7.

MasterPort Lite: Elastic Plastic Analysis and Design of Multi Bay

Portal Frames
7.1

Getting Started with MasterPort

MasterPortLite is a state-of-the-art elastic-plastic, portal frame analysis and design

program, incorporating complete automated design facilities. It includes all the features
of MasterFrame and MasterKey Steel Section, as well as a large number of advanced
tools to increase the efficiency of portal frame analysis, design, drafting and detailing.
MasterPortLite can be used in the analysis and design of general frames including single
and multi-bay portal frames with mezzanine floors, canopies, cranes, ties, lean tos, and
any other arrangement as defined by the Engineer. MasterPortLite is linked with
MasterKey Sections, MasterKey Moment Connections, MasterCAD: Portal frames, and
MasterKey Concrete Pads to provide a fully integrated analysis, design, drafting and
detailing suite.
MasterPortLite has been extensively developed to include complete automatic design of
any given portal frame arrangement. The engineer is provided with the convenience of
being able to auto size all members either elastically or plastically; auto position purlins,
side rails and torsional stability restraints, all at the single click of a button.

MasterPortLite (herein referred to as MasterPort) is primarily a plane portal frame

modelling and design system. If you are a MasterPortPlus user this document is still
relevant since the two share common frame generation and design philosophies.
To access MasterPort select Portal Frames from the main MasterSeries menu.

7 MasterPort Elastic Plastic Analysis and Design of Portal Frames

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7.1.1 Additional Analysis Tools (MasterFrame)

Advanced portal frame pre-processor for generating single/multi-bay portal frames

with props, lean-tos, mezzanine floors, cranes loads, canopies, parapets, automatic
partial base fixity.

The optimum haunch depth is automatically calculated from the haunch length,
defined section size and frame geometry.

The position of the intermediate node in the column is automatically adjusted to

match the haunch depth. This facilitates the formation a plastic hinge in the column
at the bottom of the haunch.

Default generated loading cases include Dead + Live (Ultimate), Dead + Live
(Serviceability), Live Only, Cranes Loads and Sway Stability.

7.1.2 Automatic Design Tools

Automatic intelligent sizing of all members either elastically or plastically. Plastic

resizing attempts to locate plastic hinges in the outer columns at the bottom of the
haunch.

Auto-restrain all members, including optimum positioning of purlins and side rails, as
well as torsional stays for appendix G checks.

Facility to change partial base fixity at design time. Option to include 10% partial
fixity in ultimate loading cases, and 20% in serviceability cases.

7.1.3 Additional Design Tools (MasterKey Sections)

Member grouping to assist in defining global groups of section sizes and restraints.

An easy-to-use and more flexible method of defining purlin and side rail positions

Rafters are automatically checked from the face of the column

Appendix-G automatically detects the position of purlins and side rails, as defined in
the Axial with Moment check, and allows the Engineer to add torsional restraints with
great ease

Appendix-G automatically checks to the point of contra-flexure

The Axial with Moment and Appendix-G checks are interactively linked as purlin and
side rail positions are modified.

Sway Stability, Snap Through and Fire Boundary design checks.

Automatic checking of eaves and apex nodal displacements against SCI

recommended values

Graphical display of purlin and stay positions.

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7.2

Portal Frame Generation

7.2.1 Standard MasterFrame Interface

The Portal Frame generation template contains all the features of that previously
described for MasterFrame. The frame geometry, spacing, section sizes, dead and live
loading, and base fixity may be defined in the generation template. This interface is
selected by turning off the Simplified MasterPort Interface for Portal Frames button
circled below. The editing functions can then be found along the top toolbar. The
functionality of these menus is described in the Chapter 3: MasterFrame of the
MasterSeries manual.

3.3.2 Frame
Generation
Procedures
and Templates

7.2.2 Simplified MasterPort Interface for Portal Frames

This interface provides a readily accessible interface to automatically portal frame
features such as props, lean-tos, mezzanine floors and outside canopies. It also
automatically creates two basic load cases in order to perform quick analyses.
However, if further load cases are required they must be added using the MasterFrame
interface described above. The function of this simplified interface is described in
Chapter 7: MasterPort Plus, section 7.1 in the MasterSeries manual. Please note that
MasterPortLite does not include the 3D Portal Frame, Wind Loading and Snow Loading
feature described in section 7.1.10.

7.1 MasterPort Plus - Frame Generation using the Dynamic Interface

7 MasterPort Elastic Plastic Analysis and Design of Portal Frames

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7.2.3 MasterPort: Basic Data

The user is prompted on the General tab for additional Basic Data regarding haunch and
apex details. The various options are;
Optimise Eaves Haunch: MasterPort
calculates the dimensions of the eaves
haunch cut, assuming that the haunch
section size is the same as the rafter
section.
Deduct flange: The depth of the flange
is deducted from the depth of the eaves
haunch cut.
Hdperp = D T
Deduct flange and root fillet: The depth of
the flange and root fillet is deducted from the
depth of the eaves haunch cut.
Hdperp = D T-r
Optimise Apex Haunch: MasterPort
calculates the dimensions of the Apex haunch
cut, assuming that the haunch section size is
the same as the rafter section.

Additional web deduction: The haunch depth Hd is calculated with an additional

deduction from the web of the section.
Include 1.0 Live plus 1.0 Dead in Deflection Check: The serviceability deflection
check is carried out for the live plus dead loading (as case 02 below), in addition to the
Live load only (case 03 below).
These setting may be changed at any time by selecting MasterPort: Basic Data from the
Options or Members menu in edit mode.

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7.2.4 Portal Frame Loading

Load Groups
The dead and live loading defined in the portal frame generation template are applied as
horizontal UDLY D1 and L1 loading on the rafter members. All loading is also
automatically multiplied by the frame spacing. If no frame spacing is defined a value of
unity is assumed. Normal to member wind loading is also automatically applied to the
rafter members in load group W1, and has an initial magnitude of zero.
Load Combinations
Four load cases are automatically generated, and are;
Loadi Loading Case Title
Loading Combination
ng
Case
01
Dead plus Live (ULS)
1.4 D1 + 1.6 L1 + (1.0 UT)
02
Dead plus Live (SLS)
1.0 D1 + 1.0 L1 + (1.0 UT)
03
Live Load Only (SLS)
1.0 L1+ (1.0 UT)
04
(Sway Stability)
1.0 UT (Add Notional Load)
ULS: Ultimate Limit State SLS: Serviceability Limit State
For other editing facilities refer to,
3 MasterFrame

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7.3

Prerequisites

To enter MasterPort Design the portal frame must firstly be analysed using the Analyse
command on the MasterPort main menu. The Design menu then becomes active, and
to enter the portal frame design phase select Steel Design. Before describing the
functionality of the MasterPort design program some basic deign philosophy and plastic
behaviour is discussed.
7.3.1 Design Philosophy of Portal Frames
The design of portal frames has two distinct stages:
Stage 1: Selecting the main sections assuming adequate restraints.
Stage 2: Checking the adequacy of the restraints.
The design of portal frames are commonly based on the ultimate limit state for dead plus
live loading (1.40 dead + 1.60 live) and only check the adequacy of the resulting frame
for other loading combinations.
For three or more bays, the snap through must be checked separately.
Please note that to reduce deflection and increase the sway resistance of the frame the
following actions can be taken:
Use UBs rather than UCs as internal columns to increase the frame resistance to sway.
Use some partial fixity at the bases. This will result in some moment reactions but will
substantially reduce deflection.
Design the internal bases as fully fixed. Fixed internal columns usually absorb small
moments but the fixity will substantially reduce deflection.
Stage 1: Selecting The Main Sections.
When selecting the main steel sections the following points are relevant:
Wide flange sections are better suited for use in portal frames because of their higher
lateral stability thus requiring fewer lateral and/or torsional restraints.
In general the rafter section is made smaller than the column section by one, two or
even three serial sizes, (e.g. for a 533x210 UB as a column section the rafter section will
be 457x191 UB, 457x152 UB or 406x178 UB).
1. In selecting the sections, consideration should be given to the sway stability and the
deflection of the frame.
2. Plastic hinges should only be allowed to form at higher loads, usually not less than
85% of the ultimate load. This guarantees a good balance between the column and
rafter sizes and ensures that no plastic hinges are formed at service or close to
service loading.
3. Only one plastic hinge can form in any area limited by two points of contraflexure (a
pinned support is considered as such a point). This means that plastic hinges can not
occur simultaneously under the haunch (in the column) and at the end of the haunch
(in the rafter).

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Stage 2: Checking the adequacy of the restraints.

These checks include:
a) Check purlins and side rails spacing using the Axial with Moments check between
adjacent purlins/side rails.
b) Check the elastic and/or plastic stability between points of torsional restraints using
Appendix-G check.

7.3.2 Understanding Plastic Behaviour

To understand the plastic behaviour of portal frames, consider the following scenarios:
A. The First Plastic Hinge Forms under the Haunch
As the first plastic hinge forms under the haunch, the values of the bending moments in
the column and at the eaves in the rafter become fixed and any further increase in load
will result in a drop of the bending moment diagram in the rafter with the following
results:
1.
2.
3.
4.

The moment at eaves remains fixed.

The point of contra flexure moves closer to the eaves.
The values of the negative moments decrease over the haunch area.
The values of the positive moments increase near the ridge.

The collapse mechanism is reached when further plastic hinges form near the ridge (in
this scenario, plastic hinges cannot form at the end of the haunches since the value of
the applied moment there is getting smaller with increasing load).
7 MasterPort Elastic Plastic Analysis and Design of Portal Frames

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If a collapse mechanism is not reached, then it is important to note that increasing the
design loads will result in reducing the negative moments over the haunch and
increasing the positive moments near the ridge.
B. The First Plastic Hinge Forms at the End of the Haunch
As the first plastic hinge forms at the end of the haunch, the value of the bending
moment at this point remains constant. Any further increase in load will result in a rise in
the bending moment diagram over the haunch and a drop of the bending moment
diagram in the rafter with the following results:
1. The moment at the end of the haunch remains fixed.
2. The point of contraflexure moves closer to the end of the haunch.
3. The values of the negative moments increase over the haunch area.
4. The values of the positive moments increase near the ridge.
5. The values of the column moments increase in line with the eaves moment.

As the values of the column moments and the values of the positive moments near the
ridge are increasing simultaneously there are two possibilities:
a) The maximum positive moment near the ridge reaches a plastic value and a collapse
mechanism is formed; and
b) The moment under the haunch reaches a plastic value thus forming a new plastic
hinge under the haunch. As the load is increased beyond this point, the bending
moment diagram along the whole length of the rafter starts to drop and the first plastic
hinge that was formed at the end of the haunch disappears (this is known as a plastic

7 MasterPort Elastic Plastic Analysis and Design of Portal Frames

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hinge reversal). A collapse mechanism will only be reached when further plastic
hinges form near the ridge as in the first scenario.
Once more, if a collapse mechanism is not reached, then it is important to note that
increasing the design loads will result in reducing the negative moments over the
haunch and increasing the positive moments near the ridge.
Dummy Supports
In many instances and especially in symmetrical single bay portal frames, two plastic
hinges form simultaneously, one on either side of the frame. In order to permit a
successful analysis of the frame, it is essential that a dummy horizontal support is
introduced at the apex.
The dummy support should only be active in loading cases with full symmetry. To
achieve this, a notional load group such as N1 is used with the support. N1 is then
activated selectively in the appropriate loading cases.
! Important Note: In MasterPort this support is added automatically to the appropriate
loading cases. When designing a portal frame in MasterFrame the support must be
added.
To add a dummy support:
1. Select Static Supports (Rs) from the Nodal menu
2. Press the Add button to add new support condition
3. Press the Reset button to deselect any nodes that might be present in the Apply to
Nodes box
4. Select the Apex point
5. Set the support to dX only
6. Set the load group to N1
7. Select Load Group Titles from the Cases menu
8. Define a title for N1 load group as Dummy Support
9. Select the Combination tab and add the N1 group to the load combination in the
relevant loading cases (using a load factor of 1.0)

3.9 Support Conditions

7 MasterPort Elastic Plastic Analysis and Design of Portal Frames

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7.4

Portal Frame Design Interface

The MasterPort design program contains all the features of MasterKey: Steel Sections,
with extensive additional features to improve the efficiency of Portal Frame design. Only
the additional features are discussed in this section. A review of the MasterKey: Steel
Sections user manual may be beneficial at this stage before continuing.
4. MasterKey Steel Sections Design

The MasterPort custom design features are discussed herein.

7.4.1 MasterPort Tool Bar
Move to Previous/Next design brief - member design group.
Edit member design groups. Add and remove members from
design groups.
Move to Auto Size Member brief and display the Automatic
Design options. If an Auto Size brief is not present one is
added.
Display sway stability, snap through, fire boundary, and nodal
displacement design checks.
Side Rails and Torsional Restraints (Detailed Checks). Carries
out detailed checks on the lateral torsional buckling and
provides access to edit the lateral and torsional restraints of the
selected member.
Displays the member load and forces at the top of the
calculation window
Move to Auto Check design brief and display the Auto Check
design data.
Scan current view for failures
Step through failures detected by the scan for failures function
Display members maximum unity ratio (after scan for failures)
Display maximum unity ratio on the critical member in each
section size per design group (after scan for failures)
Display failing members maximum unity ratio
Scroll down menu to alter the steel design code used
Export the current design brief to Printer/PowerPad
Export design output to Printer/PowerPad. Select design output
from all member portions to send to export.

7 MasterPort Elastic Plastic Analysis and Design of Portal Frames

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7.4.2 The Main Menus

Edit View menu
Additional facilities are provided in the Edit-View
menu for navigating and viewing design check
information. A number of the options have the same
function as those described in the MasterPort tool
bar.
The Change Section and Change Haunch menu
items display the relevant tabs to alter the section
size and haunch information.
The Edit Frame menu item moves to the MasterPort
Editor.

7.4.3 Design Briefs and Member Design Groups

Design groups are created to facilitate in the application of a single design check to
multiple members. A member can only exist in one group, since the Axial with Moments
and Appendix-G Stability design check may only applied once to a member. The
member design groups enable design checks, input data and section changes to be
globally applied to all members in the group.
Automatic Design Briefs
Upon initially entering MasterPort design with a generated frame the following integrated
design briefs are automatically applied, creating default member design groups;
1. AutoCheck applied to all members.
2. AutoSize Member
3. Axial with Moments applied to Group1 (External Columns).
4. Appendix G Stability Check applied to Group1 (External Columns).
5. Axial with Moments applied to Group2 (Rafter members).
6. Appendix G Stability Check applied to Group2 (Rafter members).
7. Axial with Moments applied to Group3 (Internal Columns).
Group 1: External Columns
Group 2: Rafter members Group 3: Internal Columns

The members attached to each design brief, i.e. the member design groupings are only
suitable for standard single or multi-bay portals of the type produced by the portal frame
generation template. In frames where additional members or nodes have been added
7 MasterPort Elastic Plastic Analysis and Design of Portal Frames

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after the automatic generation stage, the initial member groups should be cleared and
redefined by the user.

! Important Note:

The members to which a design check applies (hence the member

group) are stored internally along with the Axial with Moments check. In essence a
member group is attached to a design brief. If the Axial with Moments check is deleted
then so too is the attached member group. A member group cannot exist or be created
without an Axial with Moments check being applied to at least one member in the group.
Working with existing member design groups
As previously stated, for non-standard portal frames it may be necessary to redefine all
or some of the member groupings. To view member groups select the
icon or go to
the lateral restraint tab in an axial with moments check. To move bewteen member
design groups use the next and previous arrows on the MasterPort tool bar. The
members belonging to the currently active design group are highlighted in red.
A member design group can be;

Cleared: The design check will have no member attached to it. The design check
itself still exits, and a member may be reattached to it, hence redefining a member
design group.

Deleted: The design check associated with the member design droup is deleted, and
the group on longer exists. The members in the design group will have no design
check applied to them untill they are reassigned to another group.

Edited: A member can be moved from one group to another but cannot co-exist in
more than one group.

To clear a member group;

1. Select Edit Member Groups icon
2. Use the
3. Select
groups.

from the MasterPort tool bar.

controls to navigate the member design groups.

to clear the current group or the

icon to clear all member design

7 MasterPort Elastic Plastic Analysis and Design of Portal Frames

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The design briefs and associated member groups are still present, but are not applied to
any members since the groups are empty.
To redefine a cleared member group:
1. Select Edit Member Groups icon

from the MasterPort tool bar.

2. Ensure that the cleared (empty) group is active, by using the

controls.

button depressed, click on the members in the

3. With the Apply Current Brief
frame graphics area to add to the group.
4. Upon clicking on a member to add to a group a prompt appears. To avoid this,
check the Do not prompt. option found below the member list box.
By adding members to a group we are effectively applying the attached design checks
to those members. If a member is added that is present in another group then the
member is simply moved to the current group.
To delete an existing member design group:
1. Select Edit Member Groups icon

from the MasterPort tool bar.

2. Ensure that the group to delete is active by using the

controls.

3. Click the
(3) button to delete the current group, i.e. removing the associated
design checks.
Applying additional design checks
Axial with Moments only
from the MasterPort tool bar.
1. Select Edit Member Groups icon
2. Select the (2) button to apply an Axial with Moments design check with lateral
restraint spacing set to zero. The design check is immediately added to the design
brief list and new member design group is added. The member group is empty since
as yet we have assigned any members to it. This check is useful for internal
columns that do not have side rails.
3. The mode has automatically changed to Apply current brief
. To add members to
the new design group simply individually click on the members in the frame graphics
area.
Axial with Moments and Appendix-G Stability checks
1. Select Edit Member Groups icon

from the MasterPort tool bar.

2. Select the
(1) button to apply an Axial with Moments design check (with a default
lateral restraint spacing of 1.8 m), together with an Appendix-G Stability check. The
design checks are added to the design brief listing. This pair of design checks is
generally more suitable for rafters and exterior columns.

7 MasterPort Elastic Plastic Analysis and Design of Portal Frames

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3. The mode has automatically changed to Apply current brief

. To add members to
the new design group simply individually click on the members in the frame graphics
area.
Deleting or Applying an Appendix-G in an existing design group
1. Select Edit Member Groups icon

from the MasterPort tool bar.

2. Select the group to add/delete Appendix-G using the

controls.

3. Buttons
(4) and
(5) essentially toggle between applying and removing an
Appendix-G check from and existing design group.
4. The Engineer should note that for Appendix-G Stability restraints to become active,
lateral restraint positions must firstly defined. This most easily achieved by
specifying an equal spacing value in the Design Group/Restraints or Lateral
Restraints tab.
The Appendix-G Stability check obtains its member grouping and purlin spacing
information from the previous design check in the design brief listing. Therefore the
Axial with Moments and Appendix-G Stability checks appear consecutively in the design
brief listing.
The design briefs position in the list
may be changed using the sort briefs
control to move the current brief up or
down the listing. Where Axial with
Moments and Appendix-G are applied
together the briefs are moved in
conjunction to maintain correct
correspondence between the two.
Design briefs can also be added by selecting them from the Integrated Design menu, as
described in MasterKey Steel, section 4.2.2 Design Briefs. The Engineer must take care
to position the Axial with Moment and Appendix-G check consecutively in the design
brief listing, by either applying the checks in the correct order or by using the sort briefs
control to correctly arrange the briefs. To avoid such complexities it is recommended to
always apply/remove Axial with Moment and Appendix-G design checks using the
controls provided in the Design Groups/Restraints tab.
By the use of member design groups the number of design briefs and required input
data are greatly reduced, as one design brief applies to all members in a group.
7.4.4 Manual resizing of members
The resizing of members will be largely controlled by the desired plastic hinge
mechanism.
To induce the formation of a plastic hinge it is recommended to resize the member so
that the local moment capacity unity ratio is approximately 1.2 at the location of the
plastic hinge.
7 MasterPort Elastic Plastic Analysis and Design of Portal Frames

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When resizing other members it is important to remember that any plastic hinges formed
may redistribute additional moment to that member. Caution must therefore be taken
not to over utilise the section based on the moments before elastic-plastic analysis is
carried out.
When the changes are complete conduct a plastic analysis using the
button.
After analysis review all design briefs in order to determine if the design can be further
refined by another phase of resizing, re-analysing and checking.

7.4.5 Lateral Restraints Purlins and Side Rails

To view the lateral restraint
tab activate an Axial with
Moments or Appendix-G
design brief. The lateral
restraints are defined in a
slightly different and
perhaps more convenient
manner than MasterKey
Steel. As with all input data
the specified restraints
apply to all members in the
currently active member
design group. The
locations of the lateral
restraints are drawn in the
frame graphics area. The
adjacent diagram best
7 MasterPort Elastic Plastic Analysis and Design of Portal Frames

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describes the definition of

lateral restraints.

7.4.6 Torsional Stability Stays

MasterPort contains some additional functions
for the positioning of torsional stability stays in
the Appendix G design check. When an
Appendix G brief is active the torsional
restraints tab becomes visible. The positions of
torsional stability stays may only be located
coincident with a lateral restraint. The restraint
numbers are shown in the member diagram.
Stays can be added by inputting restraint
numbers in the grillage as shown opposite.
Alternatively stays may be added graphically in
the member diagram area. With the MasterPort
Stay@ button depressed, clicking on the
member near a restraint position will apply a
stay indicated by a black dot. To remove the
stay, simply click again on the black dot.

7.4.7 Sway Stability, Snap Through and Fire Boundary Design Checks
The sway stability, snap through and fire boundary design checks are displayed using
the
button in the MasterPort tool bar. Up to 5 instances of each design check may
be applied.

To apply a Sway Stability, Snap Through or Fire Boundary design check;

Select the design brief number from 1 to 5
Assign a brief title
The first three input parameters are similar in all three design checks, i.e. Column,
Rafter 1 and Rafter 2. Click on the 1. Column cell in the input grid. The cursor will be
placed in the column input cell.
From the frame geometry area select the column. The member number will be placed in
the input cell, and the cursor will move to the next row, i.e. Rafter 1 input cell.
7 MasterPort Elastic Plastic Analysis and Design of Portal Frames

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Select the first rafter member, then the second.

Complete the remaining input data,
Sway Stability: Number of portal bays
Fire Boundary: Wall and Roof Loading
Snap through: None
The design output is displayed is the adjacent grid as opposed to above the editing area
as in other design checks.
Printing and Exporting of these three checks is carried out from within the general
checks tabs, and not in the main print manager.
Print/Export the current design brief, i.e. only the active number of the
active design check
Print/Export all brief numbers (which contain data) for all three design
checks.

7.4.8 Nodal Displacements

In MasterPort the nodal displacements check is located along with the three general
checks as outlined above. Displacement checks are automatically generated for Sway
Stability and Horizontal Eaves displacement on the eaves nodes, as well as vertical
displacements on the Apex nodes, as show below.

As with the general checks printing and exporting is contorled from the nodal
displacements tab and not the general print manager.
Print/Export the nodal displacement checks as they appear in the
grillage.

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7.5
The Automatic Design Procedure
An Auto Size design brief must exist before automatic design procedures become
available. To active the Automatic design controls either select the Auto Size member
design brief from the list, or click on the auto design icon
from the MasterPort tool
bar.

7.5.1 Design briefs and member design groups

Before commencing with automatic design it is essential that the design briefs and
associated member design groups are satisfactory. The defaults design briefs and
member groups are suitable for standard portal such as those entirely created from the
portal frame generation template. Where the portal frame is more complex the Engineer
must amend the groups and/or briefs as described above.

7.5.2 Auto Sizing of Members

Members are Auto Sized according to their design group. Auto size checks all members
in a group and searches for either;
1. The lightest and then stiffest section in the same weight, or
2. The Shallowest (smallest depth).
Members can be auto sized either elastically or plastically.
In the elastic approach members are auto sized to remain within their local moment
capacity, preventing the formation of any plastic hinges.
The plastic sizing approach attempts to create up to 40% over stressing at the below
haunch node in the exterior columns to facilitate in the formation of plastic hinges.
The auto size selection is also dependent on the specified lateral restraint.

If an equal spacing has been specified the sections are sized to satisfy local moment
capacity checks only. By defining an equal the spacing MasterPort assumes the
Engineer intends to adequately laterally restrain the member group in the next
design step
If the value of equal spacing is set to zero the sections are sized to satisfy all Axial
with moments design checks, since it is assumed that intermediate lateral restraints
will not be provided.
A common section size is determined for all members in a group.

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7.5.3 Auto Restraining of Members

Auto Restrain takes the specified equal spacing and tests for failures in each portion. In
portions where the restraints are inadequate their spacing is modified and stored. All
members in a group are checked, with a single arrangement of restraints being applied
to the group.
If an Appendix-G stability check has been applied to the active group auto restrain
continues to determine the optimum location of torsional stability stays.
Note: If an equal spacing value has not been defined the Auto Restrain function is
disabled.
7.5.4 Partial Fixity of Supports
The partial fixity of support condition may be altered during
design time.
Pinned:
Fixed:
10/20:

As is:

Make supports of the currently active restraint group

pinned/fixed, superseding support condition
defined during the frame generation.
To use this option you must have some partial fixity conditions applied
from the frame generation stage. The 10/20 option will change any
existing partial fixity values to use 10% partial fixity in ultimate loading
cases, and 20% partial fixity in serviceability loading cases. Employing
20% partial fixity in the serviceability cases can greatly reduce horizontal
displacements.
Use the partial fixity as defined during the frame generation stage. The As
is % partial fixity can be modified using the As is % text box. If no partial
fixity was applied during frame generation, selecting As is and defining a
% will apply partial fixity to the column bases in the currently selected
member design group.
The Base Partial Fixity option allows you to deactivate i.e. ignore all
partial fixity percentages in the currently selected member design group,
therefore using fully fixed bases where the 10/20 or As is options have
been chosen.

7.5.5 Step by Step Auto Design

The step by step auto design approach provides the user with more control over
decisions the program has made. After each step the user may decide to alter
information before proceeding to the next one.
Auto sizing members;
1.
Performs a pure elastic analysis based on the current section sizes,
removing any plastic hinges previously formed.
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2.
Auto sizes all members in the current group. The current group members
are highlighted in red in frame graphics area, and listed in the adjacent text
box. At this stage the Engineer may wish to preview the suitability of
selected sections before continuing.
3.

4.

After sizing a group the new section sizes must be stored before continuing
to the next group.
Select the next member group by clicking on any of the associated
members in the frame graphics area. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for all member
groups.

5.
Once all groups have been sized perform a plastic analysis. This detects
the formation of plastic hinges, and calculates plastic moment redistribution.
This is recommended even while sizing elastically to confirm that the frame
is elastic as intended. See section 5.5 for a description of the plastic
analysis procedure.
! Important Note: The automatically selected section sizes are dependent on the
bending moments, which are influenced by the stiffness of the original section sizes.
Where the difference in stiffness of the altered and original section sizes is considerable,
the altered section sizes may not be the most suitable for continuing with a plastic
analysis. This situation is mitigated by conducting steps 1 to 4 twice before performing
plastic analysis.
Auto restraining members;
1.

Activate an Axial with Moments or Appendix-G design brief. The member

design group associated with the brief will be activated.

2.

3.

The Auto Restrain Current Group function is available in either the Lateral
or Torsional Restraints tab. In the lateral restraints tab the control will
perform both lateral and torsional stability auto restraint, where as in the
torsional restraints tab the same control carries out only torsional stability
auto restraint.
After auto restraining the Engineer has the option to rationalise the lateral
restraint and stay arrangements for the current group. An alternative initial
value of equal spacing may yield a more economical design.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 for additional member design groups.

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7.5.6 Full Auto Design

Both the auto sizing and auto restraint procedures outlined in the step by step approach
can be conducted automatically using two simple commands.
1.
Auto size all member design groups as described above.
2.

Auto restraint all member design groups as described

above.

The fully automatic design functions provide a powerful tool for the complete design of a
portal frame by a few clicks of the mouse button.
To minimise the effects of large stiffness ratios between original and altered section
sizes, two cycles of auto size are automatically conducted (See above Important Note).
The Engineer has less control over the full auto design process, however in most
situations of standard portals a realistic and economical design will be produced.

7.6
Plastic Analysis
During MasterPort plastic analysis, plastic hinges are allowed to form at the member
nodes. Where a plastic hinge forms the moment is limited to the plastic moment
capacity of the section.
The analysis procedure is as follows;
The portal frame is analysed as normal, calculating the member forces and
displacements.
The major axis moments are compared to the plastic moment capacities of the
sections.
If any of the moments exceed the plastic moment capacity the portal frame is
reanalysed with the residual moments redistributed back into the frame.
When analysis is complete the user is notified of either;
The formation of any plastic
hinges and the loading case in
which they occurred.

or, no plastic hinges are formed,

i.e the frame is fully elastic.

To view the positions of plastic hinges select the Plastic Hinges from the Option menu,
as described in section 4.5.

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