ECE 5104 2021/22 Structural Design III

2 Analysis of Frames
In situ reinforced concrete structures behave as rigid frames, and should be analysed as
such. They can be analysed as a complete space frame or be divided into a series of plane
frames
The general procedure for a building is to analyse the slabs as continuous members
supported by the beams or structural walls. The slabs can be either one-way spanning or
two-way spanning. The columns and main beams are considered as a series of rigid plane
frames which can be divided into two types:
(1) braced frames supporting vertical loads only,
(2) frames supporting vertical and lateral loads
Type 1 frames are in buildings where none of the lateral loads such as wind are
transmitted to the columns and beams but are resisted by much stiffer elements such as
shear walls, lift shafts or stairwells. Type 2 frames are designed to resist the lateral loads,
which cause bending, shearing and axial loads in the beams and columns. For both types
of frames the axial forces in the columns can generally be calculated as if the beams and
slabs were simply supported.
2.1 Braced frames supporting vertical loads only
A building frame can be analysed as a complete frame, or it can be simplified into a series
of substitute frames for the vertical loading analysis. The choice of substitute frame is
dependent on the desired

Figure 2-1: Building frame and substitute frames

17
ECE 5104 2021/22 Structural Design III

The substitute frame 1 in Figure 2-1 consists of one complete floor beam with its
connecting columns (which are assumed rigidly fixed at their remote ends). An analysis
of this frame will give the bending moments and shearing forces in the beams and
columns for the floor level considered
Substitute frame 2 is a single span combined with its connecting columns and two
adjacent spans, all fixed at their remote ends. This frame may be used to determine the
bending moments and shearing forces in the central beam. The bending moments in the
columns can also be found with this frame, provided that the central span is greater than
the two adjacent spans.
Substitute frame 3 can be used to find the moments in the columns only. It consists of a
single junction, with the remote ends of the members fixed. This type of sub-frame would
be used when beams have been analysed as continuous over simple supports.
In frames 2 and 3, the assumption of fixed ends to the outer beams over-estimates their
stiffnesses. These values are, therefore, halved to allow for the flexibility resulting from
continuity.
When considering the critical loading arrangements for a column, it is sometimes
necessary to include the case of maximum moment and minimum possible axial load, in
order to investigate the possibility of tension failure caused by the bending
Example
Analyse the substitute frame for a complete frame shown;-

The characteristic actions carried by the beams are permanent actions (including self-
weight) = 25 / , and variable action, = 10 / uniformly distributed along
the beam.

18
ECE 5104 2021/22 Structural Design III

Solution
The analysis of the sub frame will be carried out by moment distribution: thus the
member stiffnesses and their relevant distribution factors are first required
Stiffnesses,
Beam
× 0.3 × 0.6
= = = 5.4 × 10
12 12
Spans AB and CD
5.4 × 10
= = = = 0.9 × 10
6
Span BC
5.4 × 10
= = = 1.35 × 10
4
Columns
× 0.3 × 0.35
= = = 1.07 × 10
12 12
Upper columns
1.07 × 10
! = = = 0.31 × 10
3.5
Lower columns
1.07 × 10
" = = = 0.27 × 10
4
! + " = (0.31 + 0.27)10 = 0.58 × 10

Distribution Factors, '(

Joints A and D

) = + ! + " = (0.9 + 0.58)10 = 1.48 × 10

19
ECE 5104 2021/22 Structural Design III

0.9
*+ = *+ = = = 0.61
∑ 1.48

! + " 0.58
*+-./0 = = = 0.39
∑ 1.48
Joints B and C

) = + + ! + " = (0.9 + 1.35 + 0.58)10 = 2.83 × 10

0.9
*+ = *+ = = = 0.32
∑ 2.83
1.35
*+ = *+ = = = 0.48
∑ 2.83

! + " 0.58
*+-./0 = = = 0.2
∑ 2.83
The critical loading pattern for the sub frame is as shown below;-

The ultimate loads, therefore;-

12 = 1.35 + 1.5 = 1.35 × 25 + 1.5 × 10 = 48.75 /
12 = 1.35 = 1.35 × 25 = 33.75 /
Fixed end moments, FEM
Spans AB and CD
12 5 48.75 × 65
+34 = = = 146.25 −
12 12
Span BC
15 5 33.75 × 45
+34 = = = 45 −
12 12

20
ECE 5104 2021/22 Structural Design III

The moment distribution of the frame is as follows (clockwise moments are positive);-
Joint A Joint B Joint C Joint D
Cols. AB BA Col BC CB Col CD DC Col
DF 0.39 0.61 0.32 0.2 0.48 0.48 0.2 0.32 0.61 0.39
FEM +146.3 -146.3 +45 -45 +146.3 -146.3
Bal -57.1 -89.2 +32.4 +20.3 +48.6 -48.6 -20.3 -32.4 +89.2 +57.1
C.O +16.2 -44.6 -24.3 +24.3 +24.3 -16.2
Bal -6.3 -9.9 +22.0 +13.8 +33.1 -33.1 -13.8 -22.0 +9.9 +6.3
C.O +11.0 -5.0 -16.5 +16.5 +5.0 -11.0
Bal -4.3 -6.7 +6.9 +4.3 +10.3 -10.3 -4.3 -6.9 +6.7 +4.3
C.O +3.5 -3.4 -5.2 +5.2 +3.4 -3.5
Bal -1.4 -2.1 +2.8 +1.7 +4.1 -4.1 -1.7 -2.8 +2.1 +1.4
)7 -69.1 +69.1 -135.2 +40.1 +95.1 -95.1 -40.1 +135.2 -69.1 +69.1

The shear forces and bending moments are then calculated = 5 135.25
4 = +4 = − 69.1 = 118.4 .
for the spans, taking clockwise moments to be positive 212 2 × 48.75
For span AB The maximum moment occurs at a distance x from end A
1> 4 −4 = 135.2
8ℎ:;< = = − @= = = 2.77
2 > 1 48.75
48.75 × 6 −69.1 + 135.2
= = − = 135.2 Analysing a concrete beam as part of a frame has some
2 6 advantages over analysing it as a continuous member;-
= = ?; − = = 48.75 × 6 − 135.2 = 157.3  The analysis of the sub frame is more precise
The maximum moment  The magnitudes of the shear forces and moments
are smaller

21
ECE 5104 2021/22 Structural Design III

Similarly for the other loading arrangements;-

The bending moment and shear force diagrams for the various load arrangements;-

22
ECE 5104 2021/22 Structural Design III

Taking the maximum values for all the load arrangements, the bending moment and shear
force envelopes are;-

The first loading arrangement gives the maximum column moments;-

0.31
4 A = 69.1 × = 36.9 −
0.58
0.27
4 B = 69.1 × = 32.2 −
0.58
0.31
4 C = 40.1 × = 21.4 −
0.58
0.27
4 D = 40.1 × = 18.7 −
0.58
The column moment diagram is therefore, given by;-

23
ECE 5104 2021/22 Structural Design III

Exercise
Using the 2nd and 3rd substitute frames given in Figure 2-1, determine the column
moments. The characteristic actions carried by the beams are permanent actions
(including self-weight) = 25 / , and variable action, = 10 / uniformly
distributed along the beam

24