Influence

Lines
 Influence Lines
• An influence line represents the variation of
either the reaction, shear, moment or
deflection at a specific point in a member
as a concentrated force moves over the
member.
• From this line one can determine where the
load should be on a structure to create the
greatest influence at a specific point.
• The influence line for
a specific point in the
member shows at a
glance where the load
will be located when
the greatest influence
takes place for that
point.
 Moving Load
• Examples of structures influenced by
moving load are
– bridges,
– industrial cranes,
– rail
– conveyors
– other structures where loads move across their
span.
• SFD and BMD are for static load.
• Influence line shows a reaction, shear, or
moment, at a point due to a moving load.

• For statically determinate beams influence

line will consist of straight segments.
To construct an influence line for
a reaction

• Place a unit load at a distance ‘x’ from a

support
• Determine the reactions in terms of ‘x’
• Draw the influence line diagram
 To construct an influence line for the shear
force or bending moment at a specified point
• Place a unit load at a distance ‘x’ from a support
• Determine the reactions in terms of ‘x’
• Cut the beam at the point of interest
• Determine the internal force of interest in terms of
‘x’, with the unit load to the left of the cut
• Determine the internal force of interest in terms of
‘x’, with the unit load to the right of the cut
• Draw the influence line diagram
 Example
Construct influence line for Ra.

Move the load to x =

2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 m and
calculate Ra.
 Solution
Unit Load at x = 2.5 m
7.5
RA = = 0.75
10

Unit Load at x= 5 m
5
RA = = 0. 5
10
Table for RA and unit load Location

x RA
0 1
2.5 0.75
5 0.5
7.5 0.25
10 0
We can easily
establish that

1
RA = 1− x
10

• Therefore the greatest influence

for RA will be when a concentrated
load is applied at A
 A Second Method – Influence Line
Equation
Write down the equation
in terms of a unit load at
x from the left support

∑M @B = 0 10 RA = 1(10 − x)

1
RA = 1− x
10
 Example

Construct influence line for RB?

x RB
0 0
2.5 0.5
5 1
7.5 7.5/5=1.5
10 10/5=2
Equation Method

∑M @ A = 0
1× x = 5 RB
x
RB =
5
Influence Line for
RB
 Example

Influence Line for Vc

Load at A
Vc = 0
Load just to the left
of C,
x1 = 2.5- m Vc = -0.25
Load just to the
right of C,
x2 = 2.5+ m

Vc = 0.75
To Sum Up

x Vc
0 0
2.5- -0.25
2.5+ 0.75
5 0.5
7.5 0.25
10 0
Influence Line Equation

Load just to the left of

C, x1 = 2.5- m

1
RA = 1− x
10

1 1
Vc = (1 − x) − 1 = − x
10 10
Load just to the
right of C,
x2 = 2.5+ m

1
RA = 1− x
10

1
Vc = 1− x
10
 To Sum Up

0 ≤ x ≤ 2.5

1
Vc = − x
10

2.5 ≤ x ≤ 10

1
Vc = 1− x
10
Summary
 Example
Influence Line for Vc

Solution

Unit Load between A and C

8− x
RA =
8
8− x x
Vc = −1 = −
8 8
 Solution

Unit Load between C and B

8− x
RA =
8

8− x
Vc = RA =
8

The same will apply when the load is beyond B

 To sum up
Influence Line for Vc

0≤ x≤4 Vc = −
x
8

4 ≤ x ≤ 12 8− x
Vc = RA =
8
 Example

• Influence Line for Mc

Load between A and C

10 − x
RA =
10
x
RB =
10

x x
MC = ×5 =
10 2
 Example
Load between C and B

10 − x
RA =
10

x
RB =
10

10 − x x
MC = ×5 = 5 −
10 2
 To Sum Up

0≤ x≤5

x
MC =
2

5 ≤ x ≤ 10

x
MC = 5 −
2
 Example
• Influence Line for Mc

Unit load between A & C

8− x
RA =
8
x
RB =
8
x x
Mc = ×4 =
8 2
Unit load between C & D

8− x
RA =
8

x
RB =
8

8− x x
Mc =  × 4 = 4 −
 8  2
 To sum up

0≤ x≤4

x
Mc =
2

4 ≤ x ≤ 12

x
Mc = 4 −
2
 Influence Line for Beams

Example
Influence line of RA due
to a moving load F
 Solution
Draw influence line of RA for a unit load

Multiply the
influence line by the
magnitude of the
applied load F
1
Therefore max RA
will be equal to
F ×1 = F
 Distributed Load
Value of function

(dF )( y ) = ( w0 dx) y

effect of all dF

∫ ( w dx) y = w ∫ ydx
o o

where ∫ ydx = area under the influence line

 Example
Influence line for RA

For the applied load w0

1 1
RA = (1)( L)( w0 ) = w0 L
2 2
 Example

Determine the maximum positive shear at C

due to a concentrated load of 4 kN and a
uniformly distributed load w = 2 kN/m which
is applied between C and B only
Draw the influence line for Vc

Vc due to F = 4 kN
Vc = 0.75 * 4 = 3 kN

Vc due to w = 2 kN/m

Vc = {(10 − 2.5)(0.75)}× 2 = 5.625 kN

1
2

Total
Vc = 3 + 5.625 = 8.625kN
• The same result would have been resulted
for this loading

4 × 7.5 15 × 3.75
RA = + = 8.625 kN
10 10

4 × 2.5 15 × 6.25
RB = + = 10.375 kN
10 10

VC = 8.625 kN
 Example
• Weight of beam CB = 24
kg/m
• Assume A is a pin and B
is a roller.
• Determine the maximum
value of YA, YB and MD.
 Sol.

• Dead load must

always be over the
entire beam

• Draw the influence

lines
• YA max

24 × 9.81  1 
(YA ) max = 3(1.33) +  × 4 ×1.333  = 4.63 kN
1000  2 

• YB max

24 × 9.81  1 1 
(YB ) max = 3(1) +  × 3 × 1 + × 1 × ( −0 . 333)  = 3.31 kN
1000  2 2 
• MD max

24 × 9.81  1 1 
( M D ) max = 3(0.75) +  × 1 × ( −0 . 5) + × 3 × 0 . 75  = 2.46 kNm
1000  2 2 
Example
Influence Lines for Ra,
Rc, Vb, Mb, Mc, Vc-, Vc+

Sol.
10 − x
Ra =
10

x
Rc =
10
Vb
• Load between 0 and 6 m
x
Vb = − Rc = −
10

• Load between 6 and 14 m

10 − x
Vb = − Ra =
10
Mb
• Load between 0 and 6 m
4x
M b = 4 Rc =
10

• Load between 6 and 14 m

 10 − x 
M b = 6 Ra = 6 
 10 
Mc
• Load between 0 and 10 m
M c = Ra (10) − 1(10 − x)
 10 − x 
= (10 ) − (10 − x) = 0
 10 

• Load between 10
and 14 m

M c = (1) x'
Vc-
• Load between 0 and 10 m

 10 − x  x
Vc− = Ra − 1 =   − 1 = −
 10  10

• Load between 10
and 14 m

x
Vc− = Rc − 1 = −1
10
Vc+
• Load between 0 and 10 m

Vc+ = Ra + Rb − 1
 10 − x  x
=  + −1 = 0
 10  10

• Load between 10
and 14 m
Vc+ = 1
 Müller – Breslau (1886)

• The influence line for a function (reaction,

shear or moment) is to the same scale as
the deflected shape of the beam when the
beam is acted upon the function.
 Example
• Influence line for Ay.

• remove the constraint

• Apply positive Ay.

 Example
• Influence line for Vc
 Example

• Influence line for Mc

 Proof
Virtual Work = load × deflection
or (moment × rotation)

• Reaction at A (Ay)
Ayδy − 1× δy ' = 0

assume δy = 1
∴ Ay = δy '

Ay - represents the ordinate of the influence

line at the position of the unit load.
Vc × δy − 1× δy ' = 0

δy = 1

Vc = δy '
M c × δφ − 1× δy ' = 0

δφ = 1

M c = δy '
 Example
• Influence line for yA
 Example
• Influence line for Ay
 Example
• Influence line for VB
 Example
• Influence line for MB
 Example
• Influence line for MB
Influence Lines
 Müller – Breslau (1886)
To determine the shape of a influence line using the
Muller-Breslau principle proceed as follows:
• Remove the capacity of the beam to resist the
applied reaction, shear force, or bending
moment at the specified point. This allows the
beam to deflect/rotate when the reaction, shear
force, or bending moment is applied at the
specified point
The influence line at
a support is
determined by
replacing it with a
roller guide and
applying a positive
unit load to the roller
guide. The deflected
shape is the influence
line
The influence line for the
shear at any point C is
determined by replacing
the point C with a roller
guide and applying a
positive shear to the
beam at C. The deflected
shape is the influence line
The influence line for
the bending moment
at C is determined by
replacing the point C
with a pin and
applying a positive
moment to the beam at
C. The deflected shape
is the influence line
• Once the shape of the influence line is
established the ordinates at the peaks can be
determined by the use of statics
– Determine the reactions for the structure by
placing the unit load at the point of interest
– Using the reactions and unit load to calculate the
internal forces needed to keep the Muller-
Breslau structure in equilibrium
– These forces are the values of the peaks in the
influence line
 Example
• Draw Influence Lines
for RB, RD, VC, MC

3m 3m 6m
Solution

Vertical Reaction at B 3m 3m 6m
Vertical Reaction at
D, RD
3m 3m 6m
Shear at C, VC
3m 3m 6m
Moment at C, MC
3m 3m 6m
Influence Lines for Floor Girders
Influence Lines for Floor Girders

B C

A D
P
Panel
s s s
 1

FB FC

B C
A D
P
F1 F2
Panel
s s s

d
We can calculate s
the reactions, then
FB
use the method of
B
sections to A MP
calculate the shear
VP
force and bending
moment at critical F1
d
sections, e.g

M P = F1d − FB (d − s )
 Example
Draw the influence line for the moment at
point F for the floor girder below
x

A B C D E

G
H
F
2m 2m

2m 2m 4m 4m 4m
 2m 2m

1 at x = 2 m
A B

Ay By
F
G
H
Hy 8m 6m

MF

VCD Gy
 2m 2m
∑M A =0
1 at x = 2 m
B y = 0.5 A B

Ay By
 By=0.5
F
G
H
Hy Gy
8m 6m

∑M H =0

0.5 × 2
Gy =
14

G y = 0.0714
 MF

VCD Gy=0.0714

∑M F =0

M F = 0.0714 × 6 = 0.429
 x MF
0 0
2 0.429 3
2.5
2
4 0.857
MF
1.5
1
8 2.571 0.5
0
10 2.429 0 2 4 8 10 12 16
influence line for M F
12 2.286
16 0
 Influence Lines for Trusses

Members in a truss are only affected by

loads applied at the joints of a truss,
therefore to construct an influence line for
the force in a truss member proceed as
follows:
• Place a unit load a distance x from a support
• Determine the reactions in terms of ‘x’
• Use method of joints or sections to determine the
force in the member of interest, as the unit load
moves from one joint to another across the truss
• Draw the influence line diagram by plotting the
points and connecting them with straight lines
 Influence Lines for Trusses

Example
Draw the
influence line for
member GB.

Load moves along the deck AE.

Consider the load at points A, B, C, D, and E.
Load at point B

Reaction Ey

1× 6
Ey = = 0.25
24

∑F y =0
FGB Sin(45) = 0.25 continue for x = 12,
FGB = 0.3535 18, and 24
x, m FGB
0 0
6 0.354
12 -0.707
18 -0.354
24 0

0.354 0.354 + 0.707

=
x' 6
x' = 2 m

∴x0 = 6 + 2 = 8 m
Influence line at a point due to a
Series of Concentrated Loads

• When a series of concentrated loads (ie truck or

train wheels) moves across a structure the
maximum influence that occurs for shear and
bending moment needs to be determined
• To determine the critical loading for shear
in a structure due to a series of
concentrated loads, do the following:
– Establish the influence line at the point of
interest for the structure
– Place the first load in the series on the structure
when the maximum effect occurs as given by
the influence line and determine the shear
(actual effect) at the specified point using the
series of loads (based on the influence line)
 Cont.
– Move the next load in the series where the first
load was and determine the shear (actual effect)
at the specified point using the series of loads
(based on the influence line)
– Repeat the above step moving each load until
the shear (effect) of each load in the series at
the specified point is determined
– The location of the load series with the largest
value represents the critical loading for the
maximum shear (influence)
 Influence line at a point due to a
Series of Concentrated Loads
Example
F1 = 10 kN
F2 = 40 kN
F3 = 40 kN

Determine the Max Vc

 Solution
Draw the influence line for Vc

F1 = 10 kN
F2 = 40 kN
F3 = 40 kN
 F1 = 10 kN
F2 = 40 kN
F3 = 40 kN

Solution
Case 1
10 kN load just to the
right of C.

(Vc )1 = 10(0.75) + 40(0.625) + 40(0.5)

= 52.5 kN
 F1 = 10 kN
F2 = 40 kN
F3 = 40 kN

Solution
Case 2
First 40 kN load just to
the right of C.

(Vc ) 2 = 10(−0.125) + 40(0.75) + 40(0.625)

= 53.75 kN
 F1 = 10 kN
F2 = 40 kN
F3 = 40 kN

Case 3
Second 40 kN load just
to the right of C.

(Vc ) 3 = 40(−0.125) + 40(0.75)

= 25 kN

Therefore Case 2 is the most critical, Vc = 53.75 kN

 A Quicker Method
y2 − y1
s=
x2 − x1
Where s = slope of the influence line
y1 and y2 are the ordinates of the influence line at
x1 and x2
 Shear Force
• For sloping line ∆V = Ps( x2 − x1 )

where ∆V =Change in shear force

P = the moving load
s = slope of the influence line

• For jump
∆V = P ( y2 − y1 )
• To determine the critical loading for shear
in a structure due to a series of
concentrated loads using the above
formulas do the following:
– Establish the influence line at the point of
interest for the structure
– Place the first load in the series on the structure
when the maximum effect occurs as given by
the influence line
– Move the next in load series where the first
load was and determine the total ∆V for all the
loads
 Cont
– Repeat the above step moving each load in
succession until a negative ∆V occurs
– This indicates the previous location of the loads
will give the largest value represents the critical
loading for shear (effect)
– Calculate the shear (effect) based on the critical
loading
 Solution of the same example

F1 = 10 kN
F2 = 40 kN
F3 = 40 kN

Case 1
10 kN load just to the
right of C.
As before

(Vc )1 = 10(0.75) + 40(0.625) + 40(0.5)

= 52.5 kN
 F1 = 10 kN
F2 = 40 kN
F3 = 40 kN

Case 2
First 40 kN load just to
the right of C.

∆V1− 2 = 10(−1) + (10 + 40 + 40)(0.125)(1)

= +1.25 kN
 F1 = 10 kN
F2 = 40 kN
F3 = 40 kN

Case 3
Second 40 kN load just
to the right of C.

∆V2−3 = 40(−1) + (10 + 40 + 40)(0.125)(1)

= − 28.75 kN

Therefore Case 2 is the most critical, Vc = 53.75 kN

 Moment

∆M = Ps( x2 − x1 )
• To determine the critical loading for
bending moment in a structure due to a
series of concentrated loads using the
above formula do the following:
– Establish the influence line at the point of
interest for the structure
– Place the first load in the series on the structure
when the maximum effect occurs as given by
the influence line
– Move the next in load series where the first
load was and determine the total ∆M using ∆M
for all the loads
 Cont.

– Repeat the above step moving each load in

succession until a negative ∆M occurs
– This indicates the previous location of the loads
will give the largest value represents the critical
loading for bending moment (effect)
– Calculate the bending moment (effect) based on
the critical loading
 Example
Max Mc for the three
moving loads

F1 = 20 kN
F2 = 40 kN
F3 = 30 kN
 Solution

Influence Line for Mc

 We consider three cases

Case 1 Load F1 just

on the right of point c

Case 2 Load F2 just

on the right of point c

Case 3 Load F3 just

on the right of point c
 F1 = 20 kN
F2 = 40 kN
F3 = 30 kN

Case 2 Load F2 just

on the right of point c

∆M 1− 2 = −20(0.8)(0.75) + (40 + 30)(0.8)(0.25)

= 2 kN − m
 F1 = 20 kN
F2 = 40 kN
F3 = 30 kN

Case 3 Load F3 just

on the right of point c

∆M 2−3 = −(20 + 40)(1.2)(0.75) + (30)(1.2)(0.25)

= −45 kN − m
 F1 = 20 kN
F2 = 40 kN
F3 = 30 kN

• As in Case 2, ∆M2-3
is negative, therefore
case 2 is the most
critical
 F1 = 20 kN
F2 = 40 kN
F3 = 30 kN

( M c ) max = 20(0.9) + 40(1.5) + 30(1.2) = 114 kN − m