TITLE: INFLUENCE LINES

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Level 2 laboratory activities refer to the condition where only the problem is guided and
given. Students are required to find the ways & means and provide the answers to the given
assignment using the group creativity and innovativeness. The activity will enable the
students to appreciate independent learning and prepare them for a much harder task of
open ended laboratory activities. In this partially open laboratory activity, your group is
required to carry out test on influence line in a determinate beam.

1.2 OBJECTIVE

To determine the influence line and internal forces in statically determinate beams.

1.3 LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the laboratory activity, students would be able to:

1. Identify the correct apparatus to carry out the influence line and internal forces
for determinate beam and conducts laboratory experiments.
2. Analyse data correctly and present in typical format.
3. Work in a group to produce technical report.

1.4 THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

Influence lines and internal forces describe the variation of an analysis variable (reaction,
shear force, bending moment, twisting moment, deflection, etc.) at a point. Once the
influence line is drawn, the location of the live load which will cause the greatest influence on
the structure can be found very quickly. Therefore, influence lines are important in the design
of a structure where the loads move along the span. e.g. beams, bridges, craned, etc.

2.0 PROBLEM STATEMENT

Students are required to determine influence lines for reactions and internal forces in a
statically determinate beam using the apparatus provided in the laboratory. The test must be
carried out following the procedures outlined and subsequently analyse the data obtained
and present it in a proper technical format.

3.1 APPARATUS

1. Ruler
2. Load
3. Hanger
4. Bending moment beam machine
5. Determinate and indeterminate beam machine
3.2 PROCEDURE

Reaction

1. The span of beam for reaction is measured.

2. Make sure the reading at support is zero.
3. The distance is measured and the hanger with load is placed at first distance of the
beam.
4. The reading for vertical load (VA and VB) is recorded.
5. The distance is measured and the same load is moved at different distance.
6. The data is tabulated.
7. Step 5 is repeated.

Bending moment

1. The span of bending moment is measured.

2. The level arm is measured.
3. Make sure the reading is zero.
4. The distance from support to load is measured and the hanger with load is placed at
first distance of beam.
5. The distance is measured and the same load is moved at different distance.
6. The data is tabulated.
7. Step 5 is repeated.

3.3 DATA ACQUISITION

Reaction:

Length of beam : 0.5 cm

Load : 0.6 N

Distance (m) Reaction at support (N)

Experimental
VA VB
0.1 0.6 0.2
0.2 0.5 0.3
0.3 0.3 0.5
0.4 0.2 0.6
0.5 0.1 0.8
Table 1: Experimental reaction of influence lines

X (m) VA = 0.6 - X VB = 1.2X

0 0 0
0.1 0.5 0.12
0.2 0.4 0.24
0.3 0.3 0.36
0.4 0,2 0.48
0.5 0.1 0.60
Table 2: Theoretical reaction of influence lines
Bending moment:

Length of beam : 0.44 m

Load :3N

Level arm : 0.125 m

Distance (m) Shear force (N) Bending moment (Nm)

0.08 0.6 0.075
0.16 1.3 0.163
0.24 2.2 0.275
0.32 2.0 0.250
Table 3: Experimental bending moment of influence lines

Distance (cm) Bending moment (Nm)

MC = 0.954 X
0.08 0.076
0.16 0.153
0.24 0.229
Table 4(a): Theoretical bending moment of influence lines

Distance (cm) Bending moment (Nm)

MC = 0.9 – 2.046 X
0.32 0.389

Table 4(b): Theoretical bending moment of influence lines

Calculation:

1) Support reaction

X
0.6 N

HA A B

500 mm

VA VB

∑M A =0 ∑F y =0 ∑Fx =0

0.6(X) - VB(0.5) = 0 VA + X – 0.6 = 0 HA = 0

VB = 1.2 X N VA = 0.6 - X

X= 0.1m X= 0.1m

VB = 1.2 X VA = 0.6 - X

VB = 1.2(0.1) VA = 0.6 – 0.1

= 0.12 N = 0.5 N

Influence lines diagram for VA Influence lines diagram for VB

2) Bending moment
3N
x

C
HA

0.3 m
VA VB

4.0 DISCUSSION 0.5 m

4.1 CONCLUSION
∑M A =0 ∑F y =0

3(X) - VB(0.44) = 0 VA + 6.82X – 3 = 0

VB = 6.82 X N VA = 3 – 6.82X

0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3

x 3N
∑MC =0

-MC + (3 – 6.82X)(0.3) – (3)(0.3 – X) = 0

3 – 6.82x MC = 0.954 X

0.3 m

0.3 ≤ x ≤ 0.44

x
∑MC =0

-MC + (3 – 6.82X)(0.3) = 0

MC = 0.9 – 2.046 X
3 – 6.82x

0.3 m