metadata
license: cc-by-nc-4.0
task_categories:
- tabular-classification
- tabular-regression
language:
- en
tags:
- structural-engineering
- steel-frames
- finite-element-analysis
- eurocode-3
- karamba3d
- grasshopper
- architecture
- aec
- beam-design
- utilization
pretty_name: EC3 Steel Portal Frame Structural Analysis Dataset
size_categories:
- 1K<n<10K
EC3 Steel Portal Frame Structural Analysis Dataset
Dataset Summary
A parametric structural analysis dataset of 995 single-span steel portal frames designed and verified to Eurocode 3 (EN 1993-1-1:2005). Each record represents a unique frame configuration solved with the Karamba3D 3.1 FEM solver inside Grasshopper / Rhinoceros 3D.
The dataset is intended for training and benchmarking AI models that predict structural performance, section selection, and code compliance in the early design phase of steel-framed buildings — industrial sheds, agricultural buildings, warehouses, and sports halls.
Dataset Structure
Two linked JSONL files:
| File | Records | Description |
|---|---|---|
frames.jsonl |
995 | One record per frame — geometry, loads, global results |
elements.jsonl |
3 450 | One record per structural element — section properties, utilization, internal forces |
Frames and elements are linked via run_id (format: SF-00001 → SF-01000).
Frame Schema
Each frame is a 2D single-span portal in one of two configurations:
| Type | Count | Elements |
|---|---|---|
| Monopitch | 530 | 2 columns + 1–2 rafters |
| Gable | 465 | 2 columns + 2 rafters |
Element identifiers: C1, C2 = columns; B1, B2 = roof beams (rafters)
Parametric Ranges
| Parameter | Range | Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| Span | 5.0 – 25.0 m | Uniform random |
| Eaves height | 3.0 – 10.0 m | Uniform random |
| Roof pitch | 3.0 – 25.0° | Derived from geometry |
| Steel grade | S235 / S275 / S355 / S420 / S460 | ~200 frames each |
| Wind load | 0.30 – 2.00 kN/m² | Uniform random |
| Snow load | 0.30 – 4.00 kN/m² | Uniform random |
| Column profile family | HEB | Fixed |
| Rafter profile family | IPE | Fixed |
Key Statistics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total frames | 995 |
| Total elements | 3 450 |
| EC3 compliant frames | 630 / 995 (63.3%) |
| Mean frame weight | 4 036 kg |
| Frame weight range | 323 – 11 799 kg |
| Mean element utilization | 0.646 |
| Utilization range | 0.003 – 1.755 |
| Governing load case | ULS_SnowLead (86.7%), ULS_WindLead (13.2%) |
| Governing EC3 check | My bending (93.3%), N axial (6.7%) |
| Mean monopitch rafter midspan deflection | 112 mm |
| Mean gable rafter midspan deflection | 47 mm |
Fields
frames.jsonl — 30 fields per record
| Field | Type | Unit | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
run_id |
string | — | Unique frame identifier (SF-XXXXX) |
design_code |
string | — | EC3_EN1993-1-1_2005 |
solver |
string | — | Karamba3D_3.1 |
roof_type |
string | — | gable or monopitch |
frame_schema |
string | — | Frame topology identifier |
span_mm |
float | mm | Clear span between column bases |
eaves_h_mm |
float | mm | Eaves height |
ridge_h_mm |
float | mm | Ridge height |
haunch_h_mm |
float | mm | Vertical rise from eaves to ridge |
slope_deg |
float | degrees | Roof pitch angle |
slope_pct |
float | % | Roof pitch as percentage |
rafter_length_mm |
float | mm | True rafter length along slope |
steel_grade |
string | — | S235 / S275 / S355 / S420 / S460 |
col_profile_family |
string | — | Column section family (HEB) |
beam_profile_family |
string | — | Rafter section family (IPE) |
wind_kNm2 |
float | kN/m² | Characteristic wind pressure |
snow_kNm2 |
float | kN/m² | Characteristic snow load |
roof_sw_kgm2 |
float | kg/m² | Roof self-weight (cladding + purlins) |
tech_load_kgm2 |
float | kg/m² | Imposed technical load on roof |
max_col_defl_L |
int | — | Column sway limit denominator (H/L) |
max_beam_defl_L |
int | — | Rafter deflection limit denominator (L/x) |
frame_weight_kg |
float | kg | Total steel weight of frame |
max_horiz_defl_mm |
float | mm | Maximum horizontal nodal displacement (all LCs) |
max_vert_defl_mm |
float | mm | Maximum vertical nodal displacement (all LCs) |
roof_mid_vert_defl_mm |
float | mm | Maximum vertical displacement at rafter midspan (all LCs) |
n_elements |
int | — | Number of structural elements |
load_cases |
list[str] | — | Names of all ULS load case combinations |
is_ec3_compliant |
bool | — | True if all elements util ≤ 1.0 |
nodes |
list[dict] | — | Node coordinates and support flags |
displacements |
list[dict] | — | Nodal displacements per node per LC (mm) |
elements.jsonl — 47 fields per record
| Field | Type | Unit | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
run_id |
string | — | Links to parent frame |
elem_id |
string | — | Element identifier (C1, C2, B1, B2) |
elem_type |
string | — | column or rafter |
node_start / node_end |
int | — | Node indices |
length_mm |
float | mm | Element length |
section |
string | — | Profile name (e.g. HEB300, IPE400) |
section_family |
string | — | Profile family (HEB, IPE) |
A_cm2 |
float | cm² | Gross cross-sectional area |
Iyy_cm4 |
float | cm⁴ | Second moment of area (strong axis) |
Izz_cm4 |
float | cm⁴ | Second moment of area (weak axis) |
Wply_cm3 |
float | cm³ | Plastic section modulus (strong axis) |
Wplz_cm3 |
float | cm³ | Plastic section modulus (weak axis) |
iy_cm / iz_cm |
float | cm | Radii of gyration |
Ay_cm2 / Az_cm2 |
float | cm² | Shear areas |
uf_width_mm |
float | mm | Flange width |
uf_thick_mm |
float | mm | Flange thickness |
web_thick_mm |
float | mm | Web thickness |
lf_thick_mm |
float | mm | Lower flange thickness |
material |
string | — | Steel grade name |
fy_MPa |
float | MPa | Yield strength |
E_GPa |
float | GPa | Young's modulus |
alpha_y / alpha_z |
float | — | Buckling imperfection factors (EC3 Table 6.2) |
alpha_lt |
float | — | LT buckling imperfection factor (EC3 §6.3.2) |
Lcr_y_mm |
float | mm | Buckling length (strong axis) |
Lcr_z_mm |
float | mm | Buckling length (weak axis) |
Lcr_lt_mm |
float | mm | Lateral-torsional buckling length |
lambda_y / lambda_z |
float | — | Slenderness ratios |
lambda_bar_y / lambda_bar_z |
float | — | Non-dimensional slenderness (EC3 §6.3) |
weight_kg |
float | kg | Element steel weight |
N_max_kN / N_min_kN |
float | kN | Max/min axial force across all LCs |
axial_by_lc |
list[dict] | — | Axial force per load case |
util_max |
float | — | Peak EC3 utilization ratio (governing LC) |
util_N |
float | — | Axial force utilization at governing LC |
util_Vy / util_Vz |
float | — | Shear utilization at governing LC |
util_My / util_Mz |
float | — | Bending utilization at governing LC |
is_ec3_ok |
bool | — | True if util_max ≤ 1.0 |
govern_check |
string | — | Governing EC3 check (N / My / Mz / Vy / Vz) |
govern_lc |
string | — | Name of governing load case combination |
Load Case Combinations (10 per frame)
All combinations follow EN 1990 Annex A1 ULS persistent/transient design situation with ψ₀ combination factors per EN 1991:
| Name | Leading action |
|---|---|
ULS_SnowLead |
Snow dominant (wind as accompanying) |
ULS_WindLead |
Wind dominant (snow as accompanying) |
| + 8 further combinations | Dead load, imposed, combinations thereof |
Data Generation Pipeline
Grasshopper / Rhinoceros 3D
└── Parametric frame geometry (uniform random sampling)
└── Karamba3D 3.1 FEM solver
└── 10 ULS load case combinations (EN 1990 Annex A1)
└── EC3 EN 1993-1-1:2005 cross-section + stability checks
└── BeamView utilization component (max across all LCs)
└── BeamDisplacements component (midspan deflection)
└── GHPython 3 extractor (CPython 3.9, Rhino 8)
└── frames.jsonl
└── elements.jsonl
Solver: Karamba3D 3.1 (Clemens Preisinger, TU Vienna / Bollinger+Grohmann)
Design code: EC3 EN 1993-1-1:2005 with EN 1990 load combinations
Platform: Rhinoceros 8 / Grasshopper, Windows
Known Limitations
- Column profiles limited to HEB only — HEA, UC, HD sections not included
- Rafter profiles limited to IPE only — welded, cellular, and tapered sections not included
- Wind pressure only — wind suction (uplift) load cases are not included; wind uplift on roof can govern rafter design in practice and is absent from this dataset
- 2D single-span frames only — no multi-bay, crane gantry, mezzanine, or 3D effects
- Connections not modelled — fully rigid frame assumption throughout
- No second-order (P-Δ) effects — first-order linear elastic analysis only
- 5 missing run_ids in SF-00001–SF-01000 sequence due to solver failures during batch generation
Intended Use Cases
- Training ML regression models to predict
util_max,frame_weight_kg,roof_mid_vert_defl_mmfrom geometric and load input parameters - Training classification models to predict
is_ec3_compliant - Surrogate modelling for structural optimisation loops
- Benchmarking graph neural networks on 2D frame topology
- Research in AI-assisted structural design and automated EC3 checking
- Education — demonstrating EC3 design parameter sensitivity
License
CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for research and non-commercial use with attribution.
For commercial licensing enquiries contact the author.
Citation
@dataset{neiburgs_ec3_steel_frames_2025,
title = {EC3 Steel Portal Frame Structural Analysis Dataset},
author = {Neiburgs, Arturs},
year = {2025},
publisher = {KOPAA},
url = {https://huggingface.co/datasets/kopaaParametric/ec3-steel-portal-frames},
license = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
note = {Generated with Karamba3D 3.1 / Grasshopper / Rhinoceros 8.
995 frames, 3450 elements, EC3 EN 1993-1-1:2005.}
}
Contact
Arturs Neiburgs
KOPAA
✉ arturs.neiburgs@kopaa.io
🔗 LinkedIn