SHEAR FORCE INFLUENCE LINE

1.0 INTRODUCTION
An important part of structure engineering and indeed the understanding of
structure behaviour are the understanding of the shear forces and bending moment that
exist within a structural system. Shear force is defined as the algebraic summation of the
external forces that are perpendicular to the axis of the member to the left or to the right
of a section. Shear force is normally taken to the positive if the summation of the external
forces to the left is up; the internal force on the left necessary for equilibrium is directed
downward. Conversely, if the summation of external forces to the right is down, the
internal forces on the right is upward and is taken to be positive. The relationship is
shown below.

Positive shear force at section A-A in a beam.

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2.0 PRINCIPLES

The Muller-Breslau principle or qualitative influence line is a method to determine

influence lines diagrams (shear force or moment). This is another alternative available to
qualitatively develop the influence lines for different functions. It is states that the
ordinate value of an influence line for any function on any structure is proportional to the
ordinates of the deflected shape that is obtained by removing the restraint corresponding
to the function from the structure and introducing a force that causes a unit displacement
in the positive direction. The influence line for shear force at a specific section is the
graph (diagram) representing the variation of shear force at a section for various position
of the load on the span of the beam. By using Muller-Breslau method, the shear force
influence line for simply supported beam at any specific point, C is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Influence line for shear force at section C

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 As discussed earlier, the shear force, C is computed by the load multiplied by the
ordinate of influence line diagram covered by unit load. Hence, shear force is given by;
Shear force, V = load (P) x ordinate of influence line diagram [Equation 1]

As shown in Figure 1, maximum negative shear can be achieved when the head of
the load is at the section C. Meanwhile, maximum positive shear can be obtained when
the tail of the load is at the section C.

3.0 OBJECTIVES

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 1. To construct the shear force influence line at specific point when the load
moving in either direction along the beam.
2. To determine the maximum shear force influence line at specific point when the
load moving in either direction along the beam.

4.0 APPARATUS

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 A pair of simple support

Special beam with a cut section

A set of weight

Load hanger

5.0 Procedure

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6.0 RESULTS

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 CASE 1

Beam span = 1000 mm

Distance of the shear force from the left support = 650 mm
Weight =2N

Distance from left Shear Force at X-x Percentage of error

support (%)
(mm) Experimental= RB Theory (N)
(N)
100 3.6 - 0.2 105.56
200 5.9 - 0.4 106.78
300 8.4 - 0.6 107.14
400 11.4 - 0.8 107.02
800 6.6 - 1.6 124.24
Table 1: Result data for Case 1

CASE 2

Beam span = 1000 mm

Distance of the shear force from the left support = 650 mm
Weight 1 =2N
Weight 2 =2N

Distance from left Shear Force at X-x Percentage of error

support (%)
(mm) Experimental= RB Theory (N)
(N)
100 9.5 - 0.5 105.26
200 14.8 - 0.9 106.08
300 22.2 - 1.3 105.86
400 25.5 - 1.7 106.67
800 2.0 - 3.3 265.00
Table 2: Result data for Case 2

CASE 3

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Beam span = 1000 mm
Distance of the shear force from the left support = 650 mm
Weight 1 =2N
Weight 2 =2N
Weight 3 =2N

Distance from left Shear Force at X-x Percentage of error

support (%)
(mm) Experimental= RB Theory (N)
(N)
100 17.6 - 0.9 105.11
200 28.6 - 1.5 105.24
300 37.5 - 2.1 105.60
400 51.7 - 2.7 105.22
800 2.5 - 5.1 304.00
Table 3: Result data for Case 3

7.0 CALCULATION

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CASE 1

When distance from the left support are 100 mm, 200 mm, 300 mm, 400mm and 800mm.
The load of weight 1 is 2N.

RA = W(L – X)
……..eq.1
L

Vc = RA – W ……..eq.2

Distance from left support, X1 = 100 Distance from left support, X4 = 400

RA1 = 2(1000 – 100) = 1.8N RA4 = 2(1000 – 400) = 1.2N

1000 1000

Vc1 = 1.8 – 2 = -0.2N Vc4 = 1.2 – 2 = -0.8N

Distance from left support, X2 = 200 Distance from left support, X5 = 800

RA2 = 2(1000 – 200) = 1.6N RA5 =2(1000 – 800) = 0.4N

1000 1000

Vc2 = 1.6 – 2 = -0.4N Vc5 = 0.4 – 2 = -1.6N

Distance from left support, X3 = 300

RA3 = 2(1000 – 300) = 1.4N

1000

Vc3 = 1.4 – 2 = -0.6N

CASE 2

When distance from the left support are 100 mm, 200 mm, 300 mm, 400mm and 800mm.

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The load of W1 is 2N and W2 is also 2N.

RA = W1(L – X) + W2[L- (X + a)]

……..eq.1
L L

Vc = RA – W ……..eq.2

Distance from left support, X1 = 100

RA1 = 2(1000 – 100) + 2[1000 – (100 + 50)] = 3.5N

1000 1000

Vc1 = 3.5 – 4 = -0.5N

Distance from left support, X2 = 200

RA2 = 2(1000 – 200) + 2[1000 – (200 + 50)] = 3.1N

1000 1000

Vc2 = 3.1 – 4 = -0.9N

Distance from left support, X3 = 300

RA3 = 2(1000 – 300) + 2[1000 – (300 + 50)] = 2.7 N

1000 1000

Vc3 = 2.7 – 4 = -1.3N

Distance from left support, X4 = 400

RA4 = 2(1000 – 400) + 2[1000 – (400 + 50)] = 2.3N

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 1000 1000

Vc4 = 2.3 – 4 = -1.7N

Distance from left support, X5 = 800

RA5 = 2(1000 – 800) + 2[1000 – (800 + 50)] = 0.7N

1000 1000

Vc5 = 0.7 – 4 = -3.3N

CASE 3

When distance from the left support are 100 mm, 200 mm, 300 mm, 400mm and 800mm.
The load of W1 is 2N, W2 is 2N and W3 is also 2N.

RA = W1(L – X) + W2[L- (X + a)] + W3[L-(X + a + b)]

……..eq.1
L L L

Vc = RA – W ……..eq.2

Distance from left support, X1 = 100

RA1 = 2(1000 – 100) + 2[1000- (100 + 50)]+ 2[1000-(100+ 50 + 50)] =

5.1N

1000 1000 1000

Vc1 = 5.1 – 6 = -0.9N

Distance from left support, X2 = 200

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 RA2 = 2(1000 – 200) + 2[1000- (200 + 50)]+ 2[1000-(200+ 50 + 50)] =
4.5N

1000 1000 1000

Vc2 = 4.5 – 6 = -1.5 N

Distance from left support, X3 = 300

RA3 = 2(1000 – 300) + 2[1000- (300 + 50)]+ 2[1000-(300+ 50 + 50)] =

3.9N

1000 1000 1000

Vc3 = 3.9 – 6 = -2.1 N

Distance from left support, X4 = 400

RA4 = 2(1000 – 400) + 2[1000- (400 + 50)]+ 2[1000-(400+ 50 + 50)] =

3.3N

1000 1000 1000

Vc4 = 3.3 – 6 = -2.7N

Distance from left support, X5 = 800

RA5 = 2(1000 – 800) + 2[1000- (800 + 50)]+ 2[1000-(800+ 50 + 50)] =

0.9N

1000 1000 1000

Vc5 = 0.9 – 6 = -5.1N

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PERCENTAGE ERROR

Example of calculation of percentage error for all cases:

Percentage (%) error = Experiment – Theoretical x 100%

Experiment

Case 1

Percentage (%) error = 3.6 – (-0.2) x 100%

3.6

= 105.56 %

Case 2

Percentage (%) error = 9.5– (-0.5) x 100%

9.5

= 105.26 %

Case 3

Percentage (%) error = 17.6 – (-0.9) x 100%

17.6

= 105.11 %

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8.0 DISCUSSION

Influence lines have important application for the design of the structure that resists
large live loads. The shear and bending moment diagram represents the most descriptive
methods for displaying the variation of these loads in a member. If a structure is subjected
to a live or moving load, however, the variation of the shear and bending moment in the
member is the best described using the influence lines. An influence line represents the
variation of the reaction, shear, moment or deflection at a specific point in a member as a
concentrated force moves over the member. Once this line is constructed, 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. Furthermore, the magnitude of the associated
reaction, shear, moment, or deflection at the point can then be calculated from the
ordinates of influence line diagram. For these reasons, influence lines play an important
part in design of bridges, industrial crane rails, conveyors, and other structures where
loads move across their span.

In this experiment, we must determine the bending moment and shear by

practical means and compare the result we’ve got during the experiment and theoretical
result. From the graph, we can see the different between experimental and theoretical
values which is we have been asked to do calculations using the method of moment
distribution. So after doing the calculation, we’ve found a lot of problems to consider by
taking which values as the answer. The calculations for experiment were too complicated
and it did take time to be completed.

Shear force diagrams are simply by plotting the shear force (on the y-axis) versus
the position of various points along the beam (on the x-axis). Thus, the following is the
generalized shear force diagram for the beam shown above.

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 Some problems we’ve got while we doing this experiment are the digital indicator is
too sensitive which resulting in the differences of the reading in every second, so it is
hard to us to take the reading. Besides, error while calculate the shear and bending
moment in theoretical. We have done this experiment successfully even we got many
errors between experimental and theoretical and also the objective we are given is done.

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9.0 CONCLUSION

As a conclusion, the main objective of the experiment was successfully determined.

From the result we can see a different between the experiments and the theoretical result.
The differences were may be due to some errors that we have done during conducting the
experiment. Also maybe the apparatus error because the result not systematic.

There is precaution we need to follow to make sure there is no accurate in the

experiment result. Such as ensure place the weight on the weight hanger smoothly
because it can affect the reading of digital indicator, ensure take the accurate
measurement while measure the length of beam, ensure place the weight hanger in
suitable position and suitable distance on the beam, before place the weight on the weight
hanger, ensure the digital indicator reading is zero and lastly don’t place the overload to
the weight hanger because it can cause the beam fracture.

In this experiment also, we have getting more knowledge about the influence line
and the function of influence line in civil engineering. As engineers-to-be, we must know
how to calculate the influence line in shear force and bending moment before we design
the structure. This is because the influence line plays an important role as to determine
the maximum moment and the maximum shear force before we determine the area of
reinforcement and the total of reinforcement in designing the beam, column and slab.

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10.0 REFERENCES

1. Civil Engineering Laboratory Manual

2. http://www.public.iastate.edu/~fanous/ce332/influence/twospanbeamforces.html

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influence_line

4. http://www.scribd.com/doc/71153285/Shear-Force-Influence-Lines

5. http://www.google.com.my/search?
hl=en&q=shear+force+influence+line&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bpcl=3660153
4&biw=1092&bih=533&um=1&ie=UTF-
8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=nFmRUMTtJMzNrQfW_YD4Dw

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 11.0 Appendix

Figure 11.0 (a)

Shear force apparatus

Figure 11.0 (b)

Applied load on a load hanger with
difference distance of
100mm,200mm.300mm.400mm and
800mm for case 1

Figure 11.0 (c) Figure 11.0 (d)

Applied load on two Applied
load hanger
loadwith
on three load hanger with
difference distance ofdifference distance of
100mm,200mm.300mm.400mm
100mm,200mm.300mm.400mm
and and
800mm for case 2 800mm for case 3

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