Chapter 1A: Portal Frames: Joint

Lecture notes of Building Construction IV
Portal Frames
CHAPTER 1a: PORTAL FRAMES

Portal frames may be defined as continuous or rigid frame which has basic characteristics
of rigid or restrained joint between the supporting member or column and spanning
member or beam. The main Objective of this continuity is to reduce the bending moment
in the spanning members by allowing the frame to act as one structural entity, thus
distributing the stresses throughout the frame. This would help reduce the size of the
beam used over a large span. The Sections of frame used are lighter and more slender in
portal frames.
The Use of portal frames eliminates the need of struts and ties within the roof space
which gives:
• Greater usable volume
• More pleasing internal appearance
For structural efficiency pitch roof portal frames should have low pitch to minimize
spread at knees (rigid connection between rafter and post of portal). These are Expensive
because they are heavy and have
transportation problems.
JOINT
• Special care in design of joints between members is required to transfer stresses

from beam to column.
• Similarly horizontal thrust and rotational movement at the foundation

connection needs careful consideration
• Methods used to overcome excessive forces at the foundation are:

Prepared By: Sr.Lec. Pratibha Manandhar
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Portal Frames
o Reliance on the passive pressure of the soil surrounding the foundation
o Inclined foundations so that the curve of pressure is normal to the upper

surface , tending to induce only compressive forces
o A tie bar or beam between opposite foundations
o Introducing a hinge or pin joint where the column connects the foundation
HINGE CONNECTIONS
• Portal frames of moderate height and span are usually connected to their
foundation forming rigid restrained joints
• When frames exceed 4000mm height and 15000mm in span the introduction
of hinged or pin connection is considered at the base.
• This allows: free rotation to take place and will transmit both load and shear
from one member to the other
• No bending moment (BM) is transmitted through a hinged joint
• Hinges can be introduced at the base connections and at the center or apex
of the spanning member giving three basic forms of portal frames:
1. Fixed or rigid portal frames
2. Two pin portal frame
3. Three pin portal frame
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Portal Frames
1. Fixed or Rigid Portal Frames
• All connection
between frame
members are grid
• Gives BM of lower
magnitude more
evenly distributed
than other forms
• Used for small to

medium size frames
where moments
transferred to the
foundation will not
be excessive
2.Two Pin Portal Frame
• Hinges are used at the base connection to eliminate the tendency of the base
to rotate
• BM resisted by the supporting members will be greater than those

encountered in the rigid portal frames
• Mainly used where high base moments and weak conditions are encountered
3.Three Pin Portal Frame
• Has hinged joint at base connections and at the center of the spanning member
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Portal Frames
• Effect of third hinge is to reduce the BM in the spanning member but increases
deflection
• To overcome this disadvantage a deeper beam must be used or the spanning

member must be given a moderate pitch to raise the apex
Other advantages are:
• Design is simplified since the frame is statically determinate
• they are easier to erect on site particularly when performed in sections
MANUFACTURE
• Portal frames are mostly made in factory controlled conditions, which gives good
dimensional and quality control but can create transportation problem.
• To overcome this problem, site erection splices may be used.
• Portal frames are generally constructed from steel, concrete or timber and they can
take the form of the usual roof profiles used for single or multi-span buildings,
such as;
Ø Flat
Ø Pitched
Ø North light
Ø Monitor and
Ø Arch
• The frames with purlins are generally connected over the spanning member to
carry the light weight roof coverings.
• The walls can be of similar material fixed to supporting members or alternatively
clad with brick or infill panels.
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Portal Frames
A) STEEL PORTAL FRAMES
• Steel portal frames can be fabricated from standard universal (I-section) beam,
column and box section.
• Alternatively a lattice construction of flats, angles or tubular can be used.
• Welding is used for the fabrication of components which are joined together on
site by using bolts or welding.
• The frames are designed to carry lightweight roof coverings.
• Wall coverings can be varied and intermixed since they are non-load bearing and
therefore have to provide only the resistance required for fire, thermal and sound
insulation and also resist wind pressures.
FOUNDATIONS AND FIXINGS
• The foundation is usually a reinforced concrete isolated base or pad foundation

designed to suit loading and ground bearing conditions.
• The connections can be one of the three basic methods:
1. Pocket connection
2. Base plate connection
3. Pin or hinge connection
1. Pocket Connection:
• The foot of the supporting member is inserted and grouted into a pocket
formed in the concrete foundation.
• In some designs, gussets are welded to the flanges of the columns to facilitate
leveling.
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Portal Frames
2. Base Plate Connection:

• Traditional structural steelwork column to foundation connection using a slab
or gusset base fixed to a reinforced concrete foundation with cast in holding
down bolts.
3. Pin or Hinge Connection:

• Special bearing plates designed to accommodate true pin or rocker devices are
fixed by holding down bolts to the concrete foundation to give the required
low degree of rigidity at the connection
FABRICATION
• A portal frame is distinguished by the rigid connection of the spanning members

and the posts.
• For short and medium span frames, the apex or ridge is generally made as an on
site rigid bolted connection for convenience in transporting half portal frames.
• Long span portal frames may have a pin joint connection at the ridge to allow
some flexure between the rafters of the frame which are pin jointed to foundation
bases to allow flexure of base.
• For economy in the use of a standard section, short and medium span steel portal
frames are often fabricated from one MS I-section for both rafters and posts, with
the rafters welded to the posts without any increase in depth at the knee.
• Short span portal frames may be fabricated off site as one frame.
• Medium span portal frames are generally fabricated in two halves for ease of
transportation and are assembled on site with bolted connections of the rafters at
the ridge.
• Connections at knee in medium and long span portal frames may be haunched for
additional stiffness.
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Portal Frames
• The haunched connection can be fabricated either by welding a cut I-section to the
underside of the rafters or by cutting and bending the bottom flange of the rafter
and welding in a steel gusset plate.
• The junction of the rafters at ridge or apex is often stiffened by welding cut I-
sections to the underside of the rafters at the bolted site connection.
• Portal frames can be classified as;
Short Span Portal Frame:

Ø span up to 15m.
Ø spaced at 3-5m.
Medium Span Portal Frame:
Ø span of 16 to 35m.
Ø spaced at 4-8m.
Long Span Portal Frame:
Ø span of 36 to 60m.
Ø spaced at 8-12m.
• It is difficult to ensure a watertight system of roof glazing fixed in the roof of
flat and low pitch steel portal frames. Thus monitor roof lights are used for
natural roof light.
Advantages
• Standard range of manufacturer’s systems

• Good wind resistance
• Ease of site assembly using quickly trained semi-skilled labour
• Overall dead load is less than concrete portal frames
Disadvantages
• Problem of Corrosion and thus requiring long life protection.

• Lower fire resistance
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BASE PLATE CONNECTION

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Portal Frames
B) CONCRETE PORTAL FRAMES
• They are generally manufactured from suitably reinforced high quality pre-cast
concrete.
• They have usually low pitch (4°- 221/2°) single span frames but two storey and
multi-span frames are also available.
DESIGN
• They are generally designed to carry light weight (34 kg /m² maximum) roof
sheeting.
• Walls can be varied and intermixed since they are non-load bearing but they
have to provide certain degree of resistance required for
Ø Fire, thermal and sound insulation and also
Ø Act as barrier and
Ø Resist wind pressures
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Portal Frames
• Sheet claddings are fixed by using hook bolts and purlins, where as sheet wall
claddings are fixed to sheeting rails spanning between or over the supporting
members.
• Brick or block wall panels either of solid or cavity construction can be built
off a ground beam or slab.
FOUNDATIONS AND FIXINGS
• The foundation for a pre-cast concrete portal frames usually consist of a R.C.C.
isolated base or pad.
• The frame can be connected to the foundations by various different methods;
1. Pocket connection
2. Base plate connection
3. Pin joint or hinge connection
1. Pocket Connection:
• The foot of the supporting

member is located and
housed in a void or pocket
formed in the base leaving a
surrounding clearance of 25
mm to allow for plumbing
and final adjustment before
grouting of column to
foundation.
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Portal Frames
2. Base Plate Connection:
• A steel base plate is welded to the main reinforcement of the supporting

member or cast into the column by using fixing lugs welded to the back of the
base plate.
• Holding down bolts are cast into the foundation base to connect and fix the
frame.
3. Pin Joint or Hinge Joint:
• A special base or bearing plate is

bolted to the foundation and the
mechanical connection is made
when the frames are erected.
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Portal Frames
Advantages
• The main advantages are ;

• Factory production will result in accurate and predictable components.
• Standard range of components can be manufactured which will help to maintain
effective rates and reasonable delivery periods.
• Also provides well balanced and flexible design range covering most roof
profiles;
Ø Single span
Ø Multi span
Ø Lean to roof etc.
• Maintenance cost is very low.
• They have their own built in resistant to fire thus no fire resistant treatment is
required.
• Wind resistance is such that wind bracing is not usually required.
• Where the members of the frame are joined or spliced together the connections are
generally mechanical (nut and bolt) and thus it can be carried out by quickly
trained semi-skilled labour.
• The clean lines of pre-cast concrete portal frames are considered to be
aesthetically pleasing.
• In most cases, the foundation design, setting out and construction can be carried
out by portal frame sub-contractor.
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C) TIMBER PORTAL FRAMES
• They can be manufactured by several methods which produce a light and strong
frame of pleasing appearance.
• Suitable for buildings such as churches, halls and gymnasiums where clear space
and appearance are important.
• Common frames are;
1. Glued laminated portal frames
2. Plywood faced portal frames
3. Timber portal frames using solid members with plywood gussets
4.
1. GLUED LAMINATED PORTAL FRAMES
• The objective of forming a laminated member consisting of glued layers of thin

timber sections is to obtain an overall increase in strength than the similar sized
solid section.
• Soft wood of suitable quality is necessary for successful design.
• In common with other timber portal frames, they can be rigid, two pin or three pin
structures.
• Site work is simple, consisting of connecting the foot of the supporting member to
the metal shoe fixing or to a pivot housing bolted to the concrete foundation and
connecting the joint at the apex with a bolt fixing or hinge device.
• Mostly they are fabricated in two halves for easy transportation.
• The frames can be linked together at roof level with timber purlins and
lightweight sheet coverings.
2. PLYWOOD FACED PORTAL FRAMES
• They are suitable for small halls, churches and schools with span around 9m.
• These frames have boxed beams with a skeleton core of softwood members faced
on both sides with plywood which takes the bending stresses.
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Portal Frames
• The hollow form of the construction enables the various service lines to be
accommodated within the frame members.
• Design concepts, fixing and finishes are same as in glued laminated portal frames.
3. SOLID TIMBER AND PLYWOOD GUSSETS PORTAL FRAMES
• They are developed to provide a simple and economic timber frame using
ordinary tools and basic skills.
• In this portal frame system, glue is not used to join the timber members.
• The frames are spaced close together at 600, 900 or 1200 mm c/c and are clad
with plywood sheath so that structure acts as a shell giving a lightweight building
which is very rigid and strong.
• The foundations for this form of timber portal frames consist of
Ø A ground beam or
Ø Alternatively fixed to the edge of a raft slab
• A timber spreader or sole plate is used along the entire length of the building to
receive and distribute the loads of the frames.
• Standard galvanized steel joists gangers or galvanized steel angle cleats are used
for the connection to this timber spreader.
Advantages of Timber Portal Frames:
The advantages of timber portal frames can be described as;
Ø Can be constructed from readily available materials at an economic cost.

Ø Light in weight.
Ø Easy to transport and erect.
Ø Can be trimmed and easily adjusted on site.
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Portal Frames
Ø Protection against fungi and insect attack can be treated by impregnation or

surface treatment.
Ø Pleasing appearance either as a natural timber finishes or painted.
Disadvantages of Timber Portal Frames:
§ Require proper treatment against fungi and insect attack.

§ Fire resistant is low.
§ The tensile strength of timber is very low in comparison to steel.
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4500
300
SOLID BLOCKING TO
APEX
BEAM OR RAFTER DEPTH
VARIES 750 TO 300 MM
750
1500
APEX JOINTED AND
BOLTED
STUD
KNEE
KNEE BRACING
LEG WIDTH VARIES 750

TO 300MM
4200
4500
INTERMEDIATE STUDS
OR BRACING
6MM PLYWOOD FACING

TO BOTH SIDES
PURPOSE MADE CAST IRON OR STEEL
600 FIXING SHOE BOLTED THROUGH SOLID
BLOCK IN TOE AND FIXED TO R.C.C
300
FOUNDATION WITH HOLDING DOWN BOLTS
R.C.C FOUNDATION
TYPICAL SECTION OF PLYWOOD

FACED PORTAL FRAME
SCALE- 1:50
6MM PLYWOOD FACING TO BOTH SIDES
125x50 MM CHORDS TO BOTH SIDES
125x50 MM WOODEN STUDS
TYPICAL SECTION THROUGH LEG

SCALE- 1:10
PLYWOOD FACED PORTAL FRAME

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Portal Frames
TYPICAL SOLID TIMBER AND PLYWOOD GUSSET

PORTAL FRAME
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Portal Frames
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Chapter 1A: Portal Frames: Joint

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Lecture notes of Building Construction IV

CHAPTER 1a: PORTAL FRAMES

• Greater usable volume

• More pleasing internal appearance

• Special care in design of joints between members is required to transfer stresses

• Similarly horizontal thrust and rotational movement at the foundation

• Methods used to overcome excessive forces at the foundation are:

o Reliance on the passive pressure of the soil surrounding the foundation

o Inclined foundations so that the curve of pressure is normal to the upper

o A tie bar or beam between opposite foundations

• No bending moment (BM) is transmitted through a hinged joint

1. Fixed or rigid portal frames

2. Two pin portal frame

3. Three pin portal frame

Prepared By: Sr.Lec. Pratibha Manandhar

1. Fixed or Rigid Portal Frames

• Used for small to

2.Two Pin Portal Frame

• BM resisted by the supporting members will be greater than those

3.Three Pin Portal Frame

Prepared By: Sr.Lec. Pratibha Manandhar

• To overcome this disadvantage a deeper beam must be used or the spanning

Other advantages are:

• Design is simplified since the frame is statically determinate

• they are easier to erect on site particularly when performed in sections

Prepared By: Sr.Lec. Pratibha Manandhar

A) STEEL PORTAL FRAMES

FOUNDATIONS AND FIXINGS

• The foundation is usually a reinforced concrete isolated base or pad foundation

Prepared By: Sr.Lec. Pratibha Manandhar

2. Base Plate Connection:

3. Pin or Hinge Connection:

• A portal frame is distinguished by the rigid connection of the spanning members

Prepared By: Sr.Lec. Pratibha Manandhar

Short Span Portal Frame:

• Standard range of manufacturer’s systems

• Problem of Corrosion and thus requiring long life protection.

Prepared By: Sr.Lec. Pratibha Manandhar

BASE PLATE CONNECTION

Prepared By: Sr.Lec. Pratibha Manandhar

B) CONCRETE PORTAL FRAMES

Prepared By: Sr.Lec. Pratibha Manandhar

FOUNDATIONS AND FIXINGS

• The foot of the supporting

Prepared By: Sr.Lec. Pratibha Manandhar

2. Base Plate Connection:

• A steel base plate is welded to the main reinforcement of the supporting

3. Pin Joint or Hinge Joint:

• A special base or bearing plate is

Prepared By: Sr.Lec. Pratibha Manandhar

• The main advantages are ;

Prepared By: Sr.Lec. Pratibha Manandhar

Prepared By: Sr.Lec. Pratibha Manandhar

Prepared By: Sr.Lec. Pratibha Manandhar

C) TIMBER PORTAL FRAMES

• The objective of forming a laminated member consisting of glued layers of thin

2. PLYWOOD FACED PORTAL FRAMES

3. SOLID TIMBER AND PLYWOOD GUSSETS PORTAL FRAMES

Advantages of Timber Portal Frames:

The advantages of timber portal frames can be described as;

Ø Can be constructed from readily available materials at an economic cost.

Prepared By: Sr.Lec. Pratibha Manandhar

Ø Protection against fungi and insect attack can be treated by impregnation or