Theory of Structures

Influence Line for

Statically Determinate Structures
Beams

In your prior knowledge of analysis of structures,

one has learned that the shear and moment
diagram represents the most descriptive methods
for displaying the variations of the loads of
members subjected to fixed loads. If the member
is subjected to moving loads, the behavior of the
shear and moment in the member is best
2
described using influence lines.
Influence Line

An Influence Line is a graphical representation

of the support reaction or internal reactions at
any fixed point of the structure subjected to
unit concentrated moving load.

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Equilibrium Method
Procedure for Analysis

1. Place a unit load ( a load whose magnitude is equal to

one) at a point x, along the member
2. Use the equations of equilibrium to find the value of
the reaction, shear or moment at a specific point due
to the concentrated load as a function of x
3. Plot the values of the reaction, shear, or moment for
the member.
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Example 1
Consider a simply
supported beam as
shown.
Construct the
influence diagram for
the reaction at A,
shear and bending
moment at point C.
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Example 2
Consider the beam as
shown.
Construct the
influence diagram for
reaction at A and B
and the shear and
moment at D.

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Example 3
Consider the
compound beam as
shown.
Construct the
influence diagram for
reaction at A,C and E
and the shear and
moment at D.
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Qualitative Influence Lines

The process of sketching the influence line of the

beam in the previous section is lengthy. However, it
can be sketched accurately by using a technique
developed by Heinrich Müller-Breslau in 1886 and
this technique is called Müller-Breslau Principle.

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Müller-Breslau Method
Procedure for Analysis

1.Assume the beam is rigid for imaginary movements.

2. For influence line for the support reaction, remove

the support to be considered and replace it by an
upward force. Then imagine the movement of the
beam.
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Müller-Breslau Method
Procedure for Analysis

3. For influence line for the shear at any point of the beam,
cut the beam at the point to be considered. Apply a
downward shear at the cutting point in the left cut and an
upward shear at the cutting point in the right cut.
Imagine the movement of the beam.

4. For influence line for the bending moment at any point of

the beam, cut the beam at the point to be considered.
Apply positive sign convention. 10
Example 1
Consider a simply
supported beam as
shown.
Construct the
influence diagram for
the reaction at A,
shear and bending
moment at point C.
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Example 2
Consider the beam as
shown.
Construct the
influence diagram for
reaction at A and B
and the shear and
moment at D.

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Example 3
Consider the
compound beam as
shown.
Construct the
influence diagram for
reaction at A,C and E
and the shear and
moment at D.
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Example 4
Consider the beam as
shown.
Construct the
influence diagram for
vertical reaction at A,
moment reaction at
A, shear at B and
moment at B. .
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Example 5
Consider the beam as
shown.
Construct the
influence diagram for
vertical reaction at A,
moment at A and
reaction at C and for
shear and moment at
D and E. 15
Application of Influence Lines

The main reason why influence lines are part

of the analysis is to determine the effect of
moving live load on the structure, and to
predict the maximum load a structure will
resist due to these loads
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Solving for values of functions
using Influence Lines

A. Concentrated Load
Since the ordinates of the function of the influence lines are
constructed using a moving unit load, the value of a function
concerning concentrated loads is multiplying the ordinate of the
influence diagram at the point where you will place the moving
load by the magnitude of the load.
𝑭 ( 𝒙) =𝑷 ∗ 𝑶𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝒏𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑳𝒊𝒏𝒆
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Solving for values of functions
using Influence Lines

B. UNIFORM LOADS
The value of a function caused by uniform moving loads is equal to
the intensity of the uniform load multiplied by the area under the
influence line diagram that the load is covering.

𝑭 ( 𝒙) =𝑾 𝒐 ∗ 𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝑰𝑳 𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎

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Example 1
The beam, as shown below, is
loaded with a uniform moving live
load of 15 kN/m.
• What is the maximum reaction at
A due to this load?
• What is the maximum reaction at
B due to this load?
• What is the maximum positive
shear at D due to this load?
• What is the maximum negative
shear at D due to this load?
• What is the maximum positive
moment at D due to this load?
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• What is the maximum negative
moment at D due to this load?
Example 2
The compound beam is loaded with
uniform dead load of 5 kN/m and a
uniform moving load of 12 kN/m.
• What is the maximum reaction at A
due to these loads?
• What is the maximum reaction at C
due to these loads?
• What is the maximum reaction at E
due to these loads?
• What is the maximum shear at D
due to these loads?
• What is the maximum positive
moment at D due to these loads?
• What is the maximum negative
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moment at D due to these loads?
 • What is the maximum span positive moment?
• Calculate the maximum support reaction.
• What is the maximum span negative
Example 3 moment?

A 25 m long girder of a bridge is

simply supported at the right end
and at 3 m from the left end. It is
subjected to a highway load
consisting of a uniformly distributed
load and a concentrated load as
follows:

Uniformly distributed load = 9.53 kN/m

Concentrated load for moment = 80 kN
Concentrated load for shear = 115.7 kN 21
Example 4
The beam shown below will
carry a moving uniform load
of 8.5 kN/m and a moving
concentrated load of 56 kN.
• What is the maximum
shear at D due to these
loads?
• What is the maximum
bending moment at D
due to these loads? 22
Example 5
A 15 m long simply-
supported beam is subjected
to a series of moving
concentrated loads as shown.
• What is the maximum
shear at C due to these
loads?
• What is the maximum
moment at C due to these
loads? 23
THANK
YOU!