1.

0 INTRODUCTION

In a similar manner it can that if the Bending moments (BM) of the forces to the left of AA are
clockwise then the bending moment of the forces to the right of AA must be anticlockwise.
Bending Moment at AA is defined as the algebraic sum of the moments about the section of all
forces acting on either side of the section.
Bending Moment is the algebraic sum of the moment of the forces to the left or to the right of
the section taken about the section. Bending moments are considered positive when the
moment on the left portion is clockwise and on the right anticlockwise. This is referred to as a
sagging bending moment as it tends to make the beam concave upwards at AA. A negative
bending moment is termed hogging.
An influence line for a given function, such as a reaction, axial force, shear force, or bending
moment, is a graph that shows the variation of that function at any given point on a structure
due to the application of a unit load at any point on the structure.
An influence line for a function differs from a shear, axial or bending moment diagram.
Influence lines can be generated by independently applying a unit load at several points on a
structure and determining the value of the function due to this load, i.e. shear, axial, and
moment at the desired location. The calculated values for each function are then plotted where
the load was applied and then connected together to generate the influence line for the
function.
For example, the influence line for the support reaction at A of the structure shown in Figure 1,
is found by applying a unit load at several points (See Figure 2) on the structure and
determining what the resulting reaction will be at A. This can be done by solving the support
reaction YA as a function of the position of a downward acting unit load. One such equation
can be found by summing moments at Support B.

Figure 1 - Beam structure for influence line example

Figure 2 - Beam structure showing application of unit load

MB = 0 (Assume counter-clockwise positive moment)
-YA(L)+1(L-x) = 0
YA = (L-x)/L = 1 - (x/L)
The graph of this equation is the influence line for the support reaction at A (See Figure 3).
The graph illustrates that if the unit load was applied at A, the reaction at A would be equal to
unity. Similarly, if the unit load was applied at B, the reaction at A would be equal to 0, and if
the unit load was applied at C, the reaction at A would be equal to -e/L.

Figure 3 - Influence line for the support reaction at A

2.0 PRINCIPLES
The influence line for bending moment at a section is the graph (curve) representing the
variation of bending moment at a section for various positions of the load on the span of the
beam. The sign convention followed, in general, is shown in Figure 1.
W
x
A

= W (L x)

(L a)

=Wx
L
L
L

Figure 1: Simply supported beam with load towards left of C

W
x
A

= W (L x)

(L a)

= Wx
L
L
L

Figure 2: Simply supported beam with load towards right of C

Consider a simply supported beam of span L as shown in Figures 1 and 2. It is required to

draw influence line for bending moment at C at a distance a from the left support.
3

When the load W is towards left of section C, at a distance x from left support A 0 < x <
a

The shear force at C

=

M=+

-W

(L a) = +

[Equation 1]

(Considering right side of section C)

When the load W is towards right of section D at a distance x from left support A a < x
<0
The bending moment at D (considering left side of section C)
M=+

M=+

[Equation 2]

3.0 OBJECTIVE
To determine the bending moment influence line when the beam is subjected to a load moving
from left to the right.

4.0 APPARATUS
1 .A pair of simple supports

2. Special beam with a cut section

3 .A set of weight with several load hangers

4. Indicator

5.0 PROCEDURE
The load cell is
connected to the
digital indicator.
2. The indicator is switched on and it
must switched on 10 minutes earlier
before taking reading for stability of
reading.
3. The two simple supports were fixed to the
aluminium base at a distance equal to the span
of the beam to be tested. The supports were
screwed tightly to the base.
4. The load hanger was hanged to the
beam.
5. The beam was placed to the
supports.
6. The load hanger was placed 50 mm from the
left support.
7. The indicator reading was set in zero (if not zero) by
pressing the tare button.
8. The units of load were placed on the load
hanger.
9. The indicator reading that represent the bending
moment at the cut section was recorded.

10. Remove the load from the

hanger.
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11. The load hanger was moved to 100 mm from the left
support and step 7 until step 11 was repeated. The
distance is increased each time by 50 mm.

The step 7 until step 11 was repeated until the load reached end B for 2
more cases. In the second case, 2 load hangers were used and 8 units of
load were placed on the 2 hangers while in third case, 3 load hangers
were used and 12 units of load were placed on the 3 hanger. The distance
between the hangers is 20 mm.

6.0 RESULTS
CASE 1
L1
X

W1

RA

RB

Figure 6.1: Loading position for case 1

Beam Span, (L)

1000 mm

Distance of the shear section from left support, (La)

665 mm

Weight , (W1)

4N

Distance of load cell from the centre of the beam cross section

175mm

Table 6.1: Result data for Case 1

DISTANCE FROM
LEFT SUPPORT
(mm)
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
800
850
900
950
CALCULATION FOR CASE 1

BENDING MOMENTS AT X-X

EXPERIMENTAL =
( F * 175)( N )
70
140
210
262.5
332.5
402.5
455
525
595
700
542.5
402.5
245
122.5

BEFORE CROSS-SECTION
M x-x

= W1 - Wx La - W1 (La - x)

THEORY ( Nmm )
67
134
210
268
335
402
469
536
603
670
532
399
266
133

x = 50 mm,
M x-x

= 4 - 4(50) 665 - 4(665 - 50)

1000
= 67 Nmm

x = 100 mm,
M x-x

= 4 - 4(100) 665 - 4 (665 - 100)

1000
= 134 Nmm

AFTER CROSS-SECTION
M x-x

= W1 - Wx La
L

x = 800 mm,
M x-x

= 4 - 4(800) 665
1000
= 532 Nmm

x = 850 mm,
M x-x

= 4 - 4(850) 665
1000
= 399 Nmm

CASE 2

L1
W1

W2

a
9
RA

RB

Figure 6.2: Loading position for case 2

Beam Span (L)

= 1000 mm

Distance of the shear section from left support (La)

665 mm

Weight 1 (W1)

4N

Weight 2 (W2)

4N

Distance of load cell from the centre of the beam cross section

= 175mm

A distance between two hangers (a)

DISTANCE FROM
LEFT
SUPPORT(MM)

BENDING MOMENT AT X-X

THEORY(N)

EXPERIMENTAL=(F*175)(N)

20 mm

DIFFERENCES
EXPERIMENTALTHEORY

50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
800

175
297.5
437.5
560
700
857.5
980
1102.5
1260
1015

160.8
294.8
428.8
562.8
696.8
830.8
964.8
1098.8
1232.8
1010.8

14.2
2.7
8.7
-2.8
3.2
26.7
15.2
3.7
27.2
4.2

850
900

735
455

744.8
478.8

-9.8

Table 6.2: Result data for case 2

CALCULATION FOR CASE 2

BEFORE CROSS-SECTION
M x-x = (W1 + W2) - W1X +W2(X + a) La - W1 (La - X) - W2[ La - (X + a)]
10

-23.8

For X =50
M x-x = (4 + 4) - 6(50) + 6(50+ 20) 665- 6 (665 - 50) - 6[665 - (50+ 20)]
1000
= 160.8 Nmm

For X = 100 mm,

M x-x = (4 + 4) - 6(100) + 6(100 + 20) 665- 6 (665 - 100) - 6[665 - (100 + 20)]
1000
= 294.8 Nmm
AFTER CROSS-SECTION
M x-x = (W1 + W2) - W1X + W2(X + a) La
L

For X = 800 mm,

M x-x = (6+ 6) - 6(800) + 6(800 + 20) 665
1000
= 1010.8 Nmm

CASE 3
L1

a
W1

b
W2

W3

11
RA

RB

Figure 6.3: Loading position for case 3

Beam Span (L)

1000 mm

Distance of the shear section from left support(La)

665 mm

Weight 1 (W1)

4N

Weight 2 (W2)

4N

Weight 3 (W3)

4N

Distance of load cell from the centre of the beam cross section

175mm

a and b distance between two hangers (a & b)

20 mm

DISTANCE FROM
LEFT SUPPORT
(MM)

BENDING MOMENT AT X-X

EXPERIMENTAL=(F*175)(N)

THEORY(N)

DIFFERENCES
EXPERIMENTALTHEORY

262.5
490
682.5
892.5
1102.5
1295
1522.5
1750
1942.5
1470
1015
630

281.4
482.4
683.4
884.4
1085.4
1286.4
1487.4
1688.4
1889.4
1436.4
1037.4
638.4

-18.9
7.6
-0.9
8.1
17.1
8.6
35.1
61.6
53.1
33.6
-22.4
-8.4

50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
800
850
900

Table 6.3: Result data for case 3

CALCULATION FOR CASE 3

BEFORE CROSS-SECTION
M x-x = (W1 + W2 + W3) - W1X + W2(X + a) + W3(X + a + b) La

12

L
- W1 (La - X) - W2 [La - (X + a)] W3 [La - (X + a + b)]

For X = 100 mm,

M x-x = (4+ 4+ 4) - 4 (100) + 4(100 + 20) + 4(100 + 20 + 20) 665

1000
- 4 (665 - 100) - 4[665 - (100 + 20)] 4[665 - (100 + 20 + 20)]
= 482.4 Nmm

AFTER CROSS-SECTION
M x-x = (W1 + W2 + W3) - W1X + W2(X + a)+W3(X + a + b) La
L

For X = 800 mm,

M x-x = (4 + 4 + 4) - 4(800) + 4(800 + 20)+4(800 + 20 + 20) 665
1000
= 1436.4 Nmm

7.0 DISCUSSION / ANALYSIS

Case 1

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Case 2

Case 3

14

In this experiment, we used load 4N in every 3 case. Before put the load on the load hanger we
must always set the indicator reading was in zero by pressing the tare button. It is because to
get the correct value. We also must make sure distances of the shear section from left support
are same each experiment.
From the result that we get, there are some errors that make our result not accurate and
contribute the error between the experiment and theory is the digital indicator is not too
accurate, although the value of experiment quite near with the value of theory a there are still
have error. The digital indicator is too sensitive when we taking the reading, the screen show
that the reading not in static. The digital indicator is too sensitive with the wind and the
surrounding movement. The human error is one of the factors that can affect the experiment
result. This is because when we measure the distance between the loads, our eye level is not
perpendicular to the ruler. The beam is sensitive when we do the experiment, the beam is
moving when we try to put the load and when we want to change the holder of hanger to right
side, the beam is not in the original position yet.
The value for the experimental and theoretical value case 1 is nearly same. From this
experiment, the values for the experimental and theoretical before cross section x-x are
decrease and then after cross section x-x are increase. The value is depend on the location of
the load. For the case 1, the maximum bending moment that we get from experiment is
700Nmm while from the theoretical bending moment is 670Nmm

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8.0 CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, based on this experiment, the values of experimental result and theory
result are nearly same. The objective of this experiment has been achieved. These experiments
is very important before design the beam or any structure. It is because to make sure that the
structure is safe to built and used. This experiment and calculation is important before we built
a bridge and other structure.

9.0 REFERENCES / APPENDICES

1. Lab Manual Book

2. Structural Analysis
3. http://www.codecogs.com/reference/engineering/materials/shear_force_and_bending_
moment.php
4. http://www.public.iastate.edu/~fanous/ce332/influence/homepage.html

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