How do I simulate a portal frame?

Open this page and use the live Column Buckling tool below — set your inputs and the simulation runs instantly in your browser using real numerics. No install, no account needed.

Yes. The simulation runs free in your browser. A one-time unlock or a Pro plan adds advanced parameters, saved presets, data import, and clean exports.

Can I use my own numbers?

Absolutely — every input is adjustable, and with data import you can drive a portal frame from your own measurements.

Use case · powered by Column Buckling

Column Buckling for a portal frame

Simulate a portal frame live in your browser. This runs the real Column Buckling solver — adjust the inputs, watch it respond instantly, and export the result. No install, no account.

For:Students Researchers Educators Engineers Hobbyists & Makers K-12 Students First Responders

Column Buckling (Euler)Live

critical load & slenderness

Controls

Presets

Young's modulus E (GPa)

Moment of inertia I (10⁶ mm⁴)

Length L (m)

Cross-section area (mm²)

A slender column fails not by crushing but by buckling sideways at the Euler critical load Pcr = π²EI/(KL)². The effective-length factor K depends on the end restraints — fixing both ends quadruples the capacity versus pinned. Educational tool, not a substitute for code-based design.

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Critical load Pcr2193 kN

Effective length3.00 m

Slenderness KL/r52

Critical stress731 MPa

Governing equation

P_{cr} = \frac{π ^{2} E I}{( K L ) ^{2}} = \frac{π ^{2} ( 200 GPa ) ( 10 \times 1 0 ^{6} mm ^{4} )}{( 1 \times 3 m ) ^{2}} = 2193 kN

Reading this result: Intermediate slenderness (KL/r = 52): buckling and yielding compete, so design codes blend the two rather than trusting Euler alone.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

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About this simulation

The full Column Buckling tool models a portal frame with the same numerics engineers and scientists use — running entirely client-side. Change any parameter and the result updates in real time, so you can build intuition, check a design, or teach the concept without spreadsheets or installs.

More you can do with Column Buckling

Column Buckling for a cantilever balcony Column Buckling for a bridge girder Column Buckling for a floor joist Column Buckling for a roof rafter Column Buckling for a steel beam Column Buckling for a timber deck Column Buckling for a crane boom Column Buckling for a retaining wall

Other ways to simulate a portal frame

2D Fluid (CFD) for a portal frame 3D CFD for a portal frame 3D FEA Space Frame for a portal frame FEA Truss for a portal frame Meshing + BCs for a portal frame RLC Circuit for a portal frame

Frequently asked questions

How do I simulate a portal frame?: Open this page and use the live Column Buckling tool below — set your inputs and the simulation runs instantly in your browser using real numerics. No install, no account needed.
Is it free?: Yes. The simulation runs free in your browser. A one-time unlock or a Pro plan adds advanced parameters, saved presets, data import, and clean exports.
Can I use my own numbers?: Absolutely — every input is adjustable, and with data import you can drive a portal frame from your own measurements.