MECHANICS OF STRUCTURES

LABORATORY REPORT
CIVIL ENGINEERING

TITLE OF EXP. PORTAL FRAME EXPERIMENT

SUBJECT CODE ECC 3413 DATE OF EXP. 27 APRIL 2021 (THURS: 1400)
YEAR 2 GROUP: 3
NAME 2190084 ARVIND PAKEANATHAN

GROUP 2190080 NIK MUHAMMAD BAIHAQI BIN NIK HAZMAN

MEMBERS 2180069 MUHAMMAD HAZIQ BIN ALWI

LECTURER PN HAPSA BINTI HUSEN MARKS

REMARKS
1.0 OBJECTIVE

To determine the horizontal deflection of a portal frame: SUPERPOSITION METHOD.

2.0 INTRODUCTION AND THEORY

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.
3.0 APAPARATUS
a) Portal Frame
b) Frame supports: Pin and roller
c) Dial gauge
d) Steel ruler
Figure 1: Frame supports: Pin and roller Figure 2: Dial gauge

Figure 3: Steel ruler

4.0 PROCEDURE
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 RESULT
Width of frame (b): 610.00 mm
Thickness of frame (h): 8.60mm
3 4
bh3 ( 607 )( 8.36 )
Moment of inertia: = =2.96 mm
12 12
Dial gauge reading, 1 div: 0.01 mm

Table 1: Loading 1

Horizontal loads (N) Horizontal deflection (mm) Theoretical

Dial gauge div. Mm (div X 0.01)
deflection =
0.5P(mm)
0 0.000 0.000 0.000
2 70.000 0.700 2.500
4 139.000 1.390 5.000
6 222.000 2.220 7.500
8 281.000 2.810 10.000

Table 2: Loading 2

Vertical loads (N) Horizontal deflection (mm) Theoretical

Dial gauge div. Mm (div X 0.01)
deflection =
0.075P(mm)
0 0.0 0.000 0.000
2 6.0 0.060 0.375
4 21.0 0.210 0.750
6 41.0 0.410 1.125
8 66.0 0.660 1.500

CALCULATION

For horizontal load

Theoretical deflection =0.5P
Where,
P= Value of horizontal load(N)

0N
0.5(0) =0

5N
0.5(5) =2.500mm

10N
0.5(10) =5.00mm

15N
0.5(15) =7.500mm

20N
0.5(20) =10.00mm
CALCULATION

For vertical load

Theoretical deflection =0.075P
Where,
P= Value of horizontal load (N)

0N
0.075(0) =0

5N
0.075(5) =0.375mm

10N
0.075(10) =0.750mm

15N
0.075(15) =1.125mm

20N
0.075(20) =1.500mm
CALCULATION

For horizontal + vertical load

Theoretical deflection = 0.05P+0.075P

Where,
P = Value of load (N)

0N
0.05(0) +0.075(0) =0

5N
0.05(5) +0.075(5) =2.875mm

10N
0.05(10) +0.075(10) =5.575mm

15N
0.05(15) +0.075(15) =8.625mm

20N
0.05(20) +0.075(20) =11.500mm
GRAPH

Horizontal Deflection vs Horizontal load

12
Horizontal Deflection (mm)

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Horizontal load (N)

Graph for table 1

Horizontal deflection vs vertical load

1.6
1.4
Horizontal deflection (mm)

1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Vertical load (N)

Graph for table 2

 Horizontal deflection vs horizontal + vertical load
14

12
Horozontal deflection (mm)

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Horizontal load + vertical load(N)

Graph for table 3

Horizonta deflection vs load

14

12
11.5
10
Deflection(mm)

8.63
8

6 5.75 5.75

4 4.31
2.88 2.88
2
1.44
00
0 5 10 15 Load (N) 25
20 30 35 40 45

Graph for table 4

Table 3: Loading 3

Horizontal loads + Horizontal deflection (mm) Theoretical deflection

Dial gauge div. Mm (div X 0.01)
vertical loads (N) = 0.075P + 0.5P (mm)
0 0.0 0.000 0.000
5+5 184.0 1.840 2.875
10+10 450.0 4.500 5.750
15+15 709.0 7.090 8.625
20+20 920.0 9.200 11.500

Table 4

Loading 1 Loading 2 Loading 1+2 Loading 3

Load Deflection Load Deflection Load Deflection Load Deflection
(N) (mm) (N) (mm) (N) (mm) (N) (mm)
0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000
5 2.500 5 0.375 5+5 1.436 5+5 2.875
10 5.000 10 0.750 10+10 2.875 10+10 5.750
15 7.500 15 1.125 15+15 4.313 15+15 8.625
20 10.000 20 1.500 20+20 5.750 20+20 11.500

1. Using the data from the Table 1, 2 and 3, plot the graph of the horizontal deflection
versus load and draw the best-fit curves through the plotted points.
2. From the graphs, calculate the average deflection for every deflection and fill in Table 4.
3. From the data in Table 4, plot the graph of the horizontal deflection versus load for
loading 3 and loading 1+2. Draw the best curve through the plotted points.

6.0 CONCLUSION
 1. Based on the 2 curves on the graph from Table 4, conclude the horizontal deflection
of frame based on the superposition method.

After the experiment is finished, based on the graph horizontal deflection (mm)
versus load(N), it is shown that the horizontal deflection (mm) is increase linearly as the
load. Same goes to vertical deflection (mm) versus load (N) graph, the vertical
displacement is also increase linearly as the load applied increase continuously.

2. State the possible factors that might have influenced your result and means
overcoming it.
The value in experimental force were differ with the theoretical value due to
parallax error and the equipment has not fully function correctly. It would be impractical,
uneconomical and unsafe for the structural engineer to evaluate a bridge design by
building a full-size prototype. It is also caused by the device which were not well
maintained. Furthermore, the error is possibly caused by environmental factor on the lab
since the device were sensitive to vibration and wind deflection.

7.0 REFERENCE
https://www.academia.edu/11340119/experiment_on_portal_frame
https://www.scribd.com/document/256542933/Lab-Report-Portal-Frame
https://www.tecquipment.com/bending-moments-in-a-portal-frame