PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA

College of Engineering and Technology

Structural Theory 1

Lesson 9
Influence Lines for Statically
Determinate Structures

Lecture slides by
Engr. Patrick Louie Jay R. Federizo, CE
*Influence Lines:
In the previous lessons, we developed techniques for analyzing the
forces in structural members due to dead or fixed loads. It was shown that the
shear and moment diagrams represent the most descriptive methods for
displaying the variation of these loads in a member. If a structure is subjected
to a live or moving load, however, the variation of the shear and bending
moment in the member is best described using the influence line. An
influence line represents the variation of either the reaction, shear, moment
or deflection at a specific point in a member as a concentrated force moves
over the member.
Once this line is constructed, one can tell at a glance where the
moving load should be placed on the structure so that it creates the greatest
influence at the specified point. Furthermore, the magnitude of the associated
reaction, shear, moment, or deflection at the point can be calculated from the
ordinates of the influence-line diagram. For these reasons, influence lines play
an important part in the design of bridges, industrial crane rails, conveyors
and other structures where loads move across their span.
Procedure for
Analysis:
Procedure for
Analysis:
Sample Problem #1:

Construct the influence line for the vertical reaction at A of the

beam shown.
Sample Problem #2:

Construct the influence line for the shear at point C of the

beam in the figure shown.
Sample Problem #3:

Construct the influence line for the moment at point C of the

beam in the figure shown.
Influence Lines for Beams:
Sample Problem #4:
Determine the maximum positive shear that can be developed
at point C in the beam shown in the figure due to concentrated
moving load of 4000lb and a uniform moving load of 2000lb/ft.

Vc max= 8,625lb
 Qualitative Influence Lines
*Mϋeller – 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.
-stated that the influence function of a particular variable is
proportional to the elastic curve function which can be drawn by releasing the
restraint on the particular variable and impose a unit deformation in the
direction of the variable provided no boundary condition is violated.
 Qualitative Influence Lines
*Mϋeller – Breslau Principle:
 Qualitative Influence Lines
*Mϋeller – Breslau Principle:
 Qualitative Influence Lines
*Mϋeller – Breslau Principle:
Influence Lines for Trusses:
Sample Problem #5:
Draw the influence line for the force in member GB of the
bridge truss shown in the figure.
Influence Lines for Trusses:
Sample Problem #6:
Determine the largest force that can be developed in member BC
due to a moving force of 25k and a moving distributed load of 0.60k/ft. The
loading is applied at the top chord.

FBC (max) = 49.0k

Maximum Influence at a Point due to a Series
of Concentrated Loads
Sample Problem #7:
Determine the maximum positive shear created at point B in the beam
shown in the figure due to the wheel loads of the moving truck.
Maximum Influence at a Point due to a Series
of Concentrated Loads
Sample Problem #7:

Correct position of the loads

occurs when the 15K load is
just to the right of point B.

V (max) = 7.5 k