Structural Engineering Dept.

Faculty of Engineering - Tanta University - Egypt

Structural Analysis
Influence Lines for Statically det. Structures
(Beams) - Lecture #1
By
Prof. Ayman A. Seleemah Dr. Esam A. Darwish
Professor of structural engineering Lecturer of structural engineering
Objectives:
By the end of this module, you should be able to know the following:
1. Why Influence lines?
2. The definition of influence lines.
3. The difference between influence line diagrams and straining action diagrams.
4. Properties of influence lines for statically det. Structures.
5. Construction of influence lines for different statically determinate structure types
(Beams – Frames – Trusses ).
6. Find the extreme value of a load function due to a specific case of loading using
the influence lines.
Why influence lines?
▪ In the previous semester, it was shown
how to draw diagrams for the different
values of a load function. (N.F, S.F,
B.M.Ds).
▪ All the structures considered were
subjected to fixed loads.

▪ In practice, however, structures may be

subjected to moving loads in addition to
dead loads, which are always acting.
▪ To design such structures, it is necessary
to find out the biggest effect that live
loads will produce.

In such cases, influence lines are used

The definition of influence lines
▪ An influence line of a load function is a curve whose ordinate at any point equals
the value of this load function due to a unit load, say 1 ton, acting at that point.

▪ It is essential to understand the difference between the influence lines for shear or
moment at a section in a beam and the shearing force and bending moment
diagrams for that beam.
For the following simply supported beam,
construct the I.Ls for:
1- Support reactions (Ya & Yb).
2-Mc and Qc
For the following cantilever beam, construct
the I.Ls for: Ma
a b
1- Mn and Qn. Xa
𝐧

2- Qa and Ma Ya
2.0 5.0

𝑰. 𝑳 𝑸𝒏

𝑰. 𝑳 𝑴𝒏

𝑰. 𝑳 𝑸𝒂

𝑰. 𝑳 𝑴𝒂
𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒎; 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒓𝒄𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑰. 𝑳𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓:
▪ Support Reactions.
▪ Qn & Mn
▪ Qbr – Qbl – Mb
 Structural Engineering Dept.
Faculty of Engineering - Tanta University - Egypt

Structural Analysis
Influence Lines for Statically det. Structures
(Cont. Beams) - Lecture #2
By
Prof. Ayman A. Seleemah Dr. Esam A. Darwish
Professor of structural engineering Lecturer of structural engineering
Objectives:
By the end of this lecture, you should be able to know the following:
1. Review the definition of the I.L.
2. Review the difference between I.Ls. and straining action diagrams.
3. Find the value of a function due to a single concentrated load using I.Ls.
4. Find the value of a function due to a number of concentrated loads at fixed distances
using I.Ls.
5. Find the value of a load function due to a uniformly distributed load longer than the
span using I.Ls.
6. Find the extreme value of a load function due to a specific case of loading using I.Ls.
7. Application of the previous rules on statically det. Compound beams.
The definition of influence lines
▪ An influence line of a load function is a curve whose ordinate at any point equals
the value of this load function due to a unit load, say 1 ton, acting at that point.

▪ It is essential to understand the difference between the influence lines for shear or
moment at a section in a beam and the shearing force and bending moment
diagrams for that beam.
Properties of influence lines:
Since the ordinate of an influence line at a section equals the value of a particular
function for which the influence line is constructed when a unit load is placed at that
section, the following general rules hold:
P3 P2 P1
1. The value of a function due to a single concentrated
load equals the product of the load and the ordinate
of the influence line of that function at the load’s
application point. M3 M2 M1
Mc = P1 * M1 & Qc = P1 * Q1

2. Further, the total value of a function due to a Q1

number of concentrated loads is the sum of the Q2
Q3
products of each load and the corresponding
ordinate of the I.L. (Principal of superposition)

Mc = P1 * M1 + P2 * M2 + P3 * M3
Qc = P1 * Q1 +P2 * Q2 + P3 * -Q3
Properties of influence lines:
The value of a load function due to a uniformly distributed load is equal to the product
of the load intensity and the net area, under the influence line of the considered function,
corresponding to the loaded part.
This may be easily proved as follows:
𝑑𝐹 = 𝑤 𝑑𝑥 𝑓
The total value of the function F due to the shown
load is then obtained by integrating dF between x=a
and x=b
𝑏 𝑏
𝐹 = න 𝑤𝑑𝑥 𝑓 = 𝑊 න 𝑓 𝑑𝑥
𝑎 𝑎
F = W × area under the influence line in part a-b
Properties of influence lines:
To obtain the maximum value of a load function due to a uniformly distributed live load,
the load should be placed so as to cover the part of the structure for which the ordinate
of the I.L. has a similar sign as that of the function under consideration.
Consider the shown simple beam subjected to a uniformly distributed live load longer
than the span of intensity 2 t/m
𝟎. 𝟔 × 𝟔
▪ For Maximum positive Qc, the load should cover part C-B 𝑸𝒄 = 𝟐
𝟐
= 𝟑. 𝟔 𝒕

▪ For Maximum negative Qc, the load should

cover part A-C
−𝟎. 𝟒 × 𝟒
𝑸𝒄 = 𝟐 = −𝟏. 𝟔 𝒕
𝟐
▪ If the load covers the entire length of the beam,
𝟎. 𝟔 × 𝟔 𝟎. 𝟒 × 𝟒
𝑸𝒄 = 𝟐 − = +𝟐 𝒕
𝟐 𝟐
Extreme values
The greatest possible values, Maximum positive and Maximum negative, of various load
functions due to combination of Dead load which is always acting, and the Live loads place
in such away so as to produce maximum effect.
Consider the following simple beam carries:
▪ D.L. = 1 t/m & L.L. = 2 t/m (Longer than the span )

The extreme value of S.F at sec. C will be as follows:

0.6 × 6 0.4 × 4
𝑄𝑐 𝑑𝑢𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝐷. 𝐿. = 1 − = 1.00 𝑡.
2 2
0.6 × 6
𝑀𝑎𝑥. 𝑃𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑄𝑐 𝑑𝑢𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝐿. 𝐿. = 2 = 3.6 𝑡.
2
−0.4 × 4
𝑀𝑎𝑥. 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑄𝑐 𝑑𝑢𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝐿. 𝐿. = 2 = −1.6 𝑡
2
The extreme values of the shearing force at c are thus given by:
𝑀𝑎𝑥. 𝑃𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑄𝑐 = 1 + 3.6 = +4.6 𝑡 𝑀𝑎𝑥. 𝑁𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑄𝑐 = 1 − 1.6 = −0.6 𝑡
Ex1:
For the following cantilever beam,
construct the influence lines for:
1- Reactions.
2- S.F. at sec. A left & right.
3- B.M. at B.
4- B.M. and S.F. at sec. C
5- Find the Extreme value for Mc due to
D.L.= 2 t/m & L.L=4 t/m
Ex1:
For the following cantilever beam,
construct the influence lines for:
1- Reactions.
2- S.F. at sec. A left & right.
3- B.M. at B.
4- B.M. and S.F. at sec. C
5- Find the Extreme value for Mc due to
D.L.= 2 t/m & L.L=4 t/m
Ex2:
For the following beam, construct the
influence lines for:
1- Reactions. (Ya – Yb – Yc – Yd)
2- Mg – Mb – Qb (Left & right)
5- Find the Extreme value for Mg due
to D.L.= 2 t/m & L.L=4 t/m
Ex3:
For the following beam, construct the
influence lines for:
1- Reactions. (Ya – Ma – Yb – Yc)
2- Mn – Qs – Qb Left -
5- Find the Extreme value for Mn due
to D.L.= 2 t/m & L.L=4 t/m
 Structural Engineering Dept.
Faculty of Engineering - Tanta University - Egypt

Structural Analysis
Influence Lines for Statically det. Structures
(Frames) - Lecture #3
By
Prof. Ayman A. Seleemah Dr. Esam A. Darwish
Professor of structural engineering Lecturer of structural engineering
Objectives:
By the end of this lecture, you should be able to:
1. Construct the I.Ls. for beams carrying indirect loads.
2. Construct the I.Ls. for St. det. Frame structures.
3. Find the extreme value of a load function due to a specific case of loading using I.Ls.
Ex1:
For the following composite beam, if the load
moves from a-b as shown, construct the influence
lines for:
1- Reactions. (Yc – Yd)
2- Qs - Ms – Qn – Mn
3- force in member a-e.
Ex2:
For the following frame, construct the influence
lines for:
1- Reactions. (Ya – Yb)
2- S.F. for sections just to left to a and just to the
right to a.
3- Mn
4- Thrust at section s-s.
Ex3:
For the following frame, construct the influence
lines for:
1- Reactions. (Ya – Yb - Yc)
2- Straining actions at the marked sections.
Cont. - Ex3:
For the following frame, construct the
I.Ls.for:
1- Reactions. (Ya – Yb - Yc)
2- Straining actions at the marked sections.
Cont. - Ex3:
For the following frame, construct the
I.Ls.for:
1- Reactions. (Ya – Yb - Yc)
2- Straining actions at the marked sections.
 Structural Engineering Dept.
Faculty of Engineering - Tanta University - Egypt

Structural Analysis
Influence Lines for Statically det. Structures
(Cont. Frames) - Lecture #4
By
Prof. Ayman A. Seleemah Dr. Esam A. Darwish
Professor of structural engineering Lecturer of structural engineering
Objectives:
By the end of this lecture, you should be able to:
1. Construct the I.Ls. for St. det. 3 Hinged Frame structures.
2. Find the extreme value of a load function due to a specific case of loading using I.Ls.
Ex1:
For the following frame, construct the
influence lines for:
1- Reactions. (Ya – Xa – Yb – Xb – Yd)
2- Straining actions, N.F, S.F, and
B.M, at sec S-S.
3- Find the Extreme value for Ms-s
due to D.L.= 2 t/m & L.L=4 t/m
Cont. Ex1:
For the following frame, construct the
influence lines for:
2- Straining actions, N.F, S.F, and
B.M, at sec S-S.
3- Find the Extreme value for Ms-s
due to D.L.= 2 t/m & L.L=4 t/m
Cont. Ex1:
3- Find the Extreme value for Ms-s
due to D.L.= 2 t/m & L.L=4 t/m

A(-ve) = 0.5×3×-0.84 + 0.5× (2.4+6)×-1.68

= - 8.316

A(+ve) = 0.5×(1.4+4) ×1.12 +0.5×9×0.87

= + 6.94

Anet = A+ve + A-ve = 6.94 – 8.316 = -1.376

Ms-s Max = D.L × Anet + L.L × A+ve

= 2 × -1.376 + 4 × 6.94 = + 25 t.m

Ms-s min = D.L × Anet + L.L × A-ve

= 2 × -1.376 + 4 × -8.316
= - 36.016 t.m
Ex2:
For the shown frame, draw the I.Ls for:
1. Xa – Ya – Ma
2. Xb – Yb – Mb
3. Force in link member c-d.
4. Straining actions N.F, S.F, and B.M
at sections M-M & N-N.
Cont. Ex2:
3. Force in link member c-d.
4. Straining actions N.F, S.F, and
B.M at sections M-M & N-N.
Cont. Ex2:
3. Force in link member c-d.
4. Straining actions N.F, S.F, and
B.M at sections M-M & N-N.
 Structural Engineering Dept.
Faculty of Engineering - Tanta University - Egypt

Structural Analysis
Influence Lines for Statically det. Structures
(Truss) - Lecture #5
By
Prof. Ayman A. Seleemah Dr. Esam A. Darwish
Professor of structural engineering Lecturer of structural engineering
Ex1:
For the shown N truss, draw the I.Ls
for the following:
1- Reactions.
2- Force in the marked members.
Cont. Ex1:
For the shown N truss, draw the I.Ls
for the following:
1- Reactions.
2- Force in the marked members.
Ex2:
For the shown K truss, draw the I.Ls
for the following:
1- Reactions.
2- Force in the marked members.
Cont. Ex2:
For the shown K truss, draw the I.Ls
for the following:
1- Reactions.
2- Force in the marked members.
Ex3:
For the shown truss, draw the I.Ls for
the following:
1- Reactions.
2- Force in the marked members.
Ex4:
For the shown truss, draw the I.Ls for
the following:
1- Reactions.
2- Force in the marked members.
Ex5:
For the shown truss, draw the I.Ls for
the following:
1- Reactions Ra& Rb.
2- Force in the marked members.
Note: Load moves only between c-d.