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	<front>
		<journal-meta>
			<journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">IC</journal-id>
			<journal-title-group>
				<journal-title>Informes de la Construcci&#xf3;n</journal-title>
				<abbrev-journal-title abbrev-type="publisher">Inf. constr.</abbrev-journal-title>
			</journal-title-group>
			<issn publication-format="electronic">1988-3234</issn>
			<issn-l>0020-0883</issn-l>
			<publisher>
				<publisher-name>Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cient&#xed;ficas</publisher-name>
			</publisher>
		</journal-meta>
		<article-meta>
			<article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">ic.88844</article-id>
			<article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.3989/ic.88844</article-id>
			<article-categories>
				<subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
					<subject>Articles</subject>
				</subj-group>
			</article-categories>
			<title-group>
				<article-title>Impact of joint stiffness on the overall cost of gabled steel frames</article-title>
				<trans-title-group xml:lang="es">
					<trans-title>Impacto de la rigidez de las uniones en el coste global de p&#xf3;rticos a dos aguas de acero</trans-title>
				</trans-title-group>
			</title-group>
			<contrib-group>
				<contrib contrib-type="author" corresp="yes">
					<contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3912-1702</contrib-id>
					<name>
						<surname>Fern&#xe1;ndez Diezma</surname>
						<given-names>Jes&#xfa;s</given-names>
					</name>
					<degrees>PhD. Agricultural Engineer</degrees>
					<email xlink:href="jferna17@hotmail.com">jferna17@hotmail.com</email>
					<aff id="aff1"><institution/> <addr-line>Madrid</addr-line>, <country>Spain</country>.</aff>
				</contrib>
				<contrib contrib-type="author">
					<contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4936-3286</contrib-id>
					<name>
						<surname>Arg&#xfc;elles-Bustillo</surname>
						<given-names>Ram&#xf3;n Aurelio</given-names>
					</name>
					<degrees>PhD. Industrial Engineer</degrees>
					<role>Professor</role>
					<aff id="aff2"><institution content-type="department">Department of Forest and Environmental Management and Engineering</institution>. <institution>Universidad Polit&#xe9;cnica de Madrid</institution>, <country>Spain</country>. </aff>
				</contrib>
				<contrib contrib-type="author">
					<contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5535-0786</contrib-id>
					<name>
						<surname>Arriaga</surname>
						<given-names>Francisco</given-names>
					</name>
					<degrees>PhD. Architect</degrees>
					<role>Full professor</role>
					<aff id="aff3"><institution content-type="department">Department of Forest and Environmental Management and Engineering</institution>. <institution>Universidad Polit&#xe9;cnica de Madrid</institution>, <country>Spain</country>.</aff>
				</contrib>
			</contrib-group>
			<pub-date pub-type="epub">
				<day>16</day>
				<month>08</month>
				<year>2022</year>
			</pub-date>
			<pub-date pub-type="collection">
				<month>09</month>
				<year>2022</year>
			</pub-date>
			<volume>74</volume>
			<issue>567</issue>
			<elocation-id>e452</elocation-id>
			<history>
				<date date-type="received">
					<day>13</day>
					<month>04</month>
					<year>2021</year>
				</date>
				<date date-type="accepted">
					<day>27</day>
					<month>01</month>
					<year>2022</year>
				</date>
				<date date-type="pub">
					<day>15</day>
					<month>09</month>
					<year>2022</year>
				</date>
			</history>
			<permissions>
				<copyright-statement>&#xa9; 2022 CSIC</copyright-statement>
				<copyright-year>2022</copyright-year>
				<license license-type="open-access" xlink:href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">
					<license-p>This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License.</license-p>
				</license>
			</permissions>
			<self-uri xlink:href="http://informesdelaconstruccion.revistas.csic.es/index.php/informesdelaconstruccion/article/view/XXXX/XXXX"/>
			<abstract>
				<title>Abstract</title>
				<p>This paper studies the influence of joint stiffness value combinations in gabled steel frames. Twelve different joint stiffness values were combined for the column base, knee joint and ridge joint. Ten different geometries were combined for gabled steel frames (8-20 m span, 3.5-10 m column height and 10-20% roof slope). Finally, three different load levels for snow and wind were considered, with constant values of permanent and maintenance loads. A total of 46656 cases were analyzed using specific software for steel structure design, obtaining in each case the total cost. Graphical cost representation was obtained for each joint stiffness value combination. Joints represent an average of 17% of the total cost of gabled steel frame structures. In general, lower cost structures were obtained with low joint rigidity values. It is possible to reduce the total cost by around 18% on average, with appropriate selection of joint stiffness combinations.</p>
			</abstract>
			<trans-abstract xml:lang="es">
				<title>Resumen</title>
				<p>En este art&#xed;culo se presenta un estudio sobre la influencia de la rigidez de las uniones en p&#xf3;rticos a dos aguas de acero. Se combinan doce valores diferentes de rigidez de placa de anclaje, hombro y cumbrera. Se combinan diez geometr&#xed;as (8- 20 m de luz, 3.5-10 m de altura de pilares y 10-20% de pendiente de cubierta). Se consideran tres niveles de carga de nieve y viento con valores constantes de carga de mantenimiento. Se analizan un total de 46656 supuestos utilizando un programa inform&#xe1;tico de c&#xe1;lculo de estructuras para obtener en cada caso su coste total. Se obtiene la representaci&#xf3;n gr&#xe1;fica del coste para cada combinaci&#xf3;n de rigideces. En general, los costes m&#xe1;s bajos de las estructuras se corresponden con valores bajos de rigidez. Es posible reducir el coste total un 18% de media, con la selecci&#xf3;n apropiada de la combinaci&#xf3;n de valores de rigidez de las uniones.</p>
			</trans-abstract>
			<kwd-group>
				<kwd>Joints</kwd>
				<kwd>gabled steel frames</kwd>
				<kwd>cost</kwd>
				<kwd>optimization</kwd>
				<kwd>stiffness</kwd>
			</kwd-group>
			<kwd-group xml:lang="es">
				<kwd>Uniones</kwd>
				<kwd>p&#xf3;rticos a dos aguas</kwd>
				<kwd>coste</kwd>
				<kwd>optimizaci&#xf3;n</kwd>
				<kwd>rigidez</kwd>
			</kwd-group>
			<counts>
				<fig-count count="9"/>
				<table-count count="9"/>
				<equation-count count="3"/>
				<ref-count count="30"/>
				<page-count count="10"/>
			</counts>
		</article-meta>
	</front>
	<body>
		<sec id="sec1" sec-type="intro">
			<label>1.</label>
			<title>Introduction</title>
			<p>The close relationship between frame response and joint behaviour is clear. This makes it necessary to explicitly consider this phenomenon in frame design phases, to obtain accurate results for the behaviour of the structure as a whole. The idea is still widespread that professional steel structure designs are based mainly on the hypothesis that joint behaviour is theoretically pinned or rigid. Joint behaviour depends on their rigidity. Their extreme values are 0 for pinned and infinite for rigid joints. It is evident that there are many intermediate values. This is roughly the basis of the semi-rigid joint concept, which is included in steel structure regulations and legislation, such as Eurocode 3 (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B1">1</xref>) or AISC (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B2">2</xref>). According to Bel Hadj Al&#xed; <italic>et al</italic>. (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">3</xref>), engineers still find it hard to include semi-rigid connections in their work plans. This is due to the lack of suitable tools which would make design work easier. This has led some authors to work on for developing practical tools for design. These authors include Jaspart (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B4">4</xref>), who introduces simplified procedures for connection design under Eurocode 3; Steenhuis <italic>et al</italic>. (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B5">5</xref>), who propose the use of their tables of calculus for more usual kinds of connections; Bijlaard (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B6">6</xref>).</p>
			<p>Connection behaviour is affected by a large number of parameters, which make them complex to model. This also increases the complexity of structural behaviour as a whole. What is more, other factors as soil reaction and foundation behaviour complicate this issue further (Kanvinde <italic>et al</italic>. (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B7">7</xref>); Kavoura <italic>et al.</italic> (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B8">8</xref>)). Joints mainly influence the distribution of bending moment in beams and columns, as well as displacement effects (Sanchez and Mart&#xed; (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B9">9</xref>); Chen and Toma (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B10">10</xref>)). In addition, the influence of joints on the instability and buckling is an important point (Kavoura <italic>et al.</italic> (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B8">8</xref>); Galambos (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B11">11</xref>)). These influences are both a handicap and an advantage. It is a handicap due to the complexity of structural behaviour prediction and the negative impact of this uncertainty on design. The advantage is the resulting variability, which means there are many structural solutions, one of which is always the best. This may be considered a source of optimization (Bajwa <italic>et al.</italic> (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B12">12</xref>)).</p>
			<p>Although in the last three decades structural optimization has been extensively studied, contrary to expectations engineers have few tools for frame design for economic optimization (Bel Hadj Ali <italic>et al.</italic> (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">3</xref>)). This kind of design requires accurate model-based methods for cost estimation. Several authors can be cited here, such as Watson <italic>et al.</italic> (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B13">13</xref>), who develop ideas for the determination of the cost of steel structures; Jarnai and Farkas (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B14">14</xref>), who present a detailed costs function for welded frames; Xu <italic>et al.</italic> (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B15">15</xref>), who consider a combined cost of elements and joints and that the cost of each connection is a function of its rotational rigidity; Simoes (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B16">16</xref>), who considers the cost of connections in the optimization of semi-rigid frames. Advanced structural optimization is now being developed by means of methods such as the genetic algorithm (Kameshki and Saka, (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B17">17</xref>)) or harmonic algorithm (Saka (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B18">18</xref>)).</p>
			<p>Behind of the economic optimization is the optimization of the structural behaviour. This structural optimization consists of achieving one distribution of internal forces and moments in each element and in the whole frame, which avoid a high stresses concentration in some cross-sections of the elements. These stresses concentration drive to the underutilization of the material.</p>
			<p>The aim of this paper is to analyze the influence of joint stiffness on the overall cost of gabled steel frames and to determine the best and worse situations. It is based on previous research works by the authors (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B19">19</xref>).</p>
		</sec>
		<sec id="sec2" sec-type="materials|methods">
			<label>2.</label>
			<title>Material and methods</title>
			<p>Work methodology consists of the study of a representative sample of portal frames under specific load conditions and with different connection rigidity values. This sample is subjected to a design and optimization process to identify the combination of joint rigidities which yield the most economical result. The main points of this methodology are described below.</p>
			<sec id="sec2.1">
				<label>2.1.</label>
				<title>General definition of the target buildings</title>
				<p>The buildings studied are of a light industrial type, one storey high with a gabled roof and steel structure on a reinforced concrete foundation. Their main characteristics are:</p>
				<list list-type="bullet">
					<list-item>
						<p>Length: fixed at 40 m in all cases. This parameter only affects wind load values.</p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p>Spans, column heights and roof slopes: see <xref ref-type="table" rid="t1">table 1</xref>.</p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p>Space between frames: was fixed at 5 m in all cases.</p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p>Structure definition: this study did not consider extreme or close to extreme frames, and only intermediate portal frames were considered. The frame was composed of two columns and two beams which shape the gabled roof. These beams supported the &#x201c;Z&#x201d; or &#x201c;C&#x201d; purlins, in S 235 JR steel according to the EN 10025-2:2006 standard (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B20">20</xref>), with yield strength f<sub>y</sub> = 235 N/mm&#xb2; for nominal thickness t &#x2264; 40 mm. The columns were connected to the foundation by anchorage plates. The foundation was composed of rectangular, centred and single footings.</p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p>Structure material: HEA profiles (S 275 JR, fy = 275 N/mm&#xb2;, t &#x2264; 40 mm) were selected for columns and IPE (S 275 JR) for beams. Anchorage plates were designed in S 275 JR steel for plates and B 400 S for anchorage according to the EN 10080:2006 standard (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B21">21</xref>) with yield strength f<sub>y</sub> = 400 N/mm&#xb2;. Reinforced concrete footings were chosen (HA-25 and B 400 S). HA-25 concrete is defined according to Spanish code EHE 08 (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B22">22</xref>). It is equivalent to Eurocode 2 C25/30 (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B23">23</xref>), with characteristic value of compression strength of 25 N/mm&#xb2; obtained in cylindrical specimen (15 cm diameter and 30 cm long) or 30 N/mm&#xb2; obtained in cubic specimen (15 cm side).</p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p>Roof material: for low and medium loads 0.6 mm thick folded sheet steel was considered, and for high loads 40 mm thick sandwich panel was selected.</p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p>Siding material: 150 mm thick precast concrete honeycomb panel.</p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p>Holes in facades: these are only used to maximize and minimize loads, and the criterion selected is that the weighted average height of the mid-point of the holes is 2/3 of the column height. </p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p>Bracing elements: the buildings are braced by diagonal ties (Saint Andrew crosses) in the end modules; and struts from purlins to beams in order to avoid lateral buckling of the beams.</p>
					</list-item>
				</list>
			</sec>
			<sec id="sec2.2">
				<label>2.2.</label>
				<title>Geometric delimitation of the issue</title>
				<p>To delimit the problem it is essential to determine the parameters, ranges and cases of the study. This therefore centres on only ten different portal frames which are considered representative of the set of possible cases (<xref ref-type="table" rid="t1">Table 1</xref>). The scheme of the kind of portal frame considering all its joints semi-rigid is shown in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="f1">figure 1</xref>.</p>
				<table-wrap id="t1">
					<label>Table 1</label>
					<caption>
						<title>Geometry of portal frames</title>
					</caption>
					<table>
						<colgroup>
							<col/>
							<col/>
							<col/>
							<col/>
						</colgroup>
						<thead>
							<tr>
								<th align="center">Portal frame type N&#xba;.</th>
								<th align="center">Span (m)</th>
								<th align="center">Height of column (m)</th>
								<th align="center">Roof slope (%)</th>
							</tr>
						</thead>
						<tbody>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">1</td>
								<td align="center">20</td>
								<td align="center">10</td>
								<td align="center">10</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">2</td>
								<td align="center">20</td>
								<td align="center">7</td>
								<td align="center">10</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">3</td>
								<td align="center">20</td>
								<td align="center">5</td>
								<td align="center">10</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">4</td>
								<td align="center">15</td>
								<td align="center">10</td>
								<td align="center">10</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">5</td>
								<td align="center">15</td>
								<td align="center">7</td>
								<td align="center">10</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">6</td>
								<td align="center">15</td>
								<td align="center">5</td>
								<td align="center">10</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">7</td>
								<td align="center">10</td>
								<td align="center">7</td>
								<td align="center">15</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">8</td>
								<td align="center">10</td>
								<td align="center">5</td>
								<td align="center">15</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">9</td>
								<td align="center">10</td>
								<td align="center">3.5</td>
								<td align="center">15</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">10</td>
								<td align="center">8</td>
								<td align="center">3.5</td>
								<td align="center">20</td>
							</tr>
						</tbody>
					</table>
				</table-wrap>
				<fig id="f1">
					<label>Figure 1</label>
					<caption>
						<title>The scheme of the kind of portal frame s tudied with all joints semi-rigid </title>
					</caption>
					<graphic id="gra-1" xlink:href="IC-74-567-e452-gf1.png"/>
				</fig>
			</sec>
			<sec id="sec2.3">
				<label>2.3.</label>
				<title>Loads considered and their combinations</title>
				<p>Three loads levels were considered for variable actions (wind and snow load): low, medium and high, <xref ref-type="table" rid="t2">table 2</xref>. The Spanish regulation in this field was used to determine each one, more specifically the <italic>Instrucci&#xf3;n del Acero Estructural (EAE)</italic> (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B24">24</xref>) and <italic>Documento B&#xe1;sico de Seguridad Estructural - Acciones en la Edificaci&#xf3;n (DB-SE-AE)</italic> of the Technical building code <italic>(C&#xf3;digo T&#xe9;cnico de la Edificaci&#xf3;n) [CTE]</italic> (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B25">25</xref>). The objective was that loads are as real as possible. <xref ref-type="table" rid="t2">Table 2</xref> shows the actions considered in this work.</p>
				<table-wrap id="t2">
					<label>Table 2</label>
					<caption>
						<title>Actions considered</title>
					</caption>
					<table>
						<colgroup>
							<col/>
							<col/>
							<col/>
						</colgroup>
						<thead>
							<tr>
								<th align="center">Kind of action</th>
								<th align="center">Action</th>
								<th align="center">Value or criterion</th>
							</tr>
						</thead>
						<tbody>
							<tr>
								<td align="justify">Permanent</td>
								<td align="left">Self weight</td>
								<td align="left">Calculated according to its profiles</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="justify">Permanent</td>
								<td align="left">Dead weight of roof (roof material and purlins)</td>
								<td align="left">0.08kN/m&#xb2; for folded sheet steel and 0.12 for sandwich panel. Purlins calculated according to their profiles</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="justify">Permanent</td>
								<td align="left">Dead weight of siding material on footings</td>
								<td align="left">The weight of panel considered is 2.3kN/m&#xb2;</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="justify">Variable</td>
								<td align="left">Maintenance load</td>
								<td align="left">1 kN as concentrated load and 0.4kN/m&#xb2; as uniform load (horizontal projection)</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="justify">Variable</td>
								<td align="left">Wind load</td>
								<td align="left">According to the following criterion: <break/> For high load level: wind region C, roughness degree I, and internal pressure. <break/> For medium load level: B and III <break/> For low load level: A, IV and internal pressure.</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="justify">Variable</td>
								<td align="left">Snow load <break/> (horizontal projection)</td>
								<td align="left">For high load level: 2.04kN/m&#xb2; <break/> For medium load level: 0.7kN/m&#xb2; <break/> For low load level: 0.16kN/m&#xb2;.</td>
							</tr>
						</tbody>
					</table>
				</table-wrap>
			</sec>
			<sec id="sec2.4">
				<label>2.4.</label>
				<title>Stiffness values considered and types of joints</title>
				<p>The stiffness values considered for each joint in kN&#xb7;m/rad were as follows: 0, 5000, 10000, 15000, 20000, 40000, 80000, 100000, 200000, 400000, 800000 and infinite. </p>
				<p>
					<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f2 f3 f4 f5">Figures 2-5</xref> show the joint types considered in this work.</p>
				<fig id="f2">
					<label>Figure 2</label>
					<caption>
						<title>Model of the ridge joint considered for the study</title>
					</caption>
					<graphic id="gra-2" xlink:href="IC-74-567-e452-gf2.png"/>
				</fig>
				<fig id="f3">
					<label>Figure 3</label>
					<caption>
						<title>Model of the knee joint considered, when the rigidity value is equal to or less than 20&#xb7;10&#xb3; kNm/rad</title>
					</caption>
					<graphic id="gra-3" xlink:href="IC-74-567-e452-gf3.png"/>
				</fig>
				<fig id="f4">
					<label>Figure 4</label>
					<caption>
						<title>Model of the knee joint considered, when the rigidity value is greater than 20&#xb7;10&#xb3; kNm/rad</title>
					</caption>
					<graphic id="gra-4" xlink:href="IC-74-567-e452-gf4.png"/>
				</fig>
				<fig id="f5">
					<label>Figure 5</label>
					<caption>
						<title>Model of the column base considered</title>
					</caption>
					<graphic id="gra-5" xlink:href="IC-74-567-e452-gf5.png"/>
				</fig>
				<p>The combinations and coefficients used are shown in <xref ref-type="table" rid="t3">tables 3</xref> and <xref ref-type="table" rid="t4">4</xref>. It should be noted that these combinations must be valid for the verification of the steel structure and also for the foundation.</p>
				<table-wrap id="t3">
					<label>Table 3</label>
					<caption>
						<title>Combinations of load cases and coefficients used for Ultimate Limit States</title>
					</caption>
					<table>
						<colgroup>
							<col/>
							<col/>
							<col/>
							<col/>
							<col/>
							<col/>
						</colgroup>
						<thead>
							<tr>
								<th align="left">Combination</th>
								<th align="left">Permanent</th>
								<th align="left">Maintenance load</th>
								<th align="left">Snow</th>
								<th align="left">Ext. wind pressure</th>
								<th align="left">Int. wind pressure</th>
							</tr>
						</thead>
						<tbody>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">1</td>
								<td align="center">1.35</td>
								<td align="center">0</td>
								<td align="center">0</td>
								<td align="center">0</td>
								<td align="center">0</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">2</td>
								<td align="center">1.35</td>
								<td align="center">1.5</td>
								<td align="center">0</td>
								<td align="center">0</td>
								<td align="center">0</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">3</td>
								<td align="center">1.35</td>
								<td align="center">0</td>
								<td align="center">1.5</td>
								<td align="center">0</td>
								<td align="center">0</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">4</td>
								<td align="center">1.35</td>
								<td align="center">0</td>
								<td align="center">0</td>
								<td align="center">1.5</td>
								<td align="center">1.5</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">5</td>
								<td align="center">1.35</td>
								<td align="center">0</td>
								<td align="center">1.5</td>
								<td align="center">0.9</td>
								<td align="center">0.9</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">6</td>
								<td align="center">1.35</td>
								<td align="center">0</td>
								<td align="center">0.75</td>
								<td align="center">1.5</td>
								<td align="center">1.5</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">7</td>
								<td align="center">1</td>
								<td align="center">0</td>
								<td align="center">0</td>
								<td align="center">1.5</td>
								<td align="center">1.5</td>
							</tr>
						</tbody>
					</table>
				</table-wrap>
				<table-wrap id="t4">
					<label>Table 4</label>
					<caption>
						<title>Combinations of load cases and coefficients used for Serviceability Limit States</title>
					</caption>
					<table>
						<colgroup>
							<col/>
							<col/>
							<col/>
							<col/>
							<col/>
							<col/>
						</colgroup>
						<thead>
							<tr>
								<th align="left">Combination</th>
								<th align="left">Permanent</th>
								<th align="left">Maintenance load</th>
								<th align="left">Snow</th>
								<th align="left">Ext. wind pressure</th>
								<th align="left">Int. wind pressure</th>
							</tr>
						</thead>
						<tbody>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">1</td>
								<td align="center">1</td>
								<td align="center">0<sub>
										<sup>(1)</sup>
									</sub>
								</td>
								<td align="center">0<sub>
										<sup>(1)</sup>
									</sub>
								</td>
								<td align="center">0<sub>
										<sup>(1)</sup>
									</sub>
								</td>
								<td align="center">0<sub>
										<sup>(1)</sup>
									</sub>
								</td>
							</tr>
						</tbody>
					</table>
					<table-wrap-foot>
						<fn id="TFN1">
							<p>
								<sub>
									<sup>(1)</sup>
								</sub> Vertical deflection for the appearance criterion was the only limitation considered. For this reason the quasi-permanent combination was used and the value of &#x3c8;2 factors is equal to 0. For snow load it was considered that the building is at an altitude above sea level equal to or lower than 1000 m.</p>
						</fn>
					</table-wrap-foot>
				</table-wrap>
			</sec>
			<sec id="sec2.5">
				<label>2.5.</label>
				<title>Costs estimation</title>
				<p>The costs of the foundation and of the steel members were subdivided in three items: a) Steel in columns and beams (&#x20ac;/kg); b) Excavation of the footings (&#x20ac;/m&#xb3;); and c) reinforced concrete footings (&#x20ac;/m&#xb3;).</p>
				<p>Estimation of these costs is based on reference prices obtained from nine Spanish official or widely recognized open access construction cost data bases, used for making official budgets in Spain. To homogenise the prices temporally they were updated by Ministry of Development March 2015 index means.</p>
				<p>The three prices chosen were the average of the nine obtained from data bases for each item (<xref ref-type="table" rid="t5">Table 5</xref>).</p>
				<table-wrap id="t5">
					<label>Table 5</label>
					<caption>
						<title>Costs of the foundation and of the steel members.</title>
					</caption>
					<table>
						<colgroup>
							<col/>
							<col/>
						</colgroup>
						<thead>
							<tr>
								<th align="center">Budget item</th>
								<th align="center">Final prices used in the study</th>
							</tr>
						</thead>
						<tbody>
							<tr>
								<td align="justify">Steel in columns and beams</td>
								<td align="center">2.80 (&#x20ac;/kg)</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="justify">Excavation of the footings</td>
								<td align="center">18.45 (&#x20ac;/m&#xb3;)</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="justify">Reinforced concrete footings</td>
								<td align="center">220.10 (&#x20ac;/m&#xb3;)</td>
							</tr>
						</tbody>
					</table>
				</table-wrap>
				<p>Accurate estimation of the cost of the joints requires their design and sizing data for optimization and the design of the whole structure. This involves programming and implementing a complex iterative process in the software tool for calculation, followed by economical evaluation of the resultants joints. This tool has not yet been developed. To resolve this matter in the study, the cost of joints was estimated using methodologies developed by other authors:</p>
				<list list-type="bullet">
					<list-item>
						<p>For column plates: Xu and Grierson (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B26">26</xref>), methodology </p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p>For knee and ridge joints: Sanchez and Mart&#xed; (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B9">9</xref>) methodology</p>
					</list-item>
				</list>
				<p>These were taken only as a point of departure. The initial formulas and data were adapted to achieve the objectives proposed and integrate them in the design procedure.</p>
				<p>Thus for column bases the said basic formulae have been modified using the following assumptions, and starting from Xu and Grierson (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B26">26</xref>) methodology <xref ref-type="disp-formula" rid="e1">expression [1]</xref> was obtained: </p>
				<disp-formula id="e1">
					<mml:math id="mml-1">
						<mml:msub>
							<mml:mrow>
								<mml:mi mathvariant="normal">B</mml:mi>
							</mml:mrow>
							<mml:mrow>
								<mml:mn>2</mml:mn>
								<mml:mi mathvariant="normal">p</mml:mi>
							</mml:mrow>
						</mml:msub>
						<mml:mo>=</mml:mo>
						<mml:msub>
							<mml:mrow>
								<mml:mi mathvariant="normal">C</mml:mi>
							</mml:mrow>
							<mml:mrow>
								<mml:mn>2</mml:mn>
								<mml:mi mathvariant="normal">c</mml:mi>
							</mml:mrow>
						</mml:msub>
						<mml:mo>&#x22c5;</mml:mo>
						<mml:mfenced separators="|">
							<mml:mrow>
								<mml:msup>
									<mml:mrow>
										<mml:mi mathvariant="normal">C</mml:mi>
									</mml:mrow>
									<mml:mrow>
										<mml:mn>0</mml:mn>
									</mml:mrow>
								</mml:msup>
								<mml:mo>+</mml:mo>
								<mml:mfenced separators="|">
									<mml:mrow>
										<mml:mi mathvariant="normal">C</mml:mi>
										<mml:mo>-</mml:mo>
										<mml:msup>
											<mml:mrow>
												<mml:mi mathvariant="normal">C</mml:mi>
											</mml:mrow>
											<mml:mrow>
												<mml:mn>0</mml:mn>
											</mml:mrow>
										</mml:msup>
									</mml:mrow>
								</mml:mfenced>
								<mml:mo>&#x2219;</mml:mo>
								<mml:mi mathvariant="normal">R</mml:mi>
								<mml:mo>/</mml:mo>
								<mml:mn>800000</mml:mn>
							</mml:mrow>
						</mml:mfenced>
						<mml:mo>-</mml:mo>
						<mml:msub>
							<mml:mrow>
								<mml:mi mathvariant="normal">C</mml:mi>
							</mml:mrow>
							<mml:mrow>
								<mml:mn>2</mml:mn>
								<mml:mi mathvariant="normal">c</mml:mi>
							</mml:mrow>
						</mml:msub>
					</mml:math>
					<label>[1]</label>
				</disp-formula>
				<p>To do this, 108 column bases were designed and valued economically. More specifically, 54 were pinned and 54 were fully rigid. Coefficients C and C<sup>0</sup>, as proposed in the Xu and Grierson formula, were then estimated. Where C<sup>0</sup> is the factor which should be applied to column cost in order to obtain total cost, including the pinned plate base; and C is the similar factor to obtain the fully rigid column base (<xref ref-type="table" rid="t6">Table 6</xref>). It is also assumed that a column base with a rigidity value of 800000 kN&#xb7;m/rad acts in practice as a fully rigid one. On the other hand, B<sub>2p</sub> is the cost (&#x20ac;) of the two base plates, C<sub>2c</sub> is the cost (&#x20ac;) of the two columns and R is the rotational joint rigidity (kN&#xb7;m/rad)</p>
				<table-wrap id="t6">
					<label>Table 6</label>
					<caption>
						<title>Coefficients C and C<sup>0</sup> for calculation of the cost of base plates</title>
					</caption>
					<table>
						<colgroup>
							<col/>
							<col/>
							<col/>
							<col/>
							<col/>
							<col/>
							<col/>
							<col/>
							<col/>
						</colgroup>
						<thead>
							<tr>
								<th align="center" colspan="3">Portal frame </th>
								<th align="center" colspan="3">C<sup>0</sup>
								</th>
								<th align="center" colspan="3">C </th>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<th align="left" rowspan="2">Span (m)</th>
								<th align="left" rowspan="2">Column height (m)</th>
								<th align="left" rowspan="2">Roof slope (%)</th>
								<th align="center" colspan="3">Load level </th>
								<th align="center" colspan="3">Load level </th>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<th align="left">High</th>
								<th align="left">Medium</th>
								<th align="left">Low</th>
								<th align="left">High</th>
								<th align="left">Medium</th>
								<th align="left">Low</th>
							</tr>
						</thead>
						<tbody>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">8</td>
								<td align="center">3.5</td>
								<td align="center">20</td>
								<td align="center">1.20</td>
								<td align="center">1.20</td>
								<td align="center">1.20</td>
								<td align="center">1.44</td>
								<td align="center">1.38</td>
								<td align="center">1.31</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">10</td>
								<td align="center">3.5</td>
								<td align="center">15</td>
								<td align="center">1.16</td>
								<td align="center">1.22</td>
								<td align="center">1.18</td>
								<td align="center">1.48</td>
								<td align="center">1.35</td>
								<td align="center">1.31</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">10</td>
								<td align="center">5</td>
								<td align="center">15</td>
								<td align="center">1.14</td>
								<td align="center">1.13</td>
								<td align="center">1.14</td>
								<td align="center">1.33</td>
								<td align="center">1.29</td>
								<td align="center">1.29</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">15</td>
								<td align="center">5</td>
								<td align="center">10</td>
								<td align="center">1.11</td>
								<td align="center">1.14</td>
								<td align="center">1.12</td>
								<td align="center">1.35</td>
								<td align="center">1.29</td>
								<td align="center">1.25</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">20</td>
								<td align="center">5</td>
								<td align="center">10</td>
								<td align="center">---</td>
								<td align="center">1.11</td>
								<td align="center">1.10</td>
								<td align="center">---</td>
								<td align="center">1.33</td>
								<td align="center">1.28</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">10</td>
								<td align="center">7</td>
								<td align="center">15</td>
								<td align="center">1.13</td>
								<td align="center">1.11</td>
								<td align="center">1.11</td>
								<td align="center">1.27</td>
								<td align="center">1.28</td>
								<td align="center">1.23</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">15</td>
								<td align="center">7</td>
								<td align="center">10</td>
								<td align="center">1.10</td>
								<td align="center">1.11</td>
								<td align="center">1.10</td>
								<td align="center">1.25</td>
								<td align="center">1.26</td>
								<td align="center">1.27</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">20</td>
								<td align="center">7</td>
								<td align="center">10</td>
								<td align="center">---</td>
								<td align="center">1.10</td>
								<td align="center">1.08</td>
								<td align="center">---</td>
								<td align="center">1.25</td>
								<td align="center">1.18</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">15</td>
								<td align="center">10</td>
								<td align="center">10</td>
								<td align="center">1.08</td>
								<td align="center">1.07</td>
								<td align="center">1.09</td>
								<td align="center">1.24</td>
								<td align="center">1.19</td>
								<td align="center">1.18</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">20</td>
								<td align="center">10</td>
								<td align="center">10</td>
								<td align="center">---</td>
								<td align="center">1.07</td>
								<td align="center">1.07</td>
								<td align="center">---</td>
								<td align="center">1.21</td>
								<td align="center">1.18</td>
							</tr>
						</tbody>
					</table>
				</table-wrap>
				<p>For knee joints the cost was obtained from <xref ref-type="disp-formula" rid="e2">formula [2]</xref>, which was derived from the Sanchez and Mart&#xed; (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B9">9</xref>) proposal. </p>
				<disp-formula id="e2">
					<mml:math id="mml-2">
						<mml:msub>
							<mml:mrow>
								<mml:mi>C</mml:mi>
							</mml:mrow>
							<mml:mrow>
								<mml:mn>2</mml:mn>
								<mml:mi>k</mml:mi>
							</mml:mrow>
						</mml:msub>
						<mml:mo>=</mml:mo>
						<mml:msub>
							<mml:mrow>
								<mml:mi>C</mml:mi>
							</mml:mrow>
							<mml:mrow>
								<mml:mn>2</mml:mn>
								<mml:mi>b</mml:mi>
							</mml:mrow>
						</mml:msub>
						<mml:mo>&#x22c5;</mml:mo>
						<mml:mn>2</mml:mn>
						<mml:mo>&#x22c5;</mml:mo>
						<mml:mfenced separators="|">
							<mml:mrow>
								<mml:msup>
									<mml:mrow>
										<mml:mi>&#x3b2;</mml:mi>
									</mml:mrow>
									<mml:mrow>
										<mml:mn>0</mml:mn>
									</mml:mrow>
								</mml:msup>
								<mml:mo>+</mml:mo>
								<mml:msup>
									<mml:mrow>
										<mml:mi>&#x3b2;</mml:mi>
									</mml:mrow>
									<mml:mrow>
										<mml:mi>I</mml:mi>
									</mml:mrow>
								</mml:msup>
								<mml:mo>&#x22c5;</mml:mo>
								<mml:mi>R</mml:mi>
							</mml:mrow>
						</mml:mfenced>
						<mml:mo>&#x22c5;</mml:mo>
						<mml:mn>0.0006308</mml:mn>
					</mml:math>
					<label>[2]</label>
				</disp-formula>
				<p>Where C<sub>2k</sub> is the cost (&#x20ac;) of two knee joints, C<sub>2b</sub> the cost (&#x20ac;) of two beams, &#x3b2;<sup>0</sup> the cost coefficient (&#x20ac;) for pinned joints, &#x3b2;<sup>I</sup> the cost coefficient (&#x20ac;/kN&#xb7;m&#xb7;rad<sup>-1</sup>) for fully rigid joints and R is the initial joint rigidity value (kN&#xb7;m/rad) and 0.0006308 is a dimensional coefficient (&#x20ac;<sup>-1</sup>)</p>
				<p>The parameters of <xref ref-type="disp-formula" rid="e2">Equation [2] </xref> were obtained considering the following premises:</p>
				<list list-type="bullet">
					<list-item>
						<p> The variability of beam cross section and length has been taken into account. For this purpose, it must be considered that the original values of &#x3b2;<sup>0</sup>
							<sub>lk</sub> and &#x3b2;<sup>I</sup>
							<sub>lk</sub> proposed by Sanchez and Mart&#xed; were calculated for a beam with a length of 7.3 m and an IPE-450 profile. For other beam profiles and lengths these values have been increased or decreased proportionally.</p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p> The values of &#x3b2;<sup>0</sup>
							<sub>lk</sub> and &#x3b2;<sup>I</sup>
							<sub>lk</sub> (from the Sanchez and Mart&#xed; proposal) have been updatedby means of the official index of construction costs of INE (National Statistics Institute of Spain). The updated is made from 2004 which is the reference proposed by Sanchez and Mart&#xed; to 2013 because this is the last year which was recorded by the INE. These updated values have been termed &#x3b2;<sup>0</sup> and &#x3b2;<sup>I</sup>, respectively.</p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p> Two types of joint were selected, depending on their rigidity. When the rigidity value is higher than 20&#xb7;10&#xb3; kN&#xb7;m/rad the joint type considered was the extended end plate (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f4">Figure 4</xref>), and when the rigidity value is equal to or lower than 20&#xb7;10&#xb3; kN&#xb7;m/rad (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f3">Figure 3</xref>), flange cleat joints were considered .</p>
					</list-item>
				</list>
				<p>
					<xref ref-type="table" rid="t7">Table 7</xref> shows the updated &#x3b2;<sup>0</sup> and &#x3b2;<sup>I</sup> values used in the study.</p>
				<table-wrap id="t7">
					<label>Table 7</label>
					<caption>
						<title>Updated &#x3b2;<sup>0</sup> and &#x3b2;<sup>I</sup> values used in the study</title>
					</caption>
					<table>
						<colgroup>
							<col/>
							<col/>
							<col/>
						</colgroup>
						<thead>
							<tr>
								<th align="center">Kind of joint</th>
								<th align="center">Updated &#x3b2;<sup>0</sup> (&#x20ac;)</th>
								<th align="center">Updated &#x3b2;<sup>I</sup> (&#x20ac;/kN&#xb7;m&#xb7;rad-1)</th>
							</tr>
						</thead>
						<tbody>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">Flange cleats joint</td>
								<td align="center">40.897</td>
								<td align="center">0.001000</td>
							</tr>
							<tr>
								<td align="center">Extended end plate joint</td>
								<td align="center">61.702</td>
								<td align="center">0.000429</td>
							</tr>
						</tbody>
					</table>
				</table-wrap>
				<p>A similar methodology to that for knee joints was used for ridge joints. The specific assumptions used for these joints were: a 12% decrease of cost was estimated with respect to knee joints; only the extended end plate type was considered; and ridge joint cost was estimated including plates, welds and bolts. <xref ref-type="disp-formula" rid="e3">Equation [3]</xref> was obtained.</p>
				<disp-formula id="e3">
					<mml:math id="mml-3">
						<mml:msub>
							<mml:mrow>
								<mml:mi>C</mml:mi>
							</mml:mrow>
							<mml:mrow>
								<mml:mi>w</mml:mi>
								<mml:mi>r</mml:mi>
							</mml:mrow>
						</mml:msub>
						<mml:mo>=</mml:mo>
						<mml:msub>
							<mml:mrow>
								<mml:mi>C</mml:mi>
							</mml:mrow>
							<mml:mrow>
								<mml:mn>2</mml:mn>
								<mml:mi>b</mml:mi>
							</mml:mrow>
						</mml:msub>
						<mml:mo>&#x22c5;</mml:mo>
						<mml:mn>2</mml:mn>
						<mml:mo>&#x22c5;</mml:mo>
						<mml:mfenced separators="|">
							<mml:mrow>
								<mml:msup>
									<mml:mrow>
										<mml:mi>&#x3b2;</mml:mi>
									</mml:mrow>
									<mml:mrow>
										<mml:mn>0</mml:mn>
									</mml:mrow>
								</mml:msup>
								<mml:mo>+</mml:mo>
								<mml:msup>
									<mml:mrow>
										<mml:mi>&#x3b2;</mml:mi>
									</mml:mrow>
									<mml:mrow>
										<mml:mi>I</mml:mi>
									</mml:mrow>
								</mml:msup>
								<mml:mo>&#x22c5;</mml:mo>
								<mml:mi>R</mml:mi>
							</mml:mrow>
						</mml:mfenced>
						<mml:mo>&#x22c5;</mml:mo>
						<mml:mn>0.0005538</mml:mn>
					</mml:math>
					<label>[3]</label>
				</disp-formula>
				<p>Where C<sub>wr</sub> is the cost of the whole ridge joint (&#x20ac;) and the other parameters are the same as in <xref ref-type="disp-formula" rid="e2">formula [2] </xref>. The values of &#x3b2;<sup>0</sup> and &#x3b2;<sup>I</sup> are also shown in <xref ref-type="table" rid="t7">table 7</xref> for extended end plate joints.</p>
			</sec>
			<sec id="sec2.6">
				<label>2.6.</label>
				<title>Method of automatic calculus used and number of cases analyzed</title>
				<p>Specific software was developed by the authors for the automatic calculation of the whole process, named &#x201c;CalculoRigideces V 1.04&#x201d;. To run structural design, this application uses the same calculation engine as the commercial software Metalpla XE<sub>5</sub> (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B27">27</xref>); and to determine buckling lengths of the members under each assumption this application utilizes the same calculation engine as commercial &#x201c;Metalbuckling&#x201d; software. Metalpla XE<sub>5</sub> (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B27">27</xref>) applies matrix methods to structural design. </p>
				<p>&#x201c;CalculoRigideces V 1.04&#x201d; is fed from an Excel file which contains the records, one for each structural case as well as the fields necessary to define the portal frame and its circumstances. This file, in turn, receives the results of the structural calculus. Results data are then processed to finding the cases which fulfil final structural optimization requirements. Each case is defined by its combination of rigidity values. Only one case is the best for each different portal frame geometry and load level. This case is the most economical one.</p>
				<p>The process of structural design in an optimization context takes place in the following order, <xref ref-type="fig" rid="f6">figure 6</xref>:</p>
				<list list-type="simple">
					<list-item>
						<p>1. Data input.</p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p>2. Process initiation.</p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p>3. Assembling the geometric matrix of structure.</p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p>4. Automatic buckling coefficient calculus.</p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p>5. Member ultimate limit states calculation loop.</p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p>6. Member serviceability limit states calculation loop.</p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p>7. Cycle for optimum structure selection for all load combinations.</p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p>8. Base plate design.</p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p>9. Foundation design.</p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p>10. Recording results of structure.</p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p>11. Optimization process including joints.</p>
					</list-item>
					<list-item>
						<p>12. Final results. The optimum rigidity combination is found.</p>
					</list-item>
				</list>
				<fig id="f6">
					<label>Figure 6</label>
					<caption>
						<title>Flow chart of the process of structural design in an optimization context.</title>
					</caption>
					<graphic id="gra-6" xlink:href="IC-74-567-e452-gf6.png"/>
				</fig>
				<p>46656 cases were analysed. This number is obtained by means of the product of 10 geometric portal frame cases, each at 3 load levels and the 1728 different rigidity combinations of joints. It is necessary to stress that for cases of a 20 m portal frame span the high load level has been omitted. The product of geometric portal frames and load level is therefore 27 instead of 30.</p>
			</sec>
			<sec id="sec2.7">
				<label>2.7.</label>
				<title>Consideration of instability and buckling.</title>
				<p>The analytical method used in this study is elastic global analysis in first order theory. The structure was considered to be translational in the portal frame plane and non-translational in the plane perpendicular to the portal frame, due to the existence of a cross-shaped bracing system. For these reasons and because the frame is a basic structure with only one storey, the verification of its stability in both planes was carried out by means of individual stability checks of equivalent members using appropriate buckling lengths. The critical factor method of global buckling &#x3b1;<sub>crit</sub> was applied to calculate buckling lengths. This methodology was included in the software for automatic calculation, thereby integrating it in the overall calculus. The value of &#x3b1;<sub>crit</sub> is obtained by matrix methods. (Arg&#xfc;elles &#xc1;lvarez <italic>et al</italic>. (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B28">28</xref>); Arg&#xfc;elles &#xc1;lvarez <italic>et al.</italic> (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B29">29</xref>))</p>
			</sec>
			<sec id="sec2.8">
				<label>2.8.</label>
				<title>Consideration of the behaviour model of joints</title>
				<p>The behaviour model of joints used in this study is linear, equivalent to a bi-linear without reaching the design moment of joint (maximum or yield moment)</p>
			</sec>
		</sec>
		<sec id="sec3" sec-type="results|discussion">
			<label>3.</label>
			<title>Results and discussion</title>
			<p>All results were collected, summarized and graphically represented for analysis. It must be emphasized that this involved creating a collection of graphics which represent the final cost of each portal frame depending on its combination of joint rigidity values. Cost is the output variable, and the three input variables were column base rigidity, knee joint rigidity and ridge joint rigidity. In total there were 4 variables, which makes it hard to show them graphically. To resolve this 12 graphics were drawn for each portal frame type and load level, each distinguished by the rigidity value of its ridge joints. Each one of them represents the values of the rigidity of knee joints in one axis and column base rigidity values in a perpendicular axis. The cost associated with these 3 values of rigidity was represented on a gray scale. Each grade represents a cost range. <xref ref-type="fig" rid="f7">Figures 7</xref>, <xref ref-type="fig" rid="f8">8</xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="f9">9</xref> show three 3D view examples which are characteristic of three models of cost distribution.</p>
			<fig id="f7">
				<label>Figure 7</label>
				<caption>
					<title>3D view of the graphic corresponding to 8 m span, 3.5 m column height and 20% slope portal frame at low load level.</title>
					<p>Rigidity of ridge joint 80&#xb7;10&#xb3; kNm/rad</p>
				</caption>
				<graphic id="gra-7" xlink:href="IC-74-567-e452-gf7.png"/>
			</fig>
			<fig id="f8">
				<label>Figure 8</label>
				<caption>
					<title>3D view of the graphic corresponding to 15 m span, 10 m column height and 10% slope portal frame at high load level.</title>
					<p>Rigidity of ridge joint 200&#xb7;10&#xb3; kNm/rad</p>
				</caption>
				<graphic id="gra-8" xlink:href="IC-74-567-e452-gf8.png"/>
			</fig>
			<fig id="f9">
				<label>Figure 9</label>
				<caption>
					<title>3D view of the graphic corresponding to 10 m span, 3.5 m column height and 15% slope portal frame at high load level.</title>
					<p>Rigidity of ridge joint 10&#xb7;10&#xb3; kNm/rad</p>
				</caption>
				<graphic id="gra-9" xlink:href="IC-74-567-e452-gf9.png"/>
			</fig>
			<p>Thanks to their synthetic nature this series of graphics has been a crucial tool in analyzing the results and reaching conclusions. Interpretation of the information contained in the graphics may be summarized as follows:</p>
			<list list-type="bullet">
				<list-item>
					<p>A pinned ridge joint is never favourable (lower cost).</p>
				</list-item>
				<list-item>
					<p>The lower cost zones generally correspond to low column base, knee joint and ridge joint rigidity values. This is due to the favourable stress distribution achieved and the lower cost of joints.</p>
				</list-item>
				<list-item>
					<p>The rigidity of knee joints generally has more impact on the final cost than column base rigidity. For high load levels the impact of these two kinds of joint may be considered similar.</p>
				</list-item>
			</list>
			
			
			<p>On the other hand, a comparative study of semi-rigid portal frames and the traditional types was undertaken. The two traditional types were: a) Portal frame with all joints fully rigid; b) Portal frame with pinned column bases and the other joints fully rigid. <xref ref-type="table" rid="t9">Table 9</xref> summarizes the lower cost combinations of joint stiffness for each portal frame and load level. It also shows the results of the comparative study with traditional types. </p>
			<p>
				<xref ref-type="table" rid="t8">Table 8</xref> also shows the average contribution to the total cost of each structural component studied. This average was calculated from all of the cases studied. </p>
				<table-wrap id="t8">
				<label>Table 8</label>
				<caption>
					<title>Average of the contribution of each structural component studied to the total cost </title>
				</caption>
				<table>
					<colgroup>
						<col/>
						<col/>
					</colgroup>
					<thead>
						<tr>
							<th align="center">Structural component studied</th>
							<th align="center">Average contribution to the total cost (%)</th>
						</tr>
					</thead>
					<tbody>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Columns</td>
							<td align="center">27</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Beams</td>
							<td align="center">38</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Joints</td>
							<td align="center">17</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify"> Column bases</td>
							<td align="center">4</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify"> Knee joints</td>
							<td align="center">7</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify"> Ridge joints</td>
							<td align="center">6</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Footings</td>
							<td align="center">17</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Excavation of the footings</td>
							<td align="center">1</td>
						</tr>
					</tbody>
				</table>
			</table-wrap>
			<p>One issue for discussion has to be underlined. This consists of the real possibility of making joints which have the desired rigidity. Moreover, the desired rigidity could be limited by the joint strength (Er&#xf6;z <italic>et al.</italic> (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B30">30</xref>)). According to Eurocode 3, the rotational stiffness of a joint may be determined from the following factors: the joint geometry and its components, the lever arm, the level of the design moment resistance of the joint and partial stiffness of its basics components. The optimum rigidity values shown in <xref ref-type="table" rid="t9">Table 9</xref> are theoretical. This means that these values may or may not be achieved by the actual joints. In some cases it is not physically possible to make a joint with a specific rigidity, or it is not possible fulfil the requirement of strength and stiffness at same time. </p>
			<table-wrap id="t9">
				<label>Table 9</label>
				<caption>
					<title>Joint rigidity combination corresponding to the lower cost portal frames and results of the comparison between the cost of portal frames with semi-rigid joints and optimum rigidity combinations and two kinds of traditional type portal frames.</title>
				</caption>
				<table>
					<colgroup>
						<col/>
						<col/>
						<col/>
						<col/>
						<col/>
						<col/>
						<col/>
					</colgroup>
					<thead>
						<tr>
							<th align="center">Span (m)</th>
							<th align="center">Column height (m)</th>
							<th align="center">Roof slope (%)</th>
							<th align="center">Load level</th>
							<th align="center">Rigidity joints combination <sub>
									<sup>(1)</sup>
								</sub> (x10&#xb3; kNm/rad)</th>
							<th align="center">Economic advantage over fully rigid portal frame (%)</th>
							<th align="center">Economic advantage over pinned column bases portal frame (%)</th>
						</tr>
					</thead>
					<tbody>
						<tr>
							<td align="center" rowspan="3">8</td>
							<td align="center" rowspan="3">3.5</td>
							<td align="center" rowspan="3">20</td>
							<td align="justify">High</td>
							<td align="center">0 / 5 / 10</td>
							<td align="center">25</td>
							<td align="center">43</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Medium</td>
							<td align="center">5 / 5 / 5</td>
							<td align="center">25</td>
							<td align="center">27</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Low</td>
							<td align="center">5 / 5 / 5</td>
							<td align="center">35</td>
							<td align="center">35</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="center" rowspan="3">10</td>
							<td align="center" rowspan="3">3.5</td>
							<td align="center" rowspan="3">15</td>
							<td align="justify">High</td>
							<td align="center">5 / 5 / 10</td>
							<td align="center">40</td>
							<td align="center">16</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Medium</td>
							<td align="center">40 / 10 / 5</td>
							<td align="center">22</td>
							<td align="center">24</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Low</td>
							<td align="center">5 / 5 / 5</td>
							<td align="center">31</td>
							<td align="center">26</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="center" rowspan="3">10</td>
							<td align="center" rowspan="3">5</td>
							<td align="center" rowspan="3">15</td>
							<td align="justify">High</td>
							<td align="center">0/20/10</td>
							<td align="center">27</td>
							<td align="center">19</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Medium</td>
							<td align="center">0/5/5</td>
							<td align="center">22</td>
							<td align="center">28</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Low</td>
							<td align="center">5/5/15</td>
							<td align="center">25</td>
							<td align="center">23</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="center" rowspan="3">15</td>
							<td align="center" rowspan="3">5</td>
							<td align="center" rowspan="3">10</td>
							<td align="justify">High</td>
							<td align="center">0/80/10</td>
							<td align="center">25</td>
							<td align="center">11</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Medium</td>
							<td align="center">0/20/5</td>
							<td align="center">13</td>
							<td align="center">14</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Low</td>
							<td align="center">5/5/40</td>
							<td align="center">26</td>
							<td align="center">23</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="center" rowspan="2">20</td>
							<td align="center" rowspan="2">5</td>
							<td align="center" rowspan="2">10</td>
							<td align="justify">Medium</td>
							<td align="center">0/40/20</td>
							<td align="center">18</td>
							<td align="center">7</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Low</td>
							<td align="center">5/5/200</td>
							<td align="center">27</td>
							<td align="center">14</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="center" rowspan="3">10</td>
							<td align="center" rowspan="3">7</td>
							<td align="center" rowspan="3">15</td>
							<td align="justify">High</td>
							<td align="center">0/10/10</td>
							<td align="center">27</td>
							<td align="center">14</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Medium</td>
							<td align="center">5/20/5</td>
							<td align="center">23</td>
							<td align="center">27</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Low</td>
							<td align="center">5/10/5</td>
							<td align="center">26</td>
							<td align="center">22</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="center" rowspan="3">15</td>
							<td align="center" rowspan="3">7</td>
							<td align="center" rowspan="3">10</td>
							<td align="justify">High</td>
							<td align="center">0/15/15</td>
							<td align="center">20</td>
							<td align="center">13</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Medium</td>
							<td align="center">5/10/15</td>
							<td align="center">18</td>
							<td align="center">16</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Low</td>
							<td align="center">10/10/5</td>
							<td align="center">27</td>
							<td align="center">18</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="center" rowspan="2">20</td>
							<td align="center" rowspan="2">7</td>
							<td align="center" rowspan="2">10</td>
							<td align="justify">Medium</td>
							<td align="center">5/40/5</td>
							<td align="center">10</td>
							<td align="center">10</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Low</td>
							<td align="center">10/10/100</td>
							<td align="center">22</td>
							<td align="center">12</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="center" rowspan="3">15</td>
							<td align="center" rowspan="3">10</td>
							<td align="center" rowspan="3">10</td>
							<td align="justify">High</td>
							<td align="center">5/10/20</td>
							<td align="center">9</td>
							<td align="center">11</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Medium</td>
							<td align="center">5/20/10</td>
							<td align="center">10</td>
							<td align="center">14</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Low</td>
							<td align="center">5/10/5</td>
							<td align="center">18</td>
							<td align="center">21</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="center" rowspan="2">20</td>
							<td align="center" rowspan="2">10</td>
							<td align="center" rowspan="2">10</td>
							<td align="justify">Medium</td>
							<td align="center">5 / 10 / 80</td>
							<td align="center">22</td>
							<td align="center">22</td>
						</tr>
						<tr>
							<td align="justify">Low</td>
							<td align="center">5 / 10 / 15</td>
							<td align="center">21</td>
							<td align="center">15</td>
						</tr>
					</tbody>
				</table>
				<table-wrap-foot>
					<fn id="TFN2">
						<p>(1) The first number corresponds to column base rigidity, the second to knee joint rigidity and the third to ridge joint rigidity. 0 / 5 / 10 as an example, <italic>means the following combination of rigidities: pinned in column base, 5&#xb7;10&#xb3; kN&#xb7;m/rad in knee joint and 10&#xb7;10&#xb3; kN</italic>&#xb7;/rad in ridge joint.</p>
					</fn>
				</table-wrap-foot>
			</table-wrap>
			<p>It can therefore be said that the theoretical optimum values of rigidity may not be possible in practice. This should be taken into account in structural design. Nevertheless the useful is found, because the stiffness of realistic joints are also included in the research range and hence in its helpful results. For the use of the results by engineers they might study the optimum stiffness combinations zones of the graphics according to the stiffness and strength that their joints setting allow arise. </p>
		</sec>
		<sec id="sec4" sec-type="conclusions">
			<label>4.</label>
			<title>Conclusions</title>
			<p>The cost of joints is a major part of the whole cost of the kind of structures studied; more specifically they amount to an average of around 17% of the total cost; but they are not only important due to this. Their variability and affect on the behaviour of the whole structure makes them essential elements for cost optimization. </p>
			<p>It is clear that the choice of one rigidity value or another for each joint of the portal frame means they will respond differently. This fact constitutes in itself a source of variation. This variability implies that for one structure there are many solutions and that one of these is the best. This too is an optimization source. </p>
			<p>A combination of joint rigidity values was obtained for each portal frame geometry and its associated load level for the lowest cost. In general, it can be said that lower cost structural solutions have low joint rigidity values, understanding these as 5&#xb7;10&#xb3; or 10&#xb7;10&#xb3;kNm/rad.</p>
			<p>Portal frame load level also influences the relevance of joint rigidity on the cost. Thus a low load level underscores the influence of high rigidity knee joints in increasing cost; at medium load level the high or low rigidity of knee joints influences the increased cost, as do column bases but to a lesser degree; and for a high load level, high rigidity knee joints and column bases influence the increase in cost equally.</p>
			<p>To quantify the potential benefits of applying a combination of portal frame joint rigidity values, it is necessary to compare the results of these with those of traditional type portal frames. Theoretically and according to the cases studied, average cost reductions of around 18% may be achieved. In the best case the reductions may be 35% and in the worst case 7%. It also has to be underlined that benefits are higher when portal frame span is smaller and their load level is lower, too. In other words, the benefits of applying the optimum combinations of joint rigidity are greater for small industrial buildings under low load.</p>
		</sec>
	</body>
	<back>
		<ack>
			<title>Acknowledgments</title>
			<p>We would like to thank the Timber Construction Research Group, Universidad Polit&#xe9;cnica de Madrid, and Professor Ram&#xf3;n Arg&#xfc;elles &#xc1;lvarez, Emeritus professor of the Technical University of Madrid, for their invaluable assistance in guiding this study.</p>
		</ack>
		<ref-list>
			<title>References</title>
			<ref id="B1">
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					</person-group>
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						<pub-id>1993-1-8:2005(E)</pub-id>
						<year>2005</year>
						<source>Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures - part 1.8: design of joints</source>
					</std>
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				</mixed-citation>
			</ref>
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