Mathematical model of influence lines for indeterminate beams

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present an improved and easy way for dealing with the influence lines for indeterminate beams. This paper describes the approach used to teach the topic of influence lines for indeterminate beams in the structural analysis and design courses, in the Civil Engineering Department at Manhattan College. This paper will present a simple method for teaching influence lines for indeterminate beams based on a mathematical model derived from the fundamental use of the flexibility method. The mathematical model is based on describing the forces and the deformations of the beam as mathematical functions related by consecutive integration processes.