How to Analyse a Simple Portal Frame in STAAD.Pro: Step by Step ?

 A portal frame is a good first model in STAAD.Pro. It is small, but it covers the whole workflow: geometry, properties, supports, loads, analysis, and results. In this tutorial we will model a single-bay portal frame.

Example data (for practice only):

• Span: 6 m
• Column height: 4 m
• Sections: ISMB 300 for columns and beam
• Supports: Fixed at the base
• Loads: Self-weight, a 20 kN/m UDL on the beam, and a 15 kN horizontal load at the beam level

Step 1: Start a new project

Open STAAD.Pro and create a new project. Choose Space for a 3D model (or Plane for a 2D frame). Set the length unit to Meter and the force unit to Kilo Newton, then give the file a name.

Step 2: Create the geometry

Go to the Geometry page and add the nodes by coordinates:

• Node 1: (0, 0, 0)
• Node 2: (0, 4, 0)
• Node 3: (6, 4, 0)
• Node 4: (6, 0, 0)

Then add members: 1–2 (left column), 2–3 (beam), and 3–4 (right column).

Step 3: Assign properties

In the Properties section, open the section database, choose the Indian steel table, and select ISMB 300. Assign it to all three members.

Step 4: Define the supports

Select nodes 1 and 4 and create a Fixed support. Use Pinned instead if you want to see how the results change.

Step 5: Apply the loads

Create these load cases:

• Load Case 1: Dead load. Add self-weight in the Y direction. Add the 20 kN/m UDL on the beam as a member load (negative global Y).
• Load Case 2: Lateral load. Add a 15 kN force at node 2 in the X direction.

Step 6: Add a load combination

Create a combination of the load cases with factors based on your design code. For example, IS 800:2007 uses 1.5 for dead and imposed loads in the strength combination. Always check the code and your project requirements for the factors.

Step 7: Run the analysis

Go to Analysis/Print, add a command to perform the analysis, and run it. Check that the output file shows no errors before looking at results.

Step 8: Read the results

Open the Post-Processing page and look at:

• Bending moment diagram
• Shear force diagram
• Axial force diagram
• Deflected shape and node displacements

For a fixed-base portal frame with a lateral load, you should see moments at the column bases and at the beam–column joints. If the diagram doesn’t look sensible, check your supports and the load directions first.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Wrong units. Check this before applying loads.
2. Wrong load direction. Gravity loads must act in negative global Y.
3. Forgetting to assign properties to every member.
4. Missing or incorrect supports, which cause instability errors.
5. Ignoring the output file warnings.

Have you used STAAD.Pro for your projects? Tell me in the comments what topic you would like next.

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Notes

• I haven’t run this model in STAAD.Pro, and the example values are for illustration only. Run it yourself and add screenshots before publishing. Screenshots make a big difference in tutorial posts.
• Menu names can differ between STAAD.Pro versions, so adjust them to the one you use.