How do I add wind loads to a portal frame in CalcSteel?
Common Scenarios
Wind loads on a portal frame have two components: external pressure on windward walls, leeward walls and roof (suction), plus internal pressure (depends on building openness). In CalcSteel, you create a new load case (e.g., "Wind +X"), then apply distributed loads on each surface with signs and magnitudes computed per your wind code (NBR 6123 for Brazil, ASCE 7 for USA, Eurocode 1 Part 1-4 for Europe). For a typical portal frame 12 m wide, 6 m tall, basic wind speed 35 m/s: windward wall pressure ≈ +0.7 qz, leeward wall ≈ -0.3 qz, windward roof ≈ -1.1 qz (suction), leeward roof ≈ -0.6 qz. The load combinations then combine wind with dead and live loads per your code (1.4D + 1.4W, 0.9D + 1.4W, etc.).
Try CalcSteel for free
Model, analyze, and design steel structures in your browser. No installation, no signup required.
Open 3D Editor