Portal frame design handbook

Tekla Structural Designer
Modified: 5 Mar 2026
2026
Tekla Structural Designer

Portal frame design handbook

This handbook provides technical assistance for engineers designing portal frames in Tekla Structural Designer.

It is organized into three main sections as follows:

Section Focus Description
User guide Modeling & Design Provides instructions for setting up the model, applying loads, and executing the design of portal frames.
Design methodology and assumptions Theory & Scope Describes the scope of applicability, underlying theory, and crucial assumptions used in the design process.
Workflow Practical Example A detailed, step-by-step, hands-on example to guide you through the process.

Note that the design process only accounts for in-plane loading. Consequently, all frames discussed in this handbook are specifically categorized as 2D Portal Frames.

Restriction:

Portal frame design is only available in Tekla Structural Designer when working to Eurocodes. If you are working to any other code it is currently beyond scope.

If you are working to British Standards you can create portal frames from the Model ribbon and then export them to Tekla Portal Frame Designer for design.

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