Chapter 6:

Influence Lines for Statically Determinate

Structures
CIVL3310 STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

Professor CC Chang
 Why Influence Lines?

Concentrated

Concentrated
Concentrated

Live Load

Live Load
Live Load
Distributed LiveLive
Distributed LoadLoad Distributed Live Load
P
w

A Dead Load
B C D
V M

w, P Analysis V, M Design

Note: loads can vary- LIVE LOADS

Vmax and Mmax under dead & live loads?

Can my bridge survive?
What is Influence Line ?

126 (168) 85 (127) 1 (4 3) 42 ( 84)

Force
Influence Lines Measurement
KSM Influence Lines Measurement
KSM Influence Lines Measurement
Influence Lines
Shear force and moment diagrams
Fixed loads
V M

x
V and M at different locations of the beam
x
Influence Lines Load moves along the beam

V M

x
x
V and M at a fixed location
Influence Lines

Influence line:
A graph of a response function
(such as reactions or internal
forces) of a structure as a
function of the position of a
downward unit load moving
across the structure
Response

Location of downward unit load

Constructing Influence Lines
Point-by-point calculation
Influence-line equation
Graphical approach: Mller Breslau
Principle
 Point-by-point calculation
Construct the influence line for Ay
 Influence-line equation

M B 0
Ay (10) (10 x)(1) 0
1
Ay 1 x
10

Linear function of x
 Influence Lines
All statically determinate structures have
influence lines that consist of straight line
segments
More examples!
 Mller Breslau Principle
Influence line for any action
(reaction, internal shear/moment) in
a structure is equal to the deflection
curve when we remove the action
and replace it with a corresponding
unit displacement or rotation

Influence line = properly disturbed shape

Mller Breslau Principle
 Virtual work principle for a rigid-body system

F1 r1 F3
r3
F 0
i
i

F4
r2 F2 r
Virtual deformation r4
F 0
imaginary deformation
A structure in equilibrium: i
i
Resultant force=0

Virtual work: W

F
i
i r 0

W Fi ri 0
i

Virtual work principle for a rigid-body system

Mller Breslau Principle
Influence line = properly disturbed shape
x 1

Ay By
1
1
1
Ay
f(x)
Ay By Influence line of Ay
Virtual work W 0
W A y 1 1 f(x) 0
A y f(x)
Mller Breslau Principle
Influence line = properly disturbed shape
x 1

Ay By
1
1
1

f(x) By
Ay By Influence line of By
Virtual work W 0
W By 11f(x) 0
By f(x)
Mller Breslau Principle
Influence line = properly disturbed shape
Include ONLY the reaction/force in the virtual work
x 1
V

Ay V 1 By
M
1
2 2
1
1 f(x)

Ay M By
V
W V 1 2 M 2 1 1f(x) 0
= =
1 0
V f(x)
Mller Breslau Principle
Influence line = properly disturbed shape
Include ONLY the reaction/force in the virtual work
x 1

Ay M V 1 By

1
1 V
2

f(x)

Ay By

W M 1 2 1f(x) 0
=
1
M f(x)
 Mller Breslau Principle
Influence line = properly disturbed shape

Deflect the structure such that only the force

which influence line that you are looking for
and the downward unit force contribute to the
virtual work due to the imaginary deflection.

All other forces that act on the virtually

deflected structure should not contribute to the
virtual work.
Influence Lines for Floor Girders
Draw the influence line for the shear in
panel CD of the floor girder
Influence Lines for Trusses
 Example 6.15
Draw the influence line for member force GB
 Example 6.15
Draw the influence line for the member force GB
Application of Influence Lines
P
1 1
w l dx
SB wl
MB
A
B C D

SB
P

y
P
MB
a b
M B y w l dx

M B aby w l dx w l abydx
w const
l
Distributed Loads

Concentrated

Concentrated
Concentrated

Live Load

Live Load
Live Load
Distributed LiveLive
Distributed LoadLoad Distributed Live Load

Dead Load
A
B C D
Application of Influence Lines
P Given dead load

Concentrated
Distributed Live Load and live loads

Live Load
1 wl Find maximum forces

wd
A
B C D

SB

MB
Application of Influence Lines
Max shear force at C?
 Application of Influence Lines
Max shear force at C?

Case 1 :
(VC )1 4.5(0.75) 18(0.625) 18(0.5) 23.63kN

Case 2 :
(VC ) 2 4.5( 0.125) 18(0.75) 18(0.625) 24.19kN

Case 3 :
(VC )3 4.5(0) 18( 0.125) 18(0.75) 11.25kN
6. Influence Lines
What is influence line?
Mller Breslau Principle
What is the use of influence line?