AP Dr.

Arizu Sulaiman
School of Civil Engineering
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
 PORTAL FRAME

Content
Introduction
Elastic Design of Portal Frame
Work Example
Conclusion
April 30, 2020
 Introduction
• Steel portal frame – very common structural form due
to its economy and versatility for a wide range of
spans (> 50% of single storey construction in UK)
• Portal frames are generally low-rise structures,
comprising columns and horizontal or pitched rafters,
connected by moment resisting connections
• Resistance to lateral and vertical actions is provided
by the rigidity of the connections and the bending
stiffness of the members
• Primary feature – can have few columns as possible,
consistent with economy
• Suitable for factories, warehouses, sports complexes
and hypermarkets.
Introduction
 Types of Portal Frame

Single span symmetric portal frame Propped portal frame

Mono-pitch portal frame Jacked roof portal frame

Multi-bay portal frame Asymmetric portal frame

Curved portal frame Mansard portal frame

 Typical Construction

Single Span Symmetric Portal Frame

• Span between 15 m and 50 m (25 - 35 m are most
efficient)
• Eaves between 5 m and 12 m
• Roof pitch between 5o and 10o (6o is commonly
adopted).
• Frame spacing between 6 m and 8 m (greater spacing
being associated with the longer span portal frames).
• Purlin and rail spacing should be 1.2 m to 2.0 m (for
economic design of main frames, cladding
performance, erectability and restraint requirements)

•
• Haunches in the rafters at the eaves and apex (can
reduce the depth of the rafter and achieve efficient
moment connection at these points).
• Haunches are generally fabricated from parallel beam
sections. In all cases, the haunch must remain in the
elastic region (to avoid failure at connections) and
detailed check is required along its length.
Haunches
Apex

Rafter

Stanchion
(Column)

Welded
Bolted

Eaves
• Resistance to lateral loading is provided by moment
resisting connections at the eaves with column
(stanchion) bases being either pinned or fixed.
• Frames, designed with pinned bases, are heavier than
those having fixity at the bases (though the increase
in frame cost maybe offset by the reduced foundation
size for the pinned base frames.)
 Fixed Base Pinned Base

M1 M3
M2

(Usually M1 > M2)

 Analysis

• Plastic design frames are lighter than elastic design

frames, however, additional stability bracing may be
required.
• Analysis at serviceability limit state is carried out to
check deflections at both eaves and apex.
(This check not only to ascertain whether deflections
are excessive, but also to ensure that the deflections
and frame movement can be accommodated by the
building envelope without undue cracking of any
brickwork or tearing of metal cladding sheets)
 Analysis
• Excessive lateral deflections can be reduced by
increasing the rafter size and / or by fixing the frame
bases.
• Haunch has a significant effect on frame stiffness due
to its large section properties in regions of high
bending moment.
• In the plastic analysis, the basis of the method is to
assume that plastic hinges occur at points in the
frame where the value of M/Mp is at its highest
value.
 Stability

• Resistance to lateral loading is provided by moment

resisting connections at the eaves with stanchion
bases being either pinned of fixed.
• Most of the common forms provide resistance to
sideways forces in the plane of the frame. It is
essential also to provide resistance to out of plane
forces; these are usually transmitted to the
foundations with a combination of horizontal and
vertical girders.
• Checks included: Restraint of plastic hinge (Stable
length), Stability of haunch, Stability of rafter, and
Stability of columns
 Connection

• Connection at the eaves and apex is designed as rigid

while the connection at the base is either pinned or
rigid.
• The types normally used for connection are flush end
plate and extended end plate.
• Normally for eaves and apex connection, non-
preloaded bolts (24 mm diameter Grade 8.8) in
normal clearance holes are used.
• For secondary steel works, 12 mm diameter Grade 4.6
bolts are economically used.
 Connection

End Plate Connections

 Deflection (SLS)
• Sway deflection of portal frame can be caused by the
action of horizontal load, unbalanced vertical load, or
destabilizing effect (P-delta)
• Can be determined by linear elastic analysis.
• Checking for sway deflection is referring back to EC 0 –
Annex A1.4. Deflection limits in table below can be
used.
• Resistance to horizontal force can be provided by
triangular bracing, moment-resisting joints, cantilever
columns, shear walls, specially designed staircase
enclosures, and lift cores.
• The stiffening effect of cladding should be neglected
and deflection can be based on bare frame.
Recommended lateral deflection, Δ limits for portal frames.

Recommended
Building type
limit
• Industrial, steel sheeting, no internal h/150
partitions against external walls or columns
• Industrial, steel sheeting, no internal h/250
partitions against external walls or columns,
with gantry crane
• Industrial, external masonry walls supported h/250
by steelwork.
• Agricultural h/100
 Bracing
• Bracing is generally required to resist horizontal
loading in buildings. The buildings would be unable
and liable to collapse if the bracing was not provided.
• The wind blowing longitudinally along the building
causes pressure and suction forces on the windward
and leeward gables respectively, and wind drag on the
roof and walls. These forces are resisted by the roof
and wall bracing.
• If the building contains a crane, an additional load due
to the longitudinal crane surge has to be taken on the
wall bracing. The force is 5% of the static wheel loads.
A longitudinal bracing member is required in the end
bay separate to the crane girder.
 Bracing

• Overall bracing (including Portal Bracing-roof and

wall)
• Bracing (Restraint) to inner flanges (of rafters or
columns)
• Bracing at the plastic hinge - torsional restraint
 Cross Section Resistance

Purlins, Rafter and Column

• Section Classification
• Shear
• Bending Moment
• Axial Force
ELASTIC DESIGN
• Analyze either by hand or computer assuming linear
elastic behaviour.
• Once the forces, moments and shears have been
derived by elastic analysis, the member sizes are
selected very much as for members in simply
designed frames.
• The verifications of each section is using the rules
given in Section 6 of EC3 Part 1-1.
 Rigidly Fixed Base

I 2 h1
k .
I1 s
m = 1+Ø

h2
 
h1

B = 3k + 2 C = 1 + 2m
K1 = 2(k + 1 + m + m2) K2 = 2(k + 2)
R = C – k
N1 = K1K2 – R N2 = 3 k + B
 Rigidly Fixed Base

MB MD
wL MC
V A  VE 
2
MA  MB
HA  HE 
h1

w L2 k (8  15 )   (6   )
MA  ME  .
16 N1
w L2 k (16  15 )   2
MB  MD  .
16 N1
w L2
MC    MA  mMB
8
 Pinned Base

I 2 h1
k . s
I1 s
m = 1+

h2
 
h1

B = 2(k+1) + m
C = 1 + 2m
N = B + mC
 Pinned Base

wL
V A  VE  MB MD
2 MC
MB
HA  HE 
h1
HA MA ME HE

MA = ME = 0 VA VE

w L2 (3  5m)
MB  MD 
16 N
2
wL
MC   mMB
8
 Example – Pinned Base

Design the portal frame using elastic design:

11.48
 Calculation

Coefficient: Assuming I1 = I2
• k = h1 . I 2 = 7.5 = 0.408
s I1 18.35
• Ø = h2 = 3.6 = 0.48
h1 7.5
• m = 1+Ø = 1 + 0.48 = 1.48
• B = 2(k+1) + m = 2(0.408 + 1) + 1.48 = 4.296
• C = 1+ 2m = 1 + 2(1.48) = 3.96
• N = B + mC = 4.296 + 1.48(3.96) = 10.157
 Calculation

wL2 (3  5m)
MB = MD =
16 N
11.48  362 (3  5(1.48))
=
16(10.157)
= 952.0 kNm
2
wL
MC =  mM B
8
11.48  36 2
=  1.48(952.0)
8
= 450.7 kNm
 Calculation

VA = VE = 11.48 x 36 /2 = 206.6 kN

MB 952
HA   = 127 kN
h1 7 .5
Selection of member size: Check for classification

952.0  10 3
Wpl,req = = 3462 cm3
275
Calculation
Analysis Using Multiframe

Bending Moment Diagram

Analysis Using Multiframe

Shear Force Diagram

Analysis Using Multiframe

Axial Force Diagram

 Section Property

Try 610 x 229 x 125 kg/m (Wpl,y = 3676 cm3)

(Rafter and Stanchion)

A = 160 cm2 B = 307.0 mm

D = 611.9 mm h = 547.3 mm
tw = 11.9 mm tf = 19.6 mm
Wel,y = 3220 cm3 ix = 24.9 cm
iy = 4.96 cm u = 0.874
x = 34.1
 Design of Rafter
Check the resistance of rafter :
(VEd = 206.6 kN, MEd = 952.0 kNm)

Shear resistance (6.2.6):

A v (fy 3 )
Vpl,Rd 
 M0

• For a rolled I section, loaded parallel to the web, the

shear area Av is given by:
Av = A – 2btf + (tw + 2r)tf (but ≥ hhwtw)
h = 1.0
 Design of Rafter
Shear buckling need not be considered provided:

hw 
 72 for unstiffene d webs
tw h

Bending resistance (6.2.5):

W pl , y f y
M c , y , Rd  for Class 1 and 2 sections
M0

Interaction with Shear need to be taken into account if:

Where the shear force is less than half the plastic shear resistance
its effect on the moment resistance may be neglected
 Design of Rafter

Bending resistance (6.2.5):

W pl , y f y
M c , y , Rd  for Class 1 and 2 sections
M0

3676 103  275

  1010 106 Nmm
1.0

 1010 kNm  952 kNm

 Design of Column
Check the resistance of column:
Axial force = 206 kN, bending moment = 952.0 kNm.

Cross section compression resistance (6.2.4):

Af y
N c , Rd  for Class 1, 2 or 3
M0
Buckling resistance combined bending and compression
(6.3.3):
 Design of Column
Supposed there is a tie member at mid-height of the
column to provide restraint about minor axis.
Ley = 0.85 x 7.5 (fix-pin) = 6.38 m
Lez = 1.0 x 3.75 (pin-pin) = 3.75 m

N Ed M y , Ed
 k zy  1.0 Out of plane buckling
N b , z , Rd M b , Rd (about z) (k can be
M y , Ed taken as 1.0)
N Ed
 k yy  1.0 In plane buckling
N b , y , Rd M b , Rd (about y) (k can be
[By using a haunch at the eave, a smaller size ofas
taken rafter
1.0)can be selected
based on the bending moment propotioned to the haunch distance along
rafter but if smaller than moment at the apex , use the value of apex’s (Mc
= 450 kNm). ]
 Design of Purlin

Sag
Rod

Purlin
Sag
Rod

Rafter Supposed:
Specification:
Slope 1:2.5
Spacing between frames, L = 5.5m
Distance between purlins, s = 1.6m
Dead load = 0.3 kN/m2 (On Slope)
Imposed load = 0.75 kN/m2 (On Plan)
 Design of Purlin
Dead load (on slope)
= 0.3 x 5.5 x 1.6 = 2.64 kN

Imposed load (on slope)

= 0.75 x 5.5 x 1.6 x 2.5/2.69 = 6.13 kN

Design load W
= (1.35 x 2.64) + (1.5 x 6.13 kN) = 12.8 kN

Moment
= WL/8 = 12.8 x 5.5/8 = 8.8 kNm
 Design of Purlin

Design by beam method,

(Channel section)
Section should as least class 3 section.
MEd = Wel fy /M1

Wel,reqd = 8.8 x 103 / 275

= 32.0 cm3

Try 125 x 65 x 5 (Wel = 77.3 cm3)

 Design of Purlin

Section Classification,
Channel section 125 x 65 x 15 kg/m

ε = (235/py)0.5 = (235/275)0.5 = 0.92

Limiting value of cf/tf = 14ε

(Class 3)
cw/tw = 124ε
 Design of Purlin

Check the deflection,

5WL3 5  (6.13 103 )  55003

  3 4
 13.1mm
384 EI 384 x 210 x10 x 483x10

Allowable deflection:
L/200 = 5500/200 = 27.5mm > 13.1 mm OK!
 Design of Connection

• The purpose of connection is to transmit tension, shear and

moment from the rafter to the column or from the right
rafter to the left rafter at the apex of portal frame.
• There are at least three locations of connection in a portal
frame i.e. the connections at the eaves, apex and base. The
connection at the eave and apex are rigid connection while
the connection at the base is normally a simple connection
(pinned). In simple connection, no significant moment is
transferred across the joint. In rigid connection, moment is
transferred between members.
 Design of Connection

• End plate connection is suitably used for the rigid connection of

portal frames. An end plate connection transmits moment by
coupling tension in the bolts with compression at the opposite
flange. Unless there is axial forces in the beam, the two forces are
equal and opposite.
• In portal frame, the forces present at the connection are bending
moment and shear force, which is calculated in the previous
sections. Where horizontal load is significant, axial tension and
compression may be present in the rafter.
• At the ultimate state, the position of the center of rotation is at, or
near, the compression flange which bears against the column. It is
therefore reasonable to consider that compression is
concentrated at the level of the center of the flange.
 Design of Connection
Design Verification:

• In simple construction, only 4 strength elements are checked

i.e. bolt group, end plate, fillet welds and beam web. For
rigid connection such as the eave and apex connection of
portal frame, the resistance of few more elements must be
checked.
• The component strength is listed according to the different
zone forces i.e. tension zone, compression zone, shear in the
column and shear in the beam. The element checks are
shown in Figure below
 Design of Connection

1. Tension bolt
2. Beam flange welds Compare with
3. End plate bending the tension force
4. Column flange bending

5. Column web in tension

6. Column web in bearing Compare with the
7. Column web buckling compression force
8. Compression flange
9. Column web in shear Compare with shear in column web

10. Beam web welds Compare with the

11. End plate bolts in shear shear in beam
 Design of Connection
Column flange bending
Column web tension
End plate bending

4 3

2 Flange-end plate weld

5 Bolt tension
1

10
Web-end plate weld

Column web shear

11
9 Bolt shear

7
6 8

Compression flange

Column web bearing & buckling

 Design Using Standardized Table

• Advantages of Standardized Table:

– Reduce the time in cost estimation
– Easy to assemble
– Reduce the time of construction
– Reduce the time for connection design
– Avoid inapplicable design
– Increase the productivity and quality
Design Using Standardize Table
Design Using Standardize Table
Design Using Standardize Table
Design Using Standardize Table
 Example

Supposed a portal frame analysis results in the following:

– Rafter 533 x 210 x 82
– Column 686 x 254 x 125
– Connection forces: Moment 1085kNm
Axial(Rafter) 132kN(Compression)
Vertical Shear 210kN

Provide a suitable eaves haunch connection

Worked Example
 Worked Example

A flush end plate haunch connection when provided with

compression stiffeners and a pair of rib stiffeners between the
top bolt rows will be satisfactory.

– Axial(Rafter) 132kN < 799kN *Moment capacity is valid

– Moment 1085kNm < 1094kNm *Satisfactory

– Vertical Shear 210kN < 1320kN *Satisfactory

(Alternatively, an extended end plate haunch connection

provided with compression stiffeners only is also satisfactory)