University of Engineering & Technology
Peshawar, Pakistan
CE215: Structure Analysis I
Module 05:
Influence Lines for Statically Determinate Structures
By:
Prof. Dr. Bashir Alam and Dr. M. Ashraf
Civil Engineering Department
UET , Peshawar
Topics to be Covered
• Influence Lines
• Influence Lines Procedures
• Influence Lines Examples
• Qualitative Influence Lines
• Application of Influence Lines
Definition of Influence Lines
• We learned that shear and moment diagrams are important in
determining the maximum internal force in a structure subjected to
dead or fixed loads.
• If a structure is subjected to a live or moving load, the variation in
shear and moment is best described using influence lines.
• An influence line represents the variation of a certain function
(reaction, shear, moment, or deflection) in a member as a unit
concentrated force moves over the member.
• Influence lines of determinate structures are made of straight lines.
Influence Lines Procedures
A. Tabular Procedure
• Place a Unit Load at a certain position on the member, i.e. at x
= x0.
• Analyze the member using equilibrium conditions to determine
the value of the function f0 for which the influence line is to be
drawn.
• Move the unit load to other positions i.e. x = x1, x2. …xn and
repeat the same procedure to get various values of the same
function f1, f2,…fn.
• Plot the function values f0, f1, f2,…fn against the positions, x0,
x1, x2 ….. xn to draw the influence line.
Influence Lines Procedures
A. Tabular Procedure
𝑥 𝑓
x0 f0
x1 f1
x2 f2
- -
xn fn
Influence Lines Procedures
B. Equations Procedure
• Place a unit load at a variable distance x along the member.
• Analyze the member using equilibrium conditions to determine the value of
the function in terms of x.
• Plot the function against variable distance x to draw the influence line
𝑥 𝑓(𝑥)
x1 f(x1)
x2 f(x2)
x3 f(x3)
- -
xn f(xn)
Examples: Influence Lines
Example 01:
Construct the influence lines for the vertical reaction at A (Ay), shear
force at C (VC) and bending moment at C (MC) of the simply
supported beam given below.
Examples: Influence Lines
Example 01 Solution (Tabular Method)
1. Unit Load at x = 0
Ay = 1.0 k, VC = 0, MC = 0
2. Unit Load at x = 5 (left)
ΣMB = 0 ⇒ Ay * 20 -1.0 * 15 = 0
Ay = 15/20 = 0.75 k
VC = 0.75 – 1.00 = -0.25
MC = 0.75 * 5.0 = +3.75 k-ft
2. Unit Load at x = 5 (right)
ΣMB = 0 ⇒ Ay * 20 -1.0 * 15 = 0
Ay = 15/20 = 0.75 k
VC = +0.75
MC = 0.75 * 5.0 = +3.75 k
Examples: Influence Lines
Example 01 Solution (Tabular Method)
4. Unit Load at x = 10
ΣMB = 0 ⇒ Ay * 20 -1.0 * 10 = 0
Ay = 10/20 = 0.50 k
VC = +0. 50
MC = 0.5 * 5.0 = +2.50 k-ft
5. Unit Load at x = 15
ΣMB = 0 ⇒ Ay * 20 -1.0 * 5 = 0
Ay = 5/20 = 0.25 k
VC = +0.25
MC = 0.25 * 5.0 = +1.25 k
6. Unit Load at x = 20
Ay = 0, VC = 0, MC = 0
Examples: Influence Lines
Example 01 Solution (Tabular Method):
x Ay VC MC
0.0 +1.00 0.00 0.00
5.0 (L) +0.75 -0.25 +3.75
5.0 (R) +0.75 +0.75 +3.75
10.0 +0.50 +0.50 +2.50
15.0 +0.25 +0.25 +1.25
20.0 0.00 0.00 0.00
Examples: Influence Lines
Example 01 Solution (Equation Method)
1. Load between A and C
ΣMB = 0 ⇒ Ay * 20 -1.0 * (20-x) = 0
Ay = (20-x)/20 = 1-x/20
ΣFy = 0 ⇒ By = 1-(1-x/20) = x/20
VC = (1-x/20) – 1 = -x/20
MC = (x/20) * 15 = +0.75 x
Ay VC MC
x
1-x/20 -x/20 0.75x
0.0 +1.00 0.00 0.00
5.0 (L) +0.75 -0.25 +3.75
Examples: Influence Lines
Example 01 Solution (Equation Method)
2. Load between C and B
ΣMB = 0 ⇒ Ay * 20 -1.0 * (20-x) = 0
Ay = (20-x)/20 = 1-x/20
ΣFy = 0 ⇒ By = 1-(1-x/20) = x/20
VC = (1-x/20) = 1 - x/20
MC = (1-x/20) * 5 = 5 -0.25x
Ay VC MC
x
1-x/20 1-x/20 5-0.25x
5.0 (R) +0.75 +0.75 +3.75
10.0 +0.50 +0.50 +2.50
15.0 +0.25 +0.25 +1.25
20.0 0.00 0.00 0.00
Examples: Influence Lines
Example 02:
Construct the influence lines for the vertical reaction at B (By), shear
force at D (VD) and bending moment at B (MB) of the overhanging
beam given below.
Examples: Influence Lines
Example 02 Solution:
1. Load between A and D
ΣMB = 0 ⇒ Ay * 15 -1.0 * (15-x) = 0
Ay = (15-x)/15 = 1-x/15
ΣFy = 0 ⇒ By = 1-(1-x/15) = x/15
VD = (1-x/15) - 1 = -x/15
MB = 0
By VD MB
x
x/15 -x/15 0
0.0 0.00 0.00 0.00
7.5 (L) +0.50 -0.50 0.00
Examples: Influence Lines
Example 02 Solution:
2. Load between D and B
ΣMB = 0 ⇒ Ay * 15 -1.0 * (15-x) = 0
Ay = (15-x)/15 = 1-x/15
ΣFy = 0 ⇒ By = 1-(1-x/15) = x/15
VD = (1-x/15) = 1-x/15
MB = 0
By VD MB
x
x/15 1-x/15 0
7.5 (R) +0.50 +0.50 0.00
15.0 (L) +1.00 0.00 0.00
Examples: Influence Lines
Example 02 Solution:
3. Load between B and C
ΣMB = 0 ⇒ Ay * 15 +1.0 * (x-15) = 0
Ay = -(x-15)/15 = 1-x/15
ΣFy = 0 ⇒ By = 1-(1-x/15) = x/15
VD = (1-x/15) = 1-x/15
MB = -1.0 (x-15) = 15 - x
By VD MB
x
x/15 1-x/15 (15-x)
15.0 (R) +1.00 0.00 0.00
20.0 +1.33 -0.33 -5.00
Examples: Influence Lines
Example 02 Solution:
Examples: Influence Lines
Example 03:
Construct the influence lines for the vertical reaction at C (Cy), shear
force at B (VB) and bending moment at C (MC) of the continuous beam
given below.
Examples: Influence Lines
Example 03 Solution:
1. Load between A and B
Examples: Influence Lines
Example 03 Solution:
2. Load between B and C
Examples: Influence Lines
Example 03 Solution:
3. Load between C and D
Examples: Influence Lines
Example 03 Solution:
AB BC CD
x Cy VB MC
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
5.0 (L) +2.0 -1.0 -5.0
5.0 (R) +2.0 0.0 -5.0
10.0 +1.0 0.0 0.0
15.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Types of Influence Lines
A. Quantitative Influence Lines
The Influence lines showing the quantitative variation of a certain
function in a member when a unit load moves over the member.
So far we discussed the quantitative Influence Lines
B. Qualitative Influence Lines
The Influence lines showing the qualitative variation of a certain
function in a member when a unit load moves over the member.
Qualitative Influence Lines
• In 1886, Heinrich Müller-Breslau develop a method for rapidly
constructing the shape of an influence line.
• The Muller-Breslau principle states:
The influence line for a function (reaction, shear, moment) is to the
same scale as the deflected shape of the (released) beam when the
beam is acted on by the function.
• To draw the deflected shape, the ability of the beam to resist the
applied function must be removed.
Qualitative Influence Lines
Example 04:
Find the shape of the
influence lines for:
• Vertical reaction at A,
• Shear at C,
• Moment at C.
Qualitative Influence Lines
Example 05:
Find the shape of the
influence lines for:
• Vertical reaction at B,
• Shear at C,
• Moment at B.
Qualitative Influence Lines
Example 06:
Find the shape of the
influence lines for:
• Vertical reaction at C,
• Shear at B,
• Moment at C.
Application of Influence Lines
• Influence of a certain function (reaction, shear force, bending
moment, deflection, etc.), when constructed, can be used to
determine the position of live/moving loads which will maximize
the function.
• The value of function for a given concentrated and uniformly
distributed load can be determined using the following rules:
• Concentrated load: The value of function is obtained by
multiplying the load with the corresponding ordinate from
influence line below the concentrated load.
• Uniformly distributed Load: The value of function is obtained
by multiplying the load intensity with area of influence line
below the UDL.
Application of Influence Lines
Example 07:
Concentrated Loads
VD = 50 (-0.250) + 10 (-0.33)
= -15.83 k
Uniformly Distributed Load:
Area of I.L below UDL
A = ½ (7.5 x -0.5) = -1.875
VD = 2.0 (-1.875) = 3.75 k-ft
Application of Influence Lines
Example 08:
Construct Influence Line for Moment at D. Using the influence line,
determine the maximum value of MD due to a concentrated moving
load of 4000 lb, a uniform moving load of 300 lb/ft, and a beam weight
of 200 lb/ft.
Application of Influence Lines
Example 08, Solution:
1. Construct Influence Line for Moment at D using the procedure
mentioned in the previous slides.
Application of Influence Lines
Example 08, Solution:
2. Calculate the Moment at D (MD) due to self weight of beam (200
lb/ft) by multiplying total area of influence line diagram with load
intensity.
MD = 200 (-16.67 + 25.00) = 1667 lb-ft = 1.667 k-ft
Application of Influence Lines
Example 08, Solution:
3. The position of moving UDL (300 lb/ft), to maximize the moment
at D, is to cover the length of positive influence line. The
maximum moment at D due to 300 lb/ft moving load is:
MD = 300 (25.00) = 7500 lb-ft = 7.500 k-ft
Application of Influence Lines
Example 08, Solution:
4. To get maximum moment at D due a moving load of 4000 lb, the
load shall be placed where the influence line ordinate is maximum,
i.e. +3.33. The maximum moment at D due to 4000 lb is:
MD = 4000 (+3.33) = 13333 lb-ft = 13.333 k-ft
Application of Influence Lines
Example 08, Solution:
4. Add moments calculated in steps 2, 3 and 4 to get the total moment
at D:
MD = 1.67 + 7.50 + 13.33 = 22.5 k-ft
Application of Influence Lines
Series of Concentrated Loads:
• Once the influence line of a function has been established for a point in a
structure, the maximum effect caused by a live concentrated force is determined
by multiplying the peak ordinate of the influence line by the magnitude of the
force.
• In some cases e.g. the wheel loadings of a truck or train, however, several
concentrated forces must be placed on the structure.
• To methods are used to determine the maximum effect in this case:
• Trial-and-error procedure
• Method that is based on the change in the function that takes place as the load
is moved.
• Each of these methods will now be explained specifically as it applies to shear
and moment.
Application of Influence Lines
Series of Concentrated Loads:
Shear Force
1. Trial and Error
Application of Influence Lines
Series of Concentrated Loads:
Shear Force
2. Change of Function
Application of Influence Lines
Series of Concentrated Loads:
Bending Moment
Change of Function
Case 1: y1 = 7.5, y2 = 26/30*7.5 = 6.5, y3 = 20/30*7.5 = 5
MC = 2*7.5 + 4*6.5 + 3*5.0 = 56 k-ft
Case 2: y1 = 4.5, y2 = 7.5, y3 = 6.0
MC = 2*4.5 + 4*7.5 + 3*6.0 = 57 k-ft
Case 3: y1 = 0, y2 = 4/10*7.5 = 3.0, y3 = 7.5
MC = 2*0.0 + 4*3.0 + 3*7.5 = 34.5 k-ft
References
• Structural Analysis by R. C. Hibbeler
• Structure Analysis by Alexander chajes
