Influence Line Diagram

▪ Seen techniques for analyzing the forces (Bending moment, shear and
axial forces) and deflection when the positions of loads acting on a
structure is always remain same.
▪ Such loads are termed as dead loads i.e. the magnitude of load do not
change position.
▪ But if a structure is subjected to live load (change position in life time
e.g. weight of person and furniture, vehicle movement across bridge,
EOT crane running over a gantry girder etc.) the forces and
displacement at various position of the structure be obtained
conveniently by using the concept of influence line diagram.

✓ When a moving load crosses the span, only at one location of load a
particular quantity (Bending moment, shear forces, deflection) become
severe.
✓ Interest is to know the maximum value of the specific quantity (say
BM) in the beam i.e. to know for what position of the load the BM in
the beam will be maximum.
✓ Note that the position of the load for maximum BM and for any other
quantity (shear, axial force) will be different.
The problem to obtain a solution under such moving load can be simplified:
(1) by considering a unit load moving over the span and look for the position
at what it causes the desired effect maximum (in graphical representation).
(2) Find the end effect for actual moving load.

The first part gives the concept of influence line i.e.

knowing the variation of any force quantity at a
specific point in a member when the unit load
moves over the member.

Formally influence line can be defined as –

The influence line for a specific effect (support reaction, shear force,
bending moment, torsion etc.) at a specific section may be defined as a curve,
the ordinates of which show the variation of that effect caused by a unit load
moving across the member.
To explain let us consider a simply
supported beam. We are interested to know
the value of reaction at left support A for
varying position of unit load.

Now for a position of the unit load defined by

distance x from A, taking moment about B

RA×L-1.0×(L-x)=0 x
 RA = 1 −
L
represent the ILD for reaction at A
RA=1.0 for x=0 and RA=0.0 for x=L

Similarly, the variation of reaction B can be

obtained by taking moment about A i.e.

RB  L − 1.0  x = 0
x
RB =
L represent the ILD for reaction at B
 ILD for SF of a Simply Supported Beam
ILD for SF at a given section of a Beam
a) When the position of the unit load is on
the left of the section,
Consider right part X-X
SF at X Vx = − RB 0 xa

thus the ILD will be simply the ILD of RB & valid for x=0 to x=a)
(b) When the position of the unit load is on the
right of the section X-X consideration left part
x
Vx = RA = (1 − ) 𝑎<𝑥<𝐿
L
ILD will be simply the SF diagram of
RA & valid for x=a to x=l)
 ILD for BM at X-X
a) When Unit Load is on left of X-X:
x
BM at X-X = RB ( L − a) = L ( L − a) a
( L − a ).
L
i.e. ILD of RB multiplied by (L-x) for 0 xa

b) When unit load is on RHS section X-X;

BM at X-X = RA  a = (1 − x ).a axL
L
a
For x=a M A = (1 − ).a
L

ILD for BM at X-X

 Use of ILD
Using the influence line diagram for reaction, SF and BM at a section, these quantities
can be easily obtained for a number of concentrated loads with given position.

RA = W1a1 + W2 a3 + W3a3 + W4 a4

Rb = bW
1 1 + b2W2 + b3W3 + b4W4

VC = W1 (−C1 ) + W2 (−C2 )
+W3C3 + W4 (C4 )
M C = W1d1 + W2 d 2
+W3d3 + W4 d 4
 To find the SF and BM at section C for a given position of UDL

Let us consider an elemental load

& corresponding co-ordinate y,
and then total SF at C
x2

 yqdx
x1

x2 a x2

VC =  yqdx =  (− y)qdx +  yqdx

x1 x1 a

BM at C
x2

 yqdx
x1

Area of the ILD between x1 and x2 multiplied by intensity of load

Example

The SF at C for a given load on the beam

1 1 2 1 4 5 1 3 2
VC = −40  − 10( + )  2 + 10( + )  2 + 60  + 80 
7 7 7 2 7 7 2 7 7

=51.43 kN

4(14 − 4) 20
YC = =
14 7
Y 10 Y 16
Y1 = C  2 = Y2 = C  2 =
4 7 10 7
Y 12 Y 8
Y3 = C  6 = Y4 = C  4 =
10 7 10 7

10 1 10 20 20 16 12 8
M C = 40  + 10  ( + + + )  2 + 60  + 80  = 345.71 kN-m
7 2 7 7 7 7 7 7
▪ The computation of SF and BM at any
section by using ILD is very simple as may
be noted from the previous example.
▪ However, ILD is intended to obtain such
quantities at a section for the cases when the
position of load is not fixed rather it can
change it’s position i.e., so called rolling load.
▪ Then obtaining the desired quantities are
more involved.

The problem is now to find out the position of the load

▪ for which the desired quantity will be max. in a particular section
▪ for which the desired quantity will be absolute max.

The problem can be studied under following sub heads:

i. For a single concentrated load
ii. For a series of load: a) Larger than span & b) Smaller than span
iii) For a moving UDL
iv) Combination of (ii) + (iii)
Single Point Load
Note that maximum positive SF at C will occur
when the load is just right of the section C

L−x
the value will be, VC (+) = P
L

Max negative SF at c when x

load is just left to c when VC (−) = P
L
load is just to c,

Now at what section these are maximum

for VC(+) to be maximum, the L−x

has the maximum value
section should be such that L

clearly it will be at A and max positive SF=+P

Similarly maximum negative SF will be at B and value will be = -P

The Bending Moment at the cross section
will be maximum when load P is directly
placed on c as the ILD for MC has the
maximum ordinate

( L − x) x
M C (max) = .P
L

Now at what c/s the value will be maximum?

x
Clearly the value of x for which y = ( L − x) is maximum
2

d d x L
For that ( y ) = 0 i.e. ( L − x ) = 0 i.e. x =
dx dx L 2

L L
Thus absolute maximum BM will occur at the center (L − )
M C (abs.max) = 2 2  P = PL
of the beam and the moving load is on the section L 4
 UDL: there could be two situations

1)UDL larger than span

-Maximum negative SF at section C (defined by
x) will occur when the UDL is on entire part AC

1 x qx 2
VC (−ve max) =   x  q =
2 L 2L -
Similarly max positive SF at C will occur
when ULD is on the entire part BC, 1 L−x q( L − X )2
VC (+ve) = ( L − x)q =
2 L 2L
It may be readily realized that maximum positive 1 qL
SF will occur for x = 0 i.e. at A & negative SF will Maximum SF =  1  L  q =
2 2
occur for x=L i.e. at B. Both the values will be
same.
Maximum BM at C will be simply
1 L−x qx( L − x)
M C max = x. .L  q =
2 L 2
L L
(L − )
2 2 qL2
And the BM will be maximum when, x=L/2 and the value will be = q. =+
2 8
 ii) UDL smaller than span (i.e., length of d<L)
For maximum positive SF at C, the procedure will be same
as earlier, however one should consider the full area of ILD
diagram of part AC or BC depending on the value of x & d.

For maximum Bending moment at a section C

y +y y +y
M C = qx 1 C + q(d − x) 2 C
2 2

For Mc to be maximum d
(M C ) = 0
dx
q( y1 + yC ) q( y2 + yC )
=
2 2
y1 = y2 yC y
(a − x) = C  L − a − (d − x) 
a L−a

a( L − a) (a − x) a( L − a )
or , = ( L − a − d + x)
L a L( L − a ) x a
i.e. =
or , al − Lx − a 2 + ax = al − a 2 − da + ax or , Lx = da d L
Now for moment to be maximum absolute,
a( L − a) d
( yC ) = 0 a=
L
the position of the section (defined by a) YC =
should be such Yc is maximum L da 2
i.e. at the midspan.
 Ex. Find the maximum SF and BM at C when an
UDL of 40 kN/m of 5 m length crosses the beam
For maximum positive SF at C load position
should be from point C to towards B
Maximum positive SF at C
0.6 + 0.267
VC (max) ( +ve) =  5  40 = 86.67kN
2
0.4 + .0667
Maximum negative SF at C VC (max) (−ve) =  5  40 = 46.67 kN
2

Thus, absolute max SF at C is maximum of above i.e. =86.67 kN

For maximum BM at C load should be placed in such a way so that
x 6
= x=2m y1 = 2.4 y2 = y1
5 15
 2.4 + 3.6 3.6 + 2.4 
Maximum BM at C M max =  2+  3  40
 2 2 
= 600 kN-m
x( L − x)
Position for absolute Bending Moment This will be at a section where Yc will be max YC =
L
the maximum BM will occur at the midspan, the load  3.75 + 2.5 
should be placed symmetric about the mid-section M max =  2  2.5  2  40 = 625 kN − m
 Moving Concentrated Load
(1) Maximum reaction at support
To find the position of loads for which
reaction will be maximum at A.
It is clear from the ILD of RA that reaction due to a
particular load will be maximum when the load is directly
placed on the section.
Now the question is which load should be placed on the
section i.e. P1 or P2 and so on.
Compare the change in reaction due to movement of load
i.e., P1 leaves the section P2 enters the section.

Calculate the change in reaction due to this movement

R =
 Pd 1 Pe
+ − P1
L L
 P is the sum of all loads which are on the span & P’ is the load which may enter to
stay on the span during this movement
the section (as one more load) due
P1 is the load which moves out the section (point A) to this movement.
d1 is the distance between P1 and the following wheel e is the distance of this new load
in the span from support B.
L is the span length
 Example R =
 Pd 1
+
Pe
− P1
L L

234 (+ve)(No new load enters)

Trial 1: P1 Leaves section A and P2 enters R =  2 − 10 = 13.4
20
224  3 20 1
Trial 2: P2 Leaves section A and P3 enters R = − 10 + = 24.6 (+ve) (A new load enters)
20 20

Trial 3: P3 Leaves section A and P4 enters 208  2 20 1.7 20  .4

R = + + − 36 = −13.1
20 20 20
(-ve) (Two new loads enter)
Thus, maximum reaction at A will
occur when P3 is on support A.

36 10 20 1
RA = 36 1 + (18 + 16 + 14) + (11 + 10) + (7 + 6 + 5) + 20 
20 20 20 20
= 151.9
ii) Maximum SF at a given section-
If positive SF occurs at C when load P1 is on
C is VC, now when load crosses the section
this load will contribute negative SF at A.

Thus change in SF when P1 leaves the

section and P2 enters the section.

V =
 Pd 1
− P1 +
Pe
L L

Effect of new load, P’ at e-distance of from B

Increase of SF due to
 x 
movement of d1 by the
 (1 − )
L  e  P = Pe 
Load which crosses the
existing loads section, this reduces SF.  
 L − x L 
 
 Pa a 
−
 L
1
− P1 (1 − ) = − P1 
L 
For Maximum SF at section
(1) For P1 to P2 on section

V =
 Pd 1
− P1 +
P 'e
L L
174  2 10 1
− 10 + =7.9 (+)
20 20
(new load P8)

(ii) for P2 to P3 on section

184  3 20 1 20  0
V = − 10 + + =+18.6
20 20 20
New load P9 and P10

214  2 20  5 20 1
(iii) P3 to P4 V = − 36 + + =-8.6(decrease)
20 20 20
New load P11 and P12
Thus P3 should be on the section for maximum positive SF at A

Maximum positive SF

14 36 12 36 10 36  8 10  5 10  4 20 1 20  0 10  3 10 1
= 36  + + + + + + + − − = 87.2kN
20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
iii) Maximum BM at a section
For BM to be maximum at a section, any of the
point loads should be on the section (the highest
coordinate)
Now, if the movement of all loads are made towards left, due to this movement, the
moment due to loads on right (portion BC) of the section will increase and that due to
loads on the left (Portion AC) will decrease.

Then change in BM in any such movement,

M = I − D I is increase and D is decrease i

M is positive, movement should be continued

M becomes negative, then the movement of load for which

it becomes negative should be placed over the section.
Let for any position of load, total load on left of the section is W1 and right it is W2.
i i
Now for a unit I = W2 1.0 D = W1 1.0 W2i W1i
movement of the load b a M = −
b a

For max. bending

moment at section
M should changes from positive value to negative value
For this to occur at certain condition M = 0
W1i W2i W1 W2 W1 + W2 W
For this = = = =
a b a b a+b L
The condition can be stated as
“The moment is maximum (at a section) when average load on the left of the section
is equal to average load on the right of the section (also overall average load on the
section)”

This condition is possible to achieve exactly in case of UDL

But, for series of concentrated load it is most unlikely to exactly satisfy the condition
For crossing of one concentrated load the average load on left will increase than that
on right whereas when the crossing load was on right the situation was reverse.

This condition makes M from positive to negative

When one load is just to W1 W2 when the same on the W1 W2

the left of the section if  right of the section 
a b a b

If the criteria are fulfilled then the corresponding load should be placed over the
section to produce maximum BM at the considered section.
 Example: Find max BM at C
Trial 1:
38 10
P3 on left of section WAcav =  WBcav =
8 22
P3 on right of section
23 25
WAc = 
Trail 2 8 22
23 25 8 40
P2 on left  P2 on right 
8 22 8 22

Thus load P2 should be on the

section for maximum BM at C.

M max at C
5.867 5.867
= 5.867 15 +  20 15 + 18 10
22 22
5.867
+  68
8
= 251.21 kN-m
 IV) Maximum BM anywhere in the girder under a particular load.
Consider the position of the loads so that
moment under a load (say P) will be maximum
W= Sum of all wheel load,
x is the distance of C.G of all loads from B

‘a’ is the distance of load P(under which maximum moment will occur) from W
W1 is the sum of all loads left of P and ‘b’ is the distance of W1 from P.
Then moment under P d
This to be max. (M ) = 0
dx
Wx L − 2x − a = 0 L−a L a
= RA ( L − x − a ) − W1b = ( L − x − a ) − W1b x =
2
= −
2 2
L
Thus for BM under a particular wheel load will be maximum if that load and CG of the
loads is equal distance from center of the beam.

The condition discussed for maximum BM under a particular load can be used to find the
absolute maximum BM in a beam when a series of concentrated load crosses the beam.
Largest possible moment occurs under the load closest to the resultant provided that this
load is not less than the other adjacent load. When the closest load is less than the further
load both positions should be checked.
Find absolute Maximum BM in a SS beam 16 m Span

Let CG of the load is x from 40 kN load, then

80  2 + 60  4 + 20  7
x= = 2.7
40 + 80 + 60 + 20

As the nearer load to CG line is 80 kN & it is

the higher value then the other adjacent load,
maximum BM will occur under this load

3.99
M max = 3.99  80 +  (7.65 − 2)  40
7.65
3.99 3.99
+ (8.35 − 2)  60 + (8.35 − 5)  20
8.35 8.35

=651.5 kN-m
Cantilever Beam
Overhang Beam