Determinate Structure - Influence Line (Notes)
Determinate Structure - Influence Line (Notes)
Determinate Structure - Influence Line (Notes)
DETERMINATE STRUCTURES
Topic 6
Influence Line
An Influence Line shows how the value of a function (bending moment, shear,
deflection etc.) varies at one given point on a structure as a single unit load
moves across the structure.
In brief, an Influence Line indicates the effect of a unit load moving across a
structure. One can tell at a glance, where the moving load should be placed on
the structure so that it creates the greatest influence at a specified point.
If a structure is subjected to a moving load, the variation of shear & bending
moment is best described using the influence line.
The magnitude of the associated shear, moment or deflection at the point can
then be calculated using the ordinates of the influence-line diagram.
The different between influence line diagram and shear or moment diagram is,
Influence line represent the effect of a moving load only at a specific point
while shear or moment diagrams represent the effect of fixed loads at all
points along the axis of the member
1. Tabulate Values
Place a unit load at various locations, x, along the member
At each location use statics to determine the value of function at the
specified point
If the influence line for a vertical force reaction at a point on a beam is to
be constructed, consider the reaction to be +ve at the point when it acts
upward on the beam
If a shear or moment influence line is to be drawn for a point, take the
shear or moment at the point as +ve according to the sign convention used
for drawing shear & moment diagram.
All statically determinate beams will have influence lines that consists of
straight line segments
Construct the influence line for the vertical reaction at A of the beam
A B
10 m
MB + = 0
MB + = 0 MB + = 0
10Ay = 10 (1)
10Ay = 7.5 (1) 10Ay = 5 (1)
RAy = 1 kN # RAy = 0.75 kN # RAy = 0.5 kN #
Step 2: Step 3:
Enter the results for RAy in the table Draw Influence Diagram for RAy
RAy
X 0 2.5 5 7.5 10
1
RAy 1 0.75 0.5 0.25 0
X
0 2.5 5 7.5 10
Step 2:
Draw Influence Diagram for RAy
RAy
RAy
Construct the influence line for the shear and moment at point C of the beam.
A B
2.5 m 7.5 m
x 1
MB + = 0 Fy + = 0
10RAy = (10 x) (1) RAy + RBy = 1
10m
RAy = 1 0.1x # RBy = 0.1x #
RAy RBy
RAy
X 0 2.5 5 7.5 10 1
RBy
X 0 2.5 5 7.5 10
1
RBy 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1
X
0 2.5 5 7.5 10
0<X<2.5 (1 Unit Load before point C) 0<X<2.5 (1 Unit Load before point C)
1
x VC
Fy + = 0 MC + = 0
VC
RAy VC 1 = 0 2.5RAy (2.5 x)(1)= MC
7.5m
2.5m VC = 0.1x # MC = 0.75x # MC
RAy MC RBy
2.5<X<10 (1 Unit Load After point C) 2.5<X<10 (1 Unit Load After point C)
x VC 1
Fy + = 0 MC + = 0
RAy VC= 0 2.5RAy = MC
VC
VC = 1 0.1x MC = 2.5 0.25x #
2.5m MC MC 7.5m
RAy #
RBy
VC MC
0.75 1.875
0 x 0 x
2.5m 5m 7.5m 10m 2.5m 5m 7.5m 10m
-0.25
Construct the influence line for the shear and moment at point C of the beam.
A B
2m 2m 2m
1
x
2m 2m 2m X 0 2 4 6 X 0 2 4 6
RAy RBy
RAy 1.5 1 0.5 0 RBy -0.5 0 0.5 1
MB + = 0
4RAy = (6 x) (1) RAy RBy
RAy = 1.5 0.25x #
2.0 2.0
Fy + = 0
1.0 1.0
RAy + RBy = 1
0 x
RBy = 0.25x 0.5 # 0 x
0.5
2m 4m 6m
2m 4m 6m
0<X<4 (1 Unit Load before point C) 4<X<6 (1 Unit Load after point C)
1 VC VC
x x
2m 2m MC 2m 2m MC
RAy RAy
Fy + = 0 MC + = 0 Fy + = 0 MC + = 0
RAy VC 1 = 0 2RAy (4 x)(1)= MC RAy VC = 0 2RAy = MC
VC = 0.5 0.25x # MC = 0.5x 1 # VC = 1.5 0.25x # MC = 3 0.5x #
X 0 2 4 4 6 X 0 2 4 4 6
VC 0.5 0 -0.5 0.5 0 MC -1 0 1 1 0
VC
MC
1
1
0.5
0.5
0 x
4m x
2m 6m 0
-0.5 2m 4m 6m
-0.5
-1
Figure shows a statically determinate beam AECDB which is fixed at end A and
supported on rollers at D. Point C is an internal hinge.
A E C D B
Hinge
3m 1m 2m 2m
Case 1 : 0<x<4
1
x
MA D B
A
E C RDy
RAy
3m 1m 2m 2m
Case 2 : 4<x<8 1
x
MA D B
A
E C RDy
RAy
3m 1m 2m 2m
Case 1 : 0<x<4
D B
MC + = 0 Fy + = 0
VC RDy 2RDy = 0 VC + RDy = 0
RDy = 0# VC = 0#
2m 2m
1
x MA + = 0 Fy + = 0
MA VC
A 1(x) + VC (4) MA = 0 RAy VC 1 = 0
E MA = x# RAy = 1#
RAy
3m 1m
Case 2 : 4<x<8
x 1
D B MC + = 0 Fy + = 0
1 (x 4) 2RDy = 0 VC + RDy = 1
VC RDy RDy = 0.5x - 2# VC = 3 0.5x#
2m 2m
MA VC
A MA + = 0 Fy + = 0
E VC (4) MA = 0 RAy VC = 0
RAy
3m 1m MA = 12 2 x# RAy = 3 0.5x#
X 0 2 4 4 6 8
MA 0 2 4 4 0 -4
MA
4
0
x
2 4 6 8
-2
-4
0<X<3 (1 Unit Load before point E) 3<X<8 (1 Unit Load after point E)
x VE
MA
x 1 VE
MA
3m
ME
RAy
3m
ME
RAy
3<x<4 4<x<8
(1 Unit Load before hinge) (1 Unit Load before hinge)
Fy + = 0
Fy + = 0 Fy + = 0
RAy VE 1 = 0
RAy VE = 0
VE = 0# RAy VE = 0
VE = 1# VE = 3 0.5x#
X 0 3 3 4 4 8
VE 0 0 1 1 1 -1
VE
1
0
x
2 4 6 8
-1
Mller-Breslau principle states that 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 by the function.
In order to draw the deflected shape properly, the capacity of the beam to
resist the applied function must be removed so the beam can deflect when the
function is applied.
(a)
(b)
(c)
C C
A (a)
B A B
(d)
VC deflected shape
deflected shape
MC C
A C B A MC B
VC (e)
(b)
X X
(c) (f)
Construct the influence line for the vertical reaction at A of the beam using
Muller-Breslau Principle.
A B
10 m
Ay
deflected shape 1
A X
10m
Ay B Influence Line (IL) for Ay
Construct the influence line for the shear and moment at point C of the beam
using Muller-Breslau Principle.
A B
2.5 m 7.5 m
0.25
- 0.25 X
C 10m
A B
Influence Line (IL) for Vc
Vc
Mc
MC C MC
A B X
10m
Influence Line (IL) for Mc
A B
2m 2m 2m
1
x
2m 2m 2m X 0 2 4 6 X 0 2 4 6
RAy RBy
RAy 1.5 1 0.5 0 RBy -0.5 0 0.5 1
MB + = 0
4RAy = (6 x) (1) RAy RBy
RAy = 1.5 0.25x #
2.0 2.0
Fy + = 0
1.0 1.0
RAy + RBy = 1
0 x
RBy = 0.25x 0.5 # 0 x
0.5
2m 4m 6m
2m 4m 6m
0<X<4 (1 Unit Load before point C) 4<X<6 (1 Unit Load after point C)
1 VC VC
x x
2m 2m MC 2m 2m MC
RAy RAy
Fy + = 0 MC + = 0 Fy + = 0 MC + = 0
RAy VC 1 = 0 2RAy (4 x)(1)= MC RAy VC = 0 2RAy = MC
VC = 0.5 0.25x # MC = 0.5x 1 # VC = 1.5 0.25x # MC = 3 0.5x #
1
X 0 2 4 4 6
0.5
VC 0.5 0 -0.5 0.5 0
0 x
4m
2m 6m
-0.5
Step 4.
From IL diagram, multiply the highest value of VC with 8 kN;
X 0 2 4 4 6
1
MC -1 0 1 1 0
0.5
0 x
2m 4m 6m
-0.5
-1
Step 4.
From IL diagram, multiply the highest value of MC with 8 kN;
5 kN 5 kN
2m
A
B
4m 6m
x 1
MB + = 0 Fy + = 0
10RAy = (10 x) (1) RAy + RBy = 1
10m
RAy = 1 0.1x # RBy = 0.1x #
RAy RBy
RAy
X 0 2.5 5 7.5 10 1
RBy
X 0 2.5 5 7.5 10
1
RBy 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1
X
0 2.5 5 7.5 10
Fy + = 0 MC + = 0
RAy VC 1 = 0 4RAy (4 x)(1)= MC
4m VC = 0.1x # MC = 0.6x #
MC
RAy
VC
X 0 2 4 4 6 10
0.6
VC 0 -0.2 -0.4 0.6 0.4 0
0.4
0.2
0
-0.2 2 6 8 10 x
-0.4
Step 4.
From IL diagram, multiply the highest value of VC with two applied concentrated load of 5 kN each at 2
m distance ;
MC
X 0 2 4 4 6 10 2.4
2.0
MC 0 1.2 2.4 2.4 1.6 0
1.6
1.2
0.8
0.4
0
x
2 4 6 8 10
Step 6.
From IL diagram, multiply the highest value of MC with two applied concentrated load of 5 kN each at 2
m distance ;
10 kN 5 kN 15 kN
1m 2m
A
B
4m 6m
VC = (10kN x 0.6) + (5kN x 0.5) (15kN x 0.3) = 13kN MC = (10kN x 2.4) + (5kN x 2) + (15kN x 1.2) = 52kNm
4 kN/m
3m
A
B
4m 6m
X 0 2 4 4 6 10 X 0 2 4 4 6 10
4 kN/m
4 kN/m
MC
VC
2.4
0.6 2.0
0.4 1.6
0.2 1.2
0 0.8
-0.2 2 6 8 10 x
0.4
-0.4 0
x
2 4 6 8 10
VC = UDL x Area under IL for VC diagram MC = UDL x Area under IL for MC diagram
VC = 4kN/mx [0.5(0.6 + 0.3) x 3] = 5.4kN MC = 4kN/mx [0.5(2.4 + 1.2) x 3] = 21.6kN
MC 4 kN/m
2.4
3m
2.0
1.6
y 2.4
1.2
4m 6m
0.4
10
0
2 4 6 8 x
Construct the influence line for the force in member BG of the bridge shown.
H G F
6m
A E
B C D
6m 6m 6m 6m
1
6m 6m
A E A B E
B C D C D
VA VE VA 1 VE
6m 6m 6m 6m 6m 6m 6m 6m
Figure 1 Figure 2
H G F H G F
6m 6m
A C E A D E
B D B C
VA 1 VE VA 1 VE
6m 6m 6m 6m 6m 6m 6m 6m
Figure 3 Figure 4
1
VA = 1 VA = 0.75 VA = 0.5 VA = 0.25
6m 6m 6m 6m 6m 6m 6m 6m
Fy + = 0 Fy + = 0 Fy + = 0 Fy + = 0
FBGSin 450 + VA 1 = 0 FBGSin 450 + VA 1 = 0 FBGSin 450 + VA = 0 FBGSin 450 + VA = 0
FBG = 0# FBG = 0.354# FBG = 0.707# FBG = 0.354#
X 0 6 12 18 24
FBG 0 0.354 -0.707 -0.354 0
FBG
0.707
0.354
12 18
0
x
6 24
- 0.354
- 0.707
H G F
5 kN 5 kN 6m
A E
B C D
6m 6m 6m 6m
X 0 6 12 18 24
FBG
5 kN 5 kN
2m
0.707
0.354
12 18
0
x
6 24
- 0.354
- 0.707
Step 2.
Calculate the compression Force in member BG (FBG)
H G F
6m 10 kN 5 kN 15 kN
A E
B C D 1m 2m
6m 6m 6m 6m
X 0 6 12 18 24
FBG 10 kN 15 kN
5 kN
1m 2m
0.707
0.354
12 18
0
x
6 24
- 0.354
- 0.707
Step 2.
Calculate the compression Force in member BG (FBG)
For the compound beam in Figure P1, draw the influence lines for the vertical
reactions at A, B and C, and the bending moment at support B.
A D B C
Hinge
5m 3m 8m
Figure P1
Figure P2 shows beam ABCD with hinge at B is pinned supported at A and roller
supported at C and D. Draw influence line for reaction force at D, Dy, shear force
at B, VB and bending moment at C, Mc. If the beam is subjected to uniformly
distributed load of 2 kN/m throughout the beam, compute the maximum support
reaction at D.
A B C D
Hinge
2m 2m 4m
Figure P2
Draw the influence lines for the support reactions at A and C as well as the shear
force at B for the beam in Figure P3. If there is a uniformly distributed load of 15
kN/m acting over span AC, calculate the shear force at B using the appropriate
influence line diagram.
A B C D
2m 1m 1m
Figure P3
10 kN 5 kN 15 kN
A D B E C
1m 2m
Hinge
5m 3m 4m 4m
Figure P4
10 kN 5 kN 15 kN
H G F E D
1m 2m
6m
A C
B
6m 6m 6m 6m
Figure P5
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