The Development of a Framework for Preliminary Sizing of Multi-Storey Structural Elements Using Cantilever and Portal Methods

Abstract

The use of computers in the engineering industry has dramatically reduced the complexities of different aspects of solutions to civil engineering problems. Computer innovations have led to good time, cost, resources, analysis, and design management. This research outlines the development of a framework for preliminary sizing of multistory structural elements using cantilever and portal methods of analysis. The framed structure selected for a case study was a five-storey building in Lagos Island, Nigeria, and its analysis was carried out using the cantilever method and portal method, considering the wind loadings on the structure based on the geographical location of the structure. Algorithms were developed for the frame structure analysis, which was done by cantilever and portal method, and the solution was coded into a computer program and tested using VB.NET medium. The approximate methods of structural analysis, cantilever method, and portal method gave varying results, with different results in the shear forces in the members and slightly different results in the moment computations. Finally, the results of the manual calculation and the computer were compared and found to be approximately the same, about 95%, and the remaining 5% was because of the decimal approximations done by the computer in calculations. Hence, using the computed framework for preliminary sizing, cost-effective, time-saving, and less complex building designs can be achieved with minimal error.