ADVANCED STEEL COURSE

PORTAL FRAMES

AMANUEL GEBREMESKEL

UNIVERSITY OF WITWATERSRAND

Advantages
• Economical
• Variety of building shapes
• High clear volume
• Easy to fabricate
• Economical to transport (4 straight elements)
• Simple to erect
• Easy to maintain
• Easy to expand
• Re-usable

1
Geometry

Span (m) Spacing (m)

<15 6
15 – 20 7,5
See SCI
25+ 9
publications
Roof pitch ≈ 1:10
Hinged bases
Haunch length 10% of L

Haunches

2
Bolted end plate

60

Multi-spans

3
 LOADING
SABS 0160 – 1989 (Rev 1993)
The Loading code combination factors were derived
independently from those of other international codes.
(Similar to American and Canadian but different to
Eurocode)
SA National Loading conference 1998
Initial Phase 1999 – 2003
Access to Eurocode 2003
SANS 10160 2011

Steel Design Community

Limit States design move 1987
SABS 0162 Part 1 1993 , 2005
Based on the Canadian Code S16
2014/2015 Review will be based on CAN S16 2014

LOADING

4
LOADING

LOADING

5
 LOADING

CRANE LOADING

6
CRANE LOADING

CRANE LOADING

SABS 0160 OLD

7
 CRANE LOADING

SANS 10162
Part 6 Crane actions

SEISMIC LOADING

SANS 10160-4
Annex D
(normative)

Design and detailing of steel structures

8
 Modelling and analysis

• Elastic analysis, for the following reasons:

– Slender structures (light loads) – deflection rules,
especially with 355 MPa yield stress
– Plastic and elastic moment diagrams similar
– Don’t know plastic design

Model internal supports

of multi-bay correctly

• For deflection calcs, may use spring stiffness of

4 EI
0,2* col without having to design foundations for
L
col moment
• For stability calculations, 0,1 times column stiffness

Permissible deflections
Deflection Loading Permissible value
(serviceability
limit state)
Vertical deflection at Live load on roof L/240
apex
Horizontal Wind load (or live Column height/100 for steel
deflection at top of load on roof) sheeting (use column
column height/300 for brickwork)

9
 In-plane stability

Ensure stability by:

• SANS 10162 Clause 8.7: do second order analysis,
with notional loads (acting in same direction)
• BS 5950-1: Sway check method; applies when:
– Not tied portal
– Span ≤ 5(H1+H2)/2
–  H    H   0,5
2 2

r r
L  L 
 1  2

Then: Apply notional loads

to top of each column.
If Δ ≤ Hc/1000: stable
Otherwise: second order analysis

10
 Ensure stability by:
This image cannot currently be display ed.

1
U2 
Cu   u
1
Vu  h

To prevent snap-through:

Internal rafter with 3+ bays must have:

Lb 22(4  L / h )  I c 
 1   tan(2 )
r

h 4(  1)  I r 

where Lb = haunch to haunch distance

  tan 1 
2H r 

 L 
w u L2b

16 M p

11
 Member design - columns

• Assume full brace at bottom of haunch, or where it actually is

• Second brace optimally placed at:
2 3
Hc  H2  Hc
3 4
• Use universal beams

Apply 13.8.2 of SANS 10162

• [13.8.2 (a)] does not apply.

• [13.8.2(b)]:Crx is calculated on the basis of K = 1,0
and Hc ; U1x = 1,0
• In [13.8.2(c)] Cr is based on ry , and on H1 for the top
part and H2 for the bottom part; the same applies to
Mrx ; U1x = 1,0
• Since the axial force is rather small, it is also
necessary to check the requirement of the second
equation in [13.8.2]:
MM r

1
,
0
u
x


x

12
Rafter and haunch

Rafter and haunch (cont)

• Rule: brace where compressive forces
change direction
• Thus braces at ends of haunches
• Can assume point of contraflexure ‘braced’ if:
– Rafter a universal beam
– 2+ bolts connect purlins to cleats
– Purlin ≥ 0,25 times depth of rafter
• Assumed (not real) braced point: next purlin
after point of contraflexure

13
 Rafter – gravity load
• Overall member strength (Clause 13.8.2(b)): based on full
length Lr of rafter and rx
• Zone 3: top flange in compression,
Ly = purlin spacing, Κ = -1,0 for Mrx
• Zone 2: from BS 5950 – if:
– Purlin depth ≥ 0,25 rafter depth
– Purlin connections prevent rotation, then:
L2
Ly  2
1  L2t f 
1  
40  r h 
 y 

For Mrx, take K = 0,0, ie. ω2 = 1,75

Haunch

q  htf

14
• From analysis: forces, moments at ends of
haunch known, thus can get forces in haunch.
• Check according to [13.8.2]
• According to BS 5950-1, 𝑴𝒓 =𝝋𝑴𝒑 if spacing of
lateral supports to compression flange not more
than 645.ry
Ls 
 94  100.ry /hmax
*

where
  1  0,25h max
*
/h

Rafter subject to uplift

• Top flange in compression: KL = spacing of purlins

• Rafter in tension: [13.9] applies
• Bottom flange in compression; if purlins rigid enough:
L1
KL  2
1  L1t f 
1   

40  ry h 

15
Example

Notional loads
Pnu  0,005(1,2 DL  1,6 LL).30 / 2
 0,005(1,2 x1,5  1,6 x 2,8) x 30 / 2
 0,47kN

• Apply at eaves height both sides, acting in

same direction
• Not applied for deflection calculation, just
for strength

16
• Allowable deflection at apex = 30000/240 = 125 mm
• Allowable horizontal deflection at eaves
= 7000/100 = 70 mm
• Try:
– Column: 457 x 191 x 75 I
– Rafter: 406 x 178 x 54 I
– 70 mm solid bar for haunch prop
• For deflection calculations, may assume spring at
base of column with stiffness
0,2 x 4 EI col / Lcol  8350kN .m

• Apex defl = 118 mm with linear and springs, 125

without springs, 128 mm with second order – say OK

In-plane stability

• Check if sway-check method applies:

– Not tied portal – OK
– L = 30 < 5 x 7 = 35 - OK
– (1,580/15)2 x 2 = 0,014 < 0,5 – OK
• Apply notional loads only:
– Deflection = 1,17 mm < 7000/1000 = 7 mm –
stable
• But still use second order analysis

17
 Design of column
• Do structural analysis
• From C1 Axial Forces and
Moments:
• Assume braced for torsion at A,
B and C
• Because frame is unbraced, K =
1 for everything
• Use spreadsheet from
www.saisc.co.za
• ‘Eq. 2’ controls

Zone 2 of rafter

• Cu and Mu from structural analysis, C1

• Knee brace at Node 20, assume one at 18
• L for axial load (Cx)= 15,057 m
• Use spreadsheet on www.saisc.co.za
• ‘Eq. 2’ most critical
• Could use reduced KL

18
 Zone 3 of rafter

• KL = spacing of purlins
• Can check in Red Book for uniform bending
moment

Rafter under uplift

• Critical part 9 to 14
• Purlins adequate, can reduce KL:
10055
KL  2
 6,7m
1  10055 * 10,9 
1  
40  38,6 * 402,6 

• Red Book: with KL = 7 m, Mr = 106 kN.m

• According to [13.9(a)]:
19 67,7 19 67,7
    0,213  OK
Af y M p 0,9 x 6,86 x 350 331
• [13.9(b)]: Take (conservatively): Mr = 106 kN.m
Mu Tu Z e 67,7 19 x 927
   x10  3  0,614  OK
Mr Mr A 106 106 x 6,86

19