An influence line is a diagram whose ordinates, which are plotted as a function of distance along the span, give the

value
of an internal force, a reaction, or a displacement at a particular point in a structure as a unit load of 1 kip or 1 kN moves
across the structure.

Use of influence line:

(1) to determine where to place live load on a structure to maximize the force (shear, moment, etc.) for which the
influence line is drawn, and
(2) to evaluate the magnitude of the force (represented by the influence line) produced by the live load.

Although an influence line represents the action of a single moving load, it can also be used to establish the force at
a point produced by several concentrated loads or by a uniformly distributed load.

Construction of influence lines for determinate beams

Influence lines for simple beam reactions

1
movement of the load
A B
MB  0 x RA
(1)(L  x)  (R A )(L)  0 0 1.00
x Lx x 0.25L 0.75
L RA  1
RA RB L L 0.50L 0.50
L/4 0.75L 0.25
L/4 L/4 L/4
L 0.00
1.00
0.75
0.50 0.25

Influence line for RA

Points to remember:
1. All ordinates of the influence line represent values of R A.
2. Each value of RA is plotted directly below the position of the unit load that produced it.
3. The maximum value of RA occurs when the unit load acts at A.
4. Since all ordinates of the influence line are positive, a load acting vertically downward anywhere on the span produces
a reaction at A directed upward. (A negative ordinate would indicate the reaction at A is directed downward.)
5. The influence line is a straight line. As you will see, influence lines for determinate structures are either straight lines
or composed of linear segments
 MA  0 x RB
L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4 (1)(x)  (R B )(L)  0 0 0.00
1.00 x 0.25L 0.25
0.75 RB 
0.50 L 0.50L 0.50
0.25
0.75L 0.75
Influence line for RB
L 1.00

Influence lines for simple beam shearing forces 0.25L 0.75L

0.25L
1
1
movement of the load A B
A B C C
C x
x
L RA RB
RA RB
Engr Jose Cacdac, MSCE
Case 1. Unit load left of C, 0 < x < 0.25L 0.25L 0.75L
1
VC  R A  1  R B
A B
Case 2. Unit load right of C, 0.25L < x < L C C
x L- x
VC  R A
RA RB

1
movement of the load
x RA RB V
A B
0 1 0 0
x C 0.25L 0.75 0.25 -0.25
L RB 0.50L 0.50 0.50 0.50
RA
0.75L 0.25 0.75 0.25
1.00L 0 1.00 0.00

L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4

0.75 0.25L 0.75L

0.50
0.25 1
A B
-0.25 C C
Influence line for VC x
0.1875L RA RB
0.1250L
0.0625L
0.25L 0.75L
1
A B
Influence line for MC
C C
x L- x
Influence lines for simple beam moments RA RB
Case 1. Unit load left of C, 0 < x < 0.25L

MC  (R B )(0.75L) x RA RB MC
0 1 0 0
Case 2. Unit load right of C, 0.25L < x < L
0.25L 0.75 0.25 0.1875L
MC  (R A )(0.25L) 0.50L 0.50 0.50 0.1250L
0.75L 0.25 0.75 0.0625L
1.00L 0 1.00 0.00

The major difference between shearing force and bending moment diagrams as compared with influence lines:
1. A shearing force or bending moment diagram shows the variation of shearing force or bending moment across an
entire structure for loads fixed in one position.
2. An influence line for shearing force or bending moment shows the variation of that function at one section in the
structure caused by the movement of a unit load from one end of the structure to the other.

Engr Jose Cacdac, MSCE