Asymmetrically loaded portal frames

Abstract The nonlinear analysis of a symmetric portal frame, loaded asymmetrically by eccentric concentrated loads, is presented. The study primarily emphasizes certain important parametric studies. These include the effect of bar slenderness ratio and of load eccentricity (asymmetric) on the frame response characteristics. Moreover, the effect of support rotational restraint stiffness on the sway buckling load is also assessed. One of the important conclusions is that the effect of bar slenderness ratio on the nondimensionalized response is extremely small.