DEVELOPMENT OF CSHARP-BASED ALGORITHM FOR THE DESIGN OF SINGLE STOREY FIXED-FEET PITCHED-ROOF PORTAL FRAME

Abstract

This research presents the design results of a simple task-specific Csharp-based algorithm developed for the design of single storey fixed-feet pitched-roof portal frame. The program accommodates varying stanchion/rafter lengths and loadings. The overall development process was divided into four phases. The first phase was the formulation of the portal frame design outline. The formulation was done using elastic method of design from BS 5950-1: 2000.The second phase was coding the design outline into computer algorithm using Microsoft Csharp programming language. In the third phase, the developed algorithm was implemented as a computer program using Visual Studio and the graphical interface was developed. The graphical interface was created using a windows application called Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) in visual studio.Net. The fourth phase involved the testing of the developed algorithm and validation of design results. Several sets of steel pitched-roof portal frame models were designed using the developed algorithm and the design results were validated using established software - MasterSeries. Those frames were varied in span, slope angle and frame spacing. The design results obtained using the developed Csharp algorithm were similar to the results obtained using standard software – MasterSeries, with greatest variation in the values standing at a mere 0.8%. Furthermore, the developed program was used to establish the relationship between span, slope angle, frame spacing and mass of framework steel of a single storey, fixed-feet pitched-roof portal sample frame building. Besides, this research work has established the relationship between span, slope angle, frame spacing and mass of framework steel of single storey, fixed-feet pitched-roof portal frame building. Thus higher slope angle requires smaller size of column and rafter while longer frame span requires larger size of column and rafter. In the same vein, increase in frame spacing of the building, results in increase in the mass of framework steel.