HOLY ANGEL UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

MODULE 1-PRELIM
Lesson 10: Influence Line-Truss
 MODULE 1-PRELIM
LESSON #10: Influence Line-Truss

 In this lesson you will be able to draw influence line for a statically determinate structure, also to
determine the maximum live shear and moment in a member.

All concepts sample problems and figures are from the followings books,

 Hibbeler, R. C.(2017). Structural analysis 9th ed. Boston, Pearson

 Leet, Kenneth M. (2011). Fundamentals of structural analysis, McGraw-Hill, Boston

 Kassimali, Aslam (2010). Structural analysis, Cengage Learning, Stamford, CT USA

 J Rungamornrat (2011). Fundamental of Structural Analysis, Rungamornrat, Bangkok Thailand

You can also refer to the following online pages for additional information.

 HAU BOOKs 24x7

 http://www.civilengineering.com

 CE 474 Structural Analysis II Homepage.https://engineering.purdue.edu/~ce474/

 NPTEL Phase II::Civil Engineering-Structural Analysis I .nptel.ac.in/downloads/105101085/

In construction of influence lines for trusses, it is important to determine which path the moving load takes
across the truss. An example truss for a road bridge is shown in the figure. On this truss, the road surface is
level with the lower chord of the truss. Therefore, an influence line for this truss would be constructed along
a direct line that joins the pin at the left with the roller on the right along the lower chord of the truss. The
construction of influence lines is similar to the construction of influence lines for beams.
http://www.learnaboutstructures.com/Influence-Lines-for-Trusses.

In the analysis of influence lines for trusses is that we must assume that the load can only be transferred to
the truss at the intersection points between the members. This is necessary because the truss members
themselves are typically assumed to only take axial forces. Any loads between the intersection points on the
truss elements would cause them to bend.

There are actually two trusses for a bridge, one on either side of the roadway. These trusses are joined together
by main beams/girders that run between them at the locations of the intersection points between the truss
members. These main beams are responsible for transmitting the load from the roadway to the truss
intersection points. The main beams are also often connected together by secondary beams. The road deck
would then sit on top of the secondary beams. So, the load path for a load applied on any point of the road

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LESSON 9: INFLUENCE LINE - TRUSS
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deck must travel through the secondary beams to the closest main beam, and from there directly to an
intersection point on the truss. The truss then transfers the main beam loads from the intersection points to
the supports at either end.

Schematic indicating load transferring mechanism of given truss under moving unit load along its loading
path.

Problem #1: (Fig. 8.18, Structural Analysis, Aslam Solution:

Kassimali, 4th ed.)
Solve for the ordinates of the IL for the Reactions
Consider the Pratt bridge truss shown. A unit load
moves from left to right. Suppose that we wish to
draw the influence lines for the vertical reactions at
supports A and E and for the axial forces in
members CI, CD, DI, IJ and FL of the truss.

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LESSON 9: INFLUENCE LINE - TRUSS
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Influence for reaction at A and E.

Influence Line for member CI:

Influence line for CD

a-a

a-a

a-a
a-a

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LESSON 9: INFLUENCE LINE - TRUSS
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b-b

Influence line for DI

Influence line for IJ

b-b

b-b

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LESSON 9: INFLUENCE LINE - TRUSS
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b-b

Influence line for FL

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LESSON 9: INFLUENCE LINE - TRUSS