Theory of

Structure I
Engr. Gabriel Gamana

1.0 Types of Structures and Loads

2.0 Analysis of Statically Determinate
Structures
3.0 Cables and Arches
Table of Contents 4.0 Influence Lines for Statically
Determinate Structures
5.0 Approximate Analysis of Statically
indeterminate Structures
6.0 Deflections

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4.0 Influence
4.1 Introduction
Lines for 4.2 Influence Lines for Beams and Frames
Statically 4.3 Qualitative Influence Lines
4.4 Influence Lines for Floor Girders
Determinate 4.5 Influence Lines for Trusses
Structures

4.1 Introduction

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4.1 Introduction
• In the previous chapters we developed techniques for
analyzing the forces in structural members due to dead or
fixed loads. It was shown that the shear and moment
diagrams represent 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 best described using the influence line. 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.

4.1 Introduction
• 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 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.

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4.2 Influence Lines for Beams and Frames

4.2 Influence Lines for Beams and Frames

4.2.1 Procedure for Analysis
• 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.
• If the influence line for a vertical force reaction at a point on a
beam is to be constructed, consider the reaction to be positive
at the point when it acts upward on the beam (the influence
line of the support is 1 when the unit load is applied
directly to it, simultaneously the influence line of other
support(s) shall be zero).
• If a shear or moment influence line is to be drawn 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.
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4.2 Influence Lines for Beams and Frames
• All statically determinate beams will have influence lines that
consist of straight line segments. After some practice one
should be able to minimize computations and 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; that is, “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.

4.2 Influence Lines for Beams and Frames

Problem 4-1
a. Draw the influence lines for the vertical reactions at supports
A and C, and the shear and bending moment at point B, of
the simply supported beam shown in figure.
b. Determine the maximum positive shear that can be
developed at point B due to a concentrated moving load of
40 kN and a uniform moving load of 35 kN/m.

Answer
a. 𝑴𝑩 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟎
b. 𝑴𝑩 = 𝟑𝟎 𝒌𝑵 𝒎 10

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4.2 Influence Lines for Beams and Frames
Problem 4-2
Draw the influence lines for the vertical reactions at supports A,
C, and E, the shear just to the right of support C, and the
bending moment at point B of the beam shown in figure.

Answer
𝑹𝑪𝒚 = 𝟐. 𝟎
𝑽𝑪 = 𝟏. 𝟎 11

4.2 Influence Lines for Beams and Frames

Problem 4-3
Draw the influence lines for the horizontal and vertical reactions
at supports A and B and the shear at hinge E of the three-hinged
bridge frame shown in figure.

Answer
𝑹𝑨𝒚 = 𝟏. 𝟓
𝑽𝑬 = 𝟎. 𝟓 12

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4.2 Influence Lines for Beams and Frames
Problem 4-4
The 16 m simply supported beam is crossed by the distributed
load of 30 kN/m over a length of 6 m. Determine the maximum
moment at C which is 4 m away from the right support.

Answer
𝑴𝑪 = 𝟒𝟑𝟖. 𝟕𝟓 𝒌𝑵 𝒎 13

4.3 Qualitative Influence Lines

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4.3 Qualitative Influence Lines
In 1886, Heinrich Müller-Breslau developed a technique for
rapidly constructing the shape of an influence line. Referred to
as the Müller Breslau principle, it states that “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.

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4.3 Qualitative Influence Lines

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4.3 Qualitative Influence Lines
Problem 4-5
Draw the influence lines for all vertical reactions and bending
moments and shearing forces at section 1-1

Answer
𝑴𝟏 𝟏 = 𝟏𝟑. 𝟑𝟑𝟑
𝑽𝟏 𝟏 = −𝟎. 𝟔𝟔𝟕 17

4.3 Qualitative Influence Lines

Problem 4-6
Determine the maximum positive moment that can be developed
at point D in the beam shown in figure due to a concentrated
moving load of 4000 lb, a uniform moving load of 300 lb/ft, and a
beam weight of 200 lb/ft.

Answer
𝑴𝑫 = 𝟐𝟐. 𝟓 𝒌 𝒇𝒕 18

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4.4 Influence Lines for Floor Girders

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4.4 Influence Lines for Floor Girders

In the previous sections, we considered the influence lines for
beams that were subjected to a moving unit load applied directly
to the beams. In most bridges and buildings, there are some
structural members that are not subjected to live loads directly
but to which the live loads are transmitted via floor framing
systems.

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4.4 Influence Lines for Floor Girders
The deck of the bridge rests on beams called stringers, which
are supported by floor beams, which, in turn, are supported by
the girders. Thus, any live loads (e.g., the weight of the traffic),
regardless of where they are located on the deck and whether
they are concentrated or distributed loads, are always
transmitted to the girders as concentrated loads applied at the
points where the girders support the floor beams.

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4.4 Influence Lines for Floor Girders

Problem 4-7
Draw the influence lines for the shear in panel CD and the
bending moment at D of the girder with floor system

Answer
𝑽𝑪𝑫 = 𝟎. 𝟓
𝑴𝑫 = 𝟒 22

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4.5 Influence Lines for Trusses

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4.5 Influence Lines for Trusses

The floor framing systems commonly used to transmit live loads
to trusses are similar to those used for the girders discussed.
Figure shows a typical floor system of a truss bridge.

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4.5 Influence Lines for Trusses
• The deck of the bridge rests on stringers that are supported
by floor beams, which, in turn, are connected at their ends to
the joints on the bottom chords of the two longitudinal trusses.
Thus, any live loads (e.g., the weight of the traffic), regardless
of where they are located on the deck and whether they are
concentrated or distributed loads, are always transmitted to
the trusses as concentrated loads applied at the joints. Live
loads are transmitted to the roof trusses in a similar manner.
• As a sign convention, if the member force is tensile it is
considered a positive value, if it is compressive it is negative.

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4.5 Influence Lines for Trusses

Problem 4-8
Draw the influence lines for the forces in members AF and CF of
the Parker truss shown in figure. Live loads are transmitted to
the bottom chord of the truss.

Answer
𝑭𝑨𝑭 = −𝟏. 𝟐𝟓𝟎
𝑭𝑪𝑭 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝟏𝟕 26

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4.5 Influence Lines for Trusses
Problem 4-9
Draw the influence line for the force in member HL of the K truss
shown in figure. Live loads are transmitted to the bottom chord
of the truss.

Answer
𝑭𝑯𝑳 = −𝟎. 𝟒𝟏𝟕 27

4.2 Influence Lines for Beams and Frames

Problem 4-10
For the truss bridge and wheel system shown in figure.
Determine the combined maximum and minimum stresses in
member CJ due the live load and a uniform dead load of 20
kN/m.

Answer
𝑭𝒎𝒊𝒏 = 𝟎 𝒌𝑵
𝑭𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝟐𝟖𝟎. 𝟖𝟐 𝒌𝑵 28

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