INFLUENCE LINES

9.1 Introduction
When designing a structure like bridge, it is usually necessary to know the maximum bending moment,
shear force and reactions which each section of the bridge will have to bear when a moving load, such as a
truck, passes from one end of the bridge to the other.

Shown in Figure 9.1 is the diagram of a bridge that is carrying a truck. If the truck moves from one end to
the other across the bridge, the forces at every point along the bridge length change with the position of the
truck and the maximum force at each point will be at a different truck location. The design of bridge
members at every point must be based on the
maximum probable load each member will experience.

If a structure is subjected to a moving load, the variation in shear, reactions and moment is best described by
influence lines. Influence lines are important in the design of structures resisting large moving live loads. In
addition to bridges, other structures of application include cranes and conveyors.
This chapter will restrict the discussion on influence line to statically determinate structures.

Figure 9.1: A bridge subjected to a moving load

Definitions: By definition, an influence line represents the variation of the reaction, shear, moment, or
deflection at a specific point in a structural member as a concentrated force moves over the member.

It can also be defined as the graphical representation of the response function of the structural member as a
unit load moves across the member. The ordinate of the influence line show the magnitude and character of
the function.
The functions here mentioned are reactions, moment or shear. It should be noted that influence lines for
statically determinate structures are always linear.

Distinction: In the previous chapters, emphasis was placed on the analysis of structures subjected to fixed
loads. In the case of beams, bending moment and shear force diagrams were used to determine forces across
the beams due to fixed loads.
There is a major distinction between influence lines and bending moment and shear force diagrams. While
influence lines represent the effect of a moving load only at a specified point on a member, bending moment
and shear force diagrams represent the effect of fixed loads at all points along the member.

9.2 Influence Lines in Beams

Influence lines analysis is better understood with examples. However certain procedure must be adopted to
arrive at problem solutions.
Procedure: The procedure or steps needed to determine the influence line at any point, P of a beam member
for any function is as follows;
1. Allow a unit load (a load with the magnitude of one) at a point, x along the
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member.
2. Use the equations of equilibrium to find the value of the function (reaction, shear,
or moment) at a specific point, P due the concentrated unit load at x, as a function of x.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for various values of, x over the whole member.
4. Plot the values of the reaction, shear, or moment for the member.
If we take the example of a simply supported beam, ABC as shown in Figure 9.2 and consider that a unit
load moved from A to some point between B and C. We can calculate the reactions at A and B respectively
and go on to draw the Influence Line Diagrams (ILD) for the reactions.
This can be followed with the calculations of shear and bending moment at B and the drawing of their
respective influence line diagrams.
1
x
A B C

a
L
RAy RCy
Figure 9.2: Simply supported beam carrying a moving unit load

If a unit load, 1 moves at a distance, x from point, A and taking the equilibrium equations;

↑∑ 0; 1 0

∑ 0; 1 0

Solving and 9.1

These expressions can be translated into graphical form as influence line diagrams (ILD). This is shown in
Figures 9.3 and 9.4. What the two figures show are just the graphs of equations (9.1)
RAy

x
Figure 9.3: Influence Line Diagram (ILD) for reaction at A

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RCy
1

x
Figure 9.4: Influence Line Diagram (ILD) for Reaction at C

Shear and Bending Moments at B:

If the shear and moment at B are VB and MB respectively. Let the unit load, 1 move from A towards the right:

When 0 < x < a, as shown in Figure 9.5 and taking equilibrium equations;
↑∑ 0; 1 &' 0

(.e. &' 1 (9.2)

∑ 0; ) 1 ) ' 0

(.e. ' ) 1 ) (9.3)

1
x MB
A
Figure 9.5
a VB

RAy
When a < x < L, as shown in Figure 9.6 and taking equilibrium equations;
↑∑ 0; &' 0

(.e. &' (9.4)

∑ ' 0; ) ' 0

(.e. ' ) (9.5)

MB
A

a
VB
RAy
Figure 9.6

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Now, the influence lines for the two quantities can be drawn from equations (9.2) – (9.5). Figure 9.7 show
the influence line diagram for shear forces, based on equations (9.2) and (9.4) and Figure 9.8 show that of
bending moments, and based on equations (9.3) and (9.5). The RAy value derived in equation (9.1) was
substituted to determine the VB and MB values.

4
VB 1-

B C
A
4 x
-

Figure 9.7: Influence Line Diagram (ILD) for Shear at B

MB

B C
A
x

4
) 51 6

Figure 9.8: Influence Line Diagram (ILD) for Moment at B

Example:
Draw the influence line diagrams for the reaction, shear and bending moment for points, A and B of the
cantilever ABC shown in Figure 9.9(a)

A B C
Figure 9.9(a)

4m 4m

Solution:

(a) Vertical reaction at point, A;

Let unit load of, 1 move across the cantilever.
When, x = 0, unit load is at point, A as shown in Figure 9.9(b)

MA
Figure 9.9(b)

4
RAy
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Applying equilibrium equation,

↑∑ 0; 1 0

i.e. 1 (9.6)

When, 0 < x < 4, unit load moves towards B, as shown in Figure 9.9(c)
1
MA x
Figure 9.9(c)

RAy

Applying equilibrium equation,

↑∑ 0; 1 0

i.e. 1 (9.7)

When, 4 < x < 8, unit load moves to C, as shown in Figure 9.9(d)

Applying equilibrium equation,

↑∑ 0; 1 0

i.e. 1 (9.8)
1
MA x

Figure 9.9(d)
RAy

The influence line diagram for reaction at A is drawn from equations (9.6) – (9.8) and shown in Figure
9.9(e).

RAy
1

Figure 9.9(d): Influence line diagram for reaction at A

(b) Bending moment at point A;
Again, as a unit load of, 1 move across the cantilever;
When, x = 0, unit load is at point, A as shown in Figure 9.10(a)

Applying equilibrium equation, + ∑ 0; 1 0 0

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i.e. 0 (9.9)

1
MA
Figure 9.10(a)

RAy
When, 0 < x < 4, say x = 3, then unit load moves to x = 3 between A and B, as shown in Figure 9.10(b)
Applying equilibrium equation, + ∑ 0; 1 3 0

i.e. 38 (9.10)

1
x =3
Figure 9.10(b) MA

RAy
When, 4 < x < 8, say x = 6, then unit load moves to x = 6 between B and C, as shown in Figure 9.10(c)
Applying equilibrium equation, + ∑ 0; 1 6 0
i.e. 68 (9.11)

x =6 1
Figure 9.10(c) MA

RAy
When, x = 8 and unit load is at C, the same procedure will give MA as -8m. So, combining this with the
expressions in equations (9.9) – (9.11), the Influence line diagram for bending moment at A is drawn and
shown in Figure 9.11.

MA

B C
A x
-

3
6 8
Figure 9.11: Influence Line Diagram (ILD) for moment at A
(c) Shear at B
When, 0 < x < 4, the first step is to determine the reaction at A, . Figure 9.12(a) shows the free body
diagram.

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1
MA x
Figure 9.12(a)

RAy

Applying equilibrium equation,

↑∑ 0; 1 0

i.e. 1 (9.12)

Again, at 0 < x < 4, the next step is to determine the shear, &' .
Applying equilibrium equation to Figure 9.12(b),
↑∑ 0; 1 &' 0

i.e. &' 0 (9.13)

1
MA x
Figure 9.12(b) A B

VB
RAy

When, 4 < x < 8 and applying equilibrium to Figure 9.12(c),

&' 1 0
i.e. &' 1 (9.14)

Figure 9.12(c) MA
A B
VB
RAy = 1

With the use of equations (9.13) and (9.14), the influence line diagram for shear at B is as given in Figure
9.12(d)

VB

Figure 9.12(d): Influence Line Diagram (ILD) for shear at B

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(d) Bending moment at B;

When, 0 < x < 4, the first step is to determine moment at A, i.e. MA;

Applying equilibrium equation to the free body diagram shown in Figure 9.13(a),
+ ∑ 0; 1 0

i.e. (9.15)
1
x
Figure 9.13(a) MA
A

RAy = 1
At 0 < x < 4, the next step is to determine moment at B, i.e. MB.
Note that the values of RAy and MA were determined in the earlier solutions. Applying the equilibrium
equation on Figure 9.13(b)

+ ∑ 9:; 0; 1 4 1 4 ' 0
i.e. ' 0 (9.16)

x 1
Figure 9.13(b) MA = - x A MB

RAy = 1

At 4 < x < 8 and applying equilibrium from Figure 9.13(c),

+ ∑ 9:; 0; 1 4 ' 0
i.e. ' 4 (9.17)

Figure 9.13(c) MA = - x MB
A

RAy
From equations (9.16) and (9.17), = influence
the 1 line diagram is drawn as shown in Figure 9.13(d)

MB

x
MB = 0

–
MB = 4–x
Figure 9.13(d): Influence Line Diagram (ILD) for moment at B
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With the influence line diagram (ILD), live loads on the beam may be located and the maximum value of the
reaction, shear, or moment can be produced. This is very important in the design procedure.
Since a unit load is used, the value of the function (reaction, shear, or moment) can be found by multiplying
the ordinate of the influence line at the position x by the magnitude of the actual force P.

PROBLEMS
1. Draw the Influence Line Diagrams for the reaction, shear and bending moment for points A and B of the
simply supported Beam ABC shown in Figure 9.14.

A B C

5m 5m Figure 9.14

2. Construct the influence line for the shear and moment at point C of the beam ACB shown in Figure 9.15

A C B

Figure 9.15
3m 7m

3. Construct the influence line for the reaction and moment at point B of the beam ABC shown in Figure
9.16

A B C

6m 3m Figure 9.16

4. Draw the Influence Line Diagrams for the reaction, shear and bending moment for points A and B of the
simply supported Beam ABCD shown in Figure 9.17

A B C D

Figure 9.17
4.5m 4.5m 4.5m

5. For a 12m long simply supported beam AB with a 3m overhang, construct influence lines for shear and
moment at C, 3m from A.