Module 5.

3 Lateral Loads on Building Frames

7-5 Lateral Loads on Building Frames: Portal Method.

In Sec. 7-4 we discussed the action of lateral loads n portal frames and found that for a frame fixed
supported at its base, points of inflection occur at approximately the center of each girder and column
and the columns carry equal shear loads, Fig 7-8. A building bent deflects in the same way as portal
frame, Fig. 7-12a, and therefore it would be appropriate to assume inflection points occur at the center
of the columns and girders. If we consider each bent of the frame to be composed of a series of portals,
Fig 7-12b, then as a further assumption, the interior columns would represent the effect of two portal
columns and would therefore carry twice the shear V as the two exterior columns.

In summary, the portal method for analyzing fixed-supported building frames requires the following
assumptions:

1. A hinge is placed at the center of each girder, since this is assumed to be a point of zero moment.
2. A hinge is placed at the center of each column, since this is assumed to be a point of zero moment.
3. At a given floor level the shear at the interior column hinges is twice that at the exterior column
hinges, since the frame is considered to be a superposition of portals.

These assumptions provide an adequate reduction of the frame to one that is statically determine
yet stable under loading.
 By comparison with the more exact statically indeterminate analysis, the portal method is most
suitable for buildings having low elevation and uniform framing. The reason for this has to do with
the structure’s action under load. In this regard, consider the frame as acting like a cantilevered
beam that is fixed to the ground. Recall from mechanics of materials that shear resistance
becomes more important if the beam is long. (See Sec. 7-6) The portal method is based on the
assumption related to shear as stated in item 3 above.

The portal method of analysis can be used to (approximately) perform a lateral-load analysis of this single-
story frame.
Example 7-5
Determine (approximately) the reactions at the base of the columns of the frame shown in Fig. 7-13a. Use
the portal method of analysis.

Solution
Applying the first two assumptions of the portal method, we place hinges at the centers of the girders and
columns of the frame, Fig. 7-13a. A section through the column hinges at I, J, K, L yields the free-body
diagram shown in Fig. 7-13b. Here the third assumption regarding the column shear applies. We require
+
→ Σ𝐹𝑥 = 0; 6 – 6V = 0 V = 1 kN

Using this result, we can now proceed to dismember the frame at the hinges and determine their
reactions. As a general rule, always start this analysis at the corner or joint where the horizontal load is
applied. Hence, the free-body diagram of segment IBM is shown in Fig. 7-13c. The three reaction
components at the hinges Iy, Mx, and My are determined by applying ΣMM = 0, ΣFy = 0, respectively. The
adjacent segment MJN is analyzed next, Fig. 7-13d, followed by segment NKO, Fig. 7-13e, and finally
segment OGL, Fig. 7-13F. Using these results, the free-body diagrams of the columns with their support
reactions are shown in Fig. 7-13g.
Example 7-6
Determine (approximately) the reactions at the base of the columns of the frame shown in Fig. 7-14a. Use
the portal method of analysis.

Solution
First hinges are placed at the centers of the girders and columns of the frame, Fig. 7-14a. A section through
the hinges at O, P, Q and J, K, L yields the free-body diagrams shown in Fig. 7-14b. The column shears are
calculated as follows:
+
→ Σ𝐹𝑥 = 0; 20 – 4V = 0 V = 5 kN
+
→ Σ𝐹𝑥 = 0; 20 + 30 – 4V’ = 0 V’ = 12.5 kN

Using these results, we can now proceed to analyze each part of the frame. The analysis starts with the
corner segment OGR, Fig. 7-14c. The three unknowns Oy, Rx, and Ry have been calculated using the
equations of equilibrium. With these results segment OJM is analyzed next, Fig. 7-14d; then segment JA,
Fig. 7-14e; RPS, Fig. 7-14f; PMKN, Fig. 7-14g; and KB, Fig. 7-14h. Complete this example and analyze
segments SIQ, then QNL, and finally LC, and show that Cx = 12.5 kN, Cy = 15.625 kN, and MC = 37.5 kN.m.
7-6 Lateral Loads on Building Frames: Cantilever Method.

The cantilever method is based on the same action as long cantilevered beam subjected to a transverse
load. It may be recalled from mechanics of materials that such a loading causes a bending stress in the
beam that varies linearly from the beam’s neutral axis, Fig. 7-15a. In a similar manner, the lateral loads on
a frame tend to tip the frame over, or cause a rotation of the frame about a “neutral axis” lying in a
horizontal plane that passes through the columns at each floor level. To counteract this tipping, the axial
forces (or stress) in the columns will be tensile on one side of the neutral axis and compressive on the
other side, Fig. 7-15b. Like the cantilevered beam, it therefore seems reasonable to assume this axial
stress has a linear variation from the centroid of the column areas or neutral axis. The cantilever method
is therefore appropriate if the frame is tall and slender, or has columns with different cross-sectional
areas.

In summary, using the cantilever method, the following assumptions apply to a fixed-supported frame.

1. A hinge is placed at the center of each girder, since this is assumed to be a point of zero moment.
2. A hinge is placed at the center of each column, since this is assumed to be a point of zero moment.
3. The axial stress in a column is proportional to its distance from the centroid of the cross-sectional
areas of the columns at a given floor level. Since stress equals force per area, then in the special
case of the columns having equal cross-sectional areas, the force in a column is also proportional
to its distance from the centroid of the column areas.
These three assumptions reduce the frame to one that is both stable and statically determinate.
Example 7-7
Determine (approximately) the reactions at the base of the columns of the frame shown in Fig. 7-16a. The
columns are assumed to have equal cross-sectional areas. Use the cantilever method of analysis.

Solution
First hinges are placed at the midpoints of the columns and girders. The locations of these points are
indicated by the letters G through L in Fig. 7-16a. The centroid of the columns’ cross-sectional areas can
be determined by inspection, Fig. 7-16b or analytically as follows:
Σ𝑥̃𝐴 0(𝐴) + 6(𝐴)
𝑥̅ = = =3𝑚
Σ𝐴 𝐴+𝐴
The axial force in each column is thus proportional to its distance
from this point. Hence, a section through the hinges H and K at
the top story yields the free-body diagram shown in Fig. 7-16c.
Note how the column to the left of the centroid must be
subjected to tension and the one on the right is subjected to
compression. This is necessary in order to counteract the tipping
caused by the 30-kN force. Summing moments about the
neutral axis, we have
+ ΣM = 0; - 30 (2) + 3Hy + 3Ky = 0
The unknowns can be related by proportional triangles, Fig. 7-16c, that is,
𝐻𝑦 𝐾𝑦
3
= 3
or Hy = Ky
Thus,
Hy = Ky = 10 kN

In a similar manner, using a section of the frame through the hinges at G

and L, Fig. 7-16d, we have
+ ΣM = 0; - 30 (6) – 15 (2) + 3Gy + 3Ly = 0

Since Gy/3 = Ly/3 or Gy = Ly, then

Gy = Ly = 35 kN

Each part of the frame can now be analyzed using the above results. As in examples 7-5 and 7-6, we begin
at the upper corner where the applied loading occurs, i.e., segment HCI, Fig. 7-16a. Applying the three
equations of equilibrium, ΣMI = 0, ΣFx = 0, ΣFy = 0, yields the results for Hx, Ix, and Iy, respectively, shown
on the free-body diagram in Fig. 71-6e. Using these results, segment IDK is analyzes next, Fig. 7-16f;
followed by HJG, Fig. 7-16g; then KJL, Fig. 7-16h; and finally, the bottom portions of the columns, Fig. 7-
16i and Fig. 7-16j.
Example 7-8
Show how to determine (approximately) the reactions at the base of the columns of the frame shown in
Fig. 7-17a. The columns have the cross-sectional areas shown in Fig. 7-17b. Use the cantilever method of
analysis.

Solution
First, hinges are assumed to exist at the centers of the girders and columns of the frame, Fig. 7-17a. The
centroid of the columns’ cross-sectional areas is determined from Fig. 7-17b as follows:

Σ𝑥̃𝐴 0(6250) + 6(5000) + 10.5(3750) + 18(6250)

𝑥̅ = = = 8.559 𝑚
Σ𝐴 6250 + 5000 + 3750 + 6250
Here the columns have different cross-sectional areas, so the axial stress
in a column is proportional to its distance from the neutral axis, located at
𝑥̅ – 8.56 m. Hence, a section through the hinges at L, M, N, O yields the
free-body diagram shown in Fig. 7-17c. Note how the columns to the left
of the centroid are subjected to tension and those on the right are
subjected to compression. Why? Summing moments about the neutral
axis, we have
+ ΣM = 0; - 36 kN (1.8 m) + Ly (8.56 m) + My (2.56 m) + Ny (1.94 m) +
Oy (9.44 m) = 0 (1)

Since any column stress 𝜎 is proportional to its distance from the neutral
axis, we can relate the column stresses by proportional triangles.
Expressing the relations in terms of the force Ly, we have

2.56 𝑚 𝑀𝑦 2.56 𝐿𝑦
𝜎𝑀 = 8.56 𝑚 𝜎𝐿 ; 5000 𝑚𝑚2 = 8.56 (6250 𝑚𝑚2 ) 𝑀𝑦 = 0.239𝐿𝑦 (2)
1.94 𝑚 𝑁𝑦 1.94 𝐿𝑦
𝜎𝑁 = 8.56 𝑚 𝜎𝐿 ; 3750 𝑚𝑚2 = 8.56 (6250 𝑚𝑚2 ) 𝑁𝑦 = 0.136𝐿𝑦 (3)
9.44 𝑚 𝑂𝑦 9.44 𝐿𝑦
𝜎𝑂 = 8.56 𝑚 𝜎𝐿 ; 6250 𝑚𝑚2 = 8.56 (6250 𝑚𝑚2 ) 𝑂𝑦 = 1.103𝐿𝑦 (4)

Solving Eqs. (1) – (4) yields

Ly = 3.26 kN My = 0.78 kN Ny = 0.44 kN Oy = 3.60 kN

Using this same method, show that one obtains the results in Fig. 7-17d
for the columns at E, F, G and H.

We can now proceed to analyze each part of the frame. As in the previous
examples, we begin with the upper corner segment LP, Fig. 7-17e. Using
the calculated results, segment LEI is analyzed next, Fig. 7-17f, followed by
segment EA, Fig. 7-17g. Once can continue to analyze the other segments
in sequence, i.e., PQM, then MJFI, then FB, and so on.