CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Sem/Session 1 2018/2019

Name of Experiment CIVIL ENGINEERING LAB I (CIVE 3112)

STRUCTURE LAB SESSION
Date of Experiment

Group 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Lecturer’s Name

Due Date of Submission

Lecturer’s Comment(s)

Lecturer’s Stamp and Sign:

Date Received:

1.0 TITLE & INTRODUCTION

Title:
Portal Frame (1)
 Introduction:
Portal frame construction is a method of building and designing simple structures, pri

marily using steel or steel-reinforced precast concrete although they can also

beconstructed using laminated timber. 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 points 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 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.

2.0 BACKGROUND OF STUDY & OBJECTIVE

BACKGROUND OF STUDY:
Portal frames are generally low-rise structures, comprising columns and horizontal or

pitched rafters, connected by moment-resisting connections. Protection from horizontal

and vertical action by the rigidity of the connections and the bending stiffness of the

members. The structure will then formed in stable with the presence of bracing, hence,

this will form continuous frame structure. They are very efficient for enclosing large

volumes, therefore they are often used for :

- industrial
- storage
- retail and commercial applications
- agricultural purposes.
 OBJECTIVE:
1. To establish the relationship between applied load and horizontal displacement at the

roller support.
2. To observe the effect of the load position on the roller displacement.

3.0 METHODOLOGY
3.1 APPARATUS:
1. Support frame
2. Portal frame
3. Dial gauge
4. Tape
5. 1 set of load

Figure 1: Structure of portal frame

EXPERIMENT 1
1. A load hangar was placed at the location where the load is applied.
2. The dial gauge reading was set to zero.
3. A load was placed on the load hangar.
4. The reading of dial gauge was recorded. This represent the horizontal displacement at

the roller support.

5. The load was increased on the load hangar and the dial gauge reading was recorded.
6. Step 5 was repeated with another 4 load increments.

EXPERIMENT 2

1. 6 location was marked on the horizontal bar.

2. A load hangar was placed at the first position.
3. The dial gauge reading was set to zero.
4. A suitable load will be chosen and placed it on the hangar.
5. The dial gauge reading was recorded.
 6. The load was removed and the hangar was placed at the next position.
7. The dial gauge reading was set to zero.
8. The same load was applied to the hangar and the resulting displacement was recorded.
9. The above procedure was repeated for the remaining location.
4.0 DATA ACQUISITION

EXPERIMENT 1: Horizontal Applied Load

Applied Load (N) Roller Displacement

Div mm
2 79 0.79
4 173 1.73
6 274 2.74
8 371 3.71
10 468 4.68
12 685 6.85
Table 1: Data of Horizontal Applied Load
EXPERIMENT 2: Vertical Applied Load

Applied Load (N) Roller Displacement

Div mm
5 22 0.22
10 76 0.76
15 121 1.21
20 161 1.61
25 203 2.03
30 245 2.45
Table 2: Data of Vertical Applied Load

CHARACTERISTICS OF PORTAL FRAME

Width of diameter, b= 25mm Thickness of member, d = 10mm
Length of frame, L1= 600mm Height of frame, H = 600mm
Dial Gauge reading, 1 div = 0.01mm Distance load from support, a = 500mm
Second moment of area, I = 2083.33mm Young’s Modulus, E= 200,000 N/mm2

Calculation:

Second moment of inertia:

b d 3 25 ×103
I= = =2083.33 mm
12 12
 The equation for horizontal reaction at support:

−L P H Wa L1 (a−H )
HA = ; L PH=
A HH 2 EI

L12 (2 L1+3 H )
; A HH =
3 EI

[ ] [ ]
a L1 (a−H ) ( 500 ) (600)( 500−600)
2 EI 2(200 ×103 )(2083.33)
HA = -W 2 = -W = -0.0417W
L1 (2 L1+ 3 H ) 6002 (2 ( 600 ) +3 ( 600 ) )
3 EI 3(200 ×103 )(2083.33)

5.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Load

Figure 2: Horizontal Load

 Load

Figure 3: Vertical Load

Cross sectional view of member:

25 mm

10 mm

Horizontal Applied Load

Applied Load Roller Displacement Theoretical deflection Load per unit

(N) (mm) = 0.5 W (mm) deflection = w/

σ (N/mm)
2 0.79 1 2
4 1.73 2 2
6 2.74 3 2
8 3.71 4 2
10 4.68 5 2
12 6.85 6 2

Table 3: Data of load per unit deflection on horizontal applied load

Vertical Applied Load

Applied Load Roller Displacement Theoretical deflection Load per unit

 (N) (mm) = 0.075 W (mm) deflection = w/

σ (N/mm)
5 0.22 0.375 13.33
10 0.76 0.750 13.33
15 1.21 1.125 13.33
20 1.61 1.500 13.33
25 2.03 1.875 13.33
30 2.45 2.25 13.33

Table 4: Data of load per unit deflection on vertical applied load

Horizontal applied load verses displacement at the roller support

8
7
Roller Displacement (mm)

6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Applied Load (N)

Figure 4: Horizontal applied load verses displacement

3.71−0.79
Stiffness: =0.487 N/mm
8−2
 Vertical applied load verses displacement at the roller support
3

2.5
Roller Displacement (mm)

1.5

0.5

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Applied Load (N)

Figure 5: Vertical applied load verses displacement

1.61−0.22
Stiffness: =0.0927 N /mm
20−5

Applied Load Againts Deflection

7

4 horizontal
Deflection

Linear (horizontal)
3 vertical
Linear (vertical)
2

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Applied Load (N)

Figure 6 : Difference in stiffness of horizontal and vertical applied load

 From the experiment, Table 3 shows the data of the horizontal applied load in relation

with the roller displacement and deflection. The deflection was fixed by 0.5W. Referring to

the figure 4, it reflects the horizontal applied load. When the load increases, the roller

displacement will be increases too. Next, table 4 shows the data of the vertical applied load in

relation with the roller displacement and deflection. The deflection was fixed by 0.075W. It is

indicated by figure 5 shows the relationship of the load and the roller displacement. When the

load increases, the roller displacement will be increase too.

Moreover, the stiffness of horizontal applied load gives 0.487 N/mm higher value than

the vertical applied load which is 0.0927 N/mm. By focusing on Figure 6, it is illustrated that

horizontal applied load has a stiffer slope than the vertical applied load.

The theoretical horizontal displacement. HA was -0.0417W. The difference between

HA in Horizontal load was 0.445 while HA in vertical load is 0.051.

6.0 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the objectives of this experiment were achieved. It can be concluded that

from the experiment, it is obviously shown that the more loading apply to the portal

frame, the bigger the displacement at the roller. However, the more loading apply, the

deflected shape and bending moments of the portal frame will be increasing.

7.0 REFERENCES
1. Dynamic Stiffness Identification of Portal Frame Bridge–Soil System using

Controlled Dynamic Testing - https://ac.els-cdn.com/S1877705817337748/1-s2.0-

S1877705817337748-main.pdf?_tid=a55c592e-af9f-4c8b-a603-

26a650844ee4&acdnat=1540396971_be5d31f079d42114f18bfaf526dca26b
2. Analysis of frame - http://fast10.vsb.cz/koubova/SDM_frame.pdf