BEC 303 STRUCTURE

LABORATORY 5: PORTAL FRAME

1.0

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.
2.0

INTRODUCTION

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

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BEC 303 STRUCTURE

LABORATORY 5: PORTAL FRAME

3.0

APPARATUS

Portal Frame Apparatus

5N Load

4.0

PROCEDURE
1. The load cell is connected to the digital indicator.

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LABORATORY 5: PORTAL FRAME

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.

5.0

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS & CALCULATION

Results:

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BEC 303 STRUCTURE

LABORATORY 5: PORTAL FRAME

W
a

L1

B
L3

Width of member,

b = 25 mm

Thickness of member,

h = 9 mm

Height of portal frame,

L1 = 600 mm

Length of portal frame,

L3 = 600 mm

Distance of load from support A,

a = 500 mm

Load, W (N)
5
10
15
20
25

Horizontal Reaction (N)

Experimental
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
Table 1

Calculations:

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LABORATORY 5: PORTAL FRAME

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

HA

LPH
AHH

Where;

LPH WaL 1 (a L3 ) / 2 EI
2

AHH L1 (2 L1 3L3 ) / 3EI

Second moment of area,
3
3
b d 25 x 9
I=
=
=1519
12
12

Modulus of Elasticity, E = 200 x 10 3 N/mm2

Therefore;

[ ] [

a L1 ( aL3 )
600 ( 5 00600 )
5 00 X
3
2 EI
2 X 200 X 10 X 1 519
H A =W 2
=W
=W (0.0417 )=0.0417 W
L1 ( 2 L1+3 L3 )
6002 ( 2 X 600+ 3 X 600 )
3
3 EI
3 X 200 X 10 X 1 519

(Note: 0.0417 is the slope of theoretical)

Load, W (N)
5
10
15
20
25

Horizontal Reaction (N)

Experimental
Theoretical
0.2
0.209
0.4
0.417
0.6
0.626
0.8
0.834
1.0
1.043
Table 3

By using the data from Table above, the graph of Load versus Horizontal
Reaction at A supports are plotted which shown as below.

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LABORATORY 5: PORTAL FRAME

The best straight line is drawn through the points plotted. From the graph plotted,
the slope of the line, m is determined. (m represents the slope of experimental)

From the Graph, the slope of experimental is 0.04.

Therefore, the percentage error of this experiment is:
% error

error =

theoretical exp erimental

100%
theoretical

0.04170.04
x 100=4.08
0.0417

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LABORATORY 5: PORTAL FRAME

6.0

DISCUSSION
The result obtained from the experiment 1 contains error by comparing it to
theory. There is a variation between experimental and theoretical data, 4.08%
error. 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

Wind load may affect the readings of indicator reading.

Human error:

7.0

The weights are not applied slowly.

Wait for at least few seconds before take readings

CONCLUSION
From the result obtained, 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:
o Care handling should be taken during application of the weights
o Readings are to be determined accurately
From the experiment, it is obviously shown that the 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.

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LABORATORY 5: PORTAL FRAME

8.0

APPENDIX

Placing the load hanger.

Load had been added to the load hanger.

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LABORATORY 5: PORTAL FRAME

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