M5-L01: Influence Lines for Statically

Determinate Structures
Influence Lines for Statically
Determinate Structures
Analysis of Statically Determinate Structures
Dead or Fixed Loads
Shear & Moment Diagrams

Analysis of Statically Determinate Structure

live or moving load
influence line
to describe the variation of the shear and
bending moment in the member.
 Moving loads caused by trains must be considered when designing
the girders of this bridge.
The influence lines for the girder become an important part of the
structural analysis.
Objectives

- How to draw the influence line for a statically determinate Structure?

- How the influence line theory is applied to structures subjected to
a distributed load or
a series of concentrated forces?

1. Influence Lines
2. Influence Lines for Beams
3. Qualitative Influence Lines
4. Influence Lines for Floor Girders
5. Influence Lines for Trusses
6. Live Loads for Bridges
7. Maximum Influence Lines for Floor Girders
8. Absolute Maximum live Shear and Moment
Influence Lines
 An influence line represents the variation of either the
reaction, shear, moment, or deflection
at a specific point in a member as a concentrated force moves
over the member.

 Using the influence line,

- one can tell at a glance where the moving load should be placed on the
structure so that it creates the greatest influence at the specified point.
- the magnitude of the associated
reaction, shear, moment, or deflection
at the point can then be calculated from the ordinates of the influence
line diagram.

 For these reasons, influence lines play an important part in the design of
bridges, industrial crane rails, conveyors, and other structures
where loads move across their span.
 Influence Line Versus a Shear or Moment Diagram

- Influence lines represent the effect of a moving load only

at a specified point on a member, whereas
- Shear and moment diagrams represent the effect of fixed
loads at all points along the axis of the member.
Procedure for Analysis

- Either of the following two procedures can be used to construct

the influence line at a specific point P in a member for any
function (reaction, shear, or moment).

1. Tabulate Values
2. Influence Line Equations

- For both of these procedures we will choose the moving

force to have a dimensionless magnitude of unity.
1. Tabulate Values

- Place a unit load at various locations, x, along the member, and

- At each location use statics to determine the value of the function
- reaction,
- shear, or
- moment
at the specified point.

Sign Convention
- influence line for a vertical force reaction at a point on a beam:
consider the reaction to be positive at the point when it acts
upward on the beam.
- a shear or moment influence line for a point:
take the shear or moment at the point as positive according to the
same sign convention used for drawing shear and moment
diagrams.
1. Tabulate Values

- All statically determinate beams will have influence lines that consist of straight
line segments.
- To minimize computations, locate the unit load only at points representing the
end points of each line segment.
- To avoid errors, it is recommended that one
- First construct a table, listing “unit load at x” versus the
corresponding value of the function calculated at the specific point
"reaction R, "shear V,” or “moment M.”
- Once the load has been placed at various points along the
span of the member, the tabulated values can be plotted
and the influence line segments constructed.
2. Influence Line Equations

The influence line can also be constructed

- by placing the unit load at a variable position x on the member, and
- then computing the value of R, V, or M at the point as a function of x.

In this manner, the equations of the various line segments composing the
influence line can be determined and plotted.
Questions?
M5-L02: Example Problems-1
(Influence Lines for Statically
Determinate Structures)
Example 6-1. Construct the influence line for the
vertical reaction at A of the beam in Fig. 6-1a.

SOLUTION

Figure 6-1
Example 6-1. Influence line for the vertical reaction at A?

SOLUTION

Figure 6-1
Example 6-2. Construct
the influence line for the
vertical reaction at B of the
beam in Fig. 6-2a.

SOLUTION

Figure 6-2
Example 6-2.

SOLUTION

Figure 6-2
Example 6-3. Construct the influence line
for the shear at point C of the beam in Fig. 6-3a.

SOLUTION

Figure 6-3
Example 6-3.

SOLUTION

Figure 6-3
Example 6-4.
Construct the influence line for the shear
at point C of the beam in Fig. 6-4a.

SOLUTION

Figure 6-4
Example 6-4.
Construct the influence line for the shear
at point C of the beam in Fig. 6-4a.

SOLUTION

Figure 6-4
Example 6-5. Construct the influence line for
the moment at point C of the beam in Fig. 6-5a.

SOLUTION

Figure 6-5
Example 6-6. Construct the influence
line for the moment at point C of the
beam in Fig. 6-6a.

SOLUTION

Figure 6-6
Questions?
M5-L04: Influence Lines for Beams
Influence Lines for Beams

- Beams & girders often form the main

load‑carrying elements of a
- floor system, or
- bridge deck
- Influence lines for the
- reactions,
- shear, or
- moment
at any specified point in a beam.
Loadings:
Once the influence line for a function
- reaction,
- shear, or
- moment
has been constructed, it will then be possible to
position the live loads on the beam which will
produce the maximum value of the function.

Two types of loadings :

1. Concentrated Force
2. Uniform Load
1. Concentrated Force
- The numerical values of a function for an influence line are determined
using a dimensionless unit load.

- For any concentrated force F acting on the beam at any position x:

The value of the function can be found by multiplying the ordinate of the
influence line at the position x by the magnitude of F.
Example:
Consider the influence line for the reaction
at A for the beam AB, Figure .

- If the unit load is at x =0.5L, the reaction

at A is Ay =0.5 as indicated from the
influence line. If the force F lb is at this
same point, the reaction is Ay=0.5 F lb.

Maximum Influence caused by F :

Occurs when it is placed on the beam at the
same location as the peak of the influence line.
i.e., in this case at x = 0, where the reaction
would be Ay= (1 )(F) lb.
2. Uniform Load
- Consider a portion of a beam subjected to a
uniform load w0, Figure.
- Each dx segment of this load creates a
concentrated force of dF = w0 dx on the beam.
- If dF is located at x, where the beam's
influence line ordinate for some function
(reaction, shear, moment) is y, then the value
of the function is
(dF)(y) = (w0 dx) y
- The effect of all the concentrated forces dF is
determined by integrating over the entire
length of the beam, that is:
w 0 ydx w 0 ydx.
ydx area under the influence line
the value of a function caused by a uniform distributed load is simply the area under
the influence line for the function multiplied by the intensity of the uniform load.
Example:

In the case of a uniformly loaded

beam shown in Figure, the reaction
Ay can be determined from the
influence line as

1 1
Ay (area ) (w 0 ) [ (1)(L )]w 0  Lw 0
2 2

Note: This value can be determined from

statics.
Example 6-7

SOLUTION

Figure 6-10
Example 6-7

SOLUTION

Figure 6-10
Questions?
M5-L05: Example Problem 6-81
Example 6-8

Figure 6-11

SOLUTION
Example 6-8

SOLUTION

Figure 6-11
Questions?
M5-L06: Qualitative Influence Lines
Qualitative Influence Lines

Müller‑Breslau Principle:
A technique for rapidly constructing the
shape of an influence line.

The influence line for a function

reaction, shear, or moment
is to the same scale as the deflected
shape of the beam when the beam is
acted upon by the function.

In order to draw the deflected shape properly, the capacity

of the beam to resist the applied function must be removed
so the beam can deflect when the function is applied.
Example:
Shape of the influence line for the vertical
reaction at A:
- The pin is first replaced by a roller guide as
shown in Figure (b).
Note: A roller guide is necessary since the
beam must still resist a horizontal force at A
but no vertical force.
- Apply the positive (upward) force Ay at A,
the beam deflects to the dashed position,
which represents the general shape of the
influence line for A, Figure (c).

Note: Numerical values for this specific case

have been calculated in Example 6‑ 1.
 Example:
Shape of the influence line for the
shear at C:
- the connection at C may be
symbolized by a roller guide as shown
in Figure (b).

Note: This device will resist a moment

and axial force but no shear.

- Applying a positive shear force Vc to

the beam at C and allowing the beam
to deflect to the dashed position, we
find the influence line shape as shown
in Figure (c).
 Example:

Shape of the influence line for the

moment at C

- An internal hinge or pin is placed at C,

this connection resists axial and
shear forces but cannot resist
moment, Figure (b).
- Applying positive moments Mc to the
beam, the beam then deflects to the
dashed position, which is the shape
of the influence line, Figure (c).
Proof of the Müller‑Breslau Principle:

The proof of the Müller‑Breslau principle can be established using the principle
of virtual work.

Work: the product of either

- a linear displacement and force in the direction of the displacement, or
- a rotational displacement and moment in the direction of the displacement.

Principle of Virtual Work:

- If a rigid body (beam) is in equilibrium, the sum of all the forces and moments
on it must be equal to zero.
- Consequently, if the body is given an imaginary or virtual displacement, the
work done by all these forces and couple moments must also be equal to zero.
Example:
- the simply supported beam subjected
to a unit load placed at an arbitrary
point along its length.
- If the beam is given a virtual (or
imaginary) displacement δy at the
support A,
only the support reaction Ay and the
unit load do virtual work.

- Ay, does positive work Ay δy and

the unit load does negative work, -1δy’.
Note: The support at B does not move and therefore
the force at B does no work.
- Since the beam is in equilibrium and therefore does not
actually move, the virtual work sums to zero, i.e.,
Ay  y  1 y ' 0
Example:

- If δy is set equal to 1, then:

Ay  y  1 y ' 0
Ay  y '

- The value of Ay, represents the ordinate of the influence line at the
position of the unit load.
- Since this value is equivalent to the displacement δy’ , at the
position of the unit load, it shows that the shape of the influence
line for the reaction at A has been established.
- This proves the Müller‑Breslau principle for reactions.
Example:

If the beam is sectioned at C, and the

beam undergoes a virtual displacement
δy at this point, Figure (c), then only
the internal shear at C and the unit
load do work.
- The virtual work equation is

Vc y  1 y ' 0
- if δy = 1, then

Vc  y '

The shape of the influence line for the shear

at C has been established.
Example:
Assume a hinge or pin is introduced
into the beam at point C, Figure (d).
If a virtual rotation δΦ is introduced at
the pin, virtual work will be done only
by the internal moment and the unit
load. So
Mc  1 y ' 0

Setting δΦ = 1, it is seen that

Mc  y '

which indicates that the deflected beam

has the same shape as the influence line
for the internal moment at point C.
Application of the Müller‑Breslau Principle:

- The Müller‑Breslau principle provides a quick method

for establishing the shape of the influence line.
- Once the shape of the influence line is known, the
ordinates at the peaks can be determined by using the
basic method discussed before.
- Also, by simply knowing the general shape of the
influence line, it is possible
1. to locate the live load on the beam and then
2. determine the maximum value of the function
by using statics.
Example 6-9
Sketch the influence line for the
vertical reaction at A.

SOLUTION

The support is replaced by

a roller guide at A and the
force Ay is applied.

Figure 6-16
Example 6-9
Sketch the influence line for the
vertical reaction at A.

SOLUTION

The support is replaced by

a roller guide at A and the
force Ay is applied.

Figure 6-16
Example 6-9
Sketch the influence line for the
vertical reaction at A.

SOLUTION
A double-roller must be used at A in
this case, since the type of support
will then transmit both a moment
MA at the fixed support and axial
load Ax, but will not transmit Ay.

Figure 6-16
Example 6-10
Sketch the influence line for the
shear at B.

SOLUTION

The roller-Guide is introduced

at B and the positive shear VB
is applied .
Notice the right segment of the
beam will not deflect since the
roller at A actually constrains
the beam moving vertically,
either up or down.

Figure 6-17
Example 6-10
Sketch the influence line for the
shear at B.

SOLUTION
Placing the roller-Guide at B
and applying the positive shear
VB at B yields to the deflected
shape and corresponding
influence line.

Figure 6-17
Example 6-10
Sketch the influence line for the
shear at B.

SOLUTION
Placing the roller-guide at B
and applying the positive shear
VB at B yields to the deflected
shape and corresponding
influence line.
Note that the left segment of the
beam does not deflect, due to the
fixed support.

Figure 6-17
Example 6-11
Sketch the influence line for
the moment at B.

SOLUTION
A hinge is introduced at B
and positive moments MB
are applied to the beam.
The deflected shape and
corresponding influence
line are shown.

Figure 6-18
Example 6-11
Sketch the influence line for
the moment at B.

SOLUTION
A hinge is introduced at B
and positive moments MB
are applied to the beam.
The deflected shape and
corresponding influence
line are shown.

Figure 6-18
Example 6-11
Sketch the influence line for
the moment at B.

SOLUTION
With the hinge and positive
moments MB at B the
deflected shape and
corresponding influence
line are shown.
The left segment of the
beam is constrained from
moving due to the fixed
wall at A.

Figure 6-18
Questions?
M5-L07: Example 6-12 (Influence
Lines)
Example 6-12

SOLUTION

Figure 6-19
Example 6-12

SOLUTION

Figure 6-19
Example 6-12

SOLUTION

Figure 6-19
Questions?
M5-L08: Influence Lines for Floor
Girders
Influence Lines for Floor Girders

The design of the floor system of this warehouse building must

account for critical locations of storage materials on the floor.
Influence lines must be used for this purpose.
Floor Systems:
Slab, Floor beams, Girders, Columns

Floor Loads: Floor loads are transmitted

- from slabs to floor beams, then
- to side girders, and finally
- supporting columns.
Idealized Model of Floor Systems:
Slab: the slab
- is assumed to be a one‑way slab and
- is segmented into simply supported
spans resting on the floor beams.
Girder: The girder is simply supported
on the columns.
 Girders are main load‑carrying members
Example: Industrial buildings
heavy concentrated loads
Panel Points:
A unit load on the floor slab is transferred to
the girder only at points where it is in contact
with the floor beams, i.e., points A, B, C, and
D.
These points are called panel points.
Panel:
The region between the panel points is called
a panel, such as BC in Figure (b).
Shear and Moment Influence Lines:

How to determine influence line for a

specified point on the girder?

1. Place the unit load at various points x on

the floor slab, and
2. Compute the function (shear or moment)
at the specified point P in the girder.
3. Plotting these values versus x yields the
influence line for the function at P.

Note:
The value for the internal moment in a
girder panel will depend upon where
point P is chosen for the influence line,
since the magnitude of Mp depends upon
the point's location from the end of the
girder.
Example: Moment Influence Line:

If the unit load acts on the floor slab as

shown in Figure (c )

1. find the reactions FB, and FC on the slab,

2. calculate the support reactions F1, and F2
on the girder.
3. determined the internal moment at P by
the method of sections, Figure (d).

M p F1d  FB (d  s )
Example: Shear Influence Line:

The internal shear V p will be constant

through the panel BC
Vp F1  FB
and so it does not depend upon the exact
location d of P within the panel.
Panel Shear:
For this reason, influence lines for shear in
floor girders are specified for panels in the
girder and not specific points along the
girder. The shear is then referred to as panel
shear.

Note:
The girder is affected only by the loadings
transmitted by the floor beams
The unit load is generally placed at each
floor‑beam location to establish the necessary
data used to draw the influence line.
Example 6-13
Draw the influence line for the shear in panel
CD of the floor girder in Fig. 6-21a.

SOLUTION

Figure 6-21
Example 6-14

Draw the influence

line for the moment at
point F of the floor
girder in Fig. 6-22a.

SOLUTION

Figure 6-22
Example 6-14

SOLUTION

Figure 6-22
Questions?
M5-L09: Influence Lines for Trusses
Influence Lines for Trusses

The members of this truss bridge were designed using influence lines based
on the AASHTO specifications.
Trusses :
Trusses are often used as
primary load‑carrying elements
for bridges.

Design:
For design it is important to be
able to construct the influence
lines for each of its members.

Loading:
As shown in Figure:
1. the loading on the bridge deck is transmitted to stringers,
2. which in turn transmit the loading to floor beams, and then
3. to the joints along the bottom cord of the truss.
Influence Line:
- The truss members are affected only by the joint loading,
- Determine the ordinate values of the influence line for a member by:
1. loading each joint along the deck with a unit load, and then
2. use the method of joints or the method of sections to calculate
the force in the member.
3. Arrange the data in tabular form,
listing “unit load at joint” versus "force in member.”
Sign Convention:
- if the member force is tensile it is considered a positive value,
- if the member force is compressive it is negative.

- Construct the influence line for the member by

- plotting the data, and
- drawing straight lines between the points.
Example 6-15
Draw the influence line for the force in
member GB of the bridge truss shown in
Fig. 6-24a.

SOLUTION

NOTE:
The largest tensile force in member GB
of the bridge truss shown in Fig. 6-24a is
created when the distributed load acts on
the deck of the truss from x=0 to x=8 m,
Figure (d).
Figure 6-24
Primary Member (GB):
The influence line for member extends over the entire span of the truss.
Example 6-15

Figure 6-24
Example 6-16
Draw the influence line for the
force in member CG of the
bridge truss shown in Fig. 6-25a.

SOLUTION

Figure 6-25

Secondary Member (CG):

The influence line for member does not extend over the entire span of the truss.
Example 6-16

SOLUTION

Figure 6-25
Example 6-17

Determine the largest force

that can be developed in
member BC of the bridge
truss shown in Fig. 6-26a
due to moving force of 20 k
and a moving distributed
load of 0.6 k/ft.
The loading is applied at the
top cord.

SOLUTION

Figure 6-26
Example 6-17

SOLUTION

Figure 6-26
Questions?
M5-L10: Influence Lines for Bridges
Live Loads for Bridges

Highway Bridges:
Live Loads:
- The primary live loads on bridge spans are those due to traffic.
- The heaviest vehicle loading encountered is that caused by a series of trucks.
- Specifications for truck loadings on highway bridges are reported in the code of
the American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials
(AASHTO).
H‑series Truck: For two‑axle trucks,
- the live loads are designated with an H,
- followed by the weight of the truck in tons, and
- another number which gives the year of the specifications
in which the load was reported.
Example: an H 15‑44 is a 15‑ton truck as reported in
the 1944 specifications.
- H‑series truck weights vary from 10 to 20 tons.
HS Loadings:
Bridges located on major highways, which carry a great deal of traffic,
are often designed for two‑axle trucks plus a one‑axle semitrailer.
These are designated as HS loadings
Example: HS 20‑44.

Truck Loading:
In general, a truck loading selected for design depends upon
- the type of bridge,
- its location, and
- the type of traffic anticipated.
The size of the "standard truck"and the distribution of its weight is also
reported in the AASHTO specifications.
 Example:
- The HS 20‑44 loading is shown in
Figure.
- Although trucks are assumed to
occupy 10‑ft lanes, all lanes on the
bridge need not be fully loaded with
a row of trucks to obtain the critical
load, since such a loading would be
highly improbable.
select spacing to cause maximum stress
HS 20-44 Loading

- Furthermore, rather than determine the critical load using a series of

concentrated truck‑wheel loads, in some cases the specifications allow a
simplification by representing a lane loading as a uniform load plus a
single concentrated force.
- This is meant to represent a distribution of medium‑weight traffic with a
heavy truck placed at the peak of the influence line.
Railroad Bridges

The girder of this railroad bridge were designed

to meet AREA specifications.

Note:
Since train loadings involve a complicated series of concentrated forces, to
simplify hand calculations, tables and graphs are sometimes used in
conjunction with influence lines to obtain the critical load.
Code:
The loadings on railroad bridges are specified by the code of the American
Railroad Engineers Association (AREA).
E Loads:
E loads are used for design.
Example: a modern train having a 72‑k loading on the driving axle of the
engine is designated as an E‑72 loading.
The entire E‑72 loading, for design is distributed as shown in Figure.

E‑72 loading

M loadings:
E loads updated to a series of M loadings, which are also acceptable for design.
Impact Loads
Moving vehicles may bounce or sidesway as they move over
a bridge, and therefore they impart an impact to the deck.
Impact Factor:
- The percentage increase of the live loads due to impact is called the
impact factor, I.
- The impact factor is generally obtained from formulas developed from
experimental evidence.
Example:
For highway bridges the AASHTO specifications require that

50
I 0.3
L  125
where L is the length of the span in feet that is subjected to the live load.
Example:
Member BC in Example 6‑17 has an impact 50
factor computed for L = 80 ft, since the influence I 0.3
line (and load) extends over the entire length of L  125
the truss, Figure (d).

50
I 0.244 0.3
80  125
The additional load in member BC due to impact is thus
0.244(58.7 k) = 14.3 k
When added to the "static" placement of the live load,
the "total" force in BC is therefore
58.7 k + 14.3 k = 73.0 k

Note: Similar types of formulas and their application can

also be found in the AREA code.
Example:
For member GB in Example 6‑15,
- L = 8 m for tensile live loadings, and
- L= 24 m ‑ 8 m = 16 m for compressive
live loads, Fig. 6‑25e.

50
I 0.3
L  125
Questions?
M5-L11: Maximum Influence at
a Point Due to a Series of
Concentrated Loads
Maximum Influence at a Point Due to a Series of Concentrated Loads

Maximum Effect:
Once the influence line of a function has been established for a point in a
structure, the maximum effect caused by a live concentrated force is determined
by:
multiplying the peak ordinate of the influence line
by the magnitude of the force.

- In some cases, several concentrated forces must be placed on the structure.

Example:
the wheel loadings of a truck or train.
- In order to determine the maximum effect in this case:
1. a trial-and‑error procedure, or
2. a method that is based on the change in the function that
takes place as the load is moved.
- Each of these methods will now be explained specifically as it applies to
shear and moment.
Shear: Trial-and‑Error
- Consider the simply supported beam with the associated influence line for the
shear at point C in Fig. 6‑29a.
- The maximum positive shear at point C is to be determined due to the series of
concentrated (wheel) loads which move from right to left over the beam.
- The critical loading will occur when one of the loads is placed just to the right
of point C, which is coincident with the positive peak of the influence line.
Shear:

By trial and error each of three possible cases

can therefore be investigated. Fig. 6‑29b. We
have:

Case 2, with the 1 ‑k force located 5 + ft from the

left support, yields the largest value for VC and
therefore represents the critical loading.
Shear: Direct Solution
When many concentrated loads act on the span, as in the case of the
E‑72 load of Figure, the trial‑and‑error computations used in the
previous example can be tedious.
Instead, the critical position of the loads can be determined in a more
direct manner by finding the change in shear, ΔV, which occurs
when the loads are moved
- from Case 1 to Case 2, then
- from Case 2 to Case 3,
- and so on.

E‑72
loading
Shear: Direct Solution
- As long as each computed ΔV is positive, the
new position will yield a larger shear in the
beam at C than the previous position.
- Each movement is investigated until a negative
change in shear is computed.
- When this occurs, the previous position of the
loads will give the critical value.
- The change in shear ΔV for a load P that
moves from position x1 to x2, over a beam can
be determined by multiplying P by the change
in the ordinate of the influence line, that is,
(y2-y1).
- If the slope of the influence line is s, then
y2-y1 = s (x2 - x1 )
and therefore

ΔV = P s (x2 - x1 )
Sloping Line
- If the load moves past a point where there is a discontinuity or ΔV = P ( y2 -y1 )
“jump” in the influence line, the change in shear is simply: Jump
Example:
Moment:
We can also use the foregoing methods to determine the critical position of a series
of concentrated forces so that they create the largest internal moment at a specific
point in a structure.

- It is first necessary to draw the influence line for the moment at the point and
determine the slopes s of its line segments.
- For a horizontal movement (x2 - x1) of a concentrated force P, the change in
moment, ΔM, is equivalent to the magnitude of the force times the change in
the influence line ordinate under the load, that is:
ΔM = P s (x2 - x1 )
Sloping Line
Example:
- Consider the beam, loading, and
influence line for the moment at
point C in Fig. 6‑30a.
- If each of the three concentrated
forces is placed on the beam,
coincident with the peak of the
influence line, we will obtain the
greatest influence from each force.

Three Cases of Loading:

- When the loads of Case 1 are moved
4 ft to the left to Case 2, it is
observed that the 2‑k load decreases
ΔM1-2, since the slope (7.5/10) is
downward, Fig. 6‑30a.
- Likewise, the 4‑k and 3‑k forces
cause an increase in ΔM1-2, since
the slope [7.5/(40 ‑ 10)] is upward.
We have:
Example:
Questions?
M5-L12: Example Problem 6-18
(Maximum Influence at a Point)
Example 6-18
Determine the maximum
positive shear created at
point B in the beam shown
in Fig. 6-31a due to the
wheel loads of the moving
truck.

SOLUTION

Figure 6-31
Example 6-18

SOLUTION

Figure 6-26
Questions?
M5-L13: Example Problem 6-19
(Maximum Influence at a Point)
Example 6-19

Determine the
maximum positive
moment created at
point B in the beam
shown in Fig. 6-32a
due to the wheel
loads of the crane.

SOLUTION

Figure 6-32
Example 6-19

SOLUTION

Figure 6-32
Questions?
M5-L12: Example Problem 6-20
(Maximum Influence at a Point)
Example 6-20
Determine the maximum compressive force developed in member BG of the
truss in Fig. 6-33a due to the wheel loads of the car and trailer. Assume the
loads are applied directly to the truss and move only to the right.

SOLUTION

Figure 6-33
Example 6-20

SOLUTION

Figure 6-33
Questions?
M5-L15: Absolute Maximum
Shear and Moment
Absolute Maximum Shear and Moment

Absolute Maximum Effect:

- So far we developed the methods for computing the maximum
shear and moment at a specified point in a beam due to a series
of concentrated moving loads.
- A more general problem involves the determination of both
1. the location of the point in the beam, and
2. the position of the loading on the beam
so that one can obtain the absolute maximum shear and moment
caused by the loads.
- If the beam is cantilevered or simply supported, this problem can
be readily solved.
Shear:
Cantilevered Beam
- For a cantilevered beam the absolute
maximum shear will occur at a point
located just next to the fixed support.
- The maximum shear is found by the
method of sections, with the loads
positioned close to the support, the first
load being just next to the section as in Figure (a)
Figure (a).
Simply Supported Beams
- For simply supported beams the absolute
maximum shear will occur just next to one
of the supports.
- In this case the loads are positioned so that
the first one in sequence is placed close to
the support, as in Figure (b).
Figure (b)
Moment:
Cantilevered Beam
The absolute maximum moment for a
a cantilevered beam occurs at the
same point where absolute maximum
shear occurs, although this case the
concentrated loads should be
positioned at the far end of the beam,
as in Figure (a).

Figure (a)
Simply Supported Beams
- For simply supported beams
- the critical position of the loads and
- the associated absolute maximum moment
cannot, in general, be determined by inspection.
- We can determine the position analytically.
Moment:
Simply Supported Beams
- Consider a beam subjected to the
forces F1, F2, F3.
- The moment diagram for a series of
concentrated forces consists of
straight line segments having peaks at
each force.
- The absolute maximum moment will
occur under one of the forces.

- Assume this maximum moment occurs under F2 .

- The position of the loads F1, F2, F3 on the beam will be
specified by the distance x measured from F2 to the
beam's centerline as shown.
Moment:
Simply Supported Beams
- To determine a specific value of x,
we first obtain the resultant force of
the system, FR, and its distance x’
measured from F2.
- Moments are summed about B,
which yields the beam's left reaction,
Ay, that is:

- If the beam is sectioned just to the

left of F2, the resulting free‑body
diagram is shown in Figure (b). The
moment M2 under F2 is therefore:
For maximum M2 we require:
Moment: Simply Supported Beams
Conclusion:
We may conclude that:
- the absolute maximum moment in
a simply supported beam occurs
under one of the concentrated
forces,
- such that this force is positioned on
the beam so that it and the
resultant force of the system are
equidistant from the beam's
centerline.
- Since there are a series of loads on the span (for example, F1,
F2, F3 in Figure (a), this principle will have to be applied to
- each load in the series, and
- the corresponding maximum moment computed.
- by comparison, the largest moment is the absolute
maximum.
Note: As a general rule, though, the absolute maximum moment often occurs
under the largest force lying nearest the resultant force of the system.
Envelope of Maximum Influence‑Line Values

Beams supported in ways other than the cantilever or simple support:

- It is difficult to establish rules or formulations for determining the

absolute maximum shear or moment.
- An elementary way to proceed to solve this problem, requires:
1. constructing influence lines for the shear or moment at
selected points along the entire length of the beam, and then
2. computing the maximum shear or moment in the beam for
each point using the methods of Sec. 6.7.
3. These values when plotted yield an "envelope of maximums,"
from which both
- the absolute maximum value of shear or moment and
- its location can be found.
Note: A computer solution for this problem is desirable, since the work
can be rather tedious if carried out by hand calculations.
Example 6-21
Determine the absolute
maximum moment in the
simply supported beam
shown in Fig. 6-38a.

SOLUTION

Figure 6-38
Example 6-21
SOLUTION

Figure 6-38
Questions?