REINFORCED CONCRETE PORTAL FRAME

Pre-cast reinforced concrete portal frames was supplied for the economic
benefit of repetitive casting in standard moulds and close control of mixing,
placing and compaction of concrete that is possible in factory conditions.

For convenience in casting, transport and erection on site, pre-cast

concrete portal frames are generally cast in two or more sections which are
bolted together on site either at the point of contraflexure in rafters or at the
junction of post and rafter, or both.

The point of contraflexure is that position along the rafters where

negative or upward bending changes to positive or downward bending. At this
point the member is presumed to be suffering no bending stresses so that
structurally this is the soundest point to make a connection.

Concrete portal frames are usually spaced at from 4.5 to 6.0 apart to
support pre-cast reinforced concrete purlins and sheeting rails, cast in lengths
to span between frames and hooked or bolted to the rafters and posts. As an
alternative cold-formed steel Zed purlins and sheeting rails may be used for the
fixing of profiled steel sheeting
 The bases of concrete portal frames are placed in mortices cast in
concrete pad or strip foundations and grouted in position.

Figure below is an illustration of the details ot a two-bay symmetrical pitch

concrete portal frame. It will be seen that the rafter, which is cast as one unit, is
bolted to the posts at the point of contraflexure. A single post supports the
rafter of the frames below the valley in the roof and these posts are shaped to
receive a pre-cast reinforced concrete valley gutter, bolted to the rafters, which
is laid without fall to rainwater pipes and lined with felt.
 The spacing of the internal columns below valleys may be increased by
the use of a pre-cast concrete valley beam to support every other internal roof
frame. The bulky valley beam will obstruct clear head room and add
considerably to the cost of the structure. The disadvantage of this multibay
form of concrete portal frame is the number of comparatively bulky internal
columns obstructing a free working area.

The pre-cast reinforced concrete purlins are usually of angle section

with stiffening ribs and cast in lengths to span between portal frames. The
purlins are fixed by loops protruding from their ends which fit over and are
bolted to studs cast in the rafters, with the joint being completed with in-situ-
cast cement and sand mortar.

Corrugated fibre cement sheeting is hook bolted to the concrete purlins

over an insulating lining laid over the purlins. As an alternative, profiled steel
sheeting with an insulating lining may be fixed to Zed purlins bolted to the
portal frames. Walls may be of solid bricks or concrete blocks fixed between or
across the posts of the portal frames, or fibre cement or profiled steel sheeting
may be used.
 North Light pre-cast reinforced concrete portal frames
construction
The most economical span for this profile of frame is up to about 9.0 to
minimize the volume of roof space inside the frames and to avoid the large
sections of frame that would be necessary with greater spans.
The south-facing slope is pitched at 22 0 and the north facing slope at 60 0
to the horizontal.

It is seen that for convenience in casting and transport the rafter is cast in
two sections which are bolted together at the point of contraflexure and in turn
bolted to the posts. A pre-cast reinforced concrete valley gutter may be bolted
to the frames.
 USES

This is the most structurally efficient and most commonly used type of
concrete portal frame.It has been used for factories, warehouses, barns, sheds
and single-storey places of assembly. The slope of the rafters and spacing of
purlins and sheeting rails is usually arranged to suit fibre cement or profiled
steel sheeting.
 ADVANTAGES

The advantage of these building frames was that they could rapidly be
transported, erected and finished at an economic cost.

The advantages of reinforced concrete portal frames are that they require
no maintenance during the useful life of the building and the frame has a
somewhat better resistance to collapse during fires than an unprotected steel
frame. The principal disadvantage of these frames is that as they have to be
formed in standard size moulds, for the sake of economy, there is only a
limited range of sizes.

Due to the non-ductile nature of the principal material of these frames,

i.e. concrete, the advantage of economy of section area gained by the use of
the plastic method of design in the design of steel frames is considerably less
with reinforced concrete.

DISADVANTAGES

The (disadvantage) comparatively small spans that are practicable and

the bulky somewhat unattractive appearance of the members of the frame have
led to the loss of favour of this building system which is much less in use than
it once was.

Because of the necessary section area of concrete and the cover of

concrete to the steel reinforcement to inhibit rust and give protection to the
steel reinforcement against damage during fires, the sections of the frames are
large compared to steel frames of similar span. Damage to the frames and
shrinkage cracks may rapidly cause rusting of the reinforcement particularly in
wet and humid conditions.