PORTAL FRAME DESIGN

INTRODUCTION
■ Portal frames are lightweight and efficient
■ This form of construction was extensively covered in
BS 5950-1.
■ On the other hand, EC 1993-1 does not cover in
depth but generally provides design principles and
general application rules.
Why portal frame?
■ It is highly efficient and cost-effective way to
support an envelop and enclosing a usable volume.
■ It is highly suited to support relatively modest
loads.
■ Flexible
TYPES OF STEEL PORTAL FRAME

■ Portal frames are generally low-rise structures,

comprising columns and horizontal or pitched rafters,
connected by moment-resisting connections.
■ The frames relies on the bending resistance of the
connections, which are stiffened by a suitable haunch or
deepening of rafter sections.
■ Nominally pinned base is the most common for
convenience of foundation design and construction.
TYPES OF STEEL PORTAL FRAME
Typical single-span

Portal frame with mezzanine floor

Portal frame with ‘lean-to’

Crane portal frame-with column bracket

Mono-pitch portal frame
ANATOMY OF PORTAL FRAME
■ A portal frame building comprises a
series of un-braced transverse
frames, braced longitudinally.
■ It primary consists of columns and
rafter which form the portal frames
and longitudinal bracing.
■ The end frame (gable frame) can be
either a portal frame or a braced
arrangement of columns and rafter
■ Secondary steelwork ; side rails and
purlins supporting cladding and roof
respectively.
■ The secondary steelwork also play
an important role in restraining the
primary steel members against
buckling out-of-plane.
■ A portal frame is a continuous frame with moment-resisting
connections. Due to the continuous nature, the frame provides stability
in-plane and the resistance to lateral loads
■ Frame stability and deflection are therefore dependent on the
stiffness of the members.
■ Bending moments are greatest at eaves, therefore the rafters
are enhanced locally by proving a haunch at the eaves. The
haunch is created by adding a tapered length cut from a rolled
section or fabricated from plate.
■ In most cases, the frames will be assumed to have nominally
pinned bases even if the base details possess appreciable
stiffness.
Characteristics of Typical Frame

■ Span : between 15m - 50m

■ A clear height = 5 – 15 m
■ A roof pitch between 5o to 10o ( 6 is
commonly adopted)
■ Frame spacing:6-8m
■ Haunches in the rafters at the eaves
and apex
■ I of the of the column typically 50%
larger than that rafter
■ Thin gauge( light steel) cold rolled
steel purlins and side rails Eaves : Part of building where the
roof meets or overhangs the
■ Light steel diagonal restraint from walls
some purlins and side rails, to restrain Apex : The top or the highest point
the inside flange of the frame at
certain location
Haunch
■ The use of haunch at the eaves
reduces the required depth of
rafter by increasing the bending
resistance of the member.
■ The haunch also adds stiffness to
the frame, reducing deflections
and facilitates an efficient bolted
moment resisting connection.
■ The eaves and apex haunch
typically cut from the same size
rolled section as the rafter or
slightly larger. It will be welded
underside of the rafter.
 Haunch
 The typically length of the eaves haunches is generally 10% of the
frame span whereas the depth of the haunch below the rafter is
approximately equal to the depth of the rafter section.
 The haunch length (10% span) generally means that the hogging
moment at the end of the haunch is approximately equal to the largest
sagging moment close to the apex.
 The apex haunch can be from the rolled section’s cut or fabricated
from plate.
 The apex haunch is not needed to enhance the bending resistance but
only for facilitating bolted connection.
BRACING
■ Bracing is required in the plane
of the rafters and vertically in
the plane of the side walls.
■ Vertical bracing in the walls is
often provided at both ends of
the building or in one bay only.
■ Each frame is connected to the
vertical bracing by a member at
eaves level.
■ Commonly used bracing section
types include CHS, angles and
crossed flats.
Secondary Member
■ Secondary members; purlins, side rails and eaves beams are
generally cold rolled with the common section as in Figure 3
■ The primary function of purlins and side rails is to transfer
forces from the cladding to the primary steel frame.
■ The forces arise from wind pressures, and for roofs, imposed
loads due to access.
Secondary Members
■ Purlins and side rails may also be
used to provide restraint to the
rafters and columns at certain
positions.
■ Greater bending moments arise at
the end span and at the support
positions of a continuous member.
■ The bending moments can be
addressed by providing increased
resistance at the critical sections, by
thicker material or by overlapping
purlins or by providing purlin
sleeves.
Gable
■ Gable frames are the frame that located at the end of a portal
frame building.
DESIGN PROCESS
■ Several stages involves as following
1. Geometry
1. Establish the clear span and height based on the
client’s requirements. The geometry used in the
analysis should be a little conservative to allow for
subsequent changes in member size.
2. Actions
1. Establish actions depending on location, site altitude
and local topography. Permanent actions may be
estimated, based on selected cladding type.
3. Preliminary design
1. Use tables Column rafter
4. Initial member selection
- Select member sizes based on their cross-section resistance and
buckling resistance. It may be assumed that the influence of
shear or axial load on the bending resistance can be neglected
for initial design.
- Rafter - At this stage it may be assumed that sufficient restraints
can be introduced to limit member buckling,
- Column - The lateral-torsional buckling resistance of the column
is likely to be the critical check, so preliminary checks over the
restrained lengths will be necessary. If intermediate restraints
cannot be introduced to the column (because the side rails are
not continuous), a larger column section will be required.
5. Frame Stability
- Sensitivity to second-order effects must be assessed. It is likely
that second-order effects must be allowed for, either by
amplifying the results of a first-order analysis, or by completing a
second-order analysis.
■ Member verification
– Classification of member cross sections.
– Verification of cross section resistance to bending, shear and
compression. Bending interaction with shear or compression is
generally not critical.
– Buckling resistance is checked, establishing the position of the
restraints to both flanges and thus the buckling lengths.
– Out of plane buckling resistance is verified against flexural and
lateral torsional buckling. Interaction of bending moment and axial
force is checked with the use of Expression 6.62 of BS EN 1993-1-
1.
– In plane buckling resistance is checked with the use of expression
6.61 of BS EN 1993-1-1. It is not possible to provide intermediate
restraints that resist in-plane flexural buckling.
■ Service limit state
– Frame deflections are checked against client requirements.
ACTIONS
PERMENANT ACTIONS
■ Permanent actions are the self weight of the structure, secondary
steelwork and cladding.
■ Unit weights of the materials should be obtained from manufacturer’s
data or determine from data BS EN 1991-1-1.
■ Typical weights of materials in roofing are as in Table 5.1
■ Self weight of any services (service loading) can be consider as
permanent action.
■ self weight of the cladding plus secondary steelwork is typically 0.2 to
0.4 kN/m2 when expressed over the plan area of the roof.
■ At the preliminary design stage, the service loading is usually assumed
to be between 0.15 and 0.4 kN/m2 on plan over the whole roof area.
 Table 5.2 Typical weight of roofing material

MaterIal Weight (kN/m2)

Steel roof sheeting (single skin) 0.07 - 0.12
Aluminium roof sheeting (single skin) 0.04
Insulation (boards, per 25 mm thickness) 0.07
Insulation (glass fibre, per 100 mm 0.01
thickness)
Liner trays (0.4 mm – 0.7 mm thickness) 0.04 - 0.07
Composite panels (40 mm – 100 mm 0.1 - 0.15
thickness)
Steel purlins (distributed over the roof area) 0.03
VARIABLE ACTION
■ Imposed loads on roofs that are not accessible, except for
normal maintenance and repair, are classed under category H
(BS EN 1991-1-1).
■ The UK NA to BS EN 1991-1-1 gives imposed loads on roofs that
depend on the roof slope.
■ The loading for roofs not accessible except for normal
maintenance and repair is given in the following table 5.3
■ It should be noted that, following Clause 3.3.2 (1) of BS EN
1991-1-1, imposed loads on roofs should not be combined with
either wind or snow actions .
PLASTIC ANALYSIS OF
PORTAL FRAMES
■ Plastic methods are mainly used to allow engineers to more
easily do the analysis and more economical design portal
frames than typical elastic methods.
■ The concept of plastic analysis method is to calculate the
loads that can be applied to cause the frame to fail as a
failure mechanism occur e.g. enough plastic hinges occur
Elastic vs. plastic analysis
■ The methods of analysis fall into either elastic analysis or plastic
analysis.
■ Elastic analysis often produces less economical structures
because it does not allow larges scale plastic redistribution of
bending moments, although these will occur in an adequately
braced structure and will enable the structure to carry higher
loads than calculated by elastic analysis.
■ Generally, plastic analysis results in more economical structures
because plastic redistribution allows slightly smaller members to
carry the same loads.
Elastic vs. plastic analysis
■ On the other hand in some cases elastic analysis can be more
economical as plastic analysis depends on bracing system, because
plastic redistribution imposes extra requirements on bracing of
members.
■ The overall economy of the frame might therefore depend on the ease
with which the frame can be braced.
Frame Dimensions

■ A critical decision at the conceptual design stage is

the overall height and width of the frame.
■ Accurate dimensions can only be determined by
carrying out a preliminary design to determine
member sizes.
Estimation of Member size
Method 1 : Tabulated member size
■ The span range is 15 to 40 m. The assumptions made in creating this table
are as follows:
– The roof pitch is 6o.
– The steel grade is S275 and S355
– The rafter load is the total factored dead load (including self weight)
and factored imposed load.
– The haunch length is 10% of the span of the frame.
– A column is treated as restrained when torsional restraints are
provided along its length (these columns are therefore lighter than
the equivalent unrestrained columns).
– A column is treated as unrestrained if no torsional restraint can be
provided in its length.
■ The member sizes given by the tables are suitable for rapid preliminary
design, or at the estimating stage.
Example 5.1
The proposed frame is defined at the concept design stage by the line
diagram as in Figure , where the lines represent the centrelines of the
members. Estimate the rafter and column size: Given
Sheeting = 0.20 kN/m2
Purlins = 0.07 kN/m2
Frame = 0.11 kN/m2
Services = 0.28 kN/m2
Variable action = 0.60 kN/m2
Frame Spacing = 6 m
Dead loads: Sheeting = 0.20 kN/m2
Purlins = 0.07 kN/m2
Frame = 0.11 kN/m2
Services = 0.28 kN/m2
Total dead load = 0.66 kN/m2
Variable action = 0.60 kN/m2

The vertical load (Permanent and Variable) at the ultimate limit state is
usually used to determine the size of the members for preliminary design
purposes. At the detailed design stage, other load combinations should
also be checked at the ultimate and the serviceability limit states
Total factored load w = (1.35 × 0.66 + 1.5 × 0.60)x Frame spacing
= 1.791 x 6
= 10.75 kN/m
Estimate Eaves height =7m
Span = 30 m
Rafter loading = 10.75 kN/m

Using method 1
From Table A.1, assuming eaves height = 8 m, span = 30 m, rafter
loading = 12 kN/m
Select
Rafter 457 × 191 × 67UB Grade S275
Restrained column 610 × 229 × 101UB Grade S275
Method 2: Design Charts/graphs
■ Design charts/graphs available in a number of publications, assist in
the rapid estimation of horizontal base force, moments in the rafters
and the columns, and the position of the rafter hinge.
■ These charts require slightly more work than the tables,but are much
more flexible and accurate for the particular design case.
■ Charts/graphs for portal frames with pinned bases devised by A D
Weller are given in using BS 5950-1:2000. Charts for the design of
portal frames with bases having various degrees of restraint, devised
by Surtees and Yeap, have been published in The Structural Engineer
■ This method not takes account of;
– stability at the ultimate state
– Deflections at the serviceability limit state
■ Further checks will therefore required, which may necessitate
increasing the size of the members in some cases.
■ The graphs for portal frames with pinned bases are based on the
following assumptions;
– Plastic hinges form in the column at the bottom of the
haunch and near the apex in the rafter.
– The rafter depth is approximately frame span/55
– The haunch depth below the rafter is approximately the
same as the rafter depth.
– The haunch length is approximately 10% of the frame span.
– The moment in the rafter at the top of the eaves haunch ≤
0.87Mp i.e. the haunch region remains elastic
– Wind loading does not control design.
– The chosen sections must be checked separately for
stability.
The notation for the graphs is as follows:

H is the horizontal base reaction

w is the factored load (dead + imposed) per unit length on
the rafter
L is the span of the frame
Mpr is the required plastic moment resistance of the rafter
Mpl is the required plastic moment resistance of the column
l’ is the distance of the point of maximum moment in the
rafter from the column
■ Rise is the difference between the apex and eaves height. The
graphs cover the range of span/height to eaves between 1 and 10,
and a rise/span ratio of 0 to 0.2 (i.e. flat to 22o). Interpolation is
permissible but extrapolation is not.
■ In Figure A.1, Graph 1 gives the horizontal force at the foot of the
frame as a proportion of the total factored load wL.
■ In Figure A.2, Graph 2 gives the value of the required moment
resistance of the rafters as a proportion of wL2.
■ In Figure A.3, Graph 3 gives the value of the required moment
resistance of the columns as a proportion of wL2.
■ In Figure A.4, Graph 4 gives the position of the rafter hinge as a
proportion of the span L.
■ Determine the ratio span/height to eaves (based on the intersection
of the centre-lines of the members).
■ Determine the ratio rise/span.
■ Calculate wL and wL2.
■ Look up the values from the graphs, as follows:
– Horizontal reaction H = value from Graph 1 × wL.
– Rafter: Mpr = value from Graph 2 × wL2.
– Column: Mpl = value from Graph 3 × wL2.
– Distance to the position of maximum moment in the rafter
l’ = value from Graph 4 × L.
■ Determine the plastic modulus for rafter Wpl,y,r and the column Wpl,y,c
from
Wpl,y,r = M p,(rafter)/fy
Wpl,y,c = M p,(column)/fy,
Where fy is the yield strength
Example 5.2
■ A rigid type portal frame has a span 24m. A height to eaves of
6 m and a rise of 1.5m. The frames, spaced at 6m centres, are
to support 0.75 kN/m2 variable and 0.45 kN/m2 permanent
load, including the self weight of the frame. Determine the
initial member selection size in grade S275

Lh
1.5 m

10% of span
6m

L=24mm
■ Load
– Permanent action = 0.45 kN/m2
– Variable action = 0.75 kN/m2
– The Frame Permanent action
■ 0.45 x 6 = 2.7 kN/m
■ Factored = 2.7 x 1.35 = 3.65 kN/m

– The Frame Variable action

■ 0.75 x 6 = 4.5 kN/m
■ Factored = 4.5 x 1.5= 6.75 kN/m
■ Total load = 1.35Gk +1.5 Qk
= 10.4 kN
Using graphs,
a) Total load on frame wL = 249.5 kN
b) Total load x span = 10.4 x 24 x 24 = 5,988kNm
c) Span/ Eaves height = 24/6 = 4
d) Rise/span = 1.5/24 = 0.0625

Value read from the graph

Graph 1 (Horizontal force at the foot of the frame)
Horizontal reaction, H = Value Graph 1 x wL
0.288 x 249.5 = 71.9 kN
Graph 2 (Plastic moment required in the rafter)
Rafter: Mpr = value from Graph 2 × wL2.
0.0355 x 5,988 = 212.57 kNm

Graph 3 (Plastic moment required in the column)

Column: Mpl = value from Graph 3 × wL2.
0.0643 x 5,988 = 385.03 kNm

Graph 4 (The point of maximum moment in the rafter)

Distance to the position of maximum moment in the rafter l’ =
value from Graph 4 × L.
0.47 x 24 = 11.28m
■ Assume the design strength will be 275 N/mm2 as the section
flange will almost certainly be less than 16 mm thick
■ Taking each member in turn
Rafter moment = 212.57 kN/m ,
Wpl,y,c required = 212.57 x 10 3/ 275 = 772 cm3

Column moment = 385.03 kNm

Wpl,y,c required = 385.03 x 10 3/ 275 = 1,400 cm3

Rafters 406 x 140 x 46 UB (Plastic modulus = 888 cm3)

Column 457 x 152 x 74 UB ( Plastic modulus = 1630 cm3)
Member Verification
Column check
■ Classification (EN1993-1-1 Clause 5.5)
■ Cross section resistance
■ Shear force effect of plastic moment resistance (EN1993-1-1
Clause 6.2.6)
■ Provide torsional restraints at plastic hinge positions (assumed
to be at the underside of the haunch).
■ Determine the position of the first torsional restraint: calculate
the stable length for a uniform moment, Lk. (BB.6 Annex
bb.3.2.1 EN 1993-1-1).
600𝑓𝑦 ℎ
5.4 + 𝐸 𝑡𝑓 𝑖𝑧
𝐿𝑘 =
𝑓𝑦 2
ℎ
5.4 𝐸 −1
𝑡𝑓
■ Check whether a reduction in moment resistance for axial force is
necessary.
■ Calculate the modification factor Cm:
– determine the ratio of the flexural buckling (Euler) load and the
elastic critical torsional buckling load for a guessed length Ls and
calculate Cm and Ls (start with Ls = 1.05 Lk). Iterate to confirm Ls.
Provide torsional restraint.

𝑀𝑝𝑙,𝑦,𝑅𝑘
𝐿𝑠 = 𝐶𝑚 𝐿𝑘
𝑀𝑁,𝑦,𝑅𝑘 + 𝑎𝑁𝐸𝑑

Cm the modification factor for linear moment gradient (BB.3.3.1)

a distance between the centroid of the member with the
plastic hinge and the centroid of the restraint members.
Mpl,y,Rk characteristic plastic moment resistance y-y axis
MN,y,Rk c characteristic plastic moment resistance y-y axis with
reduction due to the axial force NEd
 1
𝑀𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟, 𝐶𝑚 = 2 𝑩𝑩. 𝟑. 𝟑. 𝟏 𝑬𝑵𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟑 − 𝟏 − 𝟏
𝐵0 + 𝐵1 𝛽1 + 𝐵2 𝛽2

■ Calculate the position of the first intermediate restraint Lm.

38𝑖𝑧
𝐿𝑚 =
2 2
1 𝑁𝐸𝑑 1 𝑊𝑝𝑙,𝑦 𝑓𝑦
+
57.4 𝐴 756𝐶12 𝐴𝐼𝑇 235

■ Carry out an elastic check of the segments between the first

intermediate restraint, any other intermediate restraint and
the torsional restraint using Equation 6.62 (EN1993-1-1). Mcr
for this
N Edsegment is that forlateral
M y , Ed M y , Ed
torsionalM z , E d  between
buckling M z,E d
the restraints. k yy  k yz 1
 y N Rk /  M 1  LT M y , Rk /  M 1 M z , Rk /  M 1
N Ed M y , Ed  M y , Ed M z , E d  M z , Ed
 k zy  k zz 1
 z N Rk /  M 1  LT M y , Rk /  M 1 M z , Rk /  M 1
■ Verify the elastic segment below the first torsional restraint. Note
whether sheeting rails are capable of providing lateral supports to the
tension flange:
– if so use the elastic torsional buckling load to determine the non-
dimensional slenderness and calculate the axial resistance.
– Consider the segment of the column from base plate to the
torsional restraint; calculate Mcr for elastic torsional buckling;
determine the non-dimensional slenderness and Mb,Rd.

– Compare with the applied moment. If MEd < M b,Rd and a check
using Equation 6.62 passes, the section is adequate.
■ If the check at verify elastic segment, consider a shorter segment and
carry out a check until a pass is achieved. Provide a torsional restraint.
■ Check the lower portion explicitly at elastic segment. If a pass is
achieved the element is verified. If it fails, provide further torsional
restraints between the base plate and the restraint provided at shorter
segment and continue until all segments in the column are verified.
Rafter Check
■ Classify the section.
■ Provide torsional restraints at plastic hinge positions. These may be at
the sharp end of the haunch and/or near the apex (e.g. at the first purlin
down the slope from the apex).
■ Determine the position of the first torsional restraint from the sharp end
of the haunch:
– Calculate the stable length for a uniform moment Lk.
– Check whether a reduction in moment resistance for axial force is
necessary.
– Calculate the modification factor for non-linear moment gradient
Cn. Determine R at quarter points. If (My,Ed+aNEd)< 0 at a given
point, put R = 0. This is because the bottom flange is in tension at
this point. Calculate Ls. Iterate to confirm Ls. Provide torsional
restraint.
Typical bending moment diagram

member stability apex region

(Plum, 1996)
 12𝑅𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝐶𝑛 =
𝑅1 + 3𝑅2 + 4𝑅3 + 3𝑅4 + 𝑅5 + 2(𝑅𝑠 − 𝑅𝐸
𝑀𝑦,𝐸𝑑 + 𝑎𝑁𝐸𝑑
𝑅=
𝑓𝑦 𝑊𝑝𝑙,𝑦
𝑎=ℎ 2

■ Determine the position of the first intermediate restraint Lm.

■ Carry out an elastic check of the segment between the intermediate
restraint, any other intermediate restraint and the torsional restraint
using Equation 6.62. Mcr for this segment is that for lateral torsional
buckling between the restraints.
■ Verify the elastic segment between purlins, where the unrestrained
flange is in tension using Equation 6.62 with Ncr and Mcr determined
for Euler buckling and lateral torsional buckling respectively.
Haunch
■ Classify the section
■ Provide torsional restraints at the plastic hinge position at the sharp
end of the haunch.
■ Determine the position of the first intermediate restraint (Lm). Iteration
is necessary because Lm depends on C1 which in turn depends on the
ratio of the bending moments at the ends of the segment defined by
Lm. Provide a torsional restraint.
■ Verify the elastic segment between the torsional restraint and the
column:
– calculate Mcr for a tapered section based on the properties for
the minimum section. Adjust the value of Mcr by Cn for moment
gradient and c for the haunch taper.
 1
𝑀𝑐𝑟 = 𝐶𝑚 𝑀𝑐𝑟0 for beam with a linear bending moment diagram
𝑐2

or
1
𝑀𝑐𝑟 = 𝐶𝑛 𝑀𝑐𝑟0 for beam with a non- linear bending moment diagram
𝑐2

𝑀𝑐𝑟0 is the elastic critical buckling moment for a beam with

intermediate restraints to the tension flange, subject to uniform
moment
c accounts for the taper (c = 1 for a uniform member).

2 3 2 3
3 ℎ𝑚𝑎𝑥 3 ℎℎ 𝐿ℎ
𝑐 =1+ −1 𝑐 =1+ −1
ℎ ℎ𝑚𝑖𝑛 ℎ ℎ𝑠 𝐿𝑦
𝑡𝑓 − 9 𝑡𝑓 − 9

For taper member or For haunch members or

segment segment
Dimension defining taper factor(EN1993-1-1, Annex BB, BB.3.3.3
For uniform section, symmetric about the minor axis, restrained along the
tension flange at intervals.

1 𝜋 2 𝐸𝐼𝑧 𝑎2 𝜋 2 𝐸𝐼𝑤
𝑀𝑐𝑟0 = 2 + 2 + 𝐺𝐼𝑇
2𝑎 𝐿1 𝐿1
Therefore
𝐼𝑠2
𝑀𝑐𝑟0 = 𝑁𝑐𝑟𝑇
2𝑎
But
𝜋 2 𝐸𝐼𝑧 𝐼𝑤 𝑆 2 𝐺𝐼𝑇
𝑀𝑐𝑟0 ≤ 2
+ 2
𝑆 𝐼𝑧 𝜋 𝐸𝐼𝑧
 Where;

NcrT is the elastic critical torsional buckling force

s is the distance between the restraints along the restrained

longitudinal axis (e.g. the spacing of the purlins)

IT is the torsional constant of the member

Iw is the warping constant of the member

Iz is the second moment of area about the weak axis

E is the modulus of elasticity (210000 N/mm2)

G is the hear modulus (81000 N/mm2)

For tapered or haunch members, Mcr0 is calculated using the section

properties at the shallow end
The parameter a,Lt and s are shown in Figure
■ Calculate Ncr for the tapered section based on the properties for the
minimum section. Consider (say) five sections along the taper and
determine Mb,Rdi at each section i.
■ Calculate NEd / Nb,Rd and check at each section
𝑁𝐸𝑑 𝑀𝐸𝑑𝑖
+ ≤ 1.0
𝑁𝑏,𝑅𝑑 𝑀𝑏,𝑅𝑑𝑖

NEd is the axial compression in the segment;

Nb,Rd is the design buckling resistance of the segment based on the
properties of the minimum depth cross-section;
MEdi is the bending moment about the major axis at the point i being
considered;
Mb,Rdi is the design buckling resistance moment determined using the
appropriate modulus Wy and other properties at the section being
considered.
If the checks pass, the haunch is verified. If a check fails, the haunch must
be strengthened and rechecked.