Introduction

Portal frames, used in several Civil Engineering structures like buildings, factories, bridges
have the primary purpose of transferring horizontal loads applied at their tops to their
foundations. Structural requirements usually necessitate the use of statically indeterminate layout
for portal frames, and approximate solutions are often used in their analyses.

Figure 1: Portal Frame Structures.

Portal frame construction is a method of building and designing simple structures,

primarily using steel or steel-reinforced precast concrete although they can also be constructed
using laminated timber such as Glulam. The connections between the columns and the rafters are
designed to be moment resistant, i.e. they can carry bending forces.

Because of these very strong and rigid joints some of the bending moment in the rafters is
transferred to the columns. This means that the size of the rafters can be reduced or the span can
be increased for the same size rafters. This makes portal frames a very efficient construction to
use for wide span buildings.

Portal frame construction is therefore typically seen in warehouses, barns and other
places where large, open spaces are required at low cost and a pitched roof is acceptable.
Generally portal frames are used for single storey buildings but they can be used for low rise
buildings with several floors where they can be economic if the floors do not span right across
the building % in these circumstances a skeleton frame, with internal columns, would be a more
economic choice). & typical configuration might be where there is office space built against one
wall of a warehouse.

Portal frames can be clad with all sorts of material but the most popular solution, for
reasons of economy and speed, is some form of lightweight insulated metal cladding with cavity
masonry work to the bottom 2m of the wall to provide security and impact resistance. The

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lightweight cladding would be carried on sheeting rails spanning between the columns of the
portal frames.

Theory

A portal frame is composed of members in a single plane. Loading is applied to the

members, resulting in internal shear and moment as well as axial force in the members. A portal
frame can be considered as statically determinate when the degree of indeterminacy is equal to
zero and the reactions at the support can be determined using equations of static only.

The equation for the horizontal reaction at the pinned support A of a portal frame are given
below:

Where:

Width of member, b
Thickness of member, h
Height of portal frame, L1
Length of portal frame, L3
Distance of load from support A, a
Calculation for horizontal reaction (theory):
Formula:

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 −L P H Wa L1 (a−L3) L21(2 L1 +3 L3)
HA = LPH = AHH =
A HH (2 EI ) (3 EI )

Purpose of work:
The purpose is to establish the relationship between applied load and horizontal reaction at
the pinned support and observe the effect of the load position on the horizontal reaction. After
that, a graph is plotted to compare it with theoretical values of horizontal thrust.

Objective:

1. To establish the relationship between applied load and horizontal reaction at the pinned
support.
2. To observe the effect of the load position on the horizontal reaction.

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 Apparatus

Support Frame

Load Hanger

Portal Frame Digital

Indicator

Pin Support Roller Support

Loads

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 Procedure
1. The load cell is connected to the digital indicator.
2. The indicator is switched on. The indicator must be switched on for 10 minutes before
taking readings for stability of the reading.
3. A load hanger is placed at the location where the load is to be applied.
4. The indicator reading is noted. The tare button is pressed if it is not zero.
5. A load is placed on the load hanger.
6. The indicator reading is recorded. This represents the horizontal reaction of the pinned
support.
7. The load is increased on the load hanger and the horizontal reaction is recorded.
8. Step 7 is repeated for another four load increments.
9. The result of the experiment is tabulated.

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 Data Collection & Recording
Width of member = 25 mm
Thickness of member = 9 mm
Second moment of area, I = 1519 mm4

Load (N) Horizontal Reaction (N)

Experimental Theoretical
3 0.2
8 0.5
13 0.8
18 1.0
23 1.3

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 Data Analysis (Calculations & Results)
Width of member = 25 mm
Thickness of member = 9 mm
Second moment of area, I = 1519 mm4

Load (N) Horizontal Reaction (N)

Experimental Theoretical
3 0.2 0.169
8 0.5 0.422
13 0.8 0.760
18 1.0 1.013
23 1.3 1.266

b d3
Second moment of Area, I =
12
L1 = 600 mm
L3 = 600 mm 25× 93
I=
12
a = 450mm
= 1519 mm4
W = Load (N)

Modulus of Elasticity, E= 200x103 N/mm2

Calculation for horizontal reaction (theory)

L21(2 L1 +3 L3) Wa L1 (a−L3) −L P H

Formula : AHH = LPH = HA =
(3 EI ) (2 EI ) A HH

HA For 3N ,
[600¿¿ 2(2(600)+3(600))]
AHH = ¿ = 1.185
3(200 x 1 03 ×1519)

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 3(450)(600)(450−600)
LPH = = - 0.2
2( 200 x 1 03 × 1519)
−(−0.2)
HA =
1.185
= 0.169 N
HA For 8N , HA For 13N ,
[600¿¿ 2(2(600)+3(600))] [600¿¿ 2(2(600)+3(600))]
AHH = ¿ = 1.185 AHH = ¿=
3(200 x 1 03 ×1519) 3(200 x 1 03 ×1519)
1.185
8(450)( 600)(450−600) 13(450)(600)(450−600)
LPH = = - 0.5 LPH = = - 0.9
2(200 x 1 03 × 1519) 2( 200 x 10 3 × 1519)
−(−0.5) −(−0.9)
HA = HA =
1.185 1.185
= 0.422 N = 0.760 N

HA For 18N , HA For 23N ,

[600¿¿ 2(2(600)+3(600))] [600¿¿ 2(2(600)+3(600))]
AHH = ¿ = 1.185 AHH = ¿=
3(200 x 1 03 ×1519) 3(200 x 1 03 ×1519)
1.185
18(450)(600)(450−600) 23(450)(600)( 450−600)
LPH = = - 1.2 LPH = = - 1.5
2( 200 x 10 3 × 1519) 2(200 x 1 03 × 1519)
−(−1.2) −(−1.5)
HA = HA =
1.185 1.185
= 1.013 N = 1.266 N

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 Graph Of Load Verses Displacement At The Roller Support
1.4 1.3 Experimental
1.2 1.27
Horizontal Reaction (N)

1 Theoretical
1
0.8 1.01
0.8

0.6 0.5 0.76

0.4
0.2
0.17 0.42
0.2

0
0 5 10 15 20 25

Load (N)

Percentage Error between Theoretical and Experimental Results

Load (N) Percentage Error (%)

3 18.34
8 18.48
13 5.26
18 -1.28
23 2.69

Formula : % Error = ( Experimental – Theoretical

Theoretical ) x 100
For 3N , For 8N ,

% Error = ( 0.2−0.169
0.169 )
x 100 % Error = ( 0.5−0.422
0.422 )
x 100

= 18.34% = 18.48%
For 13N , For 18N ,

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% Error = ( 0.8−0.760
0.760 )
x 100 % Error = ( 1.0−1.013
1.013 )
x 100

= 5.26% = -1.28%
For 3N ,

% Error = ( 1.3−1.266
1.266 )
x 100

= 2.69%

Discussion
The result obtained from the experiment 1 contains error by comparing it to theory. There
is a variation between experimental and theoretical data. The error occurred are due to several
factors such as:

Inaccuracy reading from the digital indicator due to repeated adjustment of putting weight will
occur the error of reading and wind load may affect the readings of indicator reading.

Human error can be created from the weights are not applied slowly and wait for at least few
seconds before take readings.

Conclusion
We conclude that the experiments consist of small variation errors which caused by few
factors. By this, there are few suggestions in order to determine an accuracy of portal frame
experiment. Such as, care handling should be taken during application of the weights and
readings are to be determined accurately. From the experiment, it is obviously shown that the

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more loading apply to the portal frame, the bigger the displacement at the roller. And the more
loading apply, the deflected shape and bending moments of the portal frame will be increasing.

Appendix

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 References
1. Design of Steel Structures by Prof. S.R.Satish Kumar and Prof. A.R.Santha Kumar.
Retrieved from nptel.ac.in/courses/105106113/2_industrial_building/6_portal_frames.pdf

2. Lab Report (Portal Frame) by Wai Sheng on Feb 22, 2015. Retrieved from
https://www.scribd.com/document/256542933/Lab-Report-Portal-Frame

3. Experiment on portal frame by Afrina Mokhtar. Retrieved from

http://www.academia.edu/11340119/experiment_on_portal_frame

4. STR20 - EXPERIMENT BENDING MOMENTS IN A PORTAL FRAME

https://www.tecquipment.com/bending-moments-in-a-portal-frame

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