1.

0 OBJECTIVE

1.1 Part 1 : To plot moment influence line

1.2 Part 2 : To apply the use of a moment influence on a simply supported
beam

2.0 LEARNING OUTCOMES

2.1 Application of engineering knowledge in practical application

2.2 To enhance the technical competency in civil engineering through
laboratory application.
2.3 Communicate effectively in group.
2.4 To identify problem, solving and finding out appropriate solution through
laboratory application.

3.0 INTRODUCTION

Moving loads on beam are common features of design. Many road bridges are
constructed from beam, and as such have to be designed to carry a knife edge load,
or a string of wheel loads, or a uniformly distributed load, or perhaps the worst
combination of all three. To find the critical moment in section, influence line is
used.

4.0 THEORY

Definition : Influence line is define as a line representing the changes in either

moment, shear force, reaction or displacement at a section of a beam when a unit
load moves on the beam.
Part 1 : This experiment examines how moment varies at a cut section as a unit
load moves from one end another ( see diagram 1 ). From the diagram,
moment influence equation can be written.

For a unit load between 0 < x < a ,

Mx = ( L – x ) a - 1 (a – x )……….(1)
L

For unit load between a < x < b ,

Mx = xb / L – ( x – a )…………..(2)

‘ cut ‘
1 ( unit load ) Mx
x

Mx

RA = (1-x/L) RB = x/L

a b

Figure 1
 Part 2 : If the beam is loaded as shown below, the moment at the ‘cut’ can be
calculated using the influence line. ( See diagram 2 ).

Moment at the ‘cut’ section = F1y1 + F2y2 + F3y3 ……….(3)

( y1, y2, and y3 are coordinates derived from the influence line in terms of x1, x2, x3, a,
b and L )

a+b = L

x1
x2

x3

y1 y2 y3

Moment influence line for cut section

Figure 2

5.0 APPARATUS
Figure 3

6.0 PROCEDURES

Part 1 :
1. The digital forces meter reads zero with no load.
2. Hanger with any mass between 150 – 300 g was place at the first
grooved hanger support at the left support and the digital forces reading
were recorded in Table 1.
3. The procedure repeated to the next grooved hanger until to the last
groove hanger at the right hand support.
4. Calculation in Table 1 completed.

Part 2 :
 1. Three load hangers with any load between 50 – 400 g was placed on it
and placed it at any position between the supports. The position and the
digital forces display reading recorded in Table 2.
2. The procedure repeated with three other location.
3. The calculation in Table 2 completed.

7.0 RESULT
Location of load Digital Force Moment at Experimental Theoretical
from left hand Display cut section influence line Influence lines
support (m) Reading (N) (N) value (N) value (Nm)
0.04 0.2 0.025 0.013 0.013
0.06 0.3 0.038 0.019 0.019
0.08 0.4 0.05 0.025 0.026
0.10 0.5 0.063 0.032 0.032
0.12 0.6 0.075 0.038 0.038
0.14 0.7 0.088 0.045 0.045
0.16 0.8 0.10 0.051 0.051
0.18 0.9 0.113 0.058 0.057
0.20 1.0 0.125 0.064 0.064
0.22 1.1 0.138 0.07 0.07
0.24 1.2 0.15 0.077 0.076
0.26 1.3 0.163 0.083 0.083
0.30 1.5 0.188 0.10 0.096
0.32 1.3 0.163 0.083 0.082
0.34 1.1 0.138 0.07 0.07
0.36 0.8 0.10 0.051 0.055
0.40 0.4 0.05 0.025 0.027
Table 1

Notes :

1. Moment at cut section = Digital force reading x 0.125

2. Experimental Influence line values = Moment (Nm)
Load (N)
3. Calculate the theoretical value using the equation 1 for load position 40 – 260
mm and equation 2 for load position 320mm and 400mm.

Part 2,

Location Position of hanger from left Digital force Experimental Theoretical

hand support (m) reading (N) Moment (Nm) moment
100 200 300 (Nm)
gram gram gram
1 40 100 200 2.1 0.263 0.261
2 80 160 260 2.9 0.363 0.366
 3 360 340 80 2.1 0.263 0.260
4 260 400 60 1.6 0.200 0.190
Table 2

Notes :

1. Experimental moment = Digital force reading x 0.125

2. Theoretical moment is calculated using equation (3)

8.0 CALCULATION

EXAMPLE CALCULATION

PART 1

Moment at cut section= 0.2 x 0.125

= 0.025 N

Experimental Influence line values = Moment (Nm)

 Load (N)
= 0.025
1.962
= 0.013 m

Theoretical Influence lines value;

Equation 1 for load position 40 to 260 mm

Mx = (0.44 – 0.04) (0.3) – 1(0.3 – 0.04)

0.44
= 0.013 Nm

Equation 2 for load position 320mm to 400mm

When x = 0.32 m
Mx = (0.32) (0.14) – (0.32 – 0.3)
0.44
= 0.082 Nm
PART 2

F1 = 100g
= 100 x 9.81
1000
= 0.981N
F2 = 200g
= 200 x 9.81
1000
= 1.962N
F3 = 300g
= 300 x 9.81
1000
= 2.943N

0.981 1.962 N 2.943 N

x1
x2

x3
 y1 y2 y3

Moment influence line for cut section

*For location 1,

Experimental moment at cut section (Nm) = Digital force reading x 0.125

= 2.1 x 0.125
= 0.263 Nm

Moment at cut :

∑Mx = 0
Mx = 1(0.3)- x (0.3) – 1 (0.3-x)
0.44
= 0.3 - 0.3x – 0.3 + x
0.44
Mx = 0.318x

When x = 0.3
Mx = 0.318x
= 0.318 (0.3)
= 0.095 Nm

Use interpolation to get y1,y2 and y3

y1, 0.095 = y1
0.3 0.04
0.3y = 0.0038
 y1 = 0.013 m

y2, 0.095 = y2
0.3 0.1
y2 = 0.032 m

y3, 0.095 = y3
0.3 0.2
y3 = 0.063 m

Theoritical moment at cut section (Nm)

= F1y1 + F2y2 + F3y3
= 0.981 (0.013) + 1.962 (0.032) + 2.943 (0.063)
= 0.261 Nm

0.981 N 1.962 N 2.943 N

x1
x2

x3

y1 y2 y3

*For location 2,
 Experimental moment (Nm) = 0.363 Nm
When y1 = 0.025 m , y2 = 0.051 m , y3 = 0.082m
Theoritical moment (Nm) = 0.366 Nm

2.943 N 1.962 N 0.981 N

x1
x2

x3

y3 y2 y1

*For location 3,
Experimental moment (Nm) = 0.263 Nm
When y1 = 0.054m , y2 = 0.068m , y3 = 0.025m
Theoritical moment (Nm) = 0.260 Nm
 2.943 N 0.981 N 1.962 N

x1
x2

x3

y3 y1 y2

*For location 4,
Experimental moment (Nm) = 0.4125 Nm
When y1 = 0.082m , y2 = 0.027m , y3 = 0.019m
Theoritical moment (Nm) = 0.190 Nm
9.0 DISCUSSIONS

PART 1

1. Derive equation 1 and 2.

F
1
cut
x

a b

RA
L RB
= =

ΣFx = 0

ΣFy
= RA + R B – 1
=0

RA + R B = 1

RA( L ) – 1( L – x ) = 0

RAL = 1(L- x)
 RA = 1( L – x )
L
=1- x
L
RB = 1 – (1 – x) = x
L L

Equation 1 ; 0 ≤ x ≤ a
-Mx + RA(a) – 1(a - x) = 0

Mx = (1 – x/L)a – 1(a - x)

= (L – x)a – 1(a - x)
L

Equation 2 ; a≤ x ≤ b
Mx – RB(b) + 1(x - a) = 0
Mx = RB (b) – 1(x - a)
= x/L (b) – 1(x -a)
= xb/L – 1(x -a)

2. On the graph, plot the theoretical and experimental value against distance from
left and support. Comment on the shape of graph. What does it tell u about how
moment varies at the cut section as a load moved on the beam?
 GRAP HEXPERIMENTALVALUE(Nm)VERSUS
0
.25
THEORETICALVALUE(Nm)VERSUSDISTANCE(m)

0
.2
MOMENT (Nm)

0
.15

Th
eoretical Valu
e

0
.1 Exp
erimen
tal Valu
e

0
.05 0.16
0.04

0.06

0.08

0.12

0.14

0.18

0.22

0.24

0.26

0.32

0.34

0.36
0
0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4
From the graph, a peak shaped
DISTANC
graph
E(m)
can be obtained. The peak is the weakest point
of the beam where there is a hinge in the beam. As load is being moved on the
beam, the influence line which was constructed can be used to obtain the value of
the moment. As load is moved across near to it, the moment will increase. So does
the other way round when load is moving further than the hinge, the value of
moment will decrease as the load is moving towards the support at the end. As the
load is moving along towards the hinge from both side of support, it will come to a
peak where the value of moment is the same.

3. Comment on the experimental results and compare it to the theoretical results.

The experimental results that we obtained are quite accurate and compare to the
theoretical results, the experimental results are only slightly different with
theoretical results. When we were conducted the experiment, we tried to minimize
the error by ensuring the Digital Force Meter reads zero with no load before we
place the hangers.

PART 2

1. Calculate the percentage difference between experimental and theoretical results in

table 2. Comment on why the results differ.
Experimental Moment Theoretical moment Percentage Different
(Nm) (Nm) (%)
0.263 0.261 0.77
0.363 0.366 0.82
0.263 0.26 1.15
0.2 0.19 5.26

The experimental results are slightly different from theoretical results are due to
human error and instrument sensitivity as the reading of the instrument keep
changing when we conducted the experiment.

10.0 CONCLUSION

As a conclusion, both objectives were achieved. Moment influence line could be

plot and the influence line can be use to determine the moment. We were able to
identify the reaction and behaviour of a beam in terms of its moment reaction value.
This method is useful to check every cross section for a particular beam.