Plastic Bending of Portals Next Generation Structures
Product Code : EL-NGSP-11386
Quick Answer: The Plastic Bending of Portals experiment loads a specimen portal frame, fixed to blocks that simulate fixed foundations, past its elastic limit until plastic hinges form and it collapses. Load cells measure the applied forces and indicators measure the deformation.
Last updated: October 2026
Key Features
- Specimen portal frame fits to fixing blocks that simulate fixed foundations
- Vertical, horizontal or combined loads take the portal through elastic bending into plastic collapse
- Load cells apply and measure each load through cables at 90 degrees to the portal
- Cable loading keeps the load direction constant as the portal deforms
- Indicators measure the portal deformation
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Specimen | Portal frame on fixing blocks (simulated fixed foundations) |
| Loading | Vertical, horizontal or combined |
| Force measurement | Load cells acting through cables at 90 degrees to the portal |
| Deformation measurement | Indicators |
About This Product
Students watch plastic hinges form and see how a portal frame keeps carrying load after it first yields. They find the ratio of fully plastic moment to yield moment (the shape or form factor), build an interaction diagram of vertical against horizontal load to predict the failure mode, and compare textbook predictions with their measured results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the loads applied through cables?
Each load cell applies and measures its load through a cable at 90 degrees to the portal, which keeps the load direction the same as the portal deforms.
Which loads can be applied to the portal?
Vertical, horizontal or combined loads, so students can study how the two interact and predict the failure mode.
Related: Next Generation Structures Products, Plastic Bending of Beams, Structures Platform Next Generation Structures and Bending Moments in a Beam.
For a quotation on the Plastic Bending of Portals Next Generation Structures, contact Educational Instrument.
