Enhancing the Capacity of Wide-Span Steel Frames Using External Post-Tensioning Cables

Abstract

Steel portal frames are widely used in industrial buildings due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and rapid erection capability. However, many existing structures exhibit insufficient load-carrying capacity under current design requirements. This study investigates the use of external post-tensioning (PT) cables and rigid wedge anchorages to enhance the overall performance of steel portal frames. Two stages of numerical analysis were performed: (i) two-dimensional parametric studies to identify the most efficient configuration and (ii) three-dimensional verification under combined gravity, wind, and seismic loading conditions. Results show that the proposed PT system significantly increases the load-carrying capacity of both beams and columns, reduces bending demands, and improves global stability without major geometric modification. The strengthening method is safe, reversible, and offers a practical alternative to conventional welded or plated retrofit techniques.