Existing Portal Frame

[IAN~JAMES]

Hi,

Firstly I'm not a structural Engineer or modeller, I'm an Architectrual Model manager... I'm trying to model an existing building that is a realtively simple portal frame, but not a modern portal frame.

I've watched a number of online tutorials, but they all just seem to deal with modern traditional diagonal sloping haunches.

Im not sure if the shape at the top of the columns with all of the web plates is classed as part of the column or maybe part of the beam...?

Can anyone suggest the best way to approach this...?

This is just to provide context and doesn't need to be capable of being structurally analyzed...

I could just model this as a simple family using dumb 3D geometry, but why pass up the opportunity to learn something new...

The left images is the central column headand the left smaller image is the outer column

The sketch below is just linework and shows the approximate profile of the main portal

Thanks in advance

[Karol_Piroska · Accepted solution]

Well I'd say you can model this as an extrusion or model the haunch on elevation by firstly creating curved model line and then adding standard beam (if you have suitable size) on the curve. Then cut or apply coping to beam/column.

[IAN~JAMES]

Many Thanks,

I used this approach an basically modelled two custom columns with column heads that look like the existing portal frame and then created a beam to span between them.

I think because of the age of the building the steelwork doesn't seem to conform to any current standard sizes, so I ended up just making custom sections for both columns and beams so that all of the flanges were of the same dimension so that they all ran together, which clearly wouldn't have happened with current sections, The centre post is 360mm x 130mm and the outer posts 330 x 130mm

Here's a screen shot of part of one of the frames showing the 3 elements

more images here if anyone is interested

https://www.facebook.com/groups/237337546633136/

[Karol_Piroska]

well done, good job 😉