Structural Analysis

CE2100
Influence Lines

Influence Lines:
Moment and shear force diagrams represent
variation of these values along the length of the
beam for a set of stationary loads.
Influence lines represent variation in the response*
at a specific point due to a unit concentrated load
moving along the beam.

*Response may mean shear force, bending

moment, reaction or deflection.
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Example 1:
P=1

Influence line for R1.

R1

R1 + R 2 = 1
R1. L = 1.(L-x)
R1 = 1(1-x/L)

R2

Plot x v/s R1 (Upward force as

positive).

X=
0

X=
L

Example 2:
1

Influence line for shear force at midspan (C).

R1

R1 = (1-x/L)

R2

When load is acting on the left side of midspan (x < L/2):

Vc = 1-x/L -1 = -x/L
0.5
When load is acting on the left side of midspan (x > L/2):

X=
0

Vc = 1-x/L

0.5

X=L

Plot x v/s Vc
+ve shear

Example 3:
Influence line for bending moment at
mid-span (C).
R1 = (1-x/L); R2 = x/L

1
R1

When load is acting on the left side of midspan (x < L/2):

R2

Mc = (x/L)(L/2) = x/2
When load is acting on the left side of midspan (x > L/2):

Mc = (1-x/L)(L/2) = 0.5(L-x)
Plot x v/s Mc

X=
0

X=L
L/4

Influence line and distributed load

Unit concentrated load can be substituted by dF
= w(dx), acting over a length dx at location x.
Response at C due to dF is given by (ordinate
of influence line at x) (dF).

1
R1

R2

If we apply dF=w(dx) all along the beam, the

response will be given by (area under the
influence line)*(w).
w*Area under the influence line = w*(L/4)(L/2)
= wL2/8
Bending moment at mid span due to uniformly
distributed load = wL2/8

X=
0

X=L
L/4

Influence line for

bending moment at
mid-span (C).

Qualitative assessment
Heinrich Muller-Breslau (1886)
Influence line for a function has the same
shape as the
deflected shape of the beam when the beam
is acted upon by the function.
R1

R2

Influence line for R1.

R1

R2

Influence line for Vc.

0.5

X=
0

X=
L

X=
0

0.5

X=L
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Qualitative assessment
Heinrich Muller-Breslau (1886)
C

Influence line for Mc.

Influence line for Vc.

X=
0

X=L

X=
0

X=L
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Series of concentrated loads

Influence line for a function can tell us the maximum value of that function as
a concentrated load moves along the member length.
For a series of concentrated loads:
Net influence line can be developed by superimposing influence lines for
individual loads

L/
3

-0.4

-0.2

2/3
L

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.15 0.15 0.15

L
L
L

0.8

Influence line for

shear force at C.

Series of concentrated loads

For a series of concentrated loads:
Response history can be developed by multiplying the ordinates of
influence lines for individual loads and superimposing them.
Since the individual influence lines are multi-linear in nature, the net
response history will be multi-linear as well. Therefore the maxima or
minima will be located at one of the corners, i.e., when one of the load
passes the point of interest (C).

-0.6

-0.4

-0.2

0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
-0.10
-0.2
-0.3
-0.4

L/
3

2L/
3

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.15 0.15 0.15

L
L
L

0.8

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Example: Shear force at a point due to a

series of concentrated loads

1(0.75)+4(0.625)+4(0.5)=5
.25k
Or
1(-0.25)+4(0.625)+4(0.5) =
4.25 k

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Example: continued.
1(0.125)+4(0.75)+4(0.625)=5.37
5k
Or
1(-0.125)+4(-0.25)+4(0.625) =
1.375k
1(0)+4(-0.125)+4(0.75)=2.5k
Or
1(0)+4(-0.125)+4(-0.25) =
-1.5k
Therefore, maximum shear
at C is equal to 5.375 k

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Example: Bending moment at a point due to

a series of concentrated loads

6.5

14
20

5.0

Influence line for

bending moment at
C

2(7.5)+4(6.5)+3(5.0)=56
k.ft
Or
?
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Example:
continued
3.0
4

Influence line for

bending moment at
C

2(4.5)+4(7.5)+3(6.0)=5
7 k.ft

2(0)+4(3.0)+3(7.5)=34.
5 k.ft
Therefore, maximum

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Absolute maximum due to a series of

concentrated loads
Assuming that only vertically downward concentrated loads are acting

Cantilever beam:
Maximum shear and maximum bending moments are always
located near the support.

Simply supported beam:

Maximum shear always takes place near one of the supports.
Maximum bending moment will takes place under one of the
loads in the series.
Find the absolute maximum for each individual load and
compare.
How to find the location of the series that produces
maximum bending moment under a particular load?
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16

Consider
a special
case
when F2
and FR
coincide.
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Example: Absolute maximum bending

moment

Resultant: FR = 4.5 k
6.67 ft from F1
Configuration 1:
Moment under load F1: Position the series of
loads so that F1 and FR are equidistant from
the beams centerline.
Reaction Ay=FR (11.67)/30 =1.7505 k
Maximum Moment under F1 = Ay. (15-3.33) =
20.42 k.ft
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Example: Absolute maximum bending

moment

Configuration 2:
Moment under load F2: Position the series of loads
so that F2 and FR are equidistant from the beams
centerline.
Reaction Ay=FR (15+1.67)/30 =2.5 k
Maximum Moment under F2
= Ay. (15+1.67) F1(10)
= 21.675 k.ft

Configuration 3:
Similarly check for moment under load F3.
Configuration 2 generates the absolute
maximum bending moment = 21.67 k.ft

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