1.

2.0

OBJECTIVE
1.1

Part 1 : To plot moment influence line

1.2

Part 2 : To apply the use of a moment influence on a simply supported beam

LEARNING OUTCOMES
2.1

Application of engineering knowledge in practical application

2.2

To enhance the technical competency in civil engineering through laboratory

application.

2.3

Communicate effectively in group.

2.4

To identify problem, solving and finding out appropriate solution through

laboratory application.

3.0

INTRODUCTION
Moving loads on beam are common features of design. Many road bridges are
constructed from beam, and as such have to be designed to carry a knife edge load,
or a string of wheel loads, or a uniformly distributed load, or perhaps the worst
combination of all three. To find the critical moment in section, influence line is
used.

4.0

THEORY
Definition : Influence line is define as a line representing the changes in either
moment, shear force, reaction or displacement at a section of a beam when a unit
load moves on the beam.
Part 1: This experiment examines how moment varies at a cut section as a unit
load moves from one end another (see diagram 1 ). From the diagram,
moment influence equation can be written.

For a unit load between 0 < x < a

Mx = ( L x ) a - 1 (a x ).(1)
L
For unit load between a < x < b ,
Mx = xb / L ( x a )..(2)

cut
1 ( unit load )

Mx

Mx
RA = (1-x/L)

RB = x/L
a

b
L

Figure 1

Part 2 : If the beam is loaded as shown below, the moment at the cut can be
calculated using the influence line. ( See diagram 2 ).

Moment at the cut section = F1y1 + F2y2 + F3y3 .(3)

( y1, y2, and y3 are coordinates derived from the influence line in terms of x 1, x2, x3, a,
b and L )
a+b = L

x1
x2
x3

y1

y2

Moment influence line for cut section

Figure 2

5.0

APPARATUS

y3

Beam
Grooved
Hanger

Digital
Force
Metre

Figure 3

Load
Hange
r

Figure 4

6.0

PROCEDURES

Part 1 :
1. The digital forces meter was reads zero with no load.
2. Hanger with any mass between 150 300 g was placed at the first
grooved hanger support at the left support and the digital forces reading
were recorded in Table 1.
3. The procedure repeated to the next grooved hanger until to the last
groove hanger at the right hand support.
4. Calculation in Table 1 were completed.
Part 2 :
1. Three load hangers with any load between 50 400 g were placed on it
at any position between the supports. The position and the digital forces
display reading were recorded in Table 2.
2. The procedure was repeated with three other locations.
3. The calculation in Table 2 were completed.

7.0

RESULT

Part 1
Location of

Digital Force

Moment at

Experimental

Theoretical

load from left

Display

cut section

influence line

Influence lines

hand support

Reading (N)

(N)

value (N)

value (Nm)

(m)
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.10
0.12
0.14
0.16
0.18
0.20
0.22
0.24
0.26
0.30
0.32
0.34
0.36
0.40

0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.4
1.1
0.9
0.5

0.025
0.038
0.050
0.063
0.075
0.088
0.100
0.113
0.138
0.150
0.163
0.175
0.188
0.175
0.138
0.113
0.063

0.013
0.019
0.025
0.032
0.038
0.045
0.051
0.057
0.069
0.075
0.082
0.088
0.094
0.088
0.069
0.057
0.032

0.013
0.019
0.025
0.032
0.038
0.045
0.051
0.057
0.064
0.070
0.076
0.083
0.095
0.082
0.068
0.055
0.027

Table 1

Notes :
1. Moment at cut section = Digital force reading x 0.125
2. Experimental Influence line values = Moment (Nm)
Load (N)
3. Calculate the theoretical value using the equation 1 for load position 40 260
mm and equation 2 for load position 320mm and 400mm.
Part 2
Location

1
2
3

Position of hanger from left

hand support (m)
200
gram
0.10
0.18
0.06

250
gram
0.26
0.04
0.12

300
gram
0.06
0.40
0.36

Digital force
reading (N)

Experimental
Moment (Nm)

Theoretical
moment
(Nm)

2.6
1.8
2.4

0.325
0.225
0.300

0.320
0.397
0.360

0.40

0.26

0.32

3.9

0.488

Table 2

Notes :
1. Experimental moment = Digital force reading x 0.125
2. Theoretical moment is calculated using equation (3)
8.0

CALCULATION

Example Calculation
Part 1
Moment at cut section= 0.2 x 0.125
= 0.025 N
Experimental Influence line values

= Moment (Nm)
Load (N)
= 0.025
2
= 0.0125

Theoretical Influence lines value;

Equation 1 for load position 40 to 260 mm

Mx = (0.44 0.04) (0.3) 1(0.3 0.04)

0.44
= 0.013 Nm

0.013 m

0..572

Equation 2 for load position 320mm to 400mm

When x = 0.32 m
Mx = (0.32) (0.14) (0.32 0.3)
0.44
= 0.082 Nm
Part 2
F1 =
=

200g
200 x 9.81
1000

=
F2 =
=

1.962N
250g
250 x 9.81
1000

=
F3 =
=

2.453N
300g
300 x 9.81
1000

2.943N

2.943 N

1.962 N

2.453 N

X2

X1
X3

y3

y1

y2

Moment influence line for cut section

*For location 1,
Experimental moment at cut section (Nm)

= Digital force reading x 0.125

= 2.6 x 0.125
= 0.325 Nm

Moment at cut :
For 0 x 0.3
Mx = 0
Mx = 1(0.3)-

(0.3) 1 (0.3-x)

0.44
= 0.3 - 0.3x 0.3 + x
0.44
Mx = 0.318x
When x = 0.3
Mx = 0.318x
= 0.318 (0.3)
= 0.095 Nm
For 0.3 x 0.44

Mx = 0
x (0.14 )
0.44

Mx =

( x 0.3)

Mx = - 0.682x + 0.3
When x = 0.3
Mx = - 0.628 (0.3) + 0.3
= 0.095 Nm

Use interpolation to get y1,y2 and y3

y1,

0.095 =

y1

0.3

0.10

0.3y = 0.0095
y1 = 0.032 m

y2,

0.095 =
1.3

y2
0.26

y2 = 0.082 m

y3,

0.095 =
1.3

y3
0.06

y3 = 0.019 m
Theoritical moment at cut section (Nm)
=

F1y1 + F2y2 + F3y3

1.962 (0.032) + 2.453 (0.082) + 2.943 (0.019)

0.320 Nm

2.453 N

1.962 N

2.943 N

x3
x1
x2

y2

y1

y3

*For location 2,
Experimental moment (Nm) = 0.225 Nm
When y1 = 0.057 m , y2 = 0.013 m , y3 = 0.086m
Theoritical moment (Nm) = 0.397 Nm

1.962 N

2.453 N

2.953 N

x3
x2
x1

y1

y2

y3

*For location 3,
Experimental moment (Nm) = 0.300 Nm
When y1 = 0.019m , y2 = 0.038m , y3 = 0.078m
Theoritical moment (Nm) = 0.360 Nm

2.453 N

2.943 N

1.962 N

x1
x3
x2

y2

y3

y1

*For location 4,
Experimental moment (Nm) = 0.488 Nm
When y1 = 0.086 m , y2 = 0.082 m , y3 = 0.069m
Theoritical moment (Nm) = 0.572 Nm

9.0

DISCUSSIONS

Part 1
1. Derive equation 1 and 2.
F1

cut

a
RA = =

b
L

RB

Fx = 0
Fy= RA + RB 1 = 0
RA + R B = 1
Mx = 0
RA( L ) 1( L x ) = 0
RAL = 1(L- x)

RB

RA = 1( L x )
L
RA = 1 - x
L
x
= 1 (1 x) = L

L
Equation 1 ; 0 x a
-Mx + RA(a) 1(a - x) = 0
Mx = (1 x/L)a 1(a - x)
= (L x)a 1(a - x)
L
Equation 2 ; a x b
Mx RB(b) + 1(x - a) = 0
Mx = RB (b) 1(x - a)
= x/L (b) 1(x -a)
= xb/L 1(x -a)

2. On the graph, plot the theoretical and experimental value against distance from
left and support.
3. Comment on the shape of graph. What does it tell u about how moment varies at
the cut section as a load moved on the beam?

From the graph, a peak shaped graph can be obtained. The peak is the weakest
point of the beam where there is a hinge in the beam. As load is being moved on the
beam, the influence line which was constructed can be used to obtain the value of
the moment. As load is moved across near to it, the moment will increase. So does
the other way round when load is moving further than the hinge, the value of
moment will decrease as the load is moving towards the support at the end. As the
load is moving along towards the hinge from both side of support, it will come to a
peak where the value of moment is the same.
4. Comment on the experimental results and compare it to the theoretical results.
The experimental results that we obtained are quite accurate and compare to the
theoretical results, the experimental results are only slightly different with
theoretical results. When we were conducted the experiment, we tried to minimize
the error by ensuring the Digital Force Meter reads zero with no load before we
place the hangers.

Part 2
1.

Comment the experimental and theoretical results in table 2.

The experimental results are slightly different from theoretical results are due to
human error and instrument sensitivity as the reading of the instrument keep
changing when we conducted the experiment.
10.0

CONCLUSION
As a conclusion, both objectives were achieved. Moment influence line
could be plot and the influence line can be use to determine the moment. We were

able to identify the reaction and behaviour of a beam in terms of its moment
reaction value. This method is useful to check every cross section for a particular
beam.