MOMENT INFLUENCE LINE

1.0 OBJECTIVE

Part 1 : To plot monet influence line.

Part 2 : To apply the use of moment influence on a simply support beam.

2.0 LEARNING OUTCOME

1. Application the engineering knowledge in practical application.
2. To enhance technical competency in structural civil engineering through laboratory
application.
3. Communicate effectively in group.
4. To identify problem, solving finding out appropriate solution through laboratory
application.

3.0 INTRODUCTION
Influence line are important in the design of structures that resist large live loads. We learned
that shear and moment diagrams are importantin determining the maximum internal force in
a structure. An influence line represents the variation of the reaction, shear, moment, or
deflection at a specific point in a member as a concenstrated force moves over the member.
Moving loads on beams 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 at a section, influence lines is used.
4.0 THEORY

Definition :Influence line is defined 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 momentvaries at a cut section as a unit load moves from
one end to another ( see diagram 1). From the diagram, moment influence line equation can be
written.

For 0 x a shear line is given by :

Sy = -x/ L(1)

For a x b shear line is given by :

Sy = 1-x/ L(2)

For a unit load between0 x a,

MX= (L-x)a 1(a-x).(1)

L
 For unit load between a b

MX = xb/L- (x-a).(2

1 ( Unit Load ) x Cut MX

x

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

MX

a b

LK

Figure 1

5.0 Part 2 : If the beam are loaded as shown below, the shear force at the cut can be
calculated using the influence line. (See diagram 2).

Moment at cut section = F 1Y1 + F2Y2 + F3Y3 (3)

(Y1, Y2 and Y3 are ordinates derived from the influence line in term of X1, X2, X3, a,b and L)
6.0 APPARATUS

1. Bending moment in a beam apparatus

 2. Load and hanger

7.0 PROCUDER

Part 1

1. Check the Digital Force Meter reads Zero with no load.

2. Place hanger with any mass between 150g to 300g at the first grooved hanger support at the
left support and record the Digital Force reading in Table 1.
3. Repeat the procedure to the next grooved hanger until to the last grooved hanger at the right
hand support.
4. Complete the calculation in Table 1.

Part 2

1. Place three load hangers with any load 50g to 400g on it and place it at any position between
the supports. Record the positions and the Digital Force Display reading in Table 2.
2. Repeat the procedure with three other locations.
3. Complete the calculation in Table .
8.0 RESULT

Part 1

Location of load Digital Force Moment force Experimental Theory influence

from left hand Display at cut section Influence line value line value (Nm)
support (m) Reading (N) (N) (Nm)
0.04 0.3 0.0375 0.025 0.013
0.06 0.4 0.05 0.034 0.019
0.08 0.5 0.0625 0.042 0.025
0.10 0.6 0.075 0.051 0.032
0.12 0.7 0.0875 0.059 0.038
0.14 0.9 0.1125 0.076 0.045
0.16 1.0 0.125 0.085 0.051
0.18 1.1 0.1375 0.093 0.057
0.20 1.2 0.15 0.102 0.064
0.22 1.3 0.1625 0.11 0.07
0.24 1.4 0.175 0.119 0.076
0.26 1.6 0.2 0.136 0.083
0.34 -0.6 -0.075 -0.051 0.068
0.36 -0.5 -0.0625 -0.042 0.054
0.38 -0.4 -0.05 -0.034 0.041
0.40 -0.2 -0.025 -0.017 0.027

Notes :

1. Moment at cut section = Digital force x 0.125

()
2. Experimental Influence line values = ()

3. Calculate the theoretical value using the equation 1 for load position 40 to 260mm and
equation 2 for load position 320mm to 380mm
Part 2 :

Location Position of hanger from Shear force Experimental Theoretical

left hand support (m) Digital Reading Shear Nm Shear Nm
(N)

100g 200g 300g

1 0.04 0.1 0.2 2.3 0.288 0.261

2 0.08 0.16 0.26 2.7 0.334 0.366
3 0.36 0.34 0.08 2.1 0.263 0.260
4 0.26 0.4 0.6 1.6 0.200 0.190

Notes :

1. Experiment Moment = Digital force Reading 0.125

2. Theoretical Moment is calculated Using equation (3)

Calculation

Part 1

Moment at cut section = 0.20.125

=0.025
()
Experimental influence line values = ()

0.0375
= 1.962

=0.025 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 400

When x = 0.34 m

Mx = (0.34) (0.14) (0.34 0.3)

0.44

=0.068 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
*For location 1

Experimental moment at cut section (Nm)

= Digital force reading 0.125

= 2.3 0.125

= 0.288 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 = 0.318

When x = 0.3

Mx = 0.318x

=0.318(0.3)

=0.095 Nm

use interpolation to get y1, y2, 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

*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

*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

*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 DISCUSSION

1. Derive equation 1 and 2

Fx = 0

Fy
= RA + RB 1
=0

RA + RB = 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 same graph paper, plot the theoretical and experimental values against distance
from left hand support.

GRAPH EXPERIMENT VALUE (Nm) VERSUS THEORETICAL VALUE

(Nm) VERSUS DISTANCE
0.25

0.2

0.15
value (Nm)

0.1

theoretical
0.05
value

0
0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18 0.2 0.22 0.24 0.26 0.34 0.36 0.38 0.4 experimental
-0.05 value

-0.1
distance (m)

From the graph, a peak shaped graph 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 (Nm) Theoretical moment (Nm) Percentage Different (%)

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 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.