical equation to compute parameters (e.g. reaction,
shear or moment)
 This will be done for a specific point under the effect of
moving load at a variable position x
Examples:
Influence Line for a Reaction:
Construct the influence line for the reaction at support B for
the beam of span 10 m shown below.
Continued….
[Method I] Tabulate values
Solution:
 A unit load is places at distance x from support A

 The reaction value RB is calculated by taking moment

with reference to support A
 Continued….
Example: if the load is placed at 2.5 m

Similarly: the load can be placed at 5.0, 7.5 and 10 m away from
support A and reaction RB can be computed.
unit load at x Reaction RB

0 0
2.5 0.25
5 0.5
7.5 0.75
10 1
Continued….
 The graphical representation of influence line for RB will be
then,
[Method II] Influence Line Equation
 When the unit load is placed at any location between two
supports from support A at distance x

• The equation for reaction RB can be written as:

Continued….
•The influence line using this equation results a diagram
Influence Line for Shear and moment at a section:
Construct the influence line for shear force and bending
moment at point C of the beam
[Method I] Tabulate values
 Place a unit load at different location at distance x from
support A
 Find reactions at A and
 Finally compute shear force taking section at C.
 Shear force at C should be carefully computed when unit
load is placed before and after point C
unit load at x Shear force V at C Bending moment
at C
0 0 0
2.5 -0.25 1.25
5(+) -0.5 2.5
5(-) 0.5 2.5
7.5 0.25 1.25
10 0 0
 IL for Shear force at C

IL for Bending moment at C

[Method II]Influence Line Equation:
 In this case, we need to determine two equations as the unit
load position before and after point C
 will show different shear force sign due to discontinuity

∑Fy=0 -1-Vc+(1-X/10)=0
Vc=-X/10, For X between 0 and 5, Vc= -X/10
∑Mc=0 -RA*5+1*(5-X) +Mc=0,
Mc=-(1-X/10)*5-1(5-X)
Mc=-X/2
 For X between 5 and 10m i.e. 5m≤x≤10m

Taking the right part of the beam,

∑Fy=0 -1+Vc+(X/10)=0

Vc=1-X/10, For X between 5 and 10, Vc= 1-X/10

∑Mc=0 RB*5+1*(X) -Mc=0,
Mc=(X/10)*5-1(5-X)
Mc=5-X/2
 The resulting IL for SF and BM at c

IL for Shear force at C

IL for Bending moment at C

 Müller Breslau Principles

a. Support Reaction
 Removing the restraint from the structure
 Apply a force that causes a unit displacement in the
positive direction.
b. Shear at section C
 Introduce a roller at section C
 Apply a force in the positive direction that cause a
unit displacement in the of Vc.
C. Moment at section C
 Introduce a hinge at C and permit Rotation at C
 Apply Moment in the positive direction that cause a
unit rotation in the direction of Mc.
 Influence Lines for Simple Trusses
Trusses are often used as primary load-carrying
elements for bridges.
Construction
The influence line for the member is constructed by
plotting the data and drawing straight lines between
the points.
 Cont…
1. Draw the influence line for the force in member
DG and CG of the bridge truss shown.
 Cont…
Step 1- Develop the reaction force equation
When in each successive joint at the bottom cord
is loaded with a unit load

Step 2-Taking cases

 Cont---
Step 3-Tabulate the result
Value of Reaction Force Value of Force
X R DG

0 0 0

5 0.25 -0.353

10- 0.5 -0.707

10+ 0.75 0.707

15 0.75 0.353

20 1 0
 Cont---
Step 4-Draw influence line diagram
 Use of Influence Line
 ILs are useful to the structural analyst in two ways:
For a given response function (i.e. SF or BM), ILs are used to
1. Determine the value of the corresponding response
function for any given loading arrangement
2. How a structure should be loaded in order to maximize a
particular response function or to cause the worst effect on
the given section
3.2.1.2 Determination of Response Parameters
a) A number of concentrated loads

RB at this loading condition will be

 RB =P1*a1+P2*a2+P3*a3
Shear force at point C will be,
Vc= P1*b1+P2*b2+P3*b2
 Bending moment at point C for this loading condition will be,
Mc=P1*C1+P2*C2+P3*C3
b) Distributed loading
RB=q*A, A=area of trapezoid
RB=q*[1/2*(h1+h2)*b]
 Shear force at point C will be,
Vc = q*A, A=area of trapezoid
Vc = q*[1/2*(h3+h4)*c]
 Bending moment at point C for this loading
condition will be,
Mc=q*A, A=area of trapezoid
Mc=q*[1/2*(h1+h2)*a]
3.2.1.3 Determination of load positioning for maximum effects
a) Single loading
 Maximum +ve shear at c
occurs when P is just
to the right of c
Vc=0.5*P
 Maximum -ve shear at c
occurs when P is just
to the right of c
Vc=-0.5*P
 Maximum B.M at c occurs
when the load is on point c
Mc=2.5*P
b) UDL- longer than the span
 Maximum +ve shear at c occurs
when the load covers the whole
portion of the beam to the right
of C
Vc= ½ *(5*0.5*q)
 Maximum -ve shear at c occurs
when the load covers the whole
portion of the beam to the
left of C
Vc= -½ *(5*0.5*q)
 Maximum B.M at c occurs
when the whole beam is covered
by the load

Mc=1/2*2.5*10*q
c) UDL- Shorter than the span

 Maximum +ve shear at c occurs

when the load covers e distance
portion of the beam to the right
of C
Vc= (e*½ * (0.5+h)*q)
 Maximum -ve shear at c occurs
when the load covers e distance
portion of the beam to the
left of C
Vc=-(e*½ * (0.5+h2)*q)
 For Maximum B.M at to occur the load must be arranged
on either side of C the shaded portion yields the largest area
 This will happen when the ordinates Y1 &Y2 are equal
 The reaction at B is given by

 And moment at C will be

 Substituting value of reaction B we obtain

 To compute maximum value of moment at C,

 Therefore,
 Using geometric expression, it can be stated that

 The load should be placed in a way that the section

divides it in the same proportion as it divides the
span
d) Several point loads
Maximum shear
 Once the influence line diagram is drawn, the
maximum effect can be determined by multiplying the
peak ordinate of IL by the magnitude of the force.

 If the number of loads is small it is possible to

determine the max shear by trial and error procedure.

 Other wise max shear is obtained based on the change

in shear taken place as the load moves
 Trial and error procedure
Consider the following

The influence line for shear at section c

Compute the maximum shear response at point C
 When many concentrated loads act on the span,
trial and error procedure is tedious.
 The critical position of loads can be determined
by finding the change in shear occurs.
 Assuming that series of loads are moving from right end to
left end

 The influence line for shear at the section

Consider the following two cases

Case-1
Case-2
 If P1 moves from case 1 to case 2, change in shear
for P1 will be
∆VP1= P1*(Y1-2-Y1-1)
 If P2 moves from X2-1 to X2-2 ,change in shear for P2
will be
∆VP2= P2*(Y2-2-Y2-1)
 By the same procedure change in shear for all the
loads will be determined.
 Total change in shear from case 1 to 2 will be

∆V1-2= ∆VP1+ ∆VP2 + ∆VP3 + ∆VP4

 If the slope of the IL is S for loading condition P2
S=(Y2-2-Y1-2)/(X2-2-X2-1)
 As long as each computed Change in shear is positive
the new position will yield larger shear in the beam at C
than the previous loading.
 Each movement is investigated till we get ∆V is –ve.
 If –ve ∆V is obtained the previous loading will give
largest shear at C in the beam.
 For Example consider three loading case
 When loads are moving from B to A then as they move
closer to C, the shear value will increase.

 When load passes Pt. C, there could be increase or

decrease in shear
 Assume that ΣP is summation of the loads remaining
on the right side of the beam
 When P1 crosses point C, then P2 will approach C, so
change in shear:

 When P2 crosses C, then P3 will approach C, so change

in shear:
 In case if dV is positive, then shear at c has
increased
 if dV is negative, then shear at c has
decreased.
 Therefore, load, which crosses and induces
negative changes in shear, should be placed on
Point C.
Example
 Compute maximum shear at the section C.
Solution
 The influence line at section C is shown in following
Figure

 When first load 4kN crosses section C and second load

approaches section C then change in shear at a section
can be given by
 When 2nd load crosses section C and 3rd load
approaches section C then change in shear:

 Place the 2nd concentrated load at the section to compute

max shear:
Maximum Moment

 The change in moment for a load P1 that moves from position x1

to x2 over a beam can be obtained by
P1 *(y2– y1).
 Let us assume the slope of the influence line (Figure 3.45) is S,
then (y2 – y1)=S (x2– x1)
 Hence the change in moment can be given by:

Example
 Compute the maximum moment at the section C
Solution
 Influence line for moment at C

 Place each of the four-concentrated loads at the peak of

influence line, to get the largest influence from each
force
 Beam loaded with a series of loads – first load at
section C

 Beam loaded with a series of loads - Second load at

section C
 Beam loaded with a series of loads - Third load at
section C

 Beam loaded with a series of loads - Fourth load at section

C
 When the first load 40kN crosses the section and second
load 50kN is approaching section,

 When the second load 50kN crosses the section and third
load 50kN is approaching section
At this stage, we find negative change in
moment;
hence place second load at the section case and
maximum moment
Absolute maximum moment in beams supporting a
series of concentrated loads

Determination of both the location of the point in the

beam and the position of loading.

Absolute maximum moment

 Occurs under one of the concentrated forces
 This force should be positioned on the beam in such
away that:
 The force and the resultant force are equidistant
from the centerline of the beam
 Assume PR to be resultant of the loads, which are on the
beam, located in such way that it nearer to P3 at a distance
of d1
 If P12 is resultant of P1 and P2, and distance from P3 is d2
 Our objective is to find the maximum bending moment
under load P 3
 The bending moment under P3 is expressed as
 Differentiating M with respect to x for finding out maximum
moment

 Generally Absolute maximum moment in beams occurs

under the largest force lying nearest to the resultant force
Example
 Compute the absolute maximum bending moment for the
beam having span of 30 m and loaded with a series of
concentrated loads moving across the span as shown.
 Con’t
Solution:
 First of all compute the center of gravity of loads from first
point load of 100 KN

 Now place the loads as follows

 Also, draw the influence line for the section X.