3/10/2018 PORTAL METHOD OF APPROXIMATE ANALYSIS

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PORTAL METHOD OF APPROXIMATE ANALYSIS

PORTAL METHOD OF APPROXIMATE ANALYSIS

The portal method is an approximate analysis used for analysing building frames subjected to lateral loading such
as the one shown in figure 1(a). This method is more appropriate for low rise (say height is less than width)
building frames. In the analysis, the following assumptions are made:

1. An inflection point is located at mid-height of each column.

2. An inflection point is located at the centre of each beam, and

3. The horizontal shear is divided among all the columns on the basis that each interior column takes twice as
much as exterior column.

Figure-1: Portal Method of Approximate Analysis

The basis for the third assumption stems from the reasoning that the frame is composed of individual portals as
show in figure 1(b).

Obviously an interior column is in effect resisting the shear of columns of the individual portals. The following
example illustrates the procedure involved in the analysis of building frames by the portal frame method.

Example:

It is required to determine the approximate values of moment, shear and axial force in each member of frame as
shown in figure 2, using portal method.

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Figure 2: Frame under lateral load

Considering the first upper storey, inflection points are assumed at mid height on each column. We obtain the
shear in each column from a free body diagram of the structure above the hinge level by assigning shear to the
interior column equal to twice the shear in exterior column as shown in figure 3(a).

Figure 3(a): Distribution of shear among columns

Figure 3(b): Free-body diagram of parts of upper storey

Figure 3(c): Free body diagrams of parts of lower storey

H + 2H + H = 20

=> H = 5 kN

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Inflection points are also assumed at the centre of beams GH and HK. The member forces in the upper part of the
frame can be evaluated from the free body diagram of the parts shown in figure 3(b) beginning with G or from K
and working across. The resulting forces must check with the free body diagram at the opposite end. The resulting
forces are indicated on the diagram.

Again inflection points are assumed at mid-height of lower storey columns and the shear is distributed as in the
upper storey. Thus, in the lower storey:

H + 2H + H = 60 kN

=> H = 15 kN.

The forces in the members of the lower storey are obtained from the free body diagrams of figure 3(c). The
maximum moment in each member of the structure is readily obtained once the value of shear at the inflection
points have been determined.

The moment diagram drawn on the frame on the tension side of the members is shown in figure 4. The maximum
values of shear and axial forces are indicated along each member. The shears are shown without any sign. The
positive value of the axial force indicates tension.

Figure 4: Forces in frame members

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