Portals for bridges are often arranged in a manner as follows
4@b=4b
B D
P
h1
H I
h/2
Point of inflections
h
A C
Assumptions
1. Horizontal reactions are equal.
2. A point of inflection occurs midway between the base A of the leg AB and
the end H of the knee brace for leg AB. (Half of AH)
3. A point of inflection occurs midway between the base C of the leg CD and
the end I of the knee brace for leg CD.
4@b=4b 4@b=4b
B E F G D B E F G D
P P F
h1
h1 J K L h1 J K L
H I H I
h/2 h/2
Point of inflections
H H H H
VA VC VA VC
A C A C
1
6/
600lb/ft
24/
60/
6/
12/
Assume plane of contra-flexure
12/
60/
6/
12/
Assume plane of contra-flexure
5400lb 5400lb
1620lb 1620lb
lb
5400 5400lb
12/
60/
2
U0 U1 U9
6/
600lb/ft L1 L8
12/
Assume plane of contra-flexure
5400lb 5400lb
lb lb
1620 1620
5400lb
600lb/ft 12/
A
12600lb 5400lb
108000 lb-ft 64800lb-ft
1620lb
1620lb
1620lb
1620lb
5400lb 10800lb
5400lb 10800lb
6/
9/ lb
0 16200
64800lb-ft
24300lb-ft
12/
Assume plane of contra-flexure
12/
12600lb 5400lb
12600lb 108000lb-ft 64800lb-ft 5400lb
64800lb-ft
lb
1620
1620lb
Solve the above problem considering hinges at the bases of columns.
3
G H
6/
E F
ft
9
18ft
600lb/ft
C D 42/
12ft
24ft
A B
/
60
G H
6/
E F
18ft
600lb/ft
C D 42/
A B
/
60
4
G H
6/
E F
14ft
I J
lb/ft
600
42/
14ft
C D
14ft
A B
60/
5
Example 5 Determine the stresses in the members a, b, and c of the portal frame as shown in
figure below. Also draw SF and BM diagram of vertical members.
3@12/ = 36/
A U1 c U2 E
20k
b
10/
a F
B L1 L2 L3
12/
G
C
12/
D H
3@12/ = 36/
A 2 U1 c 1 U2 E
20k
b
10/
a F
L1 L2 L3
2 6/
O1H O2
O1 O2H
1
O2V
O1V
F x 20 O1H O2 H 20 2 * O1H 0; O1H 10 k O2 H
M O2 20 *16 O1V * 36 0; O1V 8.89 k
F y 8.89 O2V 0; O2V 8.89 k
6
Considering left side of section 1-1
A U1 c A
20k 20k 20.67k
b
10.37k
a
B B
L1 L2 16k
6/
O1H O1H
O1 O1
O1V O1V
M U1 10 *16 8..89 *12 Fa *10 0; Fa 5.33k T
F y FbV 8.89 0; FbV 10.34 k C
M L2 20 *10 10 * 6 8.89 *18 Fc *10 0; Fc 9.99 k C
Considering left of section 2-2
3@12/ = 36/
A U1 c U2 E
20k
b
10/
a F
B L1 L2 L3
12/
G
C
6/
O3H O4H O4
O3
O3V O4V
7
M O4 20 * 28 O3V * 36 0; O3V 15.56 k ; O4V 15.56 k
A
20k 20.67k
10.37k
B
16k
6/
O1H
O1
O1V
O1V =8.89k
O1H = 10k O5V =6.67k
60k-ft
60k-ft
C O5H = 0
O3H = 10k
O3
O3V =15.56k
O3V =15.56k
O3H = 10k
60k-ft O3H = 10k
O3V =15.56k
8
Prob. 6 Determine stresses in members a, b, c, and d. Also draw SF and BM diagram of columns
and girders.
B a
b
15/
c
4 lb/ft 10/
10/
10/
10@10/ = 100/
9
Prob. 7 Determine stresses in members a, b, c, and d. Also draw SF and BM diagram of columns
and girders.
B a
b
15/
4 lb/ft c
10/
10/
10/
A
4@10/ = 40/
Prob. 8 Determine stresses in members a, b, c, and d. Also draw SF and BM diagram of
columns and girders.
A a F
87.5k
b d
20/
15/ c
G
B 137.5k
5 lb/ft
20/
C H
100k
20/
D I
100k
20/
J
E
6@15/ = 90/
10
Prob. 9 Determine stresses in member a, b, c, and d. Draw SF and BM diagram for
members CE and AB.
5k
10/ a
d 10k
/
b
10 A
5k
10/ c F
B G
15/
H
C
20/
D I
15/
E J
/ /
4@15 = 60
Prob. 10 Determine stresses in member a, b, c, and d. Draw SF and BM diagram
for members CE and AB.
1k
2/
2k
2/
2k
2/
2k
2/
2k
6/
18/
36/
11
12
L
Ph
P
B.M. Diagram
Ph/L Ph/L
Approximate analysis of statically indeterminate structures
1. Approximate analysis due to vertical load
2. Portal Method
3. Cantilever Method
4. Factor Method
13
The Portal Method
Assumptions
1. There is a point of inflection at the center of each girder.
2. There is a point of inflection at the center of each column.
3. The total horizontal shear on each story is divided between the columns
of that story in a manner such that each interior column carries twice as
much shear as each exterior column.
C F I L
P1
B E H K
P2
A D G J
14
The approx. analysis of a statically determinate structure dose not depend on the
elastic properties of its members. For
Approximate analysis due to vertical load
15
Fig. b
Rigid Frame in which the girders are rigidly connected to the columns so that all
members can carry bending moment, shear force, and axial force.
DOI = (3M+R)-3j = (3*15+3*3)-3(12) = 18
M1 V1 M4 V4
F1 M1 F1 F4 M4 F4
V1 V4
V2 V5
M2 M5
F2 M2 F2 F5 M5 F5
V2 V5
V3 V6
M3 16 M6
F3 M3 F3 F6 M6 F6
Fully Clamped semi
w lb/ft Fig. b
A B
a b
A B k1L k2L
L L
If the girder subjected to UDL w lb/ft, both the joints A and B will rotate as shown
above.
A a b B A B
0.21L 0.21L
L L
Points of inflection are at points a and b.
Assumptions
i. The axial force in the girder zero.
ii. A point of inflection occurs at the one-tenth point measure along the
span from the left support.
iii. A point of inflection occurs at the one-tenth point measure along the
span from the right support.
w lb/ft
w lb/ft
17
w lb/ft
Ra Rb
MA MB
Ra Rb
SA SB
18
w lb/ft
A B
L
Determine points of inflection.
MFEM = wl2/12
19
P
A
L B
1.5/
A 1.5/ P/2
L B
1k
14/
x
a 0.8W 0.2W
A B
0.4W 0.1W
a L
RA RB 0.4W 14/ 0.1W
RA = x/L
20
6/
P/2
21
22
