Influence Lines

Influence Lines for a Simple Beam by Developing the

Equations
problem statement
Draw the influence lines for the reactions YA, YC, and the shear and bending moment
at point B, of the simply supported beam shown by developing the equations for the
respective influence lines.

Figure 1 - Beam structure to analyze

Reaction YA

The influence line for a reaction at a support is found by independently applying a

unit load at several points on the structure and determining, through statics, what the
resulting reaction at the support will be for each case. In this example, one such
equation for the influence line of YA can be found by summing moments around
Support C.

Figure 2 - Application of unit load

MC = 0 (Assume counter-clockwise positive moment)

-YA(25)+1(25-x) = 0
YA = (25-x)/25 = 1 - (x/25)
The graph of this equation is the influence line for YA (See Figure 3). This figure
illustrates that if the unit load is applied at A, the reaction at A will be equal to unity.
Similarly, if the unit load is applied at B, the reaction at A will be equal to 1(15/25)=0.4, and if the unit load is applied at C, the reaction at A will be equal to 0.

Figure 3 - Influence line for YA, the support reaction at A

The fact that YA=1 when the unit load is applied at A and zero when the unit load is
applied at C can be used to quickly generate the influence line diagram. Plotting these
two values at A and C, respectively, and connecting them with a straight line will yield
the the influence line for YA. The structure is statically determinate, therefore, the
resulting function is a straight line.

Reaction at C

The equation for the influence line of the support reaction at C is found by developing
an equation that relates the reaction to the position of a downward acting unit load
applied at all locations on the structure. This equation is found by summing the
moments around support A.

Figure 4 - Application of unit load

MA = 0 (Assume counter-clockwise positive moment)

YC(25)-1(x) = 0
YC = x/25
The graph of this equation is the influence line for YC. This shows that if the unit load
is applied at C, the reaction at C will be equal to unity. Similarly, if the unit load is
applied at B, the reaction at C will be equal to 15/25=0.6. And, if the unit load is
applied at A, the reaction at C will equal to 0.

Figure 5 - Influence line for the reaction at support C

The fact that YC=1 when the unit load is applied at C and zero when the unit load is
applied at A can be used to quickly generate the influence line diagram. Plotting these
two values at A and C, respectively, and connecting them with a straight line will yield

the the influence line for YC. Notice, since the structure is statically determinate, the
resulting function is a straight line.

Shear at B

The influence line for the shear at point B can be found by developing equations for
the shear at the section using statics. This can be accomplished as follows:
a) if the load moves from B to C, the shear diagram will be as shown in Fig. 6 below,
this demonstrates that the shear at B will equal YA as long as the load is located to the
right of B, i.e., VB = YA. One can also calculate the shear at B from the Free Body
Diagram (FBD) shown in Fig. 7.

Figure 6 - Shear diagram for load located between B and C

Figure 7 - Free body diagram for section at B with a load located between B and C

b) if the load moves from A to B, the shear diagram will be as shown in Fig. 8, below,
this demonstrates that the shear at B will equal -Y C as long as the load is located to the
left of B, i.e., VB = - YC. One can also calculate the shear at B from the FBD shown in
Fig. 9.

Figure 8 - Shear diagram for load located between A and B

Figure 9 - Free body diagram for section at B with a load located between A and B

The influence line for the Shear at point B is then constructed by drawing the
influence line for YA and negative YC. Then highlight the portion that represents the
sides over which the load was moving. In this case, highlight the the part from B to C

on YA and from A to B on -YC. Notice that at point B, the summation of the absolute
values of the positive and negative shear is equal to 1.

Figure 10 - Influence line for shear at point B

Moment at B

The influence line for the moment at point B can be found by using statics to develop
equations for the moment at the point of interest, due to a unit load acting at any
location on the structure. This can be accomplished as follows.
a) if the load is at a location between B and C, the moment at B can be calculated by
using the FBD shown in Fig. 7 above, e.g., at B, M B = 15 YA - notice that this relation
is valid if and only if the load is moving from B to C.
b) if the load is at a location between A and B, the moment at B can be calculated by
using the FBD shown in Fig. 9 above, e.g., at B, M B = 10 YC - notice that this relation
is valid if and only if the load is moving from A to B.
The influence line for the Moment at point B is then constructed by magnifying the
influence lines for YA and YC by 15 and 10, respectively, as shown below. Having
plotted the functions, 15 YA and 10 YC, highlight the portion from B to C of the
function 15 YA and from A to B on the function 10 YC. These are the two portions
what correspond to the correct moment relations as explained above. The two
functions must intersect above point B. The value of the function at B then equals (1 x
10 x 15)/25 = 6. This represents the moment at B if the load was positioned at B.

Figure 11 - Influence line for moment at point B