INTRODUCTION

Influence line graphs were a variation of a function at a specific point on a beam or

truss caused by a unit load placed at any point along the structure. Some of the common
functions studied with influence lines include reactions, shear, moment, and the deflection.
Influence lines are important in designing beams and trusses used in bridge, train
rails, conveyor belts, floor girders, and other structures where loads will move along their
span. The influence lines show where a load will create the maximum effect for any of the
functions studied.

Influence lines are both scalar and addictive. This means that they can be used even
when the load that will be applied is not a unit load or if there are multiple loads applied. To
find the effect of any non-unit load on a structure, the ordinate results obtained by the
influence line are multiplied by the magnitude of the actual load to be applied. The entire
influence line can be scaled, or just the maximum and minimum effects experienced along
the line. The scaled maximum and minimum are the critical magnitudes that must be
designed in the beam or truss.

In cases where multiple loads may be in effect, the influence lines for the individual
loads may be added together in order to obtain the total effect felt by the structure at a given
point. When adding the influence lines together, it is necessary to include the appropriate
offsets due to the spacing of loads across the structure.

The example on real application of influence line in our surrounding such as a truck
with a load is applied to the structure. Rear axle, B, is three feet behind front axle, A, then the
effect of A at x feet along the structure must be added to the effect of B at (x – 3) feet along
the structure not the effect of B at x feet along the structure.

Many loads are distributed rather than concentrated. Influence lines can be used with either
concentrated or distributed loadings. For a concentrated load, a unit point load is moved
along the structure. For a distributed load of a given width, a unit-distributed load of the same
width is moved along the structure, noting that as the load nears the ends and moves off the
structure only part of the total load is carried by the structure. The effect of the distributed
unit load can also be obtained by integrating the point load’s influence line over the
corresponding length of the structures.
OBJECTIVE

The objective of this report was to :

 To construct a simply supported / cantilever / overhanging beam and demonstrated the

influence line concept.
 To determine the response of support reactions, shear force and bending moment due
to a moving load at different locations on the beam.
 To sketch the influence line diagrams for these different type of response and
determine the values of support reaction/ shear force/ bending moment when a
UDL/point load is applied on the beam.
PROCEDURE

1. A beam with simply supported type was chosen for this assignment.

2. A simply supported beam of 20m length is subjected to one point, C at 10m span.

3. A unit load is placed at the various locations, x along the member.

4. Statics is used at each location to determine the value of function at the specific point.

5. The equation of x at any point is determined by finding the reaction of the points.

6. The equation of support reaction for point A was calculated.

7. The equation of support reaction for point B was calculated by summation moment.

8. At each location, x, the value of x is implemented to the equation of support reaction A and

B.

9. The data of the result is recorded in a table.

10. Influenced line of support reaction A and support reaction B is constructed.

11. To find shear and bending moment at point C, step 3 to 5 is repeated and value V and M

is compute at the point as a function of x.

12. The equation of shear force and bending moment for point C was calculated.

13. At each location, x, the value of x is implemented to the equation of shear force and

bending moment at point C.

14. The data of the results is recorded in a table.

15. Influenced line of shear force and bending moment is constructed.

DATA ACQUISITION PROCESS

Number Location (x) Sup. React. Sup. React. B

(mm) A = 1-x/20 (kN) B = x/20 (kN)
1 0 1 0
2 10 0.5 0.5
3 20 0 1

Number Location Shear force Bending

(mm) (kN) Moment
(kNm)
(0 ≤ x ≤10) 1 0 0 0
2 10 -0.5 5
(10 ≤ x ≤ 20 ) 3 10 0.5 5
4 20 0 0
[v=1-x/20] [M=10-x/2]
ANALYSIS

Beam Model

1.VA

∑Fᵡ = 0

HC= 0
∑Fy = 0
VA + VB – 1 = 0
VA + VB = 1
VA + ᵡ/20 = 1

VA = 1 - ᵡ/20 kN

∑MA = 0
1(x) – VB(20) =0
-VB(20) = -x
VB=x/20 kN
Shear at C
(0 ≤ x ≤10)

↑∑Fy = 0
( 1 – x/20 ) – 1 – v = 0
V=1-x/20-1
V= -x/20 kN

∑Mc = 0

(1-x/20)(10) – 1 (10-x) – M = 0

M = 10 – 10x/20 – 10 + x

M = x - x/2

M = x/2 kNm
(10 ≤ x ≤ 20 )

↑∑Fy = 0
(1 – x/20) – V = 0
V = 1 – x/20 kN

∑Mc = 0
(1 – x/20)(10) – M = 0
M = 10 – 10x/20
M = 10 – x/2 kNm
Disscussion

Influence lines are important in designing beams and trusses used in bridges, crane rails,
conveyer belts, floor girders, and other structures where loads will move along their span.
The influence lines show where a load will create the maximum effect for any of the
functions.

An influence line represents the variation of the reaction, shear, moment, or deflection
at a specific point in a member. It also as a concentrated force moves over the member. When
the influence line is drawn, the location of the live load which will cause the greatest
influence on the structure can be found in a short time.

The different that being understood when carrying out this task are that influence lines
represent the effect of moving load only at a specified point on a member. But, shear and
moment diagrams represent the effect of fixed loads at all points along the member.

The biggest benefit is that once we construct an influence line for reaction, shear or
moment at a critical location in a structure, we can easily check how multiple different load
patterns on the structure effect that load effect (the reaction, shear or moment).
CONCLUSION

As the conclusion, a simply supported beam has been construct and the influence line concept
has been achieved. We also know how to determine the response of support reactions, shear
force and bending moment due to moving load at different locations on the beam. We also
know how to sketch the influence diagrams for the different type of response and how to
determine the values of support reaction, shear force and bending moment when a point load
was applied on the beam structure.