CHAPTER 6

INFLUENCE LINES FOR STATICALLY DETERMINATE STRUCTURES

6.1 Influence Lines
• An influence line represents the variation of either the reaction, shear, or moment at a specific point in a
member as a concentrated force moves along 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 t creates the greatest influence at the specified point.

• Influence lines play a major role in the design of bridges, industrial crane rails, conveyors, and other structures
where loads move across their span.

2
6.1 Influence Lines
• Influence line represent the effect of a moving load at a specific point.

• Shear and moment diagrams represent the effect of fixed loads at all points along the axis of the member.
1 1 1

1 1

Influence line for reaction at A

6.1 Influence Lines
• Influence line represent the effect of a moving load at a specific point.

• Shear and moment diagrams represent the effect of fixed loads at all points along the axis of the member.
1 1 1

1 1

Influence line for reaction at B

Example 6.1
Construct the influence line for the vertical reaction at A of the beam shown

5
Example 6.1
Solution (Tabulate values)

Influence line for 𝑨𝒚

6
Example 6.1
Solution (Influence-line equation)

Influence line for 𝑨𝒚

෍ 𝑀𝐵 = 0 Influence line for 𝑩𝒚

1 10 − 𝑥 − 10𝐴𝑦 = 0 7

1
𝐴𝑦 = 1 − 𝑥
10
Example 6.2
Construct the influence line for the vertical reaction at B of the beam shown

8
Example 6.2
Solution (Tabulate the values)

Influence line for 𝑩𝒚

9
Example 6.2
Solution (Influence-line equation)

෍ 𝑀𝐴 = 0

5𝐵𝑦 − 1 𝑥 = 0 Influence line for 𝑩𝒚

1
𝐵𝑦 = 𝑥 10
5
Example 6.3
Construct the influence line for the shear at point C of the beam shown

11
Example 6.3
Solution (Tabulate Values)
Load just to the Load just to the
left of point C right of point C

Discontinious
at 𝑥 = 2.5

12
Example 6.3
Solution (Influence-line equations)

Support reaction 𝑽𝒄 for 𝟎 ≤ 𝒙 < 𝟐. 𝟓𝒎 𝑽𝒄 for 𝟐. 𝟓𝒎 < 𝒙 ≤ 𝟏𝟎𝒎

13
Example 6.3
Solution (Influence-line equations)

14
Influence line for 𝑽𝑪
Example 6.4
Construct the influence line for the shear at point C of the beam shown

15
Example 6.4
Solution (Tabulate values)

Discontinious
at 𝑥 = 4

16
Example 6.4
Solution (Influence-line equations)

Support reaction

𝑨𝒚
𝑩𝒚

෍ 𝑀𝐵 = 0
1
𝐴𝑦 = 1 − 𝑥 17
8
1 8 − 𝑥 − 8𝐴𝑦 = 0
Example 6.4
Solution (Influence-line equations)

𝑽𝒄 for 𝟎 ≤ 𝒙 < 𝟒𝒎 𝑽𝒄 for 𝟒𝒎 < 𝒙 ≤ 𝟏𝟐𝒎

1 1
𝑉𝐶 = − 𝑥 𝑉𝐶 = 1 − 𝑥
8 8 18
Example 6.4
Solution (Influence-line equations)

19
Influence line for 𝑽𝑪
Example 6.5
Construct the influence line for the moment at point C of the beam shown

𝒎
20
Example 6.5
Solution (Tabulate Values)

𝒎
𝒎

21
Example 6.5
Solution (Influence-Line equations)
Support reaction
𝟏
𝒙

𝑨𝒚 𝒎
𝑩𝒚
𝒎

෍ 𝑀𝐵 = 0
1
𝐴𝑦 = 1 − 𝑥 22
10
1 10 − 𝑥 − 10𝐴𝑦 = 0
Example 6.5
Solution (Influence-Line equations)

𝑴𝒄 for 𝟎 ≤ 𝒙 < 𝟓𝒎 𝑴𝒄 for 𝟓𝒎 < 𝒙 ≤ 𝟏𝟎𝒎

1
𝑀𝐶 = 5(1 − 𝑥) − 1(5 − 𝑥) 1
10 𝑀𝐶 = 5(1 − 𝑥)
1 10
𝑀𝐶 = 5 − 𝑥 − 1(5 − 𝑥) 23
2 𝟏
1 𝑴𝑪 = 𝟓 − 𝒙
𝑀𝐶 = 𝑥 𝟐
2
Example 6.5
Solution (Influence-Line equations)

𝒎
𝒎

Influence line for 𝑴𝑪

24
Example 6.6
Construct the influence line for the moment at point C of the beam shown

25
Example 6.6
Solution (Tabulate values)

26
Example 6.6
Solution (Influence-line equations)

Support reaction

𝑨𝒚
𝑩𝒚

෍ 𝑀𝐵 = 0
1
𝐴𝑦 = 1 − 𝑥 27
8
1 8 − 𝑥 − 8𝐴𝑦 = 0
Example 6.6
Solution (Influence-line equations)

𝑴𝒄 for 𝟎 ≤ 𝒙 < 𝟒𝒎 𝑴𝒄 for 𝟒𝒎 < 𝒙 ≤ 𝟏𝟐𝒎

1
𝑀𝐶 = 4(1 − 𝑥) − 1(4 − 𝑥) 1
8 𝑀𝐶 = 4(1 − 𝑥)
1 8
𝑀𝐶 = 4 − 𝑥 − 1(4 − 𝑥) 28
2 𝟏
1 𝑴𝑪 = 𝟒 − 𝒙
𝑀𝐶 = 𝑥 𝟐
2
Example 6.6
Solution (Influence-line equations)

Influence line for 𝑴𝑪

29
6.1 Influence Lines for Beams
• Once the influence line for reaction, shear or moment has been constructed, it will then be possible to position the
moving load on the beam so that they produce the maximum value of the function.

• We will consider concentrated moving force and uniformly distributed moving force.

30
6.1 Influence Lines for Beams
• Concentrated moving force

• Since the numerical values of a function for an influence line

are determined using a dimensionless unit load, then for any
concentrated force F acting on the beam at any position x,
the value of the function can be found by multiplying the
ordinate of the influence line at the position x by the
magnitude of F.

𝑨𝒚 = (𝟏)(𝑭)𝒌𝑵​​

31
6.1 Influence Lines for Beams
• Uniform Load

• Consider a portion of a beam subjected to a uniform load 𝜔𝑜

• Each 𝑑𝑥 segment of this load creates a concentrated force of

𝑑𝐹 = 𝜔𝑜 dx on the beam.

• If the influence line coordinate at 𝑑𝐹 is y, then the value of the

function is 𝑑𝐹 𝑦 = (𝜔𝑜 dx) y

• The effect of all the concentrated forces 𝑑𝐹 is determined by

integrating over the length of the beam subjected to the
moving uniformly distributed load.

32
6.1 Influence Lines for Beams
• Uniform Load

 w ydx =   ydx =  (area)

0 0 0

33
1
 Ay = (area )( w0 ) = (1)( L)( w0 )
2
Example 6.7
Determine the maximum positive shear that can be developed at point C in the beam shown due to a concentrated
moving load of 4kN and a uniform moving load of 2kN/m.

34
Example 6.7
Solution

Influence line for 𝑉𝐶 35

(Example 6.3)
Example 6.7
Solution

⚫ The Concentrated Force will create maximum

positive 𝑽𝑪 when it is at 𝒙 = 𝟐. 𝟓+ 𝒎.

VC = 0.75(4kN ) = 3kN

⚫ The Uniform Load will create maximum positive

𝑽𝑪 when it is between 𝒙 = 𝟐. 𝟓+ 𝒎 and 𝒙 = 𝟏𝟎 𝒎

1 
VC = ( Area ) w0 =  (10m − 2.5m)(0.75)  2kN / m = 5.625kN
2 

(VC ) max = (VC )concentrated + (VC )uniform = 3kN + 5.625kN = 8.625kN Ans.
36
Example 6.8
The frame structure shown is used to support a hoist for transferring loads for storage at points underneath it. It is
anticipated that the load on the folly is 3 kN and the beam CB has a mass of 24 kg/m. Assume the dolly has negligible
size and can travel the entire length of the beam. Also, assume A is a roller and B is a pin. Determine the maximum
vertical support reactions at A and B and the maximum moment in the beam at D.

37
Example 6.8
Solution

Maximum reaction at 𝐴 occurs when the load is at C

1
𝐴𝑦 = 3000 1.33 + 24(9.81) 4 1.33
𝑚𝑎𝑥 2
= 𝟒. 𝟔𝟑 𝒌𝑵 38
Example 6.8
Solution

Maximum reaction at 𝐵 occurs when the load is at B

1
𝐵𝑦 = 3000 1 + 24 9.81 1 −0.33
𝑚𝑎𝑥 2
1
+24(9.81) 3 1
2 39

= 𝟑. 𝟑𝟏𝒌𝑵
Example 6.8
Solution

Maximum moment at 𝐷 occurs when the load is at D

1
𝑀𝐷 𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 3000 0.75 + 24 9.81 1 −0.5
2
1
+24(9.81) 3 0.75
2 40

= 𝟐. 𝟒𝟔 𝒌𝑵. 𝒎