Zhu, Xiaobo;
Ahmed, Aya;
Walport, Fiona;
Gardner, Leroy;
(2025)
Simulation and behaviour of single-span portal frames, Part II: Parametric analysis and practical implications.
Engineering Structures
, Article 121138. 10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121138.
(In press).
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Abstract
The finite element (FE) model developed and validated in the companion paper is employed herein to systematically study the influence of key parameters, including span, height and length, on the structural behaviour of single-span portal frames under serviceability levels of vertical, wind sway, wind uplift and thermal loading. The effects of stressed skin action, as influenced by these parameters, on the overall frame behaviour are also investigated. Additionally, a new parameter, the shear angle, is proposed to facilitate the identification of critical locations and trends for screw forces within the secondary steelwork and cladding system. The main findings are that (1) among the loading cases considered, wind sway loading is the most critical in terms of screw forces, with screw displacements exceeding 20 mm and 7 mm on the gable and roof cladding, respectively, in the largest models, while thermal loading is less detrimental, (2) the gable frame experiences up to four times higher reaction forces than expected, especially under wind sway loading, and this increases with increasing stiffness of the gable frame relative to the internal frames, (3) the side lap stitching screws are the critical (most heavily loaded) connectors and the proposed shear angle is able to effectively identify the critical areas and the trends in screw forces, and (4) introducing bracing reduces the shear forces resisted by the screws and cladding. Furthermore, practical suggestions for mitigating the risk of screw failure are discussed.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Simulation and behaviour of single-span portal frames, Part II: Parametric analysis and practical implications |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121138 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121138 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Big sheds, Cladding, Finite element analysis, Portal frames, Stressed skin effect |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Civil, Environ and Geomatic Eng |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10213461 |
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