Brief Review of

Influence Lines For Statically

Determinate Structures
Influence Line Definition

An Influence line, IL, describes the variation of a

function (reaction or internal force) at one
particular point (any point) along the structure as a
single downward moving unit load (1k or 1kN for
example) moves from one end of the structure to
the other.
 Influence Lines for Beams

Loadings:
1- Concentrated Loads
2- Uniform Loads

1- Concentrated Loads
For any moving concentrated force F acting on the beam at any position, the value
of the function (reaction, shear, moment) can be found by multiplying the ordinate
of the influence line of the function at that position by the magnitude of the force F.

2- Uniform Loads
The value of a function (reaction, shear, moment) caused by a moving uniform
distributed load is simply the area under the influence line for the function
multiplied by the intensity of the uniform load.
Influence Line for Reactions at A and B

A B

L/ L/4 L/4 L/4

4
 Influence Line for Reaction at A
1 kN
A B
Ay=1 kN L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4
W (kips/ft)
1 kN
A B
A B 32k 32k 8k

L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4

Ay=.75 kN L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4

1 kN 1 .75
.5
A B
0
Ay=.5 kN L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4
I.L. Ay
1 kN
A B
Ay=0 kN L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4
 Exercise: Find IL for Reaction at B
1 kN
A B
L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4 By=0 kN
W (kips/ft)
1 kN
A B A B 32k 32k 8k

L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4

L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4 By=.5 kN

1 kN 1
.75
A B .5

L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4 By=.75 kN 0

I.L. By
1 kN
A B
L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4 By=1 kN
 Influence Line for the Shear at C

A C B

L/ L/4 L/4 L/4

4
 Exercise: Find IL for the Shear at C
1 kN
1 kN
C A B
A B C
L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4
Ay=1 kN L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4
Ay=0.75 kN By=0.25 kN

1 kN Vc
C A Mc 32k 32k 8k

A B
L/4
Ay=0 kN L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4
Ay=0.75 kN Vc=.75 (down)
32k 32k 8k

.75 1 kN
.5
.25 A Mc
0 0
L/4 Vc
-.25
I.L. Vc Ay=0.75 kN Vc=.25 (up)
 Influence Line for the Moment at C

A C B

L/ L/4 L/4 L/4

4
 Influence Line for the Moment at C

1 kN
C
A B 1 kN
Ay=1 kN L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4 A B
L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4 32k 32k 8k

1 kN Ay=0.5 kN By=0.5 kN
C
A B
Ay=0 kN L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4
Vc
32k 32k 8k A Mc

L/4 L/4 L/4

Ay=0.5 kN Mc = (L/4)
0 0
I.L. Mc
Example 1

Determine the maximum positive live shear that can be developed at point C in the
beams shown below due to a concentrated moving load of 4000 lb and a uniform
moving load of 200 lb/ft.

4000 lb
200 lb/ft
C
A B

2.5 ft
10 ft
 Solution
4000 lb
200 lb/ft
C C
A B A B

2.5 ft 2.5 ft
10 ft
10 ft
32k 32k 8k

0.75 0.75
32k 32k 8k
I.L. Vc
-0.25 -0.25

Vc   0.75(4000 lb) = 3000 lb

 1 
Vc =  ( 10 -2.5 )( 0.75 )  200 lb/ft = 5625 lb
2 

V
  = 3000 lb + 5625 lb = 8625 lb

 c max
Extra Example
32k 32k 8k
Example 2
Draw the influence line for the force in member GB of the bridge truss
shown below.

H G F

6m
A E
B C D
6m 6m 6m 6m
 Solution
H G F H G F

A E A E
B C D B C D
1
H G F H G F

A E A E
B C D B C D
1 1
H G F

1
A E
B C D
 H G F G F
FHG
1
FG q
A 6m 6m 6m 6m E B E
FB
B C D C C D
Ey Ey

Using the right FBD:

 y
F  0  E y
 FGB
cos ( )0
45o
but Ey  ?

Using the FBD of the whole structure, we get Ey:

M A
 0  Ey  0
Therefore:
0  FGB cos ( 45o )  0  FGB  0
 H G F G F
FHG

FG q
A 6m 6m 6m 6m E B E
FB
1 B C D C C D
Ey Ey

Using the right FBD:

 y
F  0  E y
 FGB
cos ( )0
45o
but Ey  ?

Using the FBD of the whole structure, we get Ey:

M A
 0  1(6)  Ey (24)  0  Ey  0.25
Therefore:
0.25  FGB cos ( 45o )  0  FGB  0.345 tension
 H G F G F
FHG

FG q
A 6m 6m 6m 6m E B E
FB
B 1 C D C 1 C D
E E
y y
Using the right FBD:
 y
F  0  E y
 FGB
cos ( ) 1  0
45o
but Ey  ?

Using the FBD of the whole structure, we get Ey:

M A
 0  1(12)  Ey (24)  0  Ey  0.5

Therefore:
0.5  FGB cos ( 45o )  1  0  FGB  0.707 compression
 H G F G F
FHG

FG q
A 6m 6m 6m 6m E B E
FB
B C 1 D C C 1 D
Ey Ey

Using the right FBD:

 y
F  0  E y
 FGB
cos ( ) 1  0
45o
but Ey  ?

Using the FBD of the whole structure, we get Ey:

M A
 0  1(18)  Ey (24)  0  Ey  0.75

Therefore:
0.75  FGB cos ( 45o )  1  0  FGB  0.354 compression
 H G F G F
FHG

1 FG q 1
A 6m 6m 6m 6m B
E FB E
B C D C C D
Ey Ey

Using the right FBD:

 y
F  0  E y
 FGB
cos ( ) 1  0
45o
but Ey  ?

Using the FBD of the whole structure, we get Ey:

M A
 0  1(24)  Ey (24)  0  Ey  1

Therefore:
1  FGB cos ( 45o )  1  0  FGB  0
 H G F

6m
A E
B C D
32k 32k 8k
6m 6m 6m 6m

32k 32k 8k

P (kips)
0.354 w (kips/ft)
I.L. FGB 0 0

-0.354
-0.707
Live Load Analysis
Here and in Equation 4.6.2.2.2-1,
the modular ratio, n, is ≥ 1.0
 Summary

Longitudinal Placement (along the length of the bridge)

Summary

or concrete section
Summary

Longitudinal Placement (along the length of the bridge)

Summary
Summary

Transverse Placement (Live load distribution factors)

In this presentation, reference is made to the following
AASHTO LRFD Sections
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