ABSTRACT
The effect of live loads which can have different positions on a structure can be conveniently analyzed and succinctly described in graphical form by the use of influence lines. An influence line shows the value of any action due to a unit point load moving across the structure. For example, the influence line for the bending moment at a section of a continuous beam shows the variation in the bending moment at this section as a unit transverse load traverses the beam.
