Technical Report

Theory of Structures Influence line diagrams for continuous and fixed ended beams Submitted To: Submitted By:
Engr. Jawad Ahmed Fawad Ahmed Najam (05-CE-31).
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY TAXILA.

Contents
Abstract------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Introduction-------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Procedure for analysis-------------------------------------------------------- 4 Example 1----------------------------------------------------------------------- 5

Maxwell law of reciprocal displacements--------------------------------- 6

Example 2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 8

Muller Breslau principle ----------------------------------------------------- 10

Example 1------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10

Example 2------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11

Example 3------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11

References and Further Reading-------------------------------------------- 12

Abstract:
An influence line is a graph of a response function of a structure as a function of the position of a downward unit load moving across the structure. Response function can be reactions, shears and moments. Influence lines for determinate structures are straight lines but for indeterminate structures, they are generally curved. Any of the methods of analysis of indeterminate structures can be used for computing the ordinates of influence lines. In this report, the procedure for constructing influence lines for statically indeterminate beams and trusses is developed and the application of Muller Breslau principle for constructing qualitative influence lines for indeterminate beams and frames is discussed.

Introduction:
The basic procedure for constructing influence lines for indeterminate structures is the same as that for determinate structures. The procedure essentially involves computing the values of the response function of interest for various positions of a unit load on the structure and plotting the response function values as ordinates against the position of the unit load as abscissa to obtain the influence line. Many structures must resist moving loads, in addition to loads such as their own weight that remain fixed in place. For example the force exerted by a truck on a bridge may act any where along the span of the bridge. Since stresses caused by moving loads will vary with the position of the load, and since structures must be designed for the largest stresses that will occur, it is necessary to determine the position of the load that produces the maximum stresses in the structure. Influence lines provide us with a systematic procedure for determining how the force in a given part of a structure varies as the applied load moves about on the structure. They can give the maximum values of shears as well as bending

moments. Their primary use is in calculating the maximum response (e.g. bending moment, shear, or deflection) at a given point in the structure due to moving live loads due to the passage of heavy trucks, trains, and other similar causes.

Procedure for Analysis:

The procedure for constructing influence lines for statically indeterminate structures by the method of consistent deformations can be summarized as follows. 1. Determine the degree of indeterminacy of the structure and select the redundant. 2. Select a number of points along the length of the structure at which the numerical values of the ordinates of the influence lines will be evaluated. 3. Place a unit load successively at each of the points selected in step 2 and for each position of unit load, apply the method of consistent deformations to compute the values of the redundants. 4. Plot the values of the redundants thus obtained as ordinates against the position of the unit load as abscissa to construct the influence lines. 5. The influence lines for the other forces or moments can be obtained through equilibrium considerations.

In short,

Compute the displacement of successive points along the beam when the beam is subjected to unit load at a point of which influence line is to be drawn. Divide each value of displacement by the displacement determined at the point where the unit load acts. The resulting values are the ordinates of the influence line. This procedure is further explained with the help of an example.

Example 1:
Consider a beam as shown in the figure.

Draw the influence lines for vertical reaction at B and moment at C.

Solution:
We will compute the deflections at points A through E using the beam deflection formulas given inside the front cover of various books e.g. Structural Analysis by Aslam Kassimali. (or use conjugate beam method) Dividing these deflections by deflection at B (fBB) one by one, we will get the ordinates of influence line diagram for By.

Maxwells law of reciprocal deflections:

Deflection at any point, say A, due to a unit load at B must be equal to the deflection at B due to unit load at A

Example 2:

Muller Breslau Principle:

Statement: "The Influence line for a force (or moment) response function is given by the deflected shape of the released structure obtained by removing the restraint corresponding to the response function from the original structure and by giving the released structure a unit displacement (or rotation) at the location and in the direction of response function, so that only the response function and the unit load perform external load

Example 1: Consider the beam as shown in figure. Draw the influence line for vertical
reaction at fixed support.

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Example 3: Construct influence line diagram for moment at point D.

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References and Further Reading: Books:

Structural Analysis by Aslam Kassimali. Structural Analysis by Alexander Chajes. Indeterminate structures by J. Sterling Kinney.

Web Resources:
www.ecf.utoronto.ca/apsc/courses/civ214/Lectures/Influence_lines.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Structural_analysis www.childs-ceng.demon.co.uk/tutorial/tuIL.html http://www.public.iastate.edu/~fanous/ce332/influence/twospanbeam.html

THE END

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